As of early Saturday afternoon, the race for bowl eligibility has taken shape, with a total of 76 teams now assured a spot in the post-season bowl lineup, leaving just six spots still available. Additionally, eight teams are on the brink of bowl eligibility, needing just one more win to secure their postseason opportunities.
In the noon games, Kansas State triumphed over Colorado to become bowl-eligible, while Kentucky and Baylor fell short in their contests against Louisville and Houston, respectively. This leaves eight teams competing later in the day, all striving for that crucial sixth win to earn their bid.
Notably, three key matchups feature teams currently sitting at 5-6: Georgia Southern is set to battle Marshall, Arkansas State will take on Appalachian State, and Penn State faces Rutgers. Winning these games will elevate these three teams to the list of bowl-eligible squads.
The following teams are all one victory away from bowl eligibility, alongside their respective opponents:
– UCF (5-6) at BYU at 1 p.m.
– Louisiana (5-6) facing ULM at 3 p.m.
– Texas State (5-6) going up against South Alabama at 3 p.m.
– Army (5-5) visiting UTSA at 3:30 p.m.
– Florida State (5-6) taking on Florida at 4:30 p.m.
– Washington State facing Oregon State at 6:30 p.m.
– Rice (5-6) at USF at 7 p.m.
– Auburn (5-6) battling Alabama at 7:30 p.m.
In the event that fewer than 82 teams achieve bowl eligibility, the NCAA will look to fill vacant spots with teams that have transitioned from the FCS to FBS, provided they have six wins. Missouri State (7-4) and Delaware (5-6), both in their first year in Conference USA, are potential beneficiaries under this rule, particularly if Delaware can secure a win against UTEP on Saturday.
If spots remain open, the NCAA will then consider five-win teams based on their Academic Progress Rates (APRs). The APR scores for several teams have been highlighted, providing additional context for potential selections.
As bowl week approaches, excitement is building among fans and players alike, with many teams still in contention for post-season glory. The action continues, and updates will be provided as the final games conclude later on Saturday.