As college football approaches the final stretch of the regular season, excitement is building with 59 teams having already secured bowl eligibility and 19 more aiming to achieve that goal. With only 82 bowl spots available, it appears unlikely that any teams with losing records will make it to the postseason this year; however, possibilities remain for some underwhelming teams.
For instance, struggling teams like Penn State (3-6) are still in the hunt for bowl eligibility after a close match against No. 2 Indiana. The Nittany Lions must win their remaining games against Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers to earn a postseason spot. Meanwhile, Rutgers (5-5) faces a challenging schedule, closing out against No. 1 Ohio State and then hosting Penn State in a potentially critical match for bowl eligibility.
Rivalry games will play a crucial role for several teams looking to secure a postseason invitation. Kentucky (4-5) will take on Tennessee Tech and face competitive games against Vanderbilt and Louisville. Clemson (4-5) must win two of their last games — against Louisville, South Carolina, and Furman — to keep their bowl dreams alive. Florida State (4-5) may also find their fate resting on the outcome of their season finale against Florida, while the matchup between NC State (5-4) and North Carolina (4-5) could see just one team advancing to bowl play.
For teams that are already bowl-eligible, the focus now shifts to improving their standing within conference rankings. Notably, the Iowa-Nebraska game, scheduled for Black Friday, could determine which team progresses to the more prestigious bowl options, such as Tampa or Las Vegas. Additionally, the Miami-Pittsburgh showdown may dictate which of the teams advances to the ACC’s prime bowl slots.
This season marks the second edition of the 12-team College Football Playoff, featuring the highest-ranked conference champions and the top at-large teams. The format allows the top four teams to receive first-round byes, with subsequent games taking place in major bowls like the Cotton, Orange, Rose, and Sugar bowls just after the new year.
Moreover, the former Pac-12 schools are operating under old bowl agreements, set to lapse post-season, and could see negotiations extend those deals. This season might also showcase in-conference matchups in the upcoming bowl games.
As the season concludes, transitional teams like Missouri State (6-3) and Delaware (5-4) are ineligible for bowl games unless the number of eligible teams falls below the required threshold. However, they do have priority over 5-7 squads with solid academic records.
With the stakes at an all-time high, the coming weeks will be crucial as teams aim for postseason glory and fans rally behind their schools, making for an exhilarating end to the college football season.