Bowl Projections: Intrigue Abounds for Fourth Playoff Spot
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama and Penn State took their first loss of the season on Saturday, creating a sizable vacuum in the race for the College Football Playoff. We approach Tuesday night’s rankings show with an assumed top three (LSU, Ohio State and Clemson) but do we have any idea who will be in the driver’s seat for the fourth Playoff spot?
The Crimson Tide and Georgia remain contenders for a second SEC spot, though they face stiff competition against one-loss Power 5 schools Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. Baylor and Minnesota remain undefeated entering Week 11, though difficult closing schedules could quickly derail their CFP chances by this time next week. Championship weekend is rapidly approaching. The Playoff picture remains murky. Chaos could ensue over the next few weeks as the committee tries to sort out a deep pool of contenders. Let’s try to separate the signal from the noise.
Check out Sports Illustrated’s latest crop of bowl projections below:
Dec. 20
Bahamas Bowl, Nassau (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. MAC
Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan
Frisco Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
American vs. Sun Belt
UCF vs. Louisiana Lafayette
Dec. 21
Celebration Bowl, Atlanta (12 p.m. ET, ABC)
MEAC vs. SWAC
Florida A&M vs. Alcorn State
New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. MWC
Southern Miss vs. Utah State
Cure Bowl, Orlando (2:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
American vs. Sun Belt
Temple vs. Arkansas State
Boca Raton Bowl (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
MAC vs. American
Central Michigan vs. USF
Camellia Bowl, Montgomery (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern
Las Vegas Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Pac-12 vs. SEC or Big Ten or MWC
UCLA vs. Boise State
New Orleans Bowl (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. Sun Belt
UAB vs. Georgia State
Dec. 23
Gasparilla Bowl, Tampa (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. American
Florida Atlantic vs. Tulane
Dec. 24
Hawai'i Bowl, Honolulu (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MWC or BYU vs. American
Hawaii vs. BYU
Dec. 26
Independence Bowl, Shreveport (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Marshall vs. Boston College
Quick Lane Bowl, Detroit (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Michigan State vs. Louisville
Dec. 27
Military Bowl, Annapolis (12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
American vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Navy vs. Florida State
Pinstripe Bowl, Bronx (3:20 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Iowa vs. Pitt
Texas Bowl, Houston (6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. SEC
Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi State
Holiday Bowl, San Diego (8 p.m. ET, FS1)
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Michigan vs. Washington
Cheez-It Bowl, Phoenix (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
TCU vs. San Diego State
Dec. 28
Camping World Bowl, Orlando (12 p.m. ET, ABC)
Big 12 vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Kansas State vs. Notre Dame
Dec. 30
First Responder Bowl, Dallas (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Conference USA
Texas Tech vs. Louisiana Tech
Music City Bowl, Nashville (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC or Big Ten or Notre Dame
Tennessee vs. Miami
Redbox Bowl, Santa Clara (4 p.m. ET, FOX)
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Illinois vs. Arizona State
Dec. 31
Belk Bowl, Charlotte (12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC
Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, El Paso (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Pac-12 vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Cal vs. Wake Forest
Liberty Bowl, Memphis (3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. SEC
Iowa State vs. Cincinnati
Arizona Bowl, Tucson (4:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
MWC vs. Sun Belt
Nevada vs. Appalachian State
Alamo Bowl, San Antonio (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Texas vs. USC
Jan. 1
Citrus Bowl, Orlando (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Big Ten vs. SEC
Wisconsin vs. Auburn
Outback Bowl, Tampa (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. SEC
Penn State vs. Florida
Jan. 2
Birmingham Bowl (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. American
North Carolina vs. SMU
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, Jacksonville (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC or Big Ten or Notre Dame
Texas A&M vs. Indiana
Jan. 3
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Boise (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. MWC
Toledo vs. Wyoming
Jan 4
Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth (11:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MWC vs. Big Ten
Air Force vs. Fresno State
Jan. 6
Mobile Alabama Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Miami (Ohio) vs. Louisiana Monroe
New Year's Six Bowls
Cotton Bowl Classic, Arlington (Dec. 28, noon, ESPN)
At-large vs. At-large
Memphis vs. Baylor
Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens (Dec. 30, 8 p.m., ESPN)
ACC vs. Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame
Virginia vs. Georgia
Rose Bowl Game, Pasadena (Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN)
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Minnesota vs. Utah
Sugar Bowl, New Orleans (Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN)
SEC vs. Big 12
Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Fiesta Bowl, Glendale (Dec. 28, 4 or 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinalist vs. CFP semifinalist
Ohio State vs. Clemson
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, Atlanta (Dec. 28, 4 or 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinalist vs. CFP semifinalist
LSU vs. Oregon
College Football Playoff National Championship, New Orleans (Jan. 13, 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinal winner vs. CFP semifinal winner
