We are getting so close to the college football postseason and things have been good for the Big 12 this season. Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah have all drawn national interest for the way that they’ve played and theoretically those three teams still have something of a shot to make it into the College Football Playoff at this point (with Texas Tech and BYU having the best chances).
Along with the success of the teams at the very top of the conference, there are plenty of teams from the Big 12 who are set to compete in bowl games this season.
College football bowl projections: 10 Big 12 teams make bowl games, according to ESPN analysts
Before we get into the bowl projections, we should go ahead and go back over the fact that both Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach have Texas Tech making the College Football Playoff. Now, into the rest of the Big 12 and their possible postseason destinations, according to ESPN’s college football analysts.
- Utah Utes - Las Vegas Bowl (both)
- BYU Cougars - Alamo Bowl (Bonagura) or Pop-Tarts Bowl (Schlabach)
- Houston Cougars - Pop-Tarts Bowl (Bonagura) or Alamo Bowl (Schlabach)
- Cincinnati Bearcats - Texas Bowl (both)
- Arizona State Sun Devils - Sun Bowl (Bonagura) or Holiday Bowl (Schlabach)
- Arizona Wildcats - LA Bowl (Bonagura) or Sun Bowl (Schlabach)
- TCU Horned Frogs - Rate Bowl (Bonagura) or Armed Forces Bowl (Schlabach)
- Iowa State Cyclones - Liberty Bowl (Both)
- Baylor Bears - Independence Bowl (Bonagura) or Rate Bowl (Schlabach)
- Kansas State Wildcats - Armed Forces Bowl (Bonagura) or Independence Bowl (Schlabach)
Big 12 teams projected to miss out on bowls this season
Right now, it looks like Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach don’t believe the following teams will be in the college football postseason in any way, shape, or form:
- Kansas Jayhawks (5-5 with remaining matchups against Iowa State and Utah)
- West Virginia Mountaineers (4-7 with a remaining matchup against Texas Tech)
- UCF Knights (4-6 with remaining matchups against Oklahoma State and BYU)
- Colorado Buffaloes (3-7, it’s certainly not happening)
- Oklahoma State (they’re abysmal, it’s just not going to happen, let’s not even try to entertain it)
In theory, Kansas could get to bowl eligibility. Same for the UCF Knights. But man, it’s going to be difficult for those two teams to pull that off. It’s not going to be easy for those teams to get the wins they need right now.