Bowl Projections: Playoff Debate Set for Championship Weekend
Alabama’s loss to Auburn last week has set the stage for a pretty clear set of options entering Championship Weekend. A Georgia win over LSU to win the SEC would still likely keep the Tigers in the top four, leaving Joe Burrow & Co. alongside Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia in the playoff bracket. If LSU wins Saturday, a fierce debate could ensue.
Utah has the pole position for a playoff spot given a Georgia loss, entering the weekend at No. 5 in the committee rankings. But the Utes could be jumped if Oklahoma wins in convincing fashion over No. 7 Baylor on Saturday. And don’t count the Bears out just yet. A win for Matt Rhule’s squad combined with losses by Georgia and Utah would send Baylor to its first playoff appearance in school history. Championship Weekend will have no shortage of intrigue.
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
Charlotte vs. Buffalo
Frisco Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
American vs. Sun Belt
Florida International vs. Troy
Dec. 21
Celebration Bowl, Atlanta (12 p.m. ET, ABC)
MEAC vs. SWAC
North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State
New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. MWC
Western Kentucky vs. Wyoming
Cure Bowl, Orlando (2:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
American vs. Sun Belt
Liberty vs. Georgia State
Boca Raton Bowl (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
MAC vs. American
Miami (OH) vs. Tulane
Camellia Bowl, Montgomery (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Western Michigan vs. Georgia Southern
Las Vegas Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Pac-12 vs. SEC or Big Ten or MWC
UCF vs. San Diego State
New Orleans Bowl (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. Sun Belt
Southern Miss vs. Appalachian State
Dec. 23
Gasparilla Bowl, Tampa (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. American
Marshall vs. Florida State
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
Florida Atlantic vs. SMU
Quick Lane Bowl, Detroit (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Michigan State vs. North Carolina
Dec. 27
Military Bowl, Annapolis (12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
American vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Navy vs. Louisville
Pinstripe Bowl, Bronx (3:20 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Indiana vs. Pittsburgh
Texas Bowl, Houston (6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. SEC
Kansas State vs. Kentucky
Holiday Bowl, San Diego (8 p.m. ET, FS1)
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Michigan vs. Cal
Cheez-It Bowl, Phoenix (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Washington State vs. Boise State
Dec. 28
Camping World Bowl, Orlando (12 p.m. ET, ABC)
Big 12 vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Texas vs. Notre Dame
Dec. 30
First Responder Bowl, Dallas (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Conference USA
UAB vs. Central Michigan
Music City Bowl, Nashville (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC or Big Ten or Notre Dame
Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest
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
Mississippi State vs. Virginia Tech
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, El Paso (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Pac-12 vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Washington vs. Miami
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
Utah State vs. Louisiana Lafayette
Alamo Bowl, San Antonio (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Oklahoma State vs. USC
Jan. 1
Citrus Bowl, Orlando (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Big Ten vs. SEC
Penn State vs. Alabama
Outback Bowl, Tampa (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. SEC
Minnesota vs. Auburn
Jan. 2
Birmingham Bowl (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. American
Boston College vs. Temple
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, Jacksonville (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC or Big Ten or Notre Dame
Tennessee vs. Iowa
Jan. 3
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Boise (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. MWC
Toledo vs. Nevada
Jan 4
Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth (11:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MWC vs. Big Ten
Air Force vs. Louisiana Tech
Jan. 6
Mobile Alabama Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Kent State vs. Arkansas State
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. Florida
Rose Bowl Game, Pasadena (Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN)
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Wisconsin vs. Oregon
Sugar Bowl, New Orleans (Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN)
SEC vs. Big 12
Georgia vs. Oklahoma
Fiesta Bowl, Glendale (Dec. 28, 4 or 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinalist vs. CFP semifinalist
LSU vs. Clemson
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, Atlanta (Dec. 28, 4 or 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinalist vs. CFP semifinalist
Ohio State vs. Utah
College Football Playoff National Championship, New Orleans (Jan. 13, 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinal winner vs. CFP semifinal winner
