College bowl projections for Iowa State, rest of Big 12 Conference

ESPN projects Iowa State to Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. ACC if fall in title game

Iowa State running back Carson Hansen (26) celebrates with offensive lineman Jalen Travis (72) after a touchdown vs. UCF at Jack Trice Stadium earlier this year. / NIrmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With just a handful of games left before bowl season kicks off, the postseason projections are becoming more and more clear. 

For Iowa State, a win in the Big 12 title game on Saturday makes that crystal clear, as they will be in the College Football Playoff. ESPN currently has Arizona State locked in for the CFP as the No. 11 seed playing Texas and the No. 12 seed playing Notre Dame.

That leaves the Cyclones (10-2) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, with one projecting then vs. Clemson and the other vs. Miami. The Tigers have the chance to earn a spot in the CFP like Iowa State when they play SMU Saturday night while the Hurricanes can only sit and wait for a spot in the 12-team field if chaos ensues. 

The Pop-Tarts Bowl is played on Saturday, Dec. 28 as one of eight bowl games going down that day. It is held from the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida and airs on ABC.

ESPN Bowl Projections

College Football Playoff first round: Arizona State vs. Notre Dame; vs. Texas

Rate Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Nebraska; vs. Rutgers

Armed Forces Bowl: Kansas State vs. Army

Pop-Tarts Bowl: Iowa State vs. Clemson; vs. Miami

Alamo Bowl: BYU vs. Colorado

Independence Bowl: West Virginia vs. Louisiana

Texas Bowl: Baylor vs. Texas A&M; vs. LSU

First Responder Bowl: Kansas State vs. Marshall

Iowa State & Big 12 Analysis

* Latest College Football Playoff rankings revealed

* Arizona State will be without top WR vs. Iowa State Saturday

* Arizona State with nothing but respect for Matt Campbell

* Keys to victory for Iowa State vs. Arizona State

* Iowa State climbs the latest Coaches Poll Top 25

* Rocco Becht credits 2023 loss with driving Iowa State

* How to watch Iowa State vs. Arizona State for Big 12 title