Week 12 College Football: Rivalry Games Impact Bowl Projections

As the college football season approaches its climax, Week 12 brings crucial rivalry games that could significantly impact bowl projections. With only three weekends left, 59 teams have already achieved bowl eligibility, while 19 more need just one win to join them.

Current Bowl Eligibility Status

This year features 82 bowl spots, making it unlikely for any team with a losing record to secure a postseason berth. However, several teams with lower win totals still have paths to bowl eligibility based on their remaining schedules.

• Penn State (3-6) requires three consecutive victories to qualify, facing tough opponents like Michigan State and Ohio State.
• Rutgers (5-5) has a potential winner-takes-all matchup against Penn State to conclude the season.
• Florida State and Clemson are also in tight races, needing key wins to stay in postseason contention.

Impact of Rivalry Games

Rivalry games are critical this week, as outcomes will determine bowl fates. Kentucky (4-5) will play against Tennessee Tech and then face Vanderbilt and Louisville. Meanwhile, Clemson must secure victories against either Louisville or South Carolina to move towards a bowl game.

Key Rivalry Games

• Kentucky vs. Tennessee Tech
• Clemson vs. Louisville/South Carolina
• Florida State vs. Florida
• NC State vs. North Carolina

Playoff Structure and Bowl Games

This season marks the second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff format. The system allows the highest-ranked five conference champions, along with the top seven at-large teams, to qualify.

• The top four teams receive first-round byes.
• Key bowl games include the Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl occurring around New Year’s Day.

Upcoming Bowls and Dates

Teams seeded 5-8 will host lower-seeded teams in first-round playoff matches from December 19-20, while the major bowl games will take place on December 31 and January 1.

As the season draws to a close, teams will focus not just on securing bowl eligibility but also on improving their standings within their conferences. The results of these rivalry games will be pivotal in shaping upcoming bowl matchups and playoff scenarios.