2018 College Football Bowls Who Is Playing
The 2018 College Bowl season is almost upon us again and sadly this year 4 teams who were eligible to compete had to be left out as there were not enough slots in the 39 Bowl line up. Still there is plenty to look forward to and this is how the conferences fared.
ACC
Has 11 Bowl places joint most with the SEC. Clemson is in the playoffs but no other team made the New Year Six bowls.
Eligible
Boston College
Clemson
Duke
Georgia Tech
Miami
NC State
Pittsburgh
Syracuse
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
AAC
Got 7 teams Bowl eligible which is as many as two of the Power 5 Conferences. They also had the only undefeated team in the power five (UFC) and they took the “At Large” slot in the New Year BCS Bowl again this season.
Eligible
Cincinnati
Houston
Memphis
South Florida
Temple
Tulane
UCF
Big Ten
Nabbed 9 places including two BCS Bowl slots (The Rose Bowl & The Peach Bowl) but missed out on a playoff place
Eligible
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin
Big 12
Only took 7 slots this year however Oklahoma are in the playoffs again and Texas are in the Sugar Bowl so not a bad season.
Eligible
Baylor
Iowa State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
TCU
Texas
West Virginia
Conference-USA
Only managed 6 slots this year (down from 9 in 2017). The main highlight was UAB who have risen Phoenix Like from their disbandment back in 2014. They will be hoping its 3rd time lucky as they have lost both of their previous Bowl appearances. Spare a thought for Southern Miss who got Bowl eligible on the final day of the season but got left out as 82 teams became eligible for the 78 slots.
Eligible Teams
Florida International (FIU)
Louisiana Tech
Marshall
Middle Tennessee
North Texas
Southern Miss – Missed out
UAB
Independent
A great season for the 6 independent schools and with Liberty being ineligible only two missed out. Notre Dame went undefeated and are in the playoffs while Army had their best season in a long time going 10-2
Eligible
Army
BYU
Notre Dame
MAC
Had 7 teams eligible but like C-USA only 6 got places with Miami (Ohio) being the unfortunate ones left out. Nice to See Buffalo in a game having been left out last season
Eligible
Buffalo
Eastern Michigan
Miami (Ohio) – Left out
Northern Illinois
Ohio
Toledo
Western Michigan
Mountain West
Again Seven eligible teams but only 6 slots, with a now Josh Allen less Wyoming the unfortunate team who missed out. They had a great season finishing 6-6 hconsidering they lost their star QB so here hoping 2019 is better for them.
Eligible
Boise State
Fresno State
Hawaii
Nevada
San Diego State
Utah State
Wyoming – Left out
Pac-12
Not a vintage season for the Pac-12 with no playoff place and only Washington in a New Year Bowl. Having said that Washington State were fun to watch, and they looked like crashing the NY^ party until the snow got the better of them in the Apple Cup.
Eligible
Arizona State
California
Oregon
Stanford
Utah
Washington
Washington State
SEC
Another strong season for the SEC with 11 teams in Bowl games and Alabama odds-on favourites to win the national Championship (again) The also have 4 teams in the New Year Bowl Games.
Eligible
Alabama
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
LSU
Mississippi State
Missouri
South Carolina
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt
Sun Belt
Only managed 6 Bowl Eligible teams and Louisiana–Monroe got left out. Still, they open the Bowl season tomorrow in the Cure Bowl and look likely to pick up a few wins.
Eligible
Appalachian State
Arkansas State
Georgia Southern
Louisiana
Louisiana–Monroe Left out
Troy
So 40 Games to look forward to including the National Championship of course. Full Schedule here
Image Angel-DiBilio/Shutterstock
