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The instrumentality of the Redbox Bowl remains uncertain, with nary definitive connection connected its presumption for 2021 and beyond. As a result, the Pac-12 is locked into six games done nonstop affiliation and a seventh crippled done ESPN.
There mightiness adjacent beryllium an eighth slot available, besides courtesy of ESPN, if an eligible squad needs a game.
The vessel projections volition beryllium a play fixture connected the Hotline, allowing america to spot existent show successful discourse with postseason eligibility.
Keep successful caput that teams indispensable decorativeness with a .500-or-better grounds to suffice for a vessel berth. Every non-conference triumph provides further cushion for league play.
Non-conference record/minimum league grounds required:
3-0/3-62-1/4-51-2/5-40-3/6-3
Here we spell …
Rose Bowl (vs. Big Ten)Team: UCLA (2-0)Comment: Nobody has looked amended than UCLA done [checks calendar] 2 full weeks! Whether that holds done the part contention and league title remains to beryllium seen, but there’s nary shortage of acquisition connected the roster to navigate immoderate unsmooth patches.
Alamo Bowl (vs. Big 12)Team: USC (1-0)Comment: Dream script for the Alamo, which has ne'er hosted the Pac-12’s astir palmy program. Not a imagination script for USC, however: It would mean the Trojans didn’t triumph the conference. Good gracious, the South contention is going to beryllium loads of fun.
Las Vegas Bowl (vs. Big Ten)Team: Arizona State (1-0)Comment: The Sun Devils were successful Las Vegas successful 2018, but that feels similar a decennary ago. Back then, they played successful Sam Boyd Stadium, not Allegiant Stadium, and they faced Fresno State, not a Big Ten opponent. Any instrumentality engagement would truthful person a caller feel.
Holiday Bowl (vs. ACC)Team: OregonComment: For the moment, we similar the Ducks to triumph the North but suffer successful the championship, which could beryllium a occupation for each involved. Here’s why: The loser of the rubric crippled successful Las Vegas connected Dec. 3 could beryllium wary of returning to Sin City for a vessel crippled three-and-a-half weeks later; it mightiness not beryllium good with fans, either; and lawsuit organizers would undoubtedly similar a antithetic team. The Holiday Bowl provides an flight hatch. Technically, the bowls share the No. 3 pick to let for precisely that benignant of flexibility. Hence our existent slotting of the Ducks successful San Diego.
Sun Bowl (vs. ACC)Team: UtahComment: The Utes haven’t been to El Paso successful a decade, truthful vessel officials would undoubtedly beryllium thrilled. We’re not truthful definite astir Utah being thrilled, however: An invitation to the Sun would lone travel a middle-of-the-division finish. That said, if the Pac-12 sends a 2nd squad to the New Year’s Six (for instance: the Fiesta Bowl), everyone would determination up a rung.
LA Bowl (vs. Mountain West)Team: ColoradoComment: We person been somewhat skeptical of CU’s postseason prospects — the docket is precise hard — and weren’t overly impressed by the opener. But it’s a zero-sum game, and the North looks awful. Which means determination are victories disposable for the South. The Buffs lone request 5 more.
ESPN Bowl Team: CalComment: We haven’t mislaid implicit religion successful Cal’s prospects for vessel eligibility, not successful a brushed part with a crossover docket that includes Arizona and Colorado. The bowls that should beryllium disposable successful ESPN’s excavation are the First Responders, Armed Forces and possibly Gasparilla.
At-large bowlTeam: Oregon StateComment: If the Redbox doesn’t awaken from its coma, the Pac-12 could salvage an eighth invitation done ESPN. The much applicable question is whether it needs 8 slots. At this point, we spot OSU arsenic a amended stake for six wins than either of the Washington schools.
Non-qualifiers: Stanford, Washington, Washington State and Arizona.
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