How can you not make a bowl game?
That might be the question being asked around several major schools heading into the final four weeks of the season.
For 15 notable Power 5 conference teams, the postseason isn’t a given at this point. There are some heavy hitters on this list.
Which schools will make it? Which schools might be left out?
Here’s a closer look at those 15 schools.
Bowl streak: Arkansas hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2011.
Remaining schedule: vs. LSU (Nov. 15), vs. Ole Miss (Nov. 22), at Missouri (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: Arkansas is 0-13 under Bret Bielema in conference play.
Will they go bowling? No. They have to win a SEC game first.
Bowl streak: Cal hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2011.
Remaining schedule: at USC (Nov. 13), vs. Stanford (Nov. 22), vs. BYU (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: Cal hasn’t beaten USC since 2003 or Stanford since 2009.
Will they go bowling? Yes. The Golden Bears will get to six wins with a win against the Cougars.
Bowl streak: Kentucky hasn’t played in a bowl game since the 2010 season.
Remaining schedule: vs. Georgia (Nov. 8), at Tennessee (Nov. 15), at Louisville (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: Look at Kentucky’s record against those opponents since 2000: Georgia (2-12), Tennessee (1-13) and Louisville (5-9).
Will they go bowling? Maybe. We’ll give the Wildcats a shot against either the Vols or Cardinals, but not making it would be tough after a 5-1 start.
Michigan (4-5)
Bowl streak: Michigan reached the postseason each of the last four seasons.
Remaining schedule: at Northwestern (Nov. 8), vs. Maryland (Nov. 22), at Ohio State (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: Michigan hasn’t won at Ohio State since 2000.
Will they go bowling? Maybe. The Wolverines better sweep the Wildcats and Terps just to be sure, but that still might not be enough to save Brady Hoke’s job.
Bowl streak: Northwestern missed the postseason last year after making five straight bowl games from 2008-12.
Remaining schedule: vs. Michigan (Nov. 8), at Notre Dame (Nov. 15), at Purdue (Nov. 22), vs. Illinois (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: The Wildcats are just 3-10 in Big Ten play since 2013.
Will they go bowling? Only if they beat the Wolverines this week.
Bowl streak: The Tar Heels were banned from the postseason in 2012 but played in a bowl game last year.
Remaining schedule: vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 15), at Duke (Nov. 20), vs. North Carolina State (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: The Tar Heels allow 41.9 points per game, most among Power 5 schools.
Will they go bowling? Maybe, but it will take getting one or both of their in-state rivals to get there. Larry Fedora is 2-2 against Duke and N.C. State.
Bowl streak: Oregon State last missed the postseason in 2011.
Remaining schedule: vs. Washington State (Nov. 8), vs. Arizona State (Nov. 15), at Washington (Nov. 22), vs. Oregon (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: The Beavers are 1-9 in their last 10 Pac-12 games.
Will they go bowling? Maybe. The Beavers play three of the next four at home, but a sweep of the Washington schools might be the easiest path to the postseason.
Bowl streak: The Nittany Lions were ineligible for postseason play in 2012 and 2013.
Remaining schedule: at Indiana (Nov. 8), vs. Temple (Nov. 15), at Illinois (Nov. 22), vs. Michigan State (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: Penn State has lost its last three games by a combined 13 points.
Will they go bowling? Yes. The Nittany Lions should be able to win two of the next three before the season finale against the Spartans.
Bowl streak: The Panthers have reached a bowl game each of the last six seasons.
Remaining schedule: at North Carolina (Nov. 15), vs. Syracuse (Nov. 22), at Miami (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: Pittsburgh allows 33.4 points per game in ACC play.
Will they go bowling? Maybe. Another shootout seems likely against the Tar Heels, and the Panthers have to win against Syracuse On Nov. 22. That’s non-negotiable.
Bowl streak: The Gamecocks have played in six consecutive bowl games under Steve Spurrier.
Remaining schedule: at Florida (Nov. 15), vs. South Alabama (Nov. 22), at Clemson (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: South Carolina has allowed 39.1 points per game in SEC play, including 42 points or more in its last three losses.
Will they go bowling? Maybe. It will take a win at either Florida or Clemson. The trip to "The Swamp" is a toss up, but the Gamecocks have won five in a row against the Tigers.
Bowl streak: Tennessee hasn’t played in a bowl game since 2010.
Remaining schedule: vs. Kentucky (Nov. 15), vs. Missouri (Nov. 22) at Vanderbilt (Nov. 29)
Stat that matters: The Volunteers finished 5-7 each of the last three seasons.
Will they go bowling? Yes. The Volunteers will break that streak by winning at least two of the next three, and that will leave fans wondering what might have been in close losses to Georgia and Florida.
Bowl streak: The Longhorns last missed a bowl game in 2010.
Remaining schedule: vs. West Virginia (Nov. 8), at Oklahoma State (Nov. 15), vs. TCU (Nov. 27)
Stat that matters: Since reaching the BCS championship game in 2009, Texas is 21-20 in Big 12 play.
Will they go bowling? Maybe. The Longhorns need two of three. A bowl game might not seem like much, but it would be something for first-year coach Charlie Strong to build on.
Bowl streak: The Red Raiders have played in 13 consecutive bowl games.
Remaining schedule: vs. Oklahoma, at Iowa State, vs. Baylor
Stat that matters: The Red Raiders allow the fifth-most points in the nation at 41.6 points per game.
Will they go bowling? No. Texas Tech might get one of Oklahoma or Baylor at home, but a sweep seems unlikely.
Bowl streak: The Cavaliers haven’t played in a bowl game since 2011.
Remaining schedule: at Florida State (Nov. 8), vs. Miami, Fla. (Nov. 22), at Virginia Tech (Nov. 28)
Stat that matters: Virginia hasn’t beaten Virginia Tech since 2003.
Will they go bowling? No. It’s hard to see the Cavaliers winning two of those games.
Bowl streak: The Hokies have the second-longest streak of consecutive bowl appearances streak at 21.
Remaining schedule: at Duke (Nov. 15), at Wake Forest (Nov. 22), vs. Virginia (Nov. 28)
Stat that matters: The Hokies are 7-9 against Power 5 opponents since the start of last season, including a 2-4 record this season.
Will they go bowling? Yes. Even with a potential loss at Duke, the Hokies should get back-to-back wins against the Demon Deacons and Cavaliers.
