Bowls/Playoff & Polls Thread

[Dan]

Welcome to the Bowl/Playoff Projections & Polls Thread

Big Ten Bowl Tie-Ins

- Las Vegas Bowl vs former Pac-12 (Wed, Dec 31, 2:30pm CT, ESPN)
- Citrus Bowl vs SEC, Orlando (Wed, Dec 31, 2:00pm CT, ABC)
- ReliaQuest Bowl vs SEC, Tampa (Wed, Dec 31, 11:00am CT, ESPN)
- Music City Bowl vs SEC, Nashville (Tue, Dec 30, 4:30pm CT, ESPN)
- Pinstripe Bowl vs ACC, Bronx (Sat, Dec 27, 11:00am CT, ABC)
- Rate Bowl vs B12, Phoenix (Fri, Dec 26, 3:30pm CT, ESPN)
- GameAbove Sports Bowl vs MAC, Detroit (Fri, Dec 26, 12:00pm CT, ESPN)

(Former Pac-12 teams are eligible for former Pac-12 bowls.)

 

[TheChief4Life]

I’m gonna guess 27th in AP; just outside top 25. Five teams ahead of us lost, and 1 didn’t play. I guess we pass all of them. I don’t think we “wowed” enough to really jump anyone ahead of us who won.

 

[Illiniam1984]

CBS has us projected to the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs Miami, OH. Lmao

College Football Bowl Projections 2025-26

CBS Sports experts select the college football teams they believe will make the NCAA National Semifinals at the end of the 2025 season and give projections for each game.

www.cbssports.com

 

[Marshall_Lucky]

I’m gonna guess 27th in AP; just outside top 25. Five teams ahead of us lost, and 1 didn’t play. I guess we pass all of them. I don’t think we “wowed” enough to really jump anyone ahead of us who won.

Will be interesting to see the CFP rankings on Tuesday given the metrics actually seem to suggest we should be ranked higher than eye test

 

[BionicHippo10]

CBS has us projected to the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs Miami, OH. Lmao

College Football Bowl Projections 2025-26

CBS Sports experts select the college football teams they believe will make the NCAA National Semifinals at the end of the 2025 season and give projections for each game.

www.cbssports.com

On the bright side, that would definitely get us to 10 wins!

 

[wma500]

Choose your adventure, CFP version…..

How do you rank 2 loss Oklahoma, Alabama, ND and Miami? This group will likely comprise #’s 8-11. One of them would be slotted to host a first round game.

Go…

 

[Marshall_Lucky]

CBS has us projected to the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs Miami, OH. Lmao

College Football Bowl Projections 2025-26

CBS Sports experts select the college football teams they believe will make the NCAA National Semifinals at the end of the 2025 season and give projections for each game.

www.cbssports.com

They have us slotted below NW, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn state (!), nebby

 

[OskieWowWow]

CBS has us projected to the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs Miami, OH. Lmao

College Football Bowl Projections 2025-26

CBS Sports experts select the college football teams they believe will make the NCAA National Semifinals at the end of the 2025 season and give projections for each game.

www.cbssports.com

Florida bowl or bust

 

[TheChief4Life]

CBS has us projected to the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs Miami, OH. Lmao

College Football Bowl Projections 2025-26

CBS Sports experts select the college football teams they believe will make the NCAA National Semifinals at the end of the 2025 season and give projections for each game.

www.cbssports.com

Well… I mean, they also have this:

So… their opinion is !!!!.

 

[aaeismacgychel]

Will be interesting to see the CFP rankings on Tuesday given the metrics actually seem to suggest we should be ranked higher than eye test

The crazy thing is that our 3 losses have been to really good teams, 2 on the road. And we've beaten another really good team. Yes, margin of those losses isn't good, but when you have a team like Tennessee whose best win is beating a 5-5 Kentucky on the road and haven't beaten a single team with a winning record what exactly makes them deserving? Taking Georgia to OT?

 

[Illinifan1154]

They have us slotted below NW, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn state (!), nebby

So they have us going 7-5 and losing the last two. If we win 8 games I don’t believe there is much possibility of slipping below Music City and definitely not with 9. They could only jump us with teams with 1 less win (I.e., 6-6 Penn State would jump a 7-5 team but not 8-4).

 

[Ramrod2010]

Choose your adventure, CFP version…..

How do you rank 2 loss Oklahoma, Alabama, ND and Miami? This group will likely comprise #’s 8-11. One of them would be slotted to host a first round game.

Go…

Gross.

I think OU is at the top of that group, but after that

OU
ND
Alabama
Miami

Looking at their losses (and games in general) just reinforces my belief that we are getting excessively hammered for the "how" portion of our losses.

 

[Illinijoe]

Or they are just incompetent and lazy

 

[aaeismacgychel]

I've got us ranked this week, but based off some of the early projections we might be on the outside looking in.

 

[aaeismacgychel]

Gross.

I think OU is at the top of that group, but after that

OU
ND
Alabama
Miami

Looking at their losses (and games in general) just reinforces my belief that we are getting excessively hammered for the "how" portion of our losses.

Major overvaluing of margin and preseason predictions and undervaluing of actual wins and losses and quality of win.

 

[SuperintendentChalmers]

From a national perspective, I'm not necessarily sure I blame them, but most of these bowl projections reflect very little thought beyond the playoff teams.

 

[Piotyr]

From a national perspective, I'm not necessarily sure I blame them, but most of these bowl projections reflect very little thought beyond the playoff teams.

It's the new mentality of the CFP. If you aren't in the top 12, nothing matters. Eventually, thought will adjust.

 

[DeonThomas]

				Marquee		Games
Rank	Team	Conf	Record	Win	YTD Losses	Remaining
1	OSU	Big Ten	10-0	Texas	-	RUTG; @MICH
2	IND	Big Ten	11-0	@OREG	-	@Purd
3	TXA&M	SEC	10-0	@ND	-	SAM; @TEX
4	UGA	SEC	9-1	Mississippi	@ALA	CLT; @GT
5	MISS	SEC	10-1	Oklahoma	@UGA	@MSU
6	OREG	Big Ten	9-1	@Iowa	IND	USC; @Wash
7	TTU	Big 12	10-1	BYU	@ASU	@WVU
8	OKLA	SEC	8-2	Michigan	TEX; MISS	MIZZ; LSU
9	ND	IND	8-2	USC	TEXA&M; @MIA	SYR;@Stan
10	BYU	Big 12	8-1	Utah	TexTech	@CIN; UCF
11	ALA	SEC	8-2	Georgia	OKLA; FSU	EIU; @AUB
12	VANDY	SEC	8-2	Missouri	@ALA; @TEX	KY; @TENN
13	USC	Big Ten	8-2	Michigan	@ILL; @ND	@Oreg; UCLA
14	GT	ACC	9-1	@Duke	@NCST	Pitt; UGA
15	UTAH	Big 12	8-2	Arizona St	TTU; @BYU	KSU; @KAN
16	MIA	ACC	8-2	Notre Dame	LOU; @SMU	@VaTech; @Pitt
17	MICH	Big Ten	8-2	Washington	@OKLA; @USC	@MD; OSU
18	TEX	SEC	7-3	Vanderbilt	@UGA; @OSU; @FLA	ARK; TXA&M
19	WASH	Big Ten	7-3	Illinois	OSU; @MICH; @WISC	@UCLA; Oreg
20	ILL	Big Ten	7-3	USC	@IND, OSU, @WASH	@Wisc; NW
21	TENN	SEC	7-3	Kentucky	@UGA; ALA; OKLA	@FLA; Vandy
22	HOU	Big 12	8-2	@Arizona St	TTU; WVU	TCU; @BAY
23	MIZZ	SEC	7-3	@Auburn	TXA&M; VANDY; @KY	@OKLA; @ARK
24	NEB	Big Ten	7-3	CIN	MICH; USC; @MINN	Iowa; @Penn St
25	VIRG	ACC	9-2	@Lou	@NCST; WF	VaTech

Condoleezza's updated ballot in anticipation of the 11/18 CFP rankings release. The "remaining games" column is informational only, and naturally does not factor into this week's rankings. She re-emphasized to me her reliance on strength-of-schedule. (Play superior teams and you'll be rewarded. Play those teams tough, and you'll be significantly rewarded.)

 

[joeybcrazy13]

Lets play the kitty kat bowl!!!

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

i’m really hoping for Music City .

we will be in Nashville from 12/28-12/31, mainly due to a road trip wife & I are doing . after that , we are spending new years night in Athens and then 3 nights in Savanna & 3 nights in Charleston

being able to see Illini in a bowl in nashville would just really be nice .

anyone with comments for ideas for things to see in any of those 3 cities, please DM me

 

[Illini2010-11]

CBS has us projected to the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs Miami, OH. Lmao

College Football Bowl Projections 2025-26

CBS Sports experts select the college football teams they believe will make the NCAA National Semifinals at the end of the 2025 season and give projections for each game.

www.cbssports.com

Has to be satire. They have Penn Stare in Reliaquest...

 

[Illiniam1984]

Has to be satire. They have Penn Stare in Reliaquest...

It’s really comical…. They are taking into account that we are going to lose our last two games but even than going 7-5 may not drop us that far down imo.

 

[FloridaMan]

				Marquee		Games
Rank	Team	Conf	Record	Win	YTD Losses	Remaining
1	OSU	Big Ten	10-0	Texas	-	RUTG; @MICH
2	IND	Big Ten	11-0	@OREG	-	@Purd
3	TXA&M	SEC	10-0	@ND	-	SAM; @TEX
4	UGA	SEC	9-1	Mississippi	@ALA	CLT; @GT
5	MISS	SEC	10-1	Oklahoma	@UGA	@MSU
6	OREG	Big Ten	9-1	@Iowa	IND	USC; @Wash
7	TTU	Big 12	10-1	BYU	@ASU	@WVU
8	OKLA	SEC	8-2	Michigan	TEX; MISS	MIZZ; LSU
9	ND	IND	8-2	USC	TEXA&M; @MIA	SYR;@Stan
10	BYU	Big 12	8-1	Utah	TexTech	@CIN; UCF
11	ALA	SEC	8-2	Georgia	OKLA; FSU	EIU; @AUB
12	VANDY	SEC	8-2	Missouri	@ALA; @TEX	KY; @TENN
13	USC	Big Ten	8-2	Michigan	@ILL; @ND	@Oreg; UCLA
14	GT	ACC	9-1	@Duke	@NCST	Pitt; UGA
15	UTAH	Big 12	8-2	Arizona St	TTU; @BYU	KSU; @KAN
16	MIA	ACC	8-2	Notre Dame	LOU; @SMU	@VaTech; @Pitt
17	MICH	Big Ten	8-2	Washington	@OKLA; @USC	@MD; OSU
18	TEX	SEC	7-3	Vanderbilt	@UGA; @OSU; @FLA	ARK; TXA&M
19	WASH	Big Ten	7-3	Illinois	OSU; @MICH; @WISC	@UCLA; Oreg
20	ILL	Big Ten	7-3	USC	@IND, OSU, @WASH	@Wisc; NW
21	TENN	SEC	7-3	Kentucky	@UGA; ALA; OKLA	@FLA; Vandy
22	HOU	Big 12	8-2	@Arizona St	TTU; WVU	TCU; @BAY
23	MIZZ	SEC	7-3	@Auburn	TXA&M; VANDY; @KY	@OKLA; @ARK
24	NEB	Big Ten	7-3	CIN	MICH; USC; @MINN	Iowa; @Penn St
25	VIRG	ACC	9-2	@Lou	@NCST; WF	VaTech

Condoleezza's updated ballot in anticipation of the 11/18 CFP rankings release. The "remaining games" column is informational only, and naturally does not factor into this week's rankings. She re-emphasized to me her reliance on strength-of-schedule. (Play superior teams and you'll be rewarded. Play those teams tough, and you'll be significantly rewarded.)

Need all voters to be this thoughtful in their selections.

 

[Dkayak]

Well… I mean, they also have this:
View attachment 45001
So… their opinion is !!!!.

Ped State may not even be bowl-eligible!

 

[spotter]

After yesterday’s win the bowl game got warmer. Win the last two and the bowl game will be warmer yet.