Man, if I watched this team as an outsider, I’d be excited about the show this team puts on. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us in the Mayo bowl.
The NYC bowls have poor stadiums for football, but there are fun things to do there.
There are two tiers, and Birmingham and Gasparilla are in the second tier. We’re almost certainly going in the first tier.
California is eligible for the Pac12 tie in bowls (Alamo, Independence, LA, Las Vegas, and Sun Bowls)
- Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs Big Ten
- Fenway Bowl vs American Athletic
- Holiday Bowl vs TBD (it used to be the Pac-12)
- Go Bowling Military Bowl vs American Athletic
- Pinstripe Bowl vs Big Ten
- Pop-Tarts Bowl vs Big 12
- ReliaQuest Bowl vs SEC (or Big Ten)
- TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs SEC
- Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs TBD (it used to be the Pac-12)
Alternate Affiliations, if available
- Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl vs AAC or SEC
- Birmingham Bowl vs SEC or AAC
- SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs SEC or AAC
There’s also the possibility of a swap to another bowl, but that’s unlikely for an upper tier team, and we’re upper tier.
If Louisville beats Kentucky, I think they go to the Gator. A lot depends on SMU, Clemson, and Miami.
We are tied for fourth with Louisville. Duke is playing Wake right now; Duke and Syracuse can move into a tie with us with wins.
There are ins and outs, but if things hold I
HOPE SMU and Miami go to the playoffs, Clemson and Louisville divide the Gator and Pop-Tart bowl between them (though I’d like us to go to the Pop Tarts Bowl—it’s a fit for us).
That probably puts us with Mayo, Sun, Holiday, Military, ReliaQuest, or Pinstripe. ReliaQuest is Jan 1 in Tampa.
If we’re ever going to the Mayo bowl, this seems like the year.