– Before we get going, start with this – PLEASE take it all with several grains of salt. With all of the crazy changes in conference realignment, the Pac-12 gone, and with an expanded College Football Playoff that will take over the world in December, everything about the bowl season, conference bowl ties and affiliations are going to change wildly. So be aware that everything below could and probably will be a whole lot different come bowl time.- The College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams.
At the immediate moment, the top six conference champions are in, and the next six at-large teams according to the College Football Playoff rankings would make it. HOWEVER, by the time the season starts, expect the CFP to adopt a 5+7 format and only take the top five conference champions now that the Pac-12 isn’t around.- The four highest-ranked conference champions will get a bye. The first round games will be played on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams on December 20th and 21st. The Quarterfinals will be played in bowl venues: Vrbo Fiesta, Chick-fil-A Peach, Rose Bowl, and Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Semifinals will be the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9th, and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on January 10th. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be in Atlanta on January 20th.- If this does go to a 5+7 model, as expected, just assume the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC will be in, along with the highest-ranked conference champion from the American Athletic, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt.- The normal high-end bowl ties aren’t totally gone, but they’re close. In theory, the Rose Bowl would like a Big Ten team with the Pac-12 gone, but that’s not an official bowl affiliation now. The same goes for the ACC and the Orange, and the Big 12 with the Sugar. ACC BOWL TIES, AFFILIATIONS The ACC Champion will almost certainly be in the College Football Playoff and likely get a first round bye. After that, it’s all determined on how many other ACC teams get into the expanded CFP.As always, this will be be based on geography and best matchups. The conference vs conference tie-ins can be changed based on availability. If at all possible, repeat appearances from the previous season will try to be avoided. Notre Dame is eligible for any of the ACC’s bowl slots. There isn’t a true pecking order here. – Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs Big Ten- Fenway Bowl vs American Athletic- Holiday Bowl vs TBD (it used to be the Pac-12)- 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 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE BOWL TIES, AFFILIATIONS The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff. The American Athletic Conference bowl tie-ins and affiliations will mostly be based on geographic location while avoiding repeat appearances.The ESPN owned and operated bowls will move teams around to create the best possible matchups, but there are a few set ties and affiliations. However, the conference is settled into three bowls for certain, and then it’s based on matchups and availability.The American Athletic Conference is affiliated with these bowl slots- Fenway Bowl vs ACC- Military Bowl vs ACC- Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl and Hawaii Bowl in a rotation, but last season the AAC didn’t put a team in either oneThe American Athletic Conference will get a chance at putting four teams in these bowls, depending on matchups, geography, and availability- Birmingham Bowl vs SEC- Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five- Cure Bowl vs Group of Five- Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five- New Mexico Bowl vs Mountain West- Myrtle Beach Bowl vs Group of Five- SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs ACC or Big 12- Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl vs ACC or SEC BIG TEN BOWL TIES, AFFILIATIONS Consider it a mortal lock that the Big Ten champion is in the College Football Playoff, and almost certainly with one of the top four spots with a bye.The Big Ten alternates with the SEC between the Las Vegas Bowl and Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Last season Northwestern beat Utah in the Las Vegas, so assume the Big Ten will be in the Duke’s Mayo.This is the expected Big Ten bowl pecking order, but keep in mind that 1) several of the top teams in the expanded 20-team conference will be in the College Football Playoff and 2) there might be a LOT more Big Ten bowl tie-ins and affiliations coming as the season goes on.- Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs SEC – ReliaQuest Bowl vs SEC – Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs ACC- Music City Bowl vs SEC- Pinstripe Bowl vs ACC – Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big 12- Quick Lane Bowl vs MAC
