It was essentially a foregone conclusion, but all of the bowl game match-ups were announced today, and Michigan State did not make the cut.
Coming into the final weekend of the regular season, a total of 73 teams had qualified for the 82 available bowl spots. In that final week, Ball State, Georgia Southern, Missouri, UAB, Louisiana, and Southern Miss all won their sixth game of the season to earn a bowl bid. That brough the total number of bowl teams up to 79.
On Friday, Buffalo beat Akron is a game that had been postponed due to weather in Week 11. That made 80. Then New Mexico State beat Valparaiso in a game that replaced the canceled game with San Jose State on Oct. 22. Under the circumstance, New Mexico State was granted a wavier by the NCAA to count two wins against FCS opponents towards the six win threshold. New Mexico State will face Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl as the 81th team to qualify.
The final spot in the bowl season goes to the 5-7 team with the highest academic progress report (APR) score which is Rice. The Owls will face Southern Miss in the Lending Tree Bowl.
Michigan State finishes the season as the "third team out" of the bowl season. Both UNLV and Auburn would have qualified for a bowl game before MSU.
The offseason is officially upon us.
Coming into the final weekend of the regular season, a total of 73 teams had qualified for the 82 available bowl spots. In that final week, Ball State, Georgia Southern, Missouri, UAB, Louisiana, and Southern Miss all won their sixth game of the season to earn a bowl bid. That brough the total number of bowl teams up to 79.
On Friday, Buffalo beat Akron is a game that had been postponed due to weather in Week 11. That made 80. Then New Mexico State beat Valparaiso in a game that replaced the canceled game with San Jose State on Oct. 22. Under the circumstance, New Mexico State was granted a wavier by the NCAA to count two wins against FCS opponents towards the six win threshold. New Mexico State will face Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl as the 81th team to qualify.
The final spot in the bowl season goes to the 5-7 team with the highest academic progress report (APR) score which is Rice. The Owls will face Southern Miss in the Lending Tree Bowl.
Michigan State finishes the season as the "third team out" of the bowl season. Both UNLV and Auburn would have qualified for a bowl game before MSU.
The offseason is officially upon us.
