eligibility

[edited to fix Big Ten # and chart]

Another crazy weekend that really impacted the bowl games, and in particular, Georgia Tech. 

Your recap of bowl affiliations by conference:

Big Ten – 8 affiliations

Rose, Heart of Dallas, Outback, Gator, Capital One, Buffalo Wild Wings, Meineke Car Care and  Little Ceasars

ACC – 8 affiliations

Orange, Sun, Music City, Chick Fil A, Russell Athletic, Independence, Military and Belk

B12 – 7 affiliations

Fiesta, Cotton, Pinstripe, Buffalo Wild Wings, Alamo, Meineke Car Care and Holiday

Big East – 6 affiliations

BBVA Compass, Liberty*, Pin Stripe, Russell Athletic, Belk and Beef O’Brady’s

Conference USA – 6 affiliations

Heart of Dallas, Liberty*, Armed Forces, Hawaii, New Orleans and Beef O’Brady’s

MAC – 3 affiliations

Go Daddy, Little Caesars and Famous Idaho Potato

Mountain West – 5 affiliations

Armed Forces, Hawaii*, Las Vegas, Poinsettia and New Mexico

PAC 12 – 7 affiliations

Rose, Sun, Kraft Fight Hunger, Alamo, Holiday, Las Vegas and New Mexico

SEC – 10 affiliations

Sugar, BBVA Compass, Cotton, Outback, Gator, Capital One, Music City, Liberty*, Chik Fil A and Independence

Sun Belt – 2 affiliations

Go Daddy and New Orleans

WAC – 2 affiliations

Hawaii* and Famous Idaho Potato

At Large Bids – 5

BCS Championship, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange

Other Bids (Independent) – 3

Poinsettia (takes BYU eligible), Kraft Fight Hunger (takes Navy if eligible) and Military (takes Army if eligible)

* Liberty takes either CUSA or SEC team and Hawaii takes Mountain West or WAC team

In total, 35 bowl games meaning 70 slots that have to be filled by eligible teams.  Let us see how each conference fairs in terms of eligible teams.  This is likely the last entry for this season since I expect that after next weekend we will know all of the eligible teams AND where they will be going.  However, one new addition.

Did someone say cha...

Chart!

It was requested that I add a chart to make it easier to see the eligible teams by conference.  Hopefully the following chart will do the job:

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Your conference-by-conference breakdown:

Big Ten

Eligible Teams:

Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin

Analysis:

As a conference, the Big Ten really wanted both Purdue and Michigan State to win for greater visibility during the bowl season.  And they did just that each becoming bowl eligible with identical 6-6 records.  With OSU and Penn State out of the bowl picture, it will mean tougher opponents for the remaining teams with the conference only fielding 7 of the 8 teams it needed to fill its obligations.

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ACC

Eligible Teams:

Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, NC State and Virginia Tech

Analysis:

Virginia Tech reach a bowl game for the 20^thstraight season with its victory of Virginia.  Wake Forest, on the other hand, could not beat Vanderbilt and will remain home.  Georgia Tech, by virtue of their lose to Georgia, now needs to win the ACC Championship game to guarantee themselves a bowl game.  Otherwise, their 6-7 record will leave them hoping there will be an insufficient number of eligible teams requiring the NCAA to use its eligibility rules for such circumstances.  The ACC currently has 6 teams eligible out of a required 8, but Georgia Tech’s status is up in the air.

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Big 12

Eligible Teams:

Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia

Analysis:

It is still hard to believe we are this late into the season and still talking about West Virginia’s eligibility given how they started the year.  Yet, at long last, the Mountaineers will be in a bowl game after defeating Iowa State.  High scoring Baylor outlasted Texas Tech to also reach bowl eligibility.  The Big 12 will finish with 9 eligible teams while only requiring 7 to fill its obligations.

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Big East

Eligible Teams:

Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers and Syracuse

On the Cusp:

Pittsburgh (South Florida)

Analysis:

It is remarkable that, even though they are 7-5, Syracuse is actually in the BCS bowl conversation.  Though they will not be selected, as the rule is based on where they wind up in the BCS rankings with Rutgers and Louisville, it still demonstrates the turnaround for their season.  Pittsburgh defeated Rutgers given them a much easier road to bowl eligibility this week against South Florida.  Assuming they win, the Big East will have 5 teams out of a required 6 obligations.

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Conference USA

Eligible Teams:

UCF, East Carolina, Rice, SMU and Tulsa

Analysis:

Marshall lost in double overtime to East Carolina to fall out of bowl contention.  SMU and Rice, on the other hand, both won their final games and are now eligible for a bowl.  Conference USA finishes with 5 eligible teams while requiring 6 for their affiliations.

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Independents

Eligible Teams:

BYU, Notre Dame and Navy

Analysis:

Notre Dame will be going to the BCS Championship.  No other changes for the Independents.  They finish with 3 bowl teams while having 3 affiliations.

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MAC

Eligible Teams:

Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, Northern Illinois and Toledo.

Analysis:

As expected, Central Michigan defeated UMass and is now bowl eligible.  The MAC finishes with 7 eligible teams while only having 3 bowl affiliations.

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Mountain West

Eligible Teams:

Air Force, Fresno State, San Diego State, Boise State, Nevada

Analysis:

The MWC was already complete with 5 eligible teams to fill its 5 affiliations.

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PAC 12

Eligible Teams:

Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Washington

Analysis:

The PAC-12 has eight eligible teams for seven affiliations.

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SEC

Eligible Teams:

Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt

Analysis:

Missouri lost to Texas A&M meaning they will be staying home this bowl season while Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State to reach bowl eligibility.  The SEC will have 9 eligible teams coming one short of its 10 obligations.

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Sun Belt

Eligible Teams:

Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State and
Western Kentucky

Analysis:

Troy lost their last game meaning the Sun Belt is done with 5 eligible teams.  They are affiliated with only 2 bowl games.

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WAC

Eligible Teams:

Utah State, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State

Analysis:

When it comes to bowl eligibility, the WAC is already set with 3 teams.  They are affiliated with 2 bowl games.

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Final Analysis

Of the 70 slots available, 71 teams have already qualified, which includes Pittsburgh who should become eligible this week.  The impact of Pittsburgh winning will likely affect one of the WAC or Sun Belt bowl eligible teams.

With these numbers including Georgia Tech, it does appear that they will have to win their game against Florida State in the ACC Championship to maintain their eligibility. Ah the craziness of the ACC!

Last week, I predicted that the following schools would become bowl eligible after the past weekend:

Central Michigan(Won)
Michigan State(Won)
Purdue(Won)
Rice(Won)
Virginia Tech(Won)

Perfect score, though several other teams also became eligible (SMU, West Virginia, Mississippi).  It means that there will be enough school eligible to fill all the bowl games, which organizers of some low-rated games are thankful for.

As much as I hate to say, I am rooting for Notre Dame this weekend against USC.  I cannot stand to watch another SEC dominated BCS Championship game and the Irish are all that stand between that matchup coming to fruition once more.

Miami became bowl eligible this past weekend and made the smart decision to self impose a ban for this season.  One just has to look at Ohio State to see why it was better to forego a bowl during a 6-5 season – you never know what the next season will bring.  I am sure those in charge at OSU are lamenting that decision now.

Your recap of bowl affiliations by conference:

Big Ten – 8 affiliations

Rose, Heart of Dallas, Outback, Gator, Capital One, Buffalo Wild Wings, Meineke Car Care and  Little Ceasars

ACC – 8 affiliations

Orange, Sun, Music City, Chick Fil A, Russell Athletic, Independence, Military and Belk

B12 – 7 affiliations

Fiesta, Cotton, Pinstripe, Buffalo Wild Wings, Alamo, Meineke Car Care and Holiday

Big East – 6 affiliations

BBVA Compass, Liberty*, Pin Stripe, Russell Athletic, Belk and Beef O’Brady’s

Conference USA – 6 affiliations

Heart of Dallas, Liberty*, Armed Forces, Hawaii, New Orleans and Beef O’Brady’s

MAC – 3 affiliations

Go Daddy, Little Caesars and Famous Idaho Potato

Mountain West – 5 affiliations

Armed Forces, Hawaii*, Las Vegas, Poinsettia and New Mexico

PAC 12 – 7 affiliations

Rose, Sun, Kraft Fight Hunger, Alamo, Holiday, Las Vegas and New Mexico

SEC – 10 affiliations

Sugar, BBVA Compass, Cotton, Outback, Gator, Capital One, Music City, Liberty*, Chik Fil A and Independence

Sun Belt – 2 affiliations

Go Daddy and New Orleans

WAC – 2 affiliations

Hawaii* and Famous Idaho Potato

At Large Bids – 5

BCS Championship, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange

Other Bids (Independent) – 3

Poinsettia (takes BYU eligible), Kraft Fight Hunger (takes Navy if eligible) and Military (takes Army if eligible)

* Liberty takes either CUSA or SEC team and Hawaii takes Mountain West or WAC team

In total, 35 bowl games meaning 70 slots that have to be filled by eligible teams.  Let us see how each conference fairs in terms of eligible teams.  The information below is broken down as follows: Eligible Teams (have 6 wins already) and On the Cusp (5 wins). I only have one teams left in the Still Have a Shot category.  I have also provided the remaining schedule beside each team listed under On the Cusp.

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Big Ten

Eligible Teams:

Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin

On the Cusp:

Michigan State (Minnesota)

Purdue (Indiana)

Analysis:

Purdue took care of business against Illinois and now just has to win against Indiana.  Michigan State lost another close one against Northwestern and is lucky that Minnesota is the last game on their schedule.  A lose to the Gophers will leave the Spartans at home.

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ACC

Eligible Teams:

Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech and NC State

On the Cusp:

Wake Forest (Vanderbilt)

Virginia Tech (Virginia)

Analysis:

Both Georgia Tech and Miami became bowl eligible this week, but the administrators at Miami immediately took their program out of the post season.  Wake Forest and Virginia Tech still have  a shot on the last Saturday of the season, but neither game is easy.

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Big 12

Eligible Teams:

Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, TCU and Texas Tech

On the Cusp:

West Virginia (Iowa State and Kansas)

Baylor (Texas Tech and Oklahoma State)

Analysis:

Baylor’s huge upset of Kansas State puts them in a good position to become bowl eligible.  They have two tough opponents, but as we saw this past Saturday, they can score and should be competitive.  West Virginia almost pulled out a victory against Oklahoma, but they can rest easy knowing Kansas is still on the schedule though it is shocking that they are still not eligible given how their season started.  Iowa State, on the other hand, reached six wins and is now bowl eligible.

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Big East

Eligible Teams:

Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers and Syracuse

On the Cusp:

None

Still a Shot:

Pittsburgh (Rutgers and South Florida)

Analysis:

Look at Syracuse!  Following a big win against Louisville, they followed that up by defeating Missouri to become bowl eligible.  Pittsburgh was off, so I will keep them on the list, but they have a tough game this week.  If they can get past Rutgers, their chances look good against South Florida.

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Conference USA

Eligible Teams:

UCF, East Carolina and Tulsa

On the Cusp:

SMU (Tulsa)

Rice (UTEP)

Marshall (East Carolina)

Analysis:

Rice beat SMU to set up a big game against UTEP – win that, and they likely go to a bowl game.  SMU has a tougher challenge against Tulsa this week.  Marshall beat Houston, knocking them out of bowl contention, but like SMU, have a tough test against East Carolina.  If all three can win this weekend, the C-USA will have six bowl eligible teams.

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Independents

Eligible Teams:

BYU, Notre Dame and Navy

On the Cusp:

None

Analysis:

Nothing changed for the Independents – wait – scratch that.  Notre Dame easily took down Wake Forest and are now in line to reach the BCS Championship after Kansas State and Oregon lost.

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MAC

Eligible Teams:

Ball State, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio, Northern Illinois and Toledo.

On the Cusp:

Central Michigan (Massachusetts)

Analysis:

Central Michigan took care of Miami (Ohio) and should become bowl eligible this weekend against UMass.  That will give the MAC seven bowl eligible teams.

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Mountain West

Eligible Teams:

Air Force, Fresno State, San Diego State, Boise State, Nevada

On the Cusp:

None

Analysis:

Air Force obtained bowl eligibility by beating Hawaii become the 5^thand final team from the MWC.

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PAC 12

Eligible Teams:

Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Washington

On the Cusp:

None

Analysis:

Arizona State is the last team to become eligible after Utah lost to Arizona.  That is eight eligible teams from the PAC-12.

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SEC

Eligible Teams:

Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt

On the Cusp:

Mississippi (Mississippi State)

Missouri (Texas A&M)

Analysis:

Arkansas and Tennessee lost eliminating both schools from bowl contention.  Dooley was immediately fired and I think we can expect that John L. Smith will gone as well.  Mississippi and Missouri also lost, but they each have one game remaining.  I do not expect either to win, however, which would close the SEC with eight eligible teams.

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Sun Belt

Eligible Teams:

Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State and
Western Kentucky

On the Cusp:

Troy (Middle Tennessee State)

Analysis:

Louisiana-Lafayette became bowl eligible by beating Western Kentucky.  Troy did not win leaving them with one more chance to reach the post season.

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WAC

Eligible Teams:

Utah State, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State

On the Cusp:

None

Analysis:

When it comes to bowl eligibility, the WAC is already set.

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Final Analysis

Of the 70 slots available, 62 teams have already qualified.  I have a further 13 teams listed as On the Cusp.  There is still a good chance that there will be enough eligible teams available, though only Pittsburgh remains on my Still a Shot list.  Last week, I predicted that the following schools would become bowl eligible after the past weekend:

Air Force (Won)
Arizona State (Won)
Georgia Tech (Won)
Iowa State (Won)
Miami (Fla.) (Won)
Missouri (Lost)
SMU (Lost)

Five out of seven – not terrible.  With Miami taking a bowl ban this year, the remaining bowl games are itching to see more teams become eligible.  I believe the following teams will become bowl eligible this week:

Central Michigan
Michigan State
Purdue
Rice
Virginia Tech

If correct, that would leave three spots still available to fill up all the bowl games.  Three teams play after this week: Pittsburgh (if they win this week), West Virginia and Baylor.  Only West Virginia looks like a sure thing.  As a result, if my predictions are accurate, there is the potential for a shortage of bowl eligible teams.  I will look at this further in next week’s edition.

His season is over now.  Can he kick in the bowl game and will it have any effect on his eligibility?

It would be nice if he could provide some stability on the football team.

That was one helluva goal he had last night.  I like that kid.

So rather than read about Trent, I'd like to find out what's up with Dorsey. I did a site search, and a general Google search, but don't see anything definitive.

Is Dorsey forced to go JUCO, or is he coming to MIchigan?

What goes into this decision? Grades? Scores? Other? Is he admitted to Michigan provisionally, or no?

When will we know? Are there dates by which he has to be admitted? Is this another situation like Turner last year, where it takes so long to get approval that the year is essentially lost?

In reading Misopogon's awesome defensive analysis, I get the sense that for the defense to be good in 2010, we will have to be fortunate to have one or more true freshmen step in and make an immediate legitimate contribution. While the secondary now has much more depth than last year, it has very little experience. For Dorsey to come in on time this summer and go through a full pre-season of practice could be one of the crucial difference makers in having a successful season.

I read somewhere that Adrian Witty is retaking classes and hopes to enroll in January...if that happens, does this season count as a redshirt season? Or could he redshirt in 2010, anyway? And which recruiting class would he count towards? 2009 or 2010? I'm confused about the whole situation.

So I understand why college football players can't sign endorsement deals or have their names on jerseys that are sold to the public.

What I don't understand is why the same players can sign minor league baseball contracts! They are getting paid a retainer to play a sport, doesn't that compromise their amateur status?

How come that skier at Colorado couldn't get ski endorsements, but Drew Henson and Jake Locker can bank major bones in a baseball contract?

On the very same ESPN football page, it says that an Oklahoma linebacker has been ruled ineligible because he played in a semi-pro league before he went to community college and then to OU. Bizarre.