The image of the bowl is becoming very, very clear.
With one week left in the 2024 college football regular season, 77 teams are already eligible for the postseason and have at least six wins. Counting the 12-team playoffs, there are 82 postseason berths available with 35 non-playoff bowls at the end of the season.
The number of bowl-eligible teams is guaranteed to be no less than 79 at the end of the regular season with two games with 5-6 teams in Week 14. And there are likely more bowl-eligible teams than there are. . Spots available once Saturday night ends.
Sixteen teams have five wins heading into the final week of the regular season. Not all of them will be bowl eligible, but one or more of them could win a sixth game in Week 14 and miss the postseason entirely if there are more teams with six wins than bowl spots.
Here’s a look at all the teams that need to win in the final week of the regular season to have a chance at a bowl game. All odds are from BetMGM.
Appalachian State (+2.5 at Georgia Southern): The Mountaineers are the only team in this group that is not 5-6 thanks to a game canceled earlier this season due to Hurricane Helene. Georgia Southern needs to win and hope Marshall loses to reach the Sun Belt title game.
Chestnut (+11.5 in Alabama): Never rule out what can happen in the Iron Bowl. Especially after what happened in Week 13 when Auburn defeated Texas A&M in four overtimes. However, we’re still not that optimistic about Auburn’s chances of making it to a bowl game.
Cincinnati (+2.5 vs. TCU): The Bearcats have been stuck at five wins for more than a month. Cincinnati enters the season finale on a four-game losing streak with losses to Colorado, West Virginia, Iowa State and Kansas State. TCU has very little hope of making the Big 12 title game.
Coastal Carolina (-1.5 in the state of Georgia): The battle at the bottom of the Sun Belt East Division has some significance in the postseason. Coastal has lost five of its last six games, but has a chance to make a bowl thanks to three non-conference wins.
Eastern Michigan (+6.5 in Western Michigan): We have reached our first game in which one team will be bowl eligible and the other will finish the season. And yes, both games are rivalry games.
Kansas (+1.5 at Baylor): The Jayhawks are one of the most popular teams in college football after becoming the first team with a losing record to defeat ranked opponents in three consecutive games. Can Kansas get a fourth straight win to reach a bowl game?
Louisiana-Monroe (+9.5 vs. Louisiana): The work Bryant Vincent has done in Monroe is remarkable. But his team is also on a five-game losing streak and three of those losses have been by at least 21 points.
Michigan State (-1.5 vs. Rutgers): The Spartans snapped a three-game losing streak with a 24-17 victory over Purdue. But this is still a team that has lost six of its last eight games. Rutgers got its heart broken with a late loss at home to Illinois in Week 13.
New Mexico (-1.5 in Hawaii): New Mexico opened the season 0-4, but has a chance to reach a bowl in the final week of the season. A trip to Hawaii is always enjoyable and always better with a win.
North Carolina State (+3.5 in North Carolina): It’s been a tough season for the Wolfpack, but don’t count them out against a North Carolina team that just lost at Boston College to snap a three-game winning streak.
North Texas (-10.5 in Temple): The Owls only play for pride, as they are 2-5 in the AAC and 3-8 overall. The Mean Green come into this game on a five-game losing streak and haven’t won since beating a winless Florida Atlantic team in conference play.
Oregon State (+18.5 at Boise State): The Beavers are the biggest underdogs of any 5-6 team entering the final week of the regular season. At least Oregon State can claim a Pac-12 title after beating Washington State in Week 13.
Virginia (+7 at Virginia Tech): Both the Cavaliers and Hokies are 5-6. The Cavaliers have lost five of their last six games after a 4-1 start.
Virginia Tech (-7 vs. Virginia): The Hokies went on a three-game losing streak and lost 31-28 to Duke in Week 13.
Western Michigan (-6.5 vs. Eastern Michigan): The Broncos have lost three straight while trying to become bowl eligible and fell 16-14 at NIU last week. Meanwhile, EMU has lost four games in a row. Someone has to get a sixth victory.
Wisconsin (-2 against Minnesota): There are many losing streaks among teams looking for that sixth victory. Wisconsin is also among them. The Badgers have lost four straight and have not won since beating Northwestern 23-3.