The Pac-12 dissolved 14 months in the past, however one vestige of the previous convention stays related to the faculty soccer season unfolding this fall: the bowl lineup. The legacy groups are tied to the identical postseason association that existed previous to collapse.
Every week, the Hotline will undertaking and assess the postseason standing for all 12 groups. Final week’s projections could be discovered right here.
With one Saturday remaining within the season’s first half, enable the Hotline to remind followers of a vital element to the Pac-12 bowl choice process.
As an alternative of utilizing convention file to determine the pecking order, general file is the determinant. Groups that end 9-3, for instance, would have precedence over groups that end 8-4.
However there’s a catch. Bowl officers have the choice to make use of the one-win-down rule: They’ll move over Workforce X in favor of Workforce Y so long as there isn’t a greater than a one-win distinction in general file.
If Utah finishes 9-3 — simply to call one doable state of affairs — the Alamo Bowl might move on the Utes in favor of USC if the Trojans are 8-4.
That coverage holds all through the lineup (aside from the School Soccer Playoff, which has its personal choice course of).
When would possibly bowl officers make use of the one-win-down rule?
— To keep away from repeat individuals. The Solar Bowl, as an illustration, doesn’t need Washington for a second consecutive 12 months.
— Additionally, bowls are cautious of groups with interim head coaches and groups that lose star gamers to the switch portal or NFL Draft.
These elements aren’t at all times evident on bowl choice day, which is Dec. 7 this season. However they are going to be accounted for to the best extent doable.
To the projections …
School Soccer Playoff
Workforce: Oregon (Massive Ten at-large)
Remark: Penn State’s epic fail in opposition to UCLA has, admittedly, given us pause in announcing Oregon (5-0) because the co-favorite within the Massive Ten, together with Ohio State. Happily, we’ll have near-complete readability on the scenario after the Geese host Indiana on Saturday afternoon.
Alamo Bowl
Workforce: Arizona State
Remark: We view the Solar Devils (4-1) as one in every of three groups with an open highway to 9 wins — Utah and Washington are the others — however there’s one key distinction: ASU has by no means participated within the Alamo, whereas the Utes and Huskies have been to San Antonio inside the previous six years.
Las Vegas Bowl
Workforce: Washington
Remark: The victory at Maryland was vital on a number of fronts, together with the way it impacts UW’s bowl math. If the Huskies (4-1) win the video games they need to win (Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, UCLA and Rutgers), they may get to 9-3 and safe a spot in one of many top-tier bowls.
Vacation Bowl
Workforce: USC
Remark: There are simply two video games remaining that we really feel comfy placing within the “ought to win” class for the Trojans (4-1) given their knack for blowing leads on the highway and the unsure nature of the Crosstown Showdown with UCLA.
Solar Bowl
Workforce: Utah
Remark: The following two weeks, with Arizona State visiting Salt Lake Metropolis and the Holy Conflict in Provo, will outline the remainder of the season for the Utes (4-1). They are going to be favored in most, if not each sport after the mid-October double whammy.
LA Bowl
Workforce: Arizona
Remark: It will take a near-complete collapse for the Wildcats (4-1) to overlook the postseason — they merely want two wins within the last seven video games to safe a berth. Three of these look daunting: BYU (house), Cincinnati (highway) and ASU (highway). The opposite 4 are toss-ups, at worst.
ESPN bowl
Workforce: Cal
Remark: The warning lights are flashing purple in Berkeley. Of their previous three video games, the Bears (4-2) have been embarrassed at San Diego State, snuck previous Boston School, which simply misplaced to Pittsburgh 48-7, and acquired walloped by Duke. At this fee, the postseason can hardly be thought-about a lock.
ESPN bowl
Workforce: Washington State
Remark: We’re giving the Cougars (3-2) the advantage of the doubt with their bowl math, partly as a result of they face Oregon State twice. However a break up with the Beavers would lower the chance of a bowl bid in half, from 50.01 % to 25.005 %.
Non-qualifier
Workforce: Colorado
Remark: As rapidly because the Buffaloes (2-4) rose from dreadful to related, they might slide from related again to dreadful. Add the problems with Deion Sanders’ well being, and the ultimate two months would possibly very nicely really feel like two years.
Non-qualifier
Workforce: Oregon State
Remark: Firing particular groups coordinator Jamie Christian this week solely locations extra scrutiny on Trent Bray’s administration of this system: Both you make the change when it was apparent a change was obligatory (i.e., weeks in the past) otherwise you don’t make the change in any respect. It’s not like Bray waited for a bye week. The Beavers (0-6) play Wake Forest on Saturday.
Non-qualifier
Workforce: Stanford
Remark: On the brilliant facet, the Cardinal (2-3) are nowhere close to the underside of the Energy 4. Oklahoma State, North Carolina, West Virginia and Boston School are clearly worse, and Colorado in all probability matches inside that assortment, as nicely.
Non-qualifier
Workforce: UCLA
Remark: Our evaluation of the Bruins (1-4) previous to the season pegged them for 4 or 5 wins — they have been by no means as unhealthy as they appeared underneath DeShaun Foster. Interim coach Tim Skipper, to his credit score, has unlocked the door to that expertise. We count on just a few extra wins, however not 5 extra. The outlet is simply too deep.
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