College football bowl projections: Teams in the spotlight as postseason picture gets clearer

As the college football regular season approaches its conclusion, 72 Football Bowl Subdivision teams have secured eligibility for 82 available postseason slots. Twenty additional teams have an opportunity to qualify with a win in their final regular-season games. Among these, three crucial matchups will determine bowl eligibility for competing teams with 5-6 records: Penn State vs. Rutgers, Georgia Southern vs. Marshall, and Arkansas State vs. Appalachian State.

Additionally, fourteen other teams with five wins have a chance to secure bowl eligibility this weekend, including matchups such as Kentucky vs. Louisville, Alabama vs. Auburn, and Florida State vs. Florida. If there aren't enough 6-6 teams to fill the bowl slots, the NCAA may consider teams transitioning from the Football Championship Subdivision, with Missouri State as a first alternate.

This season marks the second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff format. Five conference champions and the top seven at-large teams will qualify, with the four highest-ranked teams receiving first