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One B1G team to reach bowl season with 5-7 record
By Paul Harvey
Published:
One B1G team is expected to reach the postseason this year despite falling short of 6 wins.
When the regular season wrapped up Saturday night, there was a shortage of teams to finish 6-6 or better to fill the 82 slots in bowl season. That means teams to finish 5-7 will be considered for the final spot in the postseason.
Only one spot was needed from teams that did not reach 6 wins, and the last spot in the postseason is expected to go to Minnesota. Nebraska and Illinois were other B1G teams to finish 5-7 this season while 8 B1G teams clinched a bowl the conventional way.
Colorado State loses to Hawaii on last-second FG, so Minnesota (5-7) gets final bowl bid. Gophers were only 5-7 team needed to fill the 82 spots. Sun Belt has 12 bowl teams. ACC has 12, including Notre Dame, followed by Big 12, Big Ten & SEC w/9 each. Pairings announced Sunday
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 26, 2023
Minnesota receiving the bid is related to the APR (Academic Progress Record) of the Golden Gophers. The APR determines the pecking order for teams to be selected in the scenario there are not enough bowl-eligible teams.
The APR is a system designed to hold programs accountable for the academic programs of their student-athletes. Minnesota led the way entering the final weekend of the season with Wake Forest, Rice, Mississippi State and UCF rounding out the top 5.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.