Key games for teams seeking six wins

Most of the attention during the college football season is focused on the College Football Playoff race. However, there’s also significant drama at the bottom of the postseason picture.

To fill all the spaces in the 39 bowl games this season, 78 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision must finish with six or more wins. If that doesn’t happen, teams with five wins will be added to the mix.

Here’s the current situation involving the 129 teams eligible to play in the postseason (Mississippi is ineligible) with three weeks left in the regular season:

► 64 teams have at least six wins.

► 30 teams already have seven losses.

► The 14 spots available must be filled by the remaining 35 teams. 

Here are some of the key games this week that will determine if the field is complete:

USC (5-5) at UCLA

The Trojans haven’t missed a bowl game in a season they were not under NCAA sanctions since 2000. Beating their biggest rival would be a great way to confirm their postseason inclusion with Notre Dame coming to town next week. But the Bruins certainly will be relishing their opportunity to spoil things in the battle of Los Angeles.

Boston College at Florida State (4-6)

Speaking of impressive streaks, the Seminoles have been to a bowl game in every season since 1981. Now there’s no margin for error if they want their run to continue. Florida State looked overmatched in road games at N.C. State and Notre Dame. A win against the Eagles, however, would make next week’s showdown with Florida quite interesting.

West Virginia at Oklahoma State (5-5)

The Cowboys need to bounce back quickly after their heartbreaking loss to Oklahoma. This is their home finale, and they’ve already taken down Texas in Stillwater, so a major upset isn’t out of the realm of possibility. A loss will mean they’ll have to pull out a victory at TCU to get a sixth win.

Wisconsin at Purdue (5-5)

It’s been an up-and-down campaign for the Boilermakers, who started 0-3 before reeling off five wins in six games, including defeat of ranked teams Boston College, Ohio State and Iowa. A bad loss to Minnesota curbed that momentum. Beating the Badgers is necessary to avoid heading to Indiana, where both the Old Oaken Bucket and a bowl berth would be on the line for both teams.

Miami (Fla.) (5-5) at Virginia Tech (4-5)

The Hurricanes and Hokies started the season ranked No. 8 and No. 17, respectively, yet here they are in desperate situations with two weeks left. Hoping to extend its 25-year bowl streak, Tech is reeling, mostly due to injuries. The good news is the both of its remaining games are at home and perhaps that can be the impetus for a turnaround. Miami hosts Pittsburgh next week.

Texas Tech (5-5) at Kansas State (4-6)

If this is to be the last season for Bill Snyder, sending him off in a bowl game will require a defeat of the Red Raiders and a win next week at No. 18 Iowa State. Tech, for its part, fell just short of taking down Texas last week and will need to rebound quickly for a road trip that could get emotional if K-State fans are anticipating it will be the last time Snyder will be coaching in the stadium named in his honor.

TCU (4-6) at Baylor (5-5)

The Horned Frogs have missed a bowl game in just two of the 17 seasons under Gary Patterson. But their play recently does not provide a glimmer of hope of a reversal. For the Bears, a bowl in Matt Rhule’s second season after a 1-11 debut would show significant progress. There’s another chance to get No. 6 next week against Texas Tech.

Missouri at Tennessee (5-5)

Given up for dead, the Volunteers suddenly have bowl life after beating Kentucky. The Tigers locked up their spot last week, so this is a good situation for Jeremy Pruitt’s team to keep the momentum rolling and continue the encouraging signs of progress in his first season.

Pittsburgh at Wake Forest (5-5)

Neither the Panthers or Demon Deacons looked to be in position for a bowl game halfway through the season. The former is now already eligible and a win away from locking up the ACC Coastal division. The latter surprised N.C. State last week to put itself on the brink of the postseason. A win in the home finale would do the trick for Wake with a trip to rival Duke up next.

Utah at Colorado (5-5)

It’s not been a great week for the Buffaoles, who lost to Washington State to extend their skid to five games and then heard rumors of the firing of coach Mike MacIntyre. An upset of the Utes would certainly change their fortunes, clinching both a bowl game and may keep their coach around for a while longer.

Northwestern at Minnesota (5-5)

A trip to rival Wisconsin awaits the Gophers next week, so beating the Wildcats looks like their best opportunity to avoid missing out on the postseason for the second time under P.J. Fleck. Perhaps Northwestern is soaking in its Big Ten West title too much this week. That would help, though Minnesota showed its potential last week in a rout of Purdue.