Let's look at bowl games first:
ASU or Colorado will take the Alamo Bowl.
If ASU loses the Big-12 title (who would have thunk they'd be playing for it?), then there goes the Holiday Bowl too. Cougs would fall to the LV Bowl. mutts and USC loom large with both at 6-6. Cal is 6-6 as well.
It is unlikely but possible that the Big-12 champ misses the CFP.
So I guess we root for ASU, hope we can still squeeze into the Holiday Bowl, more likely "settle" for the LV bowl, and hope they don't dog us for SC or uw and push us into the Sun Bowl.
Now, the Pac-soon-to-be-7. Probably too soon to start my "I told you so" about going all in on the reverse merger. Note that the Cougs would have finished 4th if we were in the MW, losing to 2 of their left behind bottom feeders.
So, Sacramento State. Haven't read much on the "Sac-12" or their new stadium plans lately. But the Portal opens next week. (Edit - oops the portal opens on Dec. 9. I was looking at last year's dates) Recruiting season continues. If the Pac was to welcome them in NOW, Sac State would be able to start using that announcement and their NIL pool to plunge into major personnel upgrades, get their stadium going, and start the process to get into the FBS. Waiting until next Spring? They will miss out on the recruitment windows. Likewise, I doubt that they will start tearing down their stadium without a future FBS league lined up. Which would be us or the MW. My prediction? In a week or so, after the CFP teams are determined, their new home will be announced. If not the Pac, then the MW will scoop them up. Or perhaps we go knocking on Gloria's door and say "please, please can we resurrect the merger?
3 weeks ago, WSU was firmly in the Top 25, and as things have turned out elsewhere would have still been in (admittedly longshot) contention for the CFP. At least in the conversation at 11-1. No way could anyone have predicted where we sit today.
ASU or Colorado will take the Alamo Bowl.
If ASU loses the Big-12 title (who would have thunk they'd be playing for it?), then there goes the Holiday Bowl too. Cougs would fall to the LV Bowl. mutts and USC loom large with both at 6-6. Cal is 6-6 as well.
It is unlikely but possible that the Big-12 champ misses the CFP.
So I guess we root for ASU, hope we can still squeeze into the Holiday Bowl, more likely "settle" for the LV bowl, and hope they don't dog us for SC or uw and push us into the Sun Bowl.
Now, the Pac-soon-to-be-7. Probably too soon to start my "I told you so" about going all in on the reverse merger. Note that the Cougs would have finished 4th if we were in the MW, losing to 2 of their left behind bottom feeders.
So, Sacramento State. Haven't read much on the "Sac-12" or their new stadium plans lately. But the Portal opens next week. (Edit - oops the portal opens on Dec. 9. I was looking at last year's dates) Recruiting season continues. If the Pac was to welcome them in NOW, Sac State would be able to start using that announcement and their NIL pool to plunge into major personnel upgrades, get their stadium going, and start the process to get into the FBS. Waiting until next Spring? They will miss out on the recruitment windows. Likewise, I doubt that they will start tearing down their stadium without a future FBS league lined up. Which would be us or the MW. My prediction? In a week or so, after the CFP teams are determined, their new home will be announced. If not the Pac, then the MW will scoop them up. Or perhaps we go knocking on Gloria's door and say "please, please can we resurrect the merger?
3 weeks ago, WSU was firmly in the Top 25, and as things have turned out elsewhere would have still been in (admittedly longshot) contention for the CFP. At least in the conversation at 11-1. No way could anyone have predicted where we sit today.
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