Pac-12 passes rule requiring 6 wins for bowl eligibility
Jun 4, 2018, 1:16 PM
Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry, right, makes the catch in front of Arizona cornerback Lorenzo Burns during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov 25, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Arizona 42-30. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Pac-12 will require its teams to win at least six regular-season games to play in a bowl game, eliminating the opportunity for a 5-7 squad to earn a postseason spot when there are not enough six-win teams nationally to fill the bowls.
Pac-12 presidents passed the rule proposed by a subcommittee of athletic directors.
The growing bowl lineup led to the NCAA determining in 2015 that 5-7 teams with the best Academic Progress Ratings would be bowl eligible if there were not enough six-win teams to fill the then-80 spots. Three 5-7 teams played in bowls in 2015 and two did so in 2016. None were needed last season.
ASU went 5-7 in 2016, but did not play a bowl game.
No 5-7 bowl-eligible teams have been from the Pac-12, which this season has seven contracted bowl spots for its 12 schools.
