The playoff and bowl picture has changed a bit after Week 3 of the college football season. Ole Miss took down LSU, while Kentucky pulled off the upset of the week against Texas A&M. USC survived their game against Rutgers, and SMU fell to Louisville, although Miami is still the favorite to win the ACC.
ESPN's Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach provided their updated projections for the playoffs and every bowl game. Perhaps the biggest change in the Big 12 is who will represent the conference in the playoffs. Last week, both analysts had BYU and Texas Tech. Now, both analysts only have BYU in the playoffs.
Let's get into their updated bowl projections following a thrilling Week 3 of the college football season. Among the Big 12 teams, only Colorado,
Kansas and Iowa State are not projected to make a bowl game by either analyst for the second week in a row.
Colorado Buffaloes
Bonagura projection: No projection
Schlabach projection: No projection
For the third straight week, neither analyst projects Colorado to make the playoffs. Their blowout loss to Northwestern didn't help, but they still have two wins and need only four more to become bowl-eligible. It will probably come down to their last game of the season against UCF, but they can still make a bowl game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Bonagura projection: Alamo Bowl vs. Oregon
Schlabach projection: Alamo Bowl vs. Oregon
For whatever reason, something about Texas Tech's game against Houston led ESPN analysts to believe the Red Raiders won't make the playoffs. Maybe it is because the Cougars are underestimated nationally, but that game was one of the best of the week. Texas Tech should not be counted out of the conversation for the playoffs by any means.
UCF Knights
Bonagura projection: Armed Forces Bowl vs. Army
Schlabach projection: No projection
Not much has changed here. Schlabach still doesn't have the Knights in a playoff game, while Bonagura does. The game switched for Bonagura, who now has UCF in the Armed Forces Bowl instead of the Cactus Bowl. UCF is sitting at 2-1 right now with their next four games against TCU, Houston, Oklahoma State and BYU. This rough stretch certainly does not help their chances of getting into a bowl game.
Baylor Bears
Bonagura projection: Cactus Bowl vs. Maryland
Schlabach projection: Cactus Bowl vs. Minnesota
The Bears are another Big 12 team sitting at 2-1. They were about half an inch from being 3-0 and winning their opener against Auburn, but they still should be able to get into a bowl game this year. Baylor has played in the Cactus Bowl only once before, in 2016, when they defeated Boise State.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Bonagura projection: No projection
Schlabach projection: First Responder Bowl vs. Army
ASU has only one loss so far this season, against Texas A&M in Week 2. They were actually pretty competitive for the first three quarters before collapsing in the final quarter. The Sun Devils' schedule is manageable, and they should land a bowl game.
Houston Cougars
Bonagura projection: Liberty Bowl vs. Missouri
Schlabach projection: Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Louisville
Give me Houston against Louisville. Both teams are underrated right now, but they'd make for a really interesting matchup. Also, Houston hasn't played in the Pop-Tarts Bowl and has lost twice in the Liberty Bowl, so the Cougars would probably prefer the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
BYU Cougars
Bonagura projection: No. 9 seed in CFP vs. No. 8 Alabama
Schlabach projection: No. 8 seed in CFP vs. No. 9 Alabama
This is the first projection where BYU was the only Big 12 team in the playoffs. This is also the first time either analyst has projected the Cougars to make the second round of the playoffs, although Schlabach has BYU losing to Texas. Clearly, they have cleared into the favorite in the Big 12.
TCU Horned Frogs
Bonagura projection: No projection
Schlabach projection: Liberty Bowl vs. South Carolina
After the season opener, it is no surprise that Bonagura does not believe TCU will make a bowl game. However, the Horned Frogs have rebounded since then and have won their next two games. Their next game against BYU will likely end their win streak, but they can still have a solid season and win enough games to make a bowl game. If TCU actually made the Liberty Bowl, it would be the first time since 2016 they played in this bowl game.
Kansas State Wildcats
Bonagura projection: Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. SMU
Schlabach projection: Texas Bowl vs. Missouri
Kansas State's offense centers on its quarterback. Avery Johnson led the Wildcats to their win against Tulane, throwing for 227 yards and rushing for 152 yards, with two touchdowns. Whatever bowl game Kansas State ultimately plays in, it will be because of Johnson, and he will put on a show.
Utah Utes
Bonagura projection: Holiday Bowl vs. Louisville
Schlabach projection: Sun Bowl vs. Clemson
Utah is too good a team to end up playing Clemson, so I don't agree with this projection. However, I could see them playing Louisville, which would be a really interesting matchup between the Utes' defense and the Cardinals' offense.
Arizona Wildcats
Bonagura projection: Sun Bowl vs. Virginia Tech
Schlabach projection: Poinsettia Bowl vs. Boise State
Boise State is actually very competitive. They nearly knocked off Oregon and won their next two games. Bonagura actually has them in the playoffs as the Group of Six team. If the Wildcats end up playing Boise State, this could be one of the best bowl games of the postseason.
Cincinnati Bearcats
Bonagura projection: First Responder Bowl vs. North Texas
Schlabach projection: No projection
Although Cincinnati is sitting at 3-0, their schedule is about to get much tougher, with games against Kansas State, Arizona, and West Virginia, followed by three straight games against ranked teams. Their final game of the season is also against BYU. Cincinnati has a path to make it, but it will be close.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Bonagura projection: Texas Bowl vs. Auburn
Schlabach projection: Independence Bowl vs. UCLA
Schlabach's projection hasn't changed, but Bonagura upgraded them to the Texas Bowl after their upset over Virginia. With the Mountaineers now sitting at 3-0, they really have a chance to make a decent bowl game even with their difficult schedule.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Bonagura projection: Independence Bowl vs. UCLA
Schlabach projection: Armed Forces Bowl vs. California
Their season started rough, but Oklahoma State has rebounded in the last two games and looks like the team everyone thought they would be headed into the season. Drew Mestemaker is doing well with 882 passing yards and eight touchdowns and would certainly be fun to watch in any bowl game the Cowboys make.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Big 12 football bowl projections after Week 3 results
