Utah’s 28-20 win over BYU in a top 10 matchup last week has had a trickle-down effect on the Big 12’s College Football Playoff and bowl hopes.
How has that close loss impacted the Cougars?
In 11 national bowl projections released since the end of Week 10’s college football action, seven of them still have BYU as a CFP participant playing in the first round.
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Four others, though, have the Cougars playing in the Alamo Bowl.
Defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech, after surviving a high-scoring thriller against West Virginia last week, is also receiving some CFP love, with four of those projections pinning the Red Raiders in the playoff.
Utah, meanwhile, is unanimously viewed as a CFP participant and likely to earn a first-round bye.
Seven of the 11 bowl projections, listed below, have the Utes as the No. 2 seed in the CFP and therefore earning an automatic bye in the quarterfinals.
Some even have projected Utah to make its way into either the CFP semifinals or the national championship game.
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In a look at the Big 12 as a whole, there are currently seven teams in the league that are bowl eligible, with four others that could become bowl eligible this week by winning their sixth game this season.
One of those four teams is guaranteed to become bowl eligible this week, as the winner of Saturday’s Arizona State at UCF game will earn its sixth victory.
Here’s a look at the latest bowl projections for every Big 12 team following Week 10 of the 2026 season.
ESPN, Kyle Bonagura
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BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 10 seed playing at No. 7 seed Notre Dame
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 2 seed facing No. 7 seed Notre Dame, bowl TBD
Note: Bonagura has Utah beating Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinals, beating No. 3 seed Indiana in the CFP semifinals in the Sugar Bowl and facing No. 1 seed Georgia in the CFP national championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
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Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Sun Bowl, vs. Virginia Tech
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Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Fresno State
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Baylor: Texas Bowl, vs. Missouri
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Cincinnati: Cactus Bowl, vs. Michigan
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Houston: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
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Oklahoma State: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Wake Forest
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Texas Tech: CFP first round, No. 11 seed playing at No. 6 seed UCLA
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UCF: Liberty Bowl, vs. South Carolina
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West Virginia: Independence Bowl, vs. Washington
ESPN, Mark Schlabach
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BYU’s bowl projection: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 2 seed facing No. 7 seed Tennessee, bowl TBD
Note: Schlabach has Utah beating Tennessee in the CFP quarterfinals, beating No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals in the Orange Bowl and facing No. 1 seed Georgia in the CFP national championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Missouri
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Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. San Diego State
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Baylor: Texas Bowl, vs. Oklahoma
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Cincinnati: Independence Bowl, vs. Oregon State
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Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. SMU
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Oklahoma State: Liberty Bowl, vs. Auburn
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Texas Tech: CFP first round, No. 11 seed playing at No. 6 seed Miami
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UCF: Cactus Bowl, vs. Northwestern
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West Virginia: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. Nebraska
On3, Brett McMurphy
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BYU’s bowl projection: Alamo Bowl, vs. USC
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 2 seed playing No. 7 seed Indiana in the Rose Bowl
Note: McMurphy has Utah beating Indiana in the CFP quarterfinals and advancing to the CFP semifinals before losing to No. 6 seed Alabama in the Orange Bowl.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Holiday Bowl, vs. Duke
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Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Fresno State
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Baylor: Liberty Bowl, vs. Florida
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Cincinnati: Independence Bowl, vs. East Carolina
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Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Wake Forest
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Iowa State: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. UTSA
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Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Missouri
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Texas Tech: CFP first round, No. 10 seed playing at No. 7 seed Indiana
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UCF: Cactus Bowl, vs. Nebraska
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West Virginia: Gasparilla Bowl, vs. Minnesota
The Athletic, Scott Dochterman
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BYU’s bowl projection: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 2 seed playing winner of No. 8 Texas/No. 9 Wake Forest in the Rose Bowl
Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Holiday Bowl, vs. Clemson
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Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Fresno State
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Baylor: Independence Bowl, vs. Oregon State
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Cincinnati: Birmingham Bowl, vs. Memphis
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Houston: Texas Bowl, vs. Oklahoma
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Iowa State: Cactus Bowl, vs. Nebraska
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Oklahoma State: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Virginia Tech
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Texas Tech: CFP first round, No. 11 seed playing at No. 6 seed Indiana
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UCF: Boca Raton Bowl, vs. South Florida
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West Virginia: Liberty Bowl, vs. Missouri
CBS Sports, Brad Crawford
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BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 11 seed playing at No. 6 seed Alabama
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 2 seed facing No. 7 seed UCLA in the Rose Bowl
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Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. South Carolina
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Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Fresno State
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Baylor: Liberty Bowl, vs. Auburn
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Cincinnati: Cactus Bowl, vs. Michigan
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Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. SMU
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Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Missouri
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Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. USC
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UCF: Independence Bowl, vs. Washington
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West Virginia: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. Army
College Football News, Pete Fiutak
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BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 10 seed playing at No. 7 seed Tennessee
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 5 seed hosting No. 12 seed Boise State
Note: Fiutak has Utah beating Boise State in the CFP first round and advancing to the CFP quarterfinals before losing to No. 4 seed Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Oklahoma
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Arizona State: Independence Bowl, vs. West Virginia
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Baylor: Texas Bowl, vs. Missouri
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Cincinnati: Cactus Bowl, vs. Northwestern
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Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. SMU
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Oklahoma State: Liberty Bowl, vs. South Carolina
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Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
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UCF: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. Army
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West Virginia: Independence Bowl, vs. Arizona State
Athlon Sports, Steve Lassan
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BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 11 seed playing at No. 6 seed Notre Dame
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 2 seed playing No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl
Note: Lassan has Utah beating Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinals and advancing to the CFP semifinals before losing to No. 3 seed Miami in the Orange Bowl.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. South Carolina
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Arizona State: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. Air Force
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Baylor: Cactus Bowl, vs. Nebraska
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Cincinnati: First Responder Bowl, vs. Tulsa
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Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Wake Forest
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Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Missouri
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Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. USC
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UCF: Independence Bowl, vs. East Carolina
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West Virginia: Liberty Bowl, vs. Auburn
Bryan Fischer, Sports Illustrated
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BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 11 seed playing at No. 6 seed Tennessee
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 5 seed hosting No. 12 seed Boise State
Note: Fischer has Utah beating Boise State in the CFP first round and advancing to the CFP quarterfinals before losing to No. 41 seed Georgia in the Peach Bowl.
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Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. South Carolina
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Arizona State: Independence Bowl, vs. Iowa State
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Baylor: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. Tulsa
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Cincinnati: First Responder Bowl, vs. Northwestern
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Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Louisville
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Iowa State: Independence Bowl, vs. Arizona State
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Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Oklahoma
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Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
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UCF: Liberty Bowl, vs. Missouri
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West Virginia: Cactus Bowl, vs. Penn State
USA Today, Erick Smith
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BYU’s bowl projection: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 2 seed facing No. 7 seed Indiana in the Cotton Bowl
Note: Smith has Utah beating Indiana in the CFP quarterfinals and advancing to the CFP semifinals before losing to No. 6 seed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Florida
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Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. Oregon State
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Baylor: Cactus Bowl, vs. Penn State
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Cincinnati: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. UTSA
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Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Louisville
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Kansas State: Independence Bowl, vs. Liberty
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Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Auburn
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UCF: First Responder Bowl, vs. Tulsa
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West Virginia: Liberty Bowl, vs. Missouri
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Note: Texas Tech was inadvertently left out of Smith’s bowl projections this week.
Palm Brackets, Jerry Palm
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BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 6 seed hosting No. 11 seed Indiana
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 2 seed playing winner of No. 7 Tennessee/No. 10 Texas in the Cotton Bowl
Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Penn State
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Baylor: Cactus Bowl, vs. Nebraska
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Cincinnati: Salute to Veterans Bowl, vs. UTSA
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Houston: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
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Iowa State: First Responder Bowl, vs. James Madison
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Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. LSU
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Texas Tech: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Wake Forest
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UCF: Liberty Bowl, vs. Mississippi State
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West Virginia: Independence Bowl, vs. Michigan
Projection Sports, Tyler Markley
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BYU’s bowl projection: CFP first round, No. 10 seed playing at No. 7 seed UCLA
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Utah’s bowl projection: CFP quarterfinals, No. 4 seed playing winner of No. 5 Alabama/No. 12 Boise State
Other Big 12 bowl projections
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Arizona: Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Penn State
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Arizona State: Poinsettia Bowl, vs. New Mexico
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Baylor: Cactus Bowl, vs. Northwestern
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Cincinnati: Independence Bowl, vs. Liberty
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Houston: Pop-Tarts Bowl, vs. Wake Forest
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Iowa State: First Responder Bowl, vs. Minnesota
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Oklahoma State: Texas Bowl, vs. Missouri
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Texas Tech: Alamo Bowl, vs. Oregon
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UCF: Armed Forces Bowl, vs. UTSA
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West Virginia: Liberty Bowl, vs. Nebraska
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
