Oklahoma State Stuns West Virginia to Become One of Seven New Bowl Eligible Teams

The bowl spots remaining are getting smaller by the day as seven more teams clinched bowl eligibility. With 78 bowl bids available, 72 teams have already hit the magic number of six. This problem is the opposite of past years when 5-7 teams were able to appear in a bowl game thanks to a lacking in bowl eligible teams. Here's a look at those hoping to go bowling in December.

Oklahoma State (6-5)
They had Oklahoma on the ropes last week and lost, but this week they were able to knock off a top ten team in West Virginia. The Cowboys and their mullet enthusiast coach, Mike Gundy, OKST hasn't missed a bowl game appearance since 2005.
Best Win: West Virginia
Bowl Projection: Camping World Bowl

Miami, FL (6-5)
The Hurricanes desperately needed a win before they faced Pitt next week and got one against a struggling Virginia Tech team that might miss a bowl berth for the first time since 1992. Miami is hoping to make an appearance in their sixth straight bowl game.
Best Win: FIU
Bowl Projection: Quick Lane Bowl

South Carolina (6-4)
The Gamecocks cruised into bowl eligibility thanks to the SEC's choice of terrible scheduling this time of year. A drubbing of Chattanooga gave South Carolina their third straight bowl berth since Will Musschamp took over.
Best Win: Missouri
Bowl Projection: Texas Bowl

Toledo (6-5)
The Rockets were favorites to compete for a MAC West title, but Toledo dropped a rare game to Eastern Michigan and were pummeled by the top two teams in the MAC, NIU and Buffalo. Jason Candle has led his team to a bowl appearance in his first three seasons and Toledo has been to four straight bowls.
Best Win: Nevada
Bowl Projection: Camellia Bowl

BYU (6-5)
The Cougars had their 12 straight bowl appearance streak snapped last year, but look to be back this year. BYU can increase their chances with a win over rival Utah next week.
Best Win: Wisconsin
Bowl Projection: New Mexico Bowl

Louisiana (6-5)
With arguably the best moniker in the FBS, the Ragin' Cajuns can sweeten their season with a chance to play in the first ever Sun Belt Conference Championship against the winner of Troy and Appalachian State. Standing in their way is rival Louisiana Monroe, who with a win, also has the potential to play in the Sun Belt Championship. Louisiana also scored more points than LSU did against Alabama, so that's some in-state bragging rights. They've made five bowl appearances, all in the New Orleans Bowl, since 2011.
Best Win: Arkansas State
Bowl Projection: First Responders Bowl

Hawai'i (7-5)
I incorrectly labeled the Rainbow Warriors a few weeks ago as being bowl eligible, but since they play a 13 game schedule and one of their wins was against an FCS opponent, they needed seven. They did so in comeback fashion against UNLV to snap a four game losing skid and make a bowl for the first time since 2016. In their bowl history, they've only left the islands once, a disastrous trip to the Sugar Bowl in 2008.
Best Win: Wyoming
Bowl Projection: Hawai'i Bowl

So Sorry It's Over:
Illinois (4-7)
Well losing 63-0 to Iowa is one way to make sure you don't have to play in December. Lovie Smith and his elegant beard watched his defense allow 117 points in the final two games. It's been since 2014 that the Fighting Illini have seen a bowl game.
Worst Loss: Nebraska

Air Force (4-7)
A cold, snowy day in Wyoming, could be one of the more depressing ways to watch your bowl dreams dashed. Of course, the Falcons are probably more concerned about their live mascot, Aurora, who had both her wings injured before the Army game in a prank gone wrong. It will be the second year in a row that Air Force watches Army play in a a bowl game, but at least they can invite Navy over to watch with them.
Worst Loss: Wyoming

Charlotte (4-7)
The 49ers are one of the newer FBS schools so it's not that shocking that Brad Lambert has never led them to a bowl appearance in his six years. It may be surprising that he gets a crack at a seventh time.
Worst Loss: Old Dominion