Just for fun: Alternate NY6 Bowls

Let's play a game of "what if", and let's look at what this year's New Year's Six bowls might have looked like if we were in a different year of the playoff rotation.  I am assuming that the top ranked teams not already selected would be the "at large" teams.



Option #1:  Rose/Sugar semi-finals.

Sugar Bowl:  #1 Alabama vs. #4 Washington
Rose Bowl:  #2 Clemson vs. #3 Ohio State
Orange Bowl:  #6 Michigan vs. #11 Florida State
Fiesta Bowl:  #7 Oklahoma vs. #9 USC
Cotton Bowl: #8 Wisconsin vs. #10 Colorado
Peach Bowl:  #5 Penn State vs. #15 Western Michigan

Of course the actual match ups of the last three bowls are guesses, but those are likely the teams that would be selected.  Oklahoma and Penn State are guaranteed inclusion as conference champs, since they are displaced from their normal bowls.  But, since SEC champ Alabama is in the Sugar Bowl as a semi-final, no other SEC team makes the New Year's Six.

Option #2:  Orange/Cotton semi-finals

Cotton Bowl:  #1 Alabama vs. #4 Washington
Orange Bowl:  #2 Clemson vs. #3 Ohio State
Rose Bowl:  #5 Penn State vs. #9 USC
Sugar Bowl:  #7 Oklahoma vs. #14 Auburn
Peach Bowl:  #6 Michigan vs. #15 Western Michigan
Fiesta Bowl:  #8 Wisconsin vs. #10 Colorado

Perhaps the last two bowls swap match-ups, but Western Michigan is the only team out of the at large group that did not play Michigan in the regular season.  I assume the Fiesta would be a better geographic fit for Wisconsin and Colorado, since both Michigan schools are going to be put out regardless.

Also note, that since ACC champion Clemson ends up in the Orange Bowl as a semi-final, no other ACC team is guaranteed a bowl slot.


And of course, for comparison purposes, the actual bowls

Peach Bowl:  #1 Alabama vs. #4 Washington
Fiesta Bowl:  #2 Clemson vs. #3 Ohio State
Rose Bowl:  #5 Penn State vs. #9 USC
Sugar Bowl:  #7 Oklahoma vs. #14 Auburn

Orange Bowl:  #6 Michigan vs. #11 Florida State

Cotton Bowl:  #8 Wisconsin vs. #15 Western Michigan