The Big 12 announced that Iowa State and Kansas State will be fined $500,000 each for choosing not to play in a bowl game, despite earning the requisite six wins.
The Cyclones (8-4) and the Wildcats (6-6) chose not to play after each program’s coach stepped away. Matt Campbell left Iowa State for Penn State, while Kansas State coach Chris Kleiman retired.
Both teams already have a new coach in place, as Iowa State hired Jimmy Rogers from Washington State, while Collin Klein was promoted from Kleiman’s staff. Iowa State’s decision likely hurt its case, as the Cougars chose to play in their bowl game despite losing Rogers.
Read More: Around the Big 12: Cyclones, Wildcats Fined for Opting Out
Because of Iowa State and Kansas State’s decisions, the Big 12 could not provide teams for the Rate Bowl or the Independence Bowl. New Mexico filled one of those slots to play Minnesota in the Rate Bowl, while the Independence matched Coastal Carolina and Louisiana Tech.
Kansas, Baylor and UCF also chose not to play in a bowl game despite being invited. However, they will not be fined by the conference. The Jayhawks, Bears and Knights finished 5-7, meaning they could only play in a bowl if slots were still available after all teams 6-6 or better were assigned a game. As they were technically ineligible, participation was their decision rather than a league obligation.
Colorado and Oklahoma State also ended the year ineligible for a bowl game.
BYU Lands Pop-Tarts Bowl
Brigham Young (11-2) will face Georgia Tech out of the ACC in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla. The Cougars never threatened Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game, but their only losses came against the Red Raiders.
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The Pop-Tarts Bowl is in its third year under this name. The Big 12 team has won both prior meetings, as Iowa State edged Miami 42-41 last year.
Red Raiders Assigned to Orange, Play Waiting Game
League champion Texas Tech (12-1) will play either Oregon or James Madison in the Orange Bowl, the College Football Playoff’s quarterfinal. Texas Tech would have preferred the Cotton or Fiesta Bowl, but neither choice was available.
As the No. 4 seed, the Red Raiders got the last pick for their bowl site. The Fiesta and Peach Bowls are semifinal hosts, taking them out of the rotation. Big Ten champion Indiana was locked to the Rose Bowl, while SEC champion Georgia was assigned the Sugar Bowl. No. 2 Ohio State could not be assigned the Orange Bowl because of a potential matchup with Miami, which plays its home games in Hard Rock Stadium.
Because of that, the Buckeyes were assigned to the Cotton Bowl, and Texas Tech was given the Orange Bowl. Should the Red Raiders advance, they’d play Indiana, Oklahoma or Alabama in the Peach Bowl.
Frogs to Face USC in San Antonio
TCU (8-4) will stay in the state of Texas, facing USC in the Alamo Bowl. The Frogs were a controversial pick, as Houston finished with a better record. But TCU won their meeting on the field in Houston, making them a more attractive choice for San Antonio.
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The Alamo Bowl is unique in that the Big 12 can fill both slots. Because of the breakup of the Pac-12 in 2023, the former Pac-12 teams remain tied to that conference’s old tie-ins. With Big Ten member USC available and the Big 12’s four Pac-12 legacy members either committed to other bowls (Arizona, Arizona State, Utah) or ineligible (Colorado), the Trojans slid into this spot.
Last year’s Alamo Bowl did match two Big 12 teams, as BYU faced Pac-12 legacy team Colorado. The schools hadn’t met in the regular season in 2024, and the Cougars routed the Buffaloes 36-14.
Sun Bowl Matches Devils vs. Devils
Arizona State (8-4) landed a matchup with ACC champion Duke at the Sun Bowl in El Paso. It’s a rematch of the 2014 Sun Bowl, when the Sun Devils defeated the Blue Devils 36-31. That’s the only previous meeting between the teams.
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Arizona State was the only team to beat Texas Tech this season. The Sun Devils won three of their last four, but fell to Arizona to end their Big 12 title hopes. The Big 12 has never sent a team to the Sun Bowl before, as this is a Pac-12 legacy bowl the league inherited along with the Big Ten and ACC. Last year, Big Ten member Washington filled the Pac-12 legacy spot and lost 35-34 to Louisville.
Utes to Face Nebraska in Potential Whittingham Finale
Utah (10-2) will play Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl, with speculation surrounding longtime coach Kyle Whittingham.
Whittingham’s press conference after the Utes beat Kansas suggested that he might retire at year’s end. Whittingham, 66, has led the Utes since 2005 and is Utah’s all-time wins leader. His contract required him to notify the university of his intentions on Monday, although the timetable is his as to when he notifies the media and public.
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As with the Sun Bowl, the Big 12 has never sent a team to Las Vegas. Utah has played in the game a record six times, but always representing either the Mountain West or Pac-12. Its last trip came in 2023, a 14-7 loss to Northwestern. Last year, Pac-12 legacy team USC defeated Texas A&M 35-31.
Houston Stays Home to Face LSU
The Houston Cougars will play LSU in the Texas Bowl, held at the Texans’ stadium. It’s the second time overall that Houston (9-3) will play in the game, and its first representing the Big 12.
The Texas Bowl has included a Texas-based team in 11 of its past 12 editions. LSU won the game last year, beating Baylor 44-31.
Arizona Heads to Holiday
Arizona (9-3) will compete in the Holiday Bowl after ending the year on a five-game winning streak. The Wildcats will meet ACC representative SMU.
The Big 12 hasn’t sent a team to the Holiday Bowl since Texas Tech went in 2013. The league lost its tie-in that year, replaced by the Big Ten. The ACC has held the tie-in since 2021, and the Big 12 inherited the Pac-12’s tie-in for its legacy teams. Last year, Syracuse defeated Washington State 52-35.
Cincinnati to Play in Liberty
Cincinnati (7-5) gets a chance to salvage its season in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, where it will face former American conference rival Navy. The Midshipmen still have the annual Army-Navy Game before facing the Bearcats.
The Bearcats finished the year on a four-game losing streak. The Big 12 has sent a team to the Liberty Bowl every year since 2013. Last year, Arkansas defeated Texas Tech 39-26.
