Alamo Bowl could be in play for K-State if Wildcats keep climbing up Big 12 standings
The goal has changed.
When the Kansas State football team lost its first three conference games, fans were hoping the Wildcats could bounce back and simply win enough to become bowl eligible by the end of the season. But now that K-State (7-3, 4-3 Big 12) has responded with four consecutive victories, fans are aiming higher.
They want K-State to play in the best bowl game possible.
Luckily for them, some exciting options are now within reach. Anything short of a New Year’s Six bowl seems possible. The Wildcats have no path to the Big 12 championship game, but they can finish in a tie for second in the league standings.
That means they could realistically play in the Alamo Bowl, the Big 12’s top postseason game that isn’t affiliated with the College Football Playoff. But it can only happen if they keep winning.
A wide array of bowl possibilities are on the table for K-State. Much remains undecided with two games remaining in the regular season. Still, it’s never too early to begin speculating on where the Wildcats will end up playing this holiday season.
Here is a look at where the Wildcats might end up.
Alamo Bowl
When: 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29
Where: San Antonio, Texas
This appears to be the most prestigious bowl game that K-State can play in this postseason.
The Alamo Bowl gets first pick of Big 12 teams after the NY6 games have been determined, and K-State could be an attractive choice if the Wildcats win their final two games and finish with nine victories.
If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State play for a conference championship, odds are good they will both be headed to major bowls, leaving the Alamo Bowl to pick among Baylor, K-State and Iowa State.
The Wildcats would likely be the pick if they finish ahead of the Bears and the Cyclones in the Big 12 standings. But things will get murky if they all tie. Big 12 bowls don’t have to follow any selection criteria, so the Alamo Bowl could select the Bears because they’re a Texas team or the Cyclones because they like their traveling fan base. But the Wildcats can perhaps gain an edge by beating the Bears on Saturday.
Several dominoes need to fall in K-State’s favor for this to happen. It won’t happen if only one Big 12 team reaches a major bowl. It is also unlikely the Alamo Bowl will pass on Oklahoma if the Sooners, who have never before played in San Antonio, are available.
No bowl projections are currently predicting the Wildcats to the Alamo Bowl, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
K-State hasn’t played in the Alamo Bowl since 2015 when it lost to UCLA 40-35.
Cheez-It Bowl
When: 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29
Where: Orlando, Florida
K-State has never played a bowl game in Florida.
Perhaps that will change this season.
The Wildcats narrowly missed out on a invitation to this bowl when Camping World was its sponsor in 2019. Back then, game organizers decided to go with Iowa State instead, despite K-State finishing with a better overall record and owning a head-to-head victory over the Cyclones.
K-State will need to win at least one more game to get serious consideration. The Cheez-It Bowl gets second pick of Big 12 teams, and it’s unlikely the Wildcats can earn an invitation with only seven victories. But eight could be enough, especially when you consider Iowa State visited Orlando two years ago. It’s very hard to see the Wildcats slipping any lower than this with nine victories.
The Athletic is currently picking K-State to play in the Cheez-It Bowl against Pittsburgh.
Texas Bowl
When: 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 4
Where: Houston
This is the game CBS Sports is projecting K-State to play in this postseason, against Mississippi State.
K-State has already won enough games to make this feel like a realistic possibility, but another victory would strengthen its case.
The Texas Bowl picks after the Cheez-It Bowl. K-State could become an attractive option if it is unable to leap frog Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Iowa State in the league standings.
K-State last played in the Texas Bowl in 2016 and had a good experience, defeating Texas A&M 33-28 in front of 68,412 fans.
Last week, it seemed like it might take more than seven victories to play in the Texas Bowl. But Texas Tech upsetting Iowa State made it an easier path for K-State and potentially opened the door for the Red Raiders to play in Houston.
Liberty Bowl
When: 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28
Where: Memphis, Tennessee
Most bowl projections still have K-State playing a SEC opponent in the Liberty Bowl this December.
USA Today and a pair of ESPN analysts are currently predicting the Wildcats to play Tennessee, Florida or Missouri in Memphis.
On paper, that is a realistic postseason destination for the Wildcats. The Liberty Bowl is where the Big 12’s fifth-best team is supposed to play, and there is no guarantee K-State will finish higher than fifth in the league standings. But those predictions don’t take into account the fact that K-State has visited Memphis twice since 2016.
K-State lost to Navy in the Liberty Bowl during Klieman’s first season as coach in 2019. It also lost to Arkansas in the Liberty under Bill Snyder in 2016. There isn’t much enthusiasm from K-State fans about returning to Memphis.
Texas Tech or any of the other Big 12 teams still fighting for bowl eligibility would probably make a better fit.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
When: 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28
Where: Phoenix
K-State has a long history with this bowl game. The Wildcats have played in it under many different names — Copper Bowl, Insight.com Bowl, Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Cactus Bowl.
They will end up here if they are unable to move up the Big 12 standings and/or the Liberty Bowl passes over them to select a different team like Texas Tech.
It seems unlikely K-State will fall any lower in the Big 12 order than this. The Armed Forces Bowl/First Responders Bowl will only become options for the Wildcats if they lose their remaining two games, get passed by Texas Tech in the league standings and only one Big 12 team qualifies for a major bowl.
The Guaranteed Rate Bowl will be played against a Big Ten opponent in downtown Phoenix. But Sporting News is currently projecting K-State to play Virginia there.
K-State has good memories in Phoenix, as it defeated UCLA 35-17 in the 2017 Cactus Bowl.
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Alamo Bowl could be in play for K-State if Wildcats keep climbing up Big 12 standings."