Makeup games could determine bowl bids

Virginia Tech still has a chance to reach the .500 mark and secure bowl eligibility.

The Hokies (4-6) are set to play Marshall on Dec. 1 — if Virginia Tech needs a win to become bowl eligible. The Hokies and Thundering Herd had games against other opponents canceled Sept. 15 because of Hurricane Florence, and it looked like the shortened schedule might cost Virginia Tech a chance to extend its 25-season bowl streak.

That streak may still come to an end. The Hokies have to beat Virginia this coming week to have any chance at reaching .500, but now they have a willing opponent for a potential 12th game.

Marshall was supposed to face South Carolina on Sept. 15. That game was called off, and the Gamecocks scheduled a makeup game for Dec. 1 against Akron, which had a Sept. 1 matchup with Nebraska cancelled due to lightning. The Akron-South Carolina game could have bowl implications too. South Carolina is already eligible, but Akron is 4-6.

There are 78 bowl slots to fill this season, and the following 71 teams are already eligible:

Alabama

Alabama-Birmingham

Appalachian State

Arizona State

Arkansas State

Army

Auburn

Boise State

Boston College

Buffalo

BYU

California

Central Florida

Cincinnati

Clemson

Duke

Eastern Michigan

Florida

Florida International

Fresno State

Georgia

Georgia Southern

Georgia Tech

Hawaii

Houston

Iowa

Iowa State

Kentucky

Louisiana Tech

Louisiana-Lafayette

Louisiana-Monroe

LSU

Marshall

Memphis

Miami

Michigan

Michigan State

Middle Tennessee

Mississippi State

Missouri

N.C. State

Nevada

North Texas

Northern Illinois

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Oregon

Penn State

Pittsburgh

San Diego State

South Carolina

South Florida

Stanford

Syracuse

Temple

Texas

Texas A&M

Toledo

Troy

Utah

Utah State

Virginia

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Western Michigan

Wisconsin