Pac-12 passes rule requiring 6 wins for bowl eligibility

Published

The Pac-12 will require its teams to win at least six regular-season games to play in a bowl game, eliminating the opportunity for a 5-7 squad to earn a postseason spot when there are not enough six-win teams nationally to fill the bowls.

Pac-12 presidents passed the rule proposed by a subcommittee of athletic directors.

The growing bowl lineup led to the NCAA determining in 2015 that 5-7 teams with the best Academic Progress Ratings would be bowl eligible if there were not enough six-win teams to fill the then-80 spots. Three 5-7 teams played in bowls in 2015 and two did so in 2016. None were needed last season.

No 5-7 bowl-eligible teams have been from the Pac-12, which this season has seven contracted bowl spots for its 12 schools.