Bowl slots nearly filled to capacity
These aren’t exactly the stakes Florida and Florida State had in mind for their end-of-the-season rivalry game.
The Gators and Seminoles each enter Saturday at 5-6, meaning the winner becomes bowl eligible. That’s one of four games this week pitting two five-win teams against each other. The others are Maryland-Rutgers, Charlotte-Old Dominion and Florida Atlantic-Middle Tennessee.
There’s enough space for 82 Football Bowl Subdivision teams to play in bowls this season. Right now 72 teams already have secured bowl eligibility. The winners of the four games listed above will bring the total to 76, and there are plenty of other teams that also are a victory away from bowl eligibility. In years when there haven’t been enough six-win teams to fill all the spots, teams with losing records have been allowed to play.
Troy
Troy fired coach Chip Lindsey with one game left in his third season. Athletic director Brent Jones announced the firing Sunday of Lindsey, who was 15-19. Defensive coordinator Brandon Hall will finish out the season as interim coach.
The Trojans visit Georgia State Saturday seeking win No. 6 and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018.
“I appreciate Coach Lindsey’s hard work over these last three years,” Jones said Sunday in a statement. “However, after significant review, a change in leadership is needed. I met with Coach Lindsey this afternoon and informed him that we would be making a change effective immediately.
“Our expectation for our football program is to compete for championships, and that resolve has not waivered.”
He said a search for Lindsey’s replacement would start immediately. Lindsey is a former offensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi, Arizona State and Auburn.
“Ultimately, we fell short of our goal of producing a championship- winning team,” Lindsey said. “I am grateful to the administration at Troy for giving me this opportunity to serve as head coach.”
The Trojans are coming off losses to Sun Belt Conference division champions No. 23-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette and Appalachian State.
Oregon State
A week after becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2013, Oregon State remains in contention for the Pac-12 North Division title following a 24-10 victory late Saturday night over Arizona State. A program coming off a 1-11 season before Jonathan Smith took over as head coach at his alma mater in 2018, the Beavers (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) have come a long way.
If Washington defeats Washington State (6-5, 5-3 Pac- 12) Friday at home, and Oregon State (7-4, 5-3) wins at Oregon (9-2, 6-2) the following day, the Beavers would play Utah in the Pac12 championship Dec. 3 in Las Vegas.