Army is projected to play in its first bowl game since 2010 and the Black Knights have Navy partly to thank for it.
Three teams – SMU, Ole Miss and North Texas – seeking their sixth win and bowl eligibility Saturday – lost, leaving only five candidates for the eight remaining bowl slots and creating three openings for teams with five bowl-eligible victories, which includes Army.
Navy defeated SMU 75-31, handing the Mustangs its seventh loss. Mississippi State and UTEP knocked off Ole Miss and North Texas respectively.
As of Saturday night, 75 teams are bowl eligible. Five openings remain. Louisiana-Lafayette and South Alabama are the only teams left with a chance at six wins and postseason eligibility. Louisiana-Lafayette and South Alabama, both 5-6, play their regular-season finale next December 3.
Bowl openings are filled based on a team’s Academic Progress Rate.
Vanderbilt’s win over Tennessee completed an ideal day for Army.
Army needed victories by Vanderbilt and Northwestern and a loss by Duke to be the top APR-qualifying team.
Army now will have its pick of bowls with open slots.
What bowl will Army play in?
Bowl openings may not be determined until next week.
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