BYU bowl projections after Week 14: Exploring Cougars' postseason chances

The BYU Cougars beat the Houston Cougars 30-18 in Week 14 to improve to 10-2 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 play. The win allowed them to get back in the win column following a two-game losing skid.

While the Cougars were not ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll, they spent much of the season within striking distance of reaching the College Football Playoff in the first season of the 12-team format. That now appears unlikely as they were ranked 17th in the latest rendition of the AP Top 25 Poll. The far more important College Football Playoff rankings won't be updated until Tuesday; however, BYU entered the week ranked 19th.

They have already secured bowl eligibility; however, as FBS teams must finish with at least six wins and a winning percentage of at least .500, with only one win against an FCS opponent counting towards those numbers. Take a look at which bowl game the Cougars could play in below.

BYU bowl projections after Week 14: Exploring Cougars' postseason chances

The BYU Cougars are bowl-eligible as they finished the regular season with a 10-2 mark following their Week 14 victory over the Houston Cougars. The Cougars began the season with a blowout victory over the FCS-level Southern Illinois Salukis before handing the now-No. 8-ranked SMU Mustangs their lone loss of the regular season.

They followed that up with a blowout victory over the Wyoming Cowboys to end their non-conference schedule. BYU began Big 12 play with a 38-9 victory over the then-No. 13-ranked Kansas State Wildcats. They followed that up with a Week 5 victory over the Baylor Bears.

After their first bye week of the season, the Cougars returned to the field with a blowout win over the Arizona Wildcats. They narrowly escaped a home matchup with the Oklahoma State Cowboys the following week, winning 38-35. BYU rattled off a victory over the UCF Knights to improve to 8-0.

They had their second bye in Week 10 and returned on the road against the Utah Utes the following week, winning 22-21 on a last-second field goal. The Cougars appeared to be in a strong position to reach the Big 12 Championship Game; however, they suffered back-to-back losses to the Kansas Jayhawks and now-No. 12-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils to fall to 9-2. They closed their regular season with a victory over the Houston Cougars.

Despite starting the season 9-0 and 6-0 in conference play, they fell short of the Big 12 Championship Game. The most common projection is that BYU will wind up in the Valero Alamo Bowl, which will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 28.