College football is heading into its final weeks of the season. Most of the focus is on who's going to be playing for the national title and rightfully so, but there are also some interesting races for bowl eligibility going on within the conferences and the Big 12 is no exception.
Oklahoma State and possibly Oklahoma are fighting for spots in the BCS. Kansas State is in great shape regardless what happens the rest of the way. Texas and Baylor can improve their positions with both still having three games remaining including the season finale when they play in each other in Waco to end the season.
As for everyone else, well that's where the fun begins.
Missouri, Texas A&M, Iowa State, and Texas Tech all are sitting with five wins heading into the final weeks of the season. Among those four teams, only Iowa State has three games remaining but they by far have the toughest schedule left as they've yet to play Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, or Kansas State.
So how's this going to play out? Well, here's a look at who is most likely to get that sixth win.
1. Missouri - Either Mizzou or Texas Tech will get win number six this coming weekend because they play each other. Simple enough. Based on Tech's performance the last couple weeks, however, and the fact the game is in Columbia, you have to like Missouri's chances. Plus, the Tigers get Kansas in the final game of the season making seven wins seem likely. Chances of getting win number six, 1 to 5 with 5 being the most likely? 5
2. Texas A&M - The Aggies also look to be in good shape, although sitting at 5-5 is nowhere near where they hoped to be coming into the season so this whole six win situation has to be a little anti-climatic for the Ags' fan base. That aside, they host Kansas next weekend in College Station so win number six should come on Saturday. They finish with Texas which figures to be a tossup at the moment. Chances of getting win number six, 1 to 5 with 5 being the most likely? 4.5
Should Mizzou and A&M both qualify for a bowl game next weekend, that would give the Big 12 seven bowl eligible teams technically filling the Big 12's seven bowl agreements. But with OSU and OU still both hoping to get into the BCS, anything is possible (everyone would move up a spot in the pecking order if both get into the BCS). And just because Mizzou and A&M got their first, doesn't necessarily mean they will be the team selected by a bowl should one of these two teams get there, as well.
3. Iowa State - The Cyclones are sitting at 5-4 and still have three chances to get that sixth win. The problem is they have a brutal schedule to end the year. They're either going to have to upset OSU, OU, or KSU to get there. The most likely win would seem to be Kansas State but with the way they've been playing, even that may seem like a long shot. As tough as it sounds, don't count ISU out. Paul Rhoads is starting to make a habit of winning games they weren't expected to win so I wouldn't be shocked in the least to see ISU get there. Chances of getting win number six, 1 to 5 with 5 being the most likely? 2.5
4. Texas Tech - A couple weeks ago, Tech going to be a bowl game seemed like a slam dunk. But blowout losses to Iowa State, Texas, and Oklahoma State have raised some serious doubts about whether they can get there. They head to Missouri next weekend followed by a game against Baylor in Arlington to finish the year. They are capable of winning either, or even both, but with the way they've been playing, all bets are off. Chances of getting win number six, 1 to 5 with 5 being the most likely? 2
