As the season rolls into Week 5, four programs stand out in this week’s bowl projections: BYU, TCU, Iowa State, and USC. The Trojans appear in all four projections and will get their first true test of 2025 on Saturday when they travel to Illinois for a Top 25 matchup.
BYU is back in the spotlight with a high-stakes clash against Colorado, a rematch of the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl. TCU remains unbeaten and looks to keep its momentum alive behind star wide receiver Eric McAlister, who earned national honors after a 254-yard, three-touchdown performance as the Horned Frogs gear up for Friday night’s matchup with Arizona State. Iowa State returns from a bye week ranked No. 13 and prepares for a historic meeting with undefeated Arizona, the first between the programs since 1968.
With USC holding steady in every projection and Big 12 contenders battling to prove themselves, the bowl picture is starting to take shape. As October approaches, the season is heating up and the stakes are only getting higher.
Media Projections:
Athlon Sports: Iowa State vs. USC
CBS Sports: TCU vs. USC
ESPN (Bonagura): BYU vs. USC
On3 (McMurphy): Iowa State vs. USC
Team Selection Rights:
For the final year of its current bowl agreement, the Valero Alamo Bowl will match up the first choice from the following two 12-team pools after the College Football Playoff field is selected:
- Big 12 Conference Pool – Baylor, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia.
- Pac-12/former Pac-12 Pool – Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington, and Washington State.
As part of this agreement, the Pac-12’s current two members (Oregon State and Washington State) and the former Pac-12 members Cal and Stanford (ACC), Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington (Big Ten), and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah (Big 12) will remain in the Pac-12 bowl lineup for the 2025-26 season.
Game Schedule:
*all times CST
Big 12 Pool:
Friday, September 26, 2025
TCU @ Arizona State | 8:00 p.m.
Houston @ Oregon State | 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Cincinnati @ Kansas | 11:00 a.m.
UCF @ Kansas State | 11:00 a.m.
Utah @ West Virginia | 2:30 p.m.
Baylor @ Oklahoma State | 2:30 p.m.
Arizona @ Iowa State | 6:00 p.m.
BYU @ Colorado | 9:15 p.m.
Pac-12 / Former Pac-12 Pool:
Friday, September 26:
TCU @ Arizona State | 8:00 p.m.
Houston @ Oregon State | 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 27:
USC @ Illinois | 11:00 a.m.
Ohio State @ Washington | 2:30 p.m.
Utah @ West Virginia | 2:30 p.m.
California @ Boston College | 2:30 p.m.
UCLA @ Northwestern | 2:30 p.m.
Arizona @ Iowa State | 6:00 p.m.
Oregon @ Penn State | 6:30 p.m.
Washington State @ Colorado State | 6:30 p.m.
San José State @ Stanford | 6:30 p.m.
BYU @ Colorado | 9:15 p.m.
The official team selection will be announced on Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 p.m., so purchase your tickets here to watch another Top 25 matchup battle it out Tuesday, December 30th at 8 p.m. in the Alamodome.