Five different pool teams are featured in this week’s Valero Alamo Bowl projections. BYU, Kansas State and Texas Tech represent the Big 12 pool, while USC and Washington represent the Pac-12/former Pac-12 pool. Kansas State makes its first appearance in the projections this season.
BYU improved to 10-1 in season openers under head coach Kalani Sitake with a 63-7 win over Utah Tech. In Collin Klein’s debut as head coach, Kansas State scored its most points since 2000 in a 71-3 victory over Nicholls. Defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech extended its record streak of scoring at least 28 points in 54 consecutive nonconference home games with a 33-10 win over Abilene Christian.
USC improved to 2-0 with a 39-0 shutout of Fresno State. Quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 92% of his passes, the highest single-game completion percentage by a USC quarterback since at least 1995. The performance broke the program record he set one week earlier. Washington earned a 24-10 Boeing Apple Cup victory, holding Washington State to its lowest point total in the rivalry since 2015.
Week 2 brings several marquee matchups for pool teams, highlighted by a pair of historic rivalries. Iowa State travels to Iowa for the Cy-Hawk Series, while Missouri heads to Kansas for the Border Showdown. Arizona State goes to College Station to face No. 10 Texas A&M, and Arizona visits No. 15 BYU in the Big 12 opener for both teams (Arizona won the 2023 Valero Alamo Bowl, followed by BYU in 2024).
Media Projections:
Athlon: BYU vs. USC
College Football News: Houston vs. Washington
ESPN (Bonagura): Kansas State vs. USC
Sports Illustrated: Texas Tech vs. Washington
Game Schedule:
*all times CST
Big 12 Pool:
Friday, September 11:
No. 23 Missouri @ Kansas | 7 p.m. | FOX
Saturday, September 12:
No. 6 Oregon @ Oklahoma State | 11 a.m. | ESPN
Washington State @ Kansas State | 11 a.m. | TNT
UT Martin @ West Virginia | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Arizona @ No. 15 BYU | 2:30 p.m. | FOX
UCF @ Pittsburgh | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN 2
Southern U @ No. 22 Houston | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Western Carolina @ Cincinnati | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 13 Texas Tech @ Oregon State | 6:30 p.m. | CBS
Iowa State @ No. 21 Iowa | 6:30 p.m. | NBC
Prairie View A&M @ Baylor | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Grambling State @ TCU | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Pac-12 / Former Pac-12 Pool:
Saturday, September 12:
No. 6 Oregon @ Oklahoma State | 11 a.m. | ESPN
Arizona State @ No. 10 Texas A&M | 11 a.m. | ABC
Washington State @ Kansas State | 11 a.m. | TNT
Arizona @ No. 15 BYU | 2:30 p.m. | FOX
Utah State @ No. 19 Washington | 2:30 p.m. | BTN
Weber State @ Colorado | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Cal @ Syracuse | 2:30 p.m. | ACCN
San Diego State @ UCLA | 6:15 p.m. | BTN
No. 13 Texas Tech @ Oregon State | 6:30 p.m. | CBS
Arkansas @ No. 20 Utah | 9:15 p.m. | ESPN
Louisiana @ No. 14 USC | 10 p.m. | BTN
Team Selection Rights:
The Valero Alamo Bowl will continue its current selection format for the 2026 season, matching the first selection from two 12-member pools following the announcement of the College Football Playoff (CFP) field.
- 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, two of the Pac-12’s current 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.
The official team selection will be announced on Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m.. Purchase your tickets here to watch another Top 25 matchup battle it out Tuesday, December 29th at 8 p.m. in the Alamodome.