UCLA enters the Valero Alamo Bowl bowl projections for the first time this season, joining No. 15 Oregon in the Pac-12/former Pac-12 pool. No. 10 BYU and No. 12 Texas Tech represent the Big 12 pool. Three of the four projected teams are ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.
In last week’s Game of the Week presented by Bank of Texas, Oregon defeated then-No. 12 USC 41-27 on the road. After starting quarterback Dante Moore left with an injury, backup Dylan Raiola came off the bench and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns to help the Ducks pull away. UCLA also won on the road, beating Maryland 54-3. The Bruins’ 51-point margin was their largest ever in a Big Ten game and their largest in a conference road game since 1955.
Texas Tech improved to 4-0 with a 49-14 win over Sam Houston, giving the Red Raiders three straight 4-0 starts for the first time since 2011-13. Meanwhile, BYU returns from its bye week to face TCU on Saturday.
There are no Top 25 matchups between pool teams this week, but four of the 12 games feature a ranked team. No. 20 Houston hosts UCF, No. 10 BYU visits TCU and No. 12 Texas Tech travels to Colorado. Washington visits No. 18 USC to round out the ranked action. Oregon and UCLA have byes.
Media Projections:
Athlon Sports: BYU vs. Oregon
CBS: Texas Tech vs. UCLA
College Football News: BYU vs. UCLA
ESPN: Texas Tech vs. Oregon
Game Schedule:
*all times CST
Big 12 Pool:
Saturday, October 3:
Middle Tennessee @ Kansas | 11 a.m. | ESPNU
UCF @ No. 20 Houston | 11 a.m. | ESPN2
West Virginia @ Iowa State | 11 a.m. | TNT
No. 10 BYU @ TCU | 6 p.m. | ESPN
No. 12 Texas Tech @ Colorado | 6:30 p.m. | FOX
Baylor @ Arizona State | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
Cincinnati @ Arizona | 10 p.m. | FOX
Pac-12 / Former Pac-12 Pool:
Saturday, October 3:
Stanford @ Wake Forest | 11 a.m. | ACC Network
Cal @ UNLV | 2:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network
Oregon State @ Colorado State | 5 p.m. | USA Network
Washington @ No. 18 USC | 6:30 p.m. | NBC
No. 12 Texas Tech @ Colorado | 6:30 p.m. | FOX
Fresno State @ Washington State | 8:30 p.m. | USA Network
Baylor @ Arizona State | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
Cincinnati @ Arizona | 10 p.m. | FOX
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 2026-27 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.