Hawkeyes bowl projections: Nashville or California Dreaming?

College football fans have been subjected to overwhelming amounts of pre-playoff coverage this season. Like a new, shiny toy everyone else on the block already has, my media brethren have discussed the playoff angle as if the Grinch will take it away and it all was just a dream.

Finally those discussions finally have merit. In one week, college's blue-ribbon panel will select four teams for the inaugural playoff, then match four other bowls as part of the New Year's Six. Entering championship weekend, it appears six teams have a legitimate shot at a playoff berth. Wins by Alabama, Oregon and Florida State lock up three spots. Contenders Baylor, TCU and Ohio State have statements to make in their games on Saturday to earn the fourth.

With wins, Baylor and Ohio State have the best chances based on facing ranked foes Kansas State and Wisconsin, respectively. TCU, which currently is rated ahead of both, not only needs to beat Iowa State impressively, it could use losses by the other two. After all, Baylor beat TCU head-to-head.

I think that happens. Baylor QB Bryce Petty had a concussion on Saturday, and Kansas State is tied with TCU and Baylor atop the Big 12 standings. Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett suffered a season-ending broken ankle, and the Badgers boast a power running game and tenacious defense. Wins by Kansas State and Wisconsin send TCU — which beat K-State by three touchdowns — to the playoff.

As for Iowa, the Hawkeyes' possibilities range from San Francisco and Jacksonville, Fla., to Nashville, New York or Detroit. Iowa's destination depends upon several factors. First, does a Big Ten team play in the Orange Bowl? If it does, the Big Ten skips the Citrus Bowl and all teams shift down a line. Two, the league handles the match-ups, not the bowls. So jumping over Minnesota or Rutgers automatically won't happen just because Iowa will send more fans to a bowl game.

The Big Ten's bottom five bowl teams are split with three in the Eastern time zone and two in the Central. Three of the bottom five bowls are located in the Eastern time zone, one in the Central and one in the West. Illinois competed in the San Francisco bowl three years ago. Iowa hasn't played in California since the 1991 Holiday Bowl. San Francisco seems logical.

Another possibility is for Iowa to play in the Music City Bowl. If both the bowl and Iowa mutually list one another as their top choice, then it will happen. The Music City and Taxslayer (Gator) each pick one team from the ACC and Big Ten.

NEW YEAR'S SIX

Sugar

— Alabama vs. TCU (playoff)

Rose

— Oregon vs. Florida State (playoff)

Cotton

— Kansas State vs. Wisconsin

Orange

— Georgia Tech vs. Mississippi State

Fiesta

— Boise State vs. Arizona

Peach

— Michigan State vs. Missouri

BIG TEN BOWLS

Citrus

— Ohio State vs. Georgia

Outback

— Minnesota vs. Ole Miss

Holiday

— Nebraska vs. USC

Taxslayer

— Rutgers vs. Florida

Foster Farms

— Iowa vs. Stanford

Pinstripe

— Penn State vs. Pittsburgh

Quick Lane

— Maryland vs. Boston College

Heart of Dallas

— Illinois vs. Rice

OTHER POWER-5

Alamo

— Baylor vs. UCLA

Russell

— Oklahoma vs. Clemson

Cactus

— Washington vs. Notre Dame (Big 12 replacement)

Music City

— Louisville vs. Auburn

Liberty

— West Virginia vs. LSU

Belk

— North Carolina State vs. South Carolina

Texas

— Texas vs. Texas A&M

Birmingham

— Tennessee vs. Memphis

Independence

— Arkansas vs. North Carolina

Armed Forces

— Houston vs. Air Force (Big 12/Army replacement)

Sun

— Duke vs. Arizona State

Las Vegas

— Utah vs. Colorado State

Bitcoin

— Miami vs. Central Florida

Military

— Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati

OTHER BOWLS

Miami Beach

— BYU vs. East Carolina

Poinsettia

— Navy vs. San Diego State

Potato

— Fresno State vs. Western Michigan

Hawaii

— Utah State vs. Marshall

New Mexico

— Nevada vs. UTEP

New Orleans

— Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Middle Tennessee State (Air Force replacement)

GoDaddy

— Arkansas State vs. Toledo

Bahamas

— Louisiana Tech vs. Northern Illinois

Boca Raton

— Western Kentucky vs. Bowling Green

Camellia

— South Alabama vs. Central Michigan

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com