Even with a disappointing 5-7 record, San Jose State might still have a shot at a bowl game. A longshot, for sure, but not one that can be completely ruled out.
Various reports have said the NCAA might use the Academic Progress Rate (APR) to fill the remaining bowl spots if there aren’t 80 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams with six wins. Yahoo reported Saturday that only 75 teams have qualified.
According to Jerry Palm of CBS Sports, San Jose State and Minnesota have APR marks of 975. The only five-win teams ahead of the Spartans and Golden Gophers in APR are Nebraska (985) and Missouri and Kansas State, both with scores of 976. Right behind SJSU and Minnesota are Illinois and Rice at 973.
Three teams still have a shot at six wins next week — Kansas State, Georgia State and South Alabama. If all three teams win their last regular-season games, the Spartans are surely out, with Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas State already having higher APRs and being from Power 5 conferences.
Even if all three teams lose, the Cornhuskers, Tigers and K-State Wildcats would likely get bowl nods over San Jose State. So would Minnesota of the Big Ten. That would leave the Spartans, Illinois and Rice for the last spot. With the Illini being from the Big Ten, those two APR points might not matter.
