BOWL PROJECTIONS: Where Will NC State Go?

The bowl picture is clearer after Clemson's win over Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, and NC State will learn today where they will be playing over the holidays.

The league currently has 11 teams eligible for bowls and the ACC has tiered the bowl tie-ins for selection purposes.  Here is a look at all potential bowl tie ins for the ACC.

ACC Bowl Selection Process
College Football Playoff (four teams)
The Capital One Orange Bowl and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl are national semifinal sites for the 2018 season.  There is no limit on how many teams from one conference can appear in the CFP.

ACC Champion - Top Four CFP Ranking
If the ACC Champion is in the top four of the final CFP rankings, it will play in one of the national semifinal games.  Additional ACC teams could also be selected for the CFP, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl or PlayStation Fiesta Bowl as at-large representatives.

ACC Champion - Not In Top Four CFP Ranking
If the ACC Champion is not in the top four of the final CFP  rankings, it will appear in either the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl or the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. Additional ACC teams could also be selected for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl or PlayStation Fiesta Bowl as at-large representatives.

Camping World Bowl                                                       
The Camping World Bowl has the first pick of an ACC team after the CFP and New Year’s Six Bowls are filled.

Tier One Bowls (all equal selection status)
Belk Bowl
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl or 
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
New Era Pinstripe Bowl 
Hyundai Sun Bowl

Additional Bowls (Tier Two)
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman 
Walk-On’s Independence Bowl
Quick Lane Bowl
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl or Heart of Dallas Bowl

Secondary*
Birmingham Bowl
*If not filled by other conferences and additional ACC teams are available.

What does it all mean for NC State?

At 9-3 overall and 5-3 in ACC play, State is locked into the Tier I bowls.  The Tier I bowls will work together to select/slot teams based on a variety of factors with a draw breaking any ties. 

The Wolfpack appears to be headed to Florida for bowl season, but there is a slim chance they could end up in the Belk or Pinstripe.

According to sources, there is a belief that NC State will end up in the Camping World Bowl or Taxslayer Gator Bowl.  However, all options remain on the table and it will come down to potential opponents in each of those bowls.  The Wolfpack has submitted preferences to the Atlantic Coast Conference, but ultimately the bowls will make their picks.

According to a source, the school ADs will be notified this afternoon via conference call of their bowl bid.

Here is an updated look at where some of the latest bowl projections have the Wolfpack playing over the Holidays.