Baylor might not be headed for the playoff, but they can still earn some street cred with a big win over a solid opponent. With the Bears likely headed for the Peach, Cotton, or Fiesta Bowl, here are the squads they could be facing:
Michigan State
With Ohio State's huge win over Wisconsin, Michigan State is the best remaining Big 10 squad Baylor could face. MSU's defense has lost some luster after giving up so many points to the Buckeyes, but they're still a highly-regarded team with plenty of national clout. A win over the Spartans would be a major boost for next year's playoff run.
Ole Miss
If you take out that inexplicable 30-0 loss to Arkansas, Ole Miss had an excellent year. 3-2 against ranked teams, the Rebels lost to LSU and Auburn by a combined seven points, and the Arkansas game is the only true blemish on their record (narrow SEC conference losses are hard to avoid these days). Beating Ole Miss - or beating the socks off Ole Miss - would go a long way toward showing the selection committee what a huge mistake they made.
Mississippi State
They might have lost to their cross-state rival, but the Bulldogs are another team that would give Baylor a marquee win to end the season. Mississippi State has lost quite a bit of momentum as they've fallen out of the playoff picture, but neutral fans and media networks still see that 'SEC aura' around them. As long as Baylor's D can keep the shackles on Dak Prescott (an introduction to Shawn Oakman should help), this should be a very favorable matchup for the Bears.
MORE: Bowl Projections And Predicted Opponents For Every Power 5 NCAA Team
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