Power 5 conference takes early lead in Bowl Challenge Cup

It’s still early. The SEC hasn’t played yet. Neither has the Big 12.

But the results have trickled in from the early bowl games, far removed from the big crowds expected on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

Those returns show the Pac-12 is on the way to a strong bowl season despite a lackluster effort at UCLA. Any projection of the Bowl Challenge Cup would be illegal because the polls haven’t opened in two of the five power conferences.

The Pac-12 had a 4-1 record heading into the Armed Forces Bowl, where California is taking on Air Force. Ironically, the Pac-12 suffered the biggest upset when UCLA lost to 5-7 Nebraska in the Foster Farms Bowl.

Curiously, the American Athletic Conference, which placed four teams in the top 25 at different times throughout a season highlighted by Memphis’ victory over Ole Miss, started 1-5 with only Houston and Memphis still to play.

Here’s a list of conference bowl records through Monday’s games:

Pacific-12: 4-1 (5 games remaining)
Big Ten: 2-1 (7 games remaining)
Mountain West: 3-2 (2 games remaining*)
Conference USA: 3-2 (Schedule completed)
Atlantic Coast: 2-2 (5 games remaining)
Sun Belt: 2-2 (Schedule completed)
SEC: 0-0 (10 games remaining)
Big 12: 0-0 (7 games remaining)
Mid-American: 3-4 (Schedule completed)
American Athletic: 1-5 (2 games remaining)
Independents: 0-1 (1 game remaining)

*-Conference members Colorado State and Nevada will meet in the Arizona Bowl

John Brasier