TCU’s likeliest bowl destinations: Orlando, Houston, Memphis

TCU’s most likely bowl destinations are the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, the Texas Bowl in Houston and the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, based on the Big 12 standings going into the last week of the regular season.

The final standings and bowl placement don’t necessarily line up. But based on a fourth- or fifth-place finish, the Horned Frogs should be available when it’s time for the Russell Athletic, Texas and Liberty officials to pick the Big 12 representative in their game.

The official bowl placements will be announced Sunday after the College Football Playoff committee sets the national semifinals and New Year’s Six pairings.

Assuming no Big 12 teams make the CFP, the league champion will play in the Sugar Bowl, and the runner-up is eligible for an at-large spot in the Cotton, Fiesta or Peach Bowls.

After that, the bowls affiliated with the Big 12 will draft the remaining teams in this order: Alamo, Russell Athletic, Texas, Liberty, Cactus and Armed Forces. The bowls are not required to draft according to the league standings and traditionally consider attendance and television factors.

TCU can finish fourth in the Big 12 with a victory against Kansas State on Saturday. A loss would leave the Horned Frogs in fifth place. That is the highest and lowest they can finish.

Here is a list of the Big 12-affiliated bowls, in the order they draft their Big 12 representatives:

Alamo Bowl, 8 p.m. Dec. 29, San Antonio

Russell Athletic Bowl, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 28, Orlando

Texas Bowl, 8 p.m. Dec. 28, Houston

Liberty Bowl, 11 a.m. Dec. 30, Memphis

Cactus Bowl, 9:15 p.m. Dec. 27, Phoenix

Armed Forces Bowl, 3:30 p.m. Dec. 23, Fort Worth

This story was originally published November 28, 2016 at 2:40 PM with the headline "TCU’s likeliest bowl destinations: Orlando, Houston, Memphis."