35 BCS Programs Who Won't Be Going Bowling in 2012

Every year teams around the nation set out into their season with a goal of winning their conference and heading to a bowl game. The problem with today is that with all of the bowl games available to teams, is it really a reward to go to a bowl game anymore?

While it may not have been what everyone was hoping for, the new four team playoff will at least bring some excitement back to the postseason and give college football fans something to look forward to.

As teams begin the 2012 season, some teams will start to realize that they simply do not have what it takes to make it to a bowl game this year. Despite the amount of games available, here are 35 BCS programs that will still fall short and be at home watching bowl games instead of participating in them. 

Arizona

Last years schedule ended up costing Mike Stoops his job. This year Rich Rodriguez is taking over but the schedule is just as bad. After a 4-8 performance last year, the Wildcats may look like a better team but will still fall short of a bowl game in 2012. 

Arizona State

Last year was the best chance that Arizona State had to win the Pac-12 and they self-imploded down the stretch. This year Todd Graham is taking over and the Sun Devils are without Brock Osweiler, which will be a big reason why they will miss out on the bowl season.

Baylor

With one of the most electric players in football, Baylor had a 10-3 record. Now that Robert Griffin III is gone, the Bears will truly be tested. 

Along with losing Griffin, the Big 12 adds TCU and West Virginia which will only make life more difficult on Baylor.

Boston College

While the Boston College defense held strong last year, the offense was a letdown. Coming into the 2012 season, the Eagles are coming off a 4-8 season and while their out of conference schedule is not that tough, this team will still fall short of hitting the six win mark.

Cal

This could be the year that Jeff Tedford is pushed out of Cal. Last year the Golden Bears went 7-6 and the grumblings began. In 2012, the out-of-conference schedule includes Nevada and Ohio State and Cal missing a bowl game will be the final nail in the coffin for Tedford's time at Cal. 

Colorado

Things went bad for Colorado in their first year in the Pac-12. The Buffaloes went 3-10 last year and ranked No. 109 in the nation for points scored and points against. This year, one of those needs to change to have more success, but unfortunately for Colorado fans, they are in for more of the same. 

Connecticut

While Connecticut came up short last year, it was partly because of the lack of execution by the offense. This year, the out of conference schedule features teams like Massachusetts, Western Michigan, Maryland, Buffalo and NC State, but the Huskies will still fall short in 2012. 

Duke

Last year Duke went 3-9 and things are not looking up for the program known for college basketball. In 2011, the offense and defense both ranked in the bottom quarter of the nation and for another year they will be toward the bottom of the ACC and not in a bowl game. 

Illinois

After a great start to the 2011 season, Illinois stumbled into a bowl game but will not have such luck in 2012. Along with a tough conference schedule, the out of conference games are no cakewalk this year either. Look for the Illini to be at home watching games in December.

Indiana

Last year went awful for Indiana as they only won one game and were among the worst on offense and defense. This year, the talent is not much better but the upside is that games against Indiana State and Massachusetts may allow them to surpass last years win total. 

Iowa

Iowa is another team that may be saved by their out of conference schedule. When you just look at the Big 10 slate, Iowa appears to be on the outside looking in but if they do end up going undefeated out of conference, they Hawkeyes may slide in with six or seven wins. 

Iowa State

While the Cyclones made a bowl game last year, they needed an easier out of conference schedule and a huge upset win over Oklahoma State. With a more challenging schedule in front of them as TCU and West Virginia enter the conference, the Cyclones will not be bowl bound. 

Kansas

Kansas simply had the worst defense in the land last year. In the offseason, they addressed their coaching vacancy by bringing in Charlie Weis. While Weis may help the offense, the Jayhawks may slip from last years 2-10 record down to one win in 2012. 

Kentucky

Last season the Wildcats went 5-7 and it felt like a good year. Despite playing teams like Kent State, Western Kentucky and Samford, the Wildcats still do not have the ability to win three games in their SEC schedule and Joker Phillips will fall short once again. 

Maryland

Things have not gone well for Maryland and if they were hoping to improve on last year's 2-10 record, they may be disappointed. During the offseason quarterback Danny O'Brien skipped town for Wisconsin and now the Terps are left starting from scratch.

Miami

Miami is going to hope that the defense can get the job done this year. During the offseason, Miami had some of their starters on offense graduate and leave sizable holes. 

If the defense can hold up, the Hurricanes have a shot at a bowl game but with the offense likely taking a small step back, Miami could miss out on a bowl game again.

Minnesota

Things did not go well for Jerry Kill and Minnesota last year. The coach struggled to get the offense or defense turned around and the Gophers only managed to win three games in 2011.

This year, the Gophers did not make any significant changes and will likely finish with around three or four wins and miss out on the bowl season once again.

Missouri

Missouri is moving to the SEC this year and they are in for a rude awakening. The Tigers have a good team that was competitive in the Big 12 but they will need a few seasons to adjust to their new conference and change the type of athlete they recruit. 

North Carolina

In 2011, North Carolina went 7-6. This year, Larry Fedora is taking over as head coach and will end up being a good thing for this program. 

While the hire was a good one, Fedora may have some growing pains in his first season as he steps up from coaching in Conference USA to the ACC. 

Northwestern

If Northwestern could only get to six wins with Dan Persa, life without him will be even worse. With the departure of their starting quarterback, the Wildcat fans will have to continue to wait for a bowl win as the team will not even go bowling in 2012. 

Ohio State

This is a bit of a cheat but Ohio State will not be going to a bowl game no matter how well they do. Due to the off the field issues, the Buckeyes have been suspended from postseason play this year and will have to wait until 2013 until they can make a run at the Big 10 title and more. 

Ole Miss

Ole Miss has been in a downward spiral for a few years now and last year's 2-10 record was enough to force a change at the coaching position. Despite any changes, the schedule is too difficult for the Rebels to come even close to a bowl game this year or likely even next season.

Oregon State

For the past two years, Oregon State has taken a huge step back and while they look like they could improve this year, it will still not be enough to go to a bowl. Mike Riley knows that this team has struggled on both sides of the ball and until he can get some playmakers on the field, the Beavers losing ways will continue. 

Pitt

Pitt is a team that still will need a year to transition after Todd Graham came to town for one year and then bolted for Arizona State. With the return of Tino Sunseri for his senior season, the Panthers could be wildly inconsistent once again and it could cost them a bowl appearance. 

Purdue

Purdue was an average team last year and appear to be heading for much of the same this year. Last year the Boilermakers posted a 7-6 record but had an offense and defense that were both average. 

Unless Purdue makes some huge improvements, their schedule will likely get in the way of them going to a bowl game at the end of the 2012 season. 

Rutgers

Last year Rutgers finished the season 9-4 and had a top 10 defense in the nation. With some losses to graduation and the departure of Greg Schiano, look for Rutgers to take a step back in a weak Big East and fail to head back to a bowl game this year. 

South Florida

Last year South Florida showed that they could not handle the early success that they had. In 2012, the Big East is open for the taking but the team relies to heavily on quarterback B.J. Daniels and it will cost them again as they will miss out on going to a bowl. 

Syracuse

For as bad as the Big East is, Syracuse found a way to go 1-5 and finish dead last in it last year. This year's out of conference schedule is nowhere near as forgiving and the Orange will take a step back from last season's 5-7 finish. 

Tennessee

Derek Dooley needs to have a good season or he may be on his way out of Knoxville. Tyler Bray was unable to stay healthy last year and the Vols went 5-7. 

This year, Bray looks to be back and healthy but the schedule continues to be rough and the Vols may be looking at another five win season.

Texas A&M

The only thing that may save the Aggies from missing a bowl game this year will be their out of conference schedule. Aside from their rough SEC schedule, the Aggies play Louisiana Tech, SMU, South Carolina State and Sam Houston State.

If the Aggies drop a game to a team like SMU on the road, watch out as the SEC may swallow their bowl hopes whole. 

UCLA

Last year UCLA was dreadful and limped their way into a bowl game. While they may have new life with Jim Mora as their head coach, they still lack talent on both sides of the ball and will not be as fortunate this year as they will miss out on the bowl season.

Vanderbilt

Last year Vanderbilt took a huge step forward but are heading for a small step back this year. While everything went right for the Commodores last year, they still have to go through their SEC schedule and will fall short of back-to-back bowl appearances. 

Virginia

Everything went right for Virginia last year and it only got them to an 8-5 record. This year the schedule gets tougher as they take on Penn State, TCU and Virginia Tech on the road. While Mike London is a great coach, a bowl game may be out of reach in 2012. 

Wake Forest

Wake Forest got off to a hot start in 2011 and barely got into a bowl game. This year, the Demon Deacons may jump out to another hot start but the second half of the schedule is tough enough to prevent them from making a bowl game.

Washington State

Granted Washington State was 4-8 last year, the Cougars will be close to making a bowl game in 2012 but will come up just short. With new head coach Mike Leach in town, this team will begin to get things turned around and will likely finish with five wins this year but will be moving in the right direction.