Week 11 Clemson bowl projections: Big Ten or Big 12 opponents?

With the calendar hitting the midpoint of November, bowl season is fast approaching. Thus, many Clemson football fans are starting to try to figure out where the Tigers might play their postseason game.

Of course, there remains hope that the Tigers could back their way into the ACC Championship Game and potentially the College Football Playoff. But that will require some help.

The most likely way for Clemson to get into the conference title game would be for Miami to lose one of its two remaining games. This week, the Hurricanes are off before hosting 4-5 Wake Forest next week. Then, they close out the regular season with a road game against a tough Syracuse team.

Meanwhile, SMU holds the tiebreaker over Clemson by virtue of their win over Louisville, which beat the Tigers two weeks ago. Thus, it seems highly unlikely that the Mustangs will fall below the Tigers in the conference standings.

Most are predicting that the Tigers will not get to play in the ACC Championship Game. However, they could still get an intriguing bowl matchup against a team from a power conference. Let's look at where some think the Tigers might land in the bowl pecking order.

ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Iowa

Sports Illustrated projects the Tigers to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl where they would take on Iowa. That bowl game is played in Tampa Bay, Florida on December 31.

Interestingly, Clemson has never faced Iowa on the gridiron. This would be the first time since 1990 that Clemson would appear in this bowl game, which used to be known as the Hall of Fame Bowl and then the Outback Bowl.

Duke's Mayo Bowl vs. Minnesota

CBSSports.com sees the Tigers headed to the Duke's Mayo Bowl to face Minnesota. That game takes place on January 3rd in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has also been known as the Queen City Bowl, the Continental Tire Bowl, the Meineke Car Care Bowl, and the Belk Bowl. Clemson appeared in this bowl in 2010 when the Tigers lost to South Florida 31-26.

As for Minnesota, the Golden Gophers have met Clemson only once. That game took place in the 1985 Independence Bowl, a 20-13 Minnesota win.

Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Iowa State or Kansas State

USAToday, Athlon Sports, and College Football Network all see the Tigers playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against either Iowa State or Kansas State out of the Big 12.

The most common projected destination for Clemson, this bowl will be held on December 28th in Orlando, Florida. It used to be known as the Blockbuster Bowl, the CarQuest Bowl, the MicronPC Bowl, the Tangerine Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Russell Athletic Bowl, the Camping World Bowl, and the Cheez-It Bowl. The Tigers most recently played in this bowl in 2021 when they beat Iowa State.

That 2021 meeting is the only one between Clemson and Iowa State. Meanwhile, the Tigers have never faced Kansas State.