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2012 bowl projections: Will Stanford play in the Rose Bowl?

Stanford has a lot of work to do before it is guaranteed a spot in the Rose Bowl as the No. 1 team from the Pac-12.

By Michael Jones
Steve Dykes

With the 2012 NCAA football season coming to a close, the nationwide focus is beginning to shift toward Bowl season. When the Cardinal toppled then top-ranked Oregon, they vaulted themselves into the Rose Bowl picture and figure to be the favorites to represent the Pac-12 in The Grandaddy of Them All on New Year's Day.

The Cardinal will put their five-game winning streak on the line and face No. 17 UCLA on Nov. 24 in a match that could be a preview of the Pac-12 championship game. If Stanford prevails, they will face likely Big Ten Champion Nebraska in the Rose Bowl.

San Jose State has been one of the most exciting stories to follow in college football in 2012, and for good reason. The Spartans are 9-2 and are coming off a huge Nov. 17 win against BYU. With just Louisiana Tech standing in the way of a 10-win season, they figure to represent the WAC in the Hawaii Bowl.

There's still more football to be played, but these projections should hold up if nothing crazy happens. Then again, in college football, there are no guarantees.