[BostonCard]

I assume that even if the game is in Santa Clara, the team will stay at whatever hotel is designated for the Pac-12 team.  I would imagine it would be part of the contract with the Bowl, and that those rooms have already been reserved (under "Pac-12 team").

On Gavin's earlier contention that a 10-3 Arizona team that just got blown out by Oregon would not get one of the 12 (12!) slots accorded to New Year's day bowls:

Rose Bowl — Big Ten #1 vs. Pac-12 #1
Sugar Bowl — SEC #1 vs. Big 12 #1
Orange Bowl — ACC #1 vs. SEC #2, Big Ten #2, or Notre Dame
Cotton Bowl — at-large or "Group of Five" (committee selection)
Fiesta Bowl — at-large or "Group of Five" (committee selection)
Peach Bowl — at-large or "Group of Five" (committee selection)

The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl are taken up by the four playoff teams, so the other four bowls will have at-large selections (I'm assuming that the ACC champ will be Florida State and will make the playoffs).  The Orange would take the SEC #2 or Big Ten #2.  Notre Dame won't be eligible ( :) ).

Teams under consideration (assuming the playoff goes to Oregon, Florida State, Alabama, and TCU or Baylor):
Pac-12: Arizona (10-3 if it loses to Oregon)
Big-10: The team that loses out between Baylor and TCU (likely 11-1 if it beats K-State), K-State if it beats Baylor (10-2)
Big-12: Ohio State (12-1, if it beats Wisconsin), Michigan State (10-2), Wisconsin (10-3 if it loses to tOSU)
ACC: Georgia Tech (would be 10-3 if it loses to FSU), Clemson (9-3)
SEC: Mississipi State (10-2), Missouri (10-3 assuming it loses to Alabama), Georgia (9-3)

My guess is every Big5 conference gets 2 teams in, and the SEC and Big Ten get three (which is unbelievable given how weak the Big Ten has been).  Beyond that, there aren't any Big5 teams with at least 10 wins unless Kansas State beats Baylor, and if that happens, I don't think a 10-3 Arizona would lose out to a 10-3 Wisconsin, a 10-3 Missouri, a 10-3 Georgia Tech, or a 9-3 Clemson or Georgia.  I suppose if all three of the teams pull upsets, Arizona would be the odd team out.

BC

[BostonCard]

I assume that even if the game is in Santa Clara, the team will stay at whatever hotel is designated for the Pac-12 team.  I would imagine it would be part of the contract with the Bowl, and that those rooms have already been reserved (under "Pac-12 team").

On Gavin's earlier contention that a 10-3 Arizona team that just got blown out by Oregon would not get one of the 12 (12!) slots accorded to New Year's day bowls:

Rose Bowl — Big Ten #1 vs. Pac-12 #1
Sugar Bowl — SEC #1 vs. Big 12 #1
Orange Bowl — ACC #1 vs. SEC #2, Big Ten #2, or Notre Dame
Cotton Bowl — at-large or "Group of Five" (committee selection)
Fiesta Bowl — at-large or "Group of Five" (committee selection)
Peach Bowl — at-large or "Group of Five" (committee selection)

The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl are taken up by the four playoff teams, so the other four bowls will have at-large selections (I'm assuming that the ACC champ will be Florida State and will make the playoffs).  The Orange would take the SEC #2 or Big Ten #2.  Notre Dame won't be eligible ( :) ).

Teams under consideration (assuming the playoff goes to Oregon, Florida State, Alabama, and TCU or Baylor):
Pac-12: Arizona (10-3 if it loses to Oregon)
Big-10: The team that loses out between Baylor and TCU (likely 11-1 if it beats K-State), K-State if it beats Baylor (10-2)
Big-12: Ohio State (12-1, if it beats Wisconsin), Michigan State (10-2), Wisconsin (10-3 if it loses to tOSU)
ACC: Georgia Tech (would be 10-3 if it loses to FSU), Clemson (9-3)
SEC: Mississipi State (10-2), Missouri (10-3 assuming it loses to Alabama), Georgia (9-3)

My guess is every Big5 conference gets 2 teams in, and the SEC and Big Ten get three (which is unbelievable given how weak the Big Ten has been).  Beyond that, there aren't any Big5 teams with at least 10 wins unless Kansas State beats Baylor, and if that happens, I don't think a 10-3 Arizona would lose out to a 10-3 Wisconsin, a 10-3 Missouri, a 10-3 Georgia Tech, or a 9-3 Clemson or Georgia.  I suppose if all three of the teams pull upsets, Arizona would be the odd team out.

BC