Teams with losing records will be eligible for at least two bowl bids

Teams with 5-7 records will become eligible for at least two bowl bids, and as many as five, based on their academic progress rates.

The NCAA Division I council approved a recommendation made by the football oversight committee on Monday to fill the record 40 bowls with five-win teams because not enough will meet the standard bowl-eligibility requirements.

There are 75 teams with at least six victories and a .500 record going into the final weekend of the regular season. Only three more can get to six wins.

Based on 2013-14, Nebraska has the best APR among 5-7 teams at 985. Missouri is next on the list with an APR of 976, but moments after the NCAA announced that the Tigers would have a chance to play in the postseason, Athletic Director Mack Rhoades released a statement saying the team will not participate.

Missouri is in the process of trying to find a replacement for retiring Coach Gary Pinkel, who announced two weeks ago that he was stepping down at the end of the season because he has lymphoma.

Kansas State can become bowl eligible Saturday at West Virginia, but with a 976 APR, the Wildcats should get in either way. The next four teams are Minnesota (975), San Jose State (975), Illinois (973) and Rice (973).

Herman to stay?

Houston Coach Tom Herman said he has agreed in principle to a new contract with the school. At his weekly news conference, the former Ohio State offensive coordinator said details of the contract still need to be worked out, but he and administrators “are moving in the right directions on the generalities” of a deal. The Cougars are 11-1 in Herman’s first season as coach and will play for the American Athletic Conference championship against Temple (10-2) on Saturday.

Herman’s has been a popular name discussed for numerous Power 5 conference head-coach openings. On Nov. 20, Houston’s board of regents approved school President Renu Khator and board chairman Tilman Fertitta to negotiate a new contract with Herman that would give him a raise to at least $3 million per year. Herman made it clear Monday that the deal isn’t finalized but that he doesn’t anticipate any obstacles in the negotiations.

Richt wants to coach

Mark Richt remains interested in another coaching job and said he will listen “to anybody who has interest in me” as he prepares for his final game as Georgia’s coach.

Georgia announced Sunday that Richt will not return as coach in 2016. Athletic Director Greg McGarity and school President Jere Morehead said then that Richt had been offered another position at the school that would include helping former players and fundraising for the university. There was some expectation Richt might say at Monday’s news conference he would accept the offer. Instead, he spoke about the chance to coach again.

“I’ll have the opportunity to look at a lot of options,” Richt said. “I think there will be a lot of options to weigh, so I’m blessed in that way. I’m not ready to say what I’m going to do yet, but it is very attractive to have the option to stay in Athens … and have the opportunity to help young people.”

Richt and McGarity sat together at the news conference, each wearing Georgia red ties. McGarity wouldn’t reveal much about his search for Richt’s replacement, saying he would rather “focus on Mark today.” McGarity said he will hire a search firm, that the search begins immediately and is “wide open.”

Etc.

Fresno State has fired offensive coordinator Dave Schramm, Coach Tim DeRuyter said. After playing in the Mountain West Conference title game for three straight years, the Bulldogs went 3-9 this season. The offense has not been the same since Derek Carr left for the NFL following the 2013 season

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Nevada Las Vegas is keeping its “Rebels” nickname and “Hey Reb!” mascot in spite of critics who said they should be changed because the imagery hearkens to the Confederacy.

Citing newly released historical research that concluded the moniker was not intended as a reference to the Confederacy, UNLV President Len Jessup issued a statement saying the school must keep the name and mascot. He said “Rebels” expresses UNLV’s entrepreneurial spirit, and he noted overwhelming support for the term.