SEC - Sugar
ACC - Orange
Big 12 - Sugar
Big Ten - Rose
Pac 12 - Rose

Those are the only autobids. The Orange has a first contractual preference for an SEC/B1G, but it is not an autobid like the list above. The SEC and B1G are each guaranteed 3 appearances in the game during the current 12 year contract. Notre Dame can be the ACC’s opponent no more than twice during the 12 years, but none are guaranteed. With the 2020 craziness, it’s important to remember that Notre Dame IS an ACC team this year. They do not serve as competition for an Orange Bowl at-large berth in the same way they would every other year.

The Fiesta, Cotton, and Peach Bowls are always at-large vs at-large when not serving as semifinal games, but because of how the cycle of those semifinal game rotations works, it doesn’t seem that way. With a G5 champion guarantee, that means there are a maximum of five at-large berths. But the cycle reduces that number to 3 or 1 depending on the year.

2020
Semifinals - Rose and Sugar
Orange - ACC vs “at-large” (see above contractual preference for SEC/B1G/ND*)
Fiesta - at-large vs at-large
Peach - at-large vs at-large
Cotton - at-large vs at-large
* - no ND consideration for Orange Bowl given status as full ACC team in 2020

2021
Semifinals - Cotton and Orange
Rose - B1G vs Pac 12
Sugar - SEC vs Big 12
Fiesta - at-large vs at-large
Peach - at-large vs at-large

2022
Semifinals - Fiesta and Peach
Rose - B1G vs Pac 12
Sugar - SEC vs Big 12
Orange - ACC vs “at-large” (see above contractual preference for SEC/B1G/ND)
Cotton - at-large vs G5 champion

On a different note, the Notre Dame/Orange Bowl deal is the model that Tom needs to pursue for the team as we continue to build and hopefully win. Max appearances but no guarantees. Las Vegas, Holiday, Cactus, Redbox, and Texas Bowls are the mid-tier games that fall in the footprint of our fanbase and would offer intriguing matchups. P5 conferences have slowly but obviously moved away from G5 conference opponents in bowl games. Well, we are considered P5 for regular season scheduling purposes. Why not be considered P5 for postseason scheduling as well?