The Holiday Bowl plans to extend a...

The Holiday Bowl plans to extend a bid to the third-place finisher in the Big Ten even if that team wins only six games, the NCAA minimum for bowl appearances.

The Big Ten and the Holiday Bowl are in the second year of an agreement that gives an automatic bid to a third-place Big Ten finisher with at least eight victories.

Last week, Holiday Bowl officials said they might exercise their option to choose a wild card because of the records of leading contenders Michigan State (5-5) and Iowa (5-6).

The Holiday Bowl will be played against the champion of the Western Athletic Conference in San Diego on Dec. 30. Hawaii and San Diego State lead the WAC.