Starting at the 18th spot down, here is the last AP poll released prior to bowl season after week 15.
Even assuming were #39 (no guarantees), just doesn't look like enough room to get there.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings/_/poll/1/seasontype/2/year/2016/week/15
18 VT W (35-24 over Arkansas)
19 Lsu
20 Florida
21 Iowa
22 Pitt L (31-24 against NW)
23 Temple L ( 34-26 to Wake)
24 Nebraska L (38-24 to Tennessee)
25 USF W (46-39 against South Carolina)
26 Houston L (34-10 to San Diego State)
27 Utah W (26-24 against Indiana)
28 Boise L (31-12 to Baylor)
29 Washington state L (17-12 to Minnesota)
30 Texas A&M L (33-28 to Kstate)
31 Air Force W (45-21 against USA)
32 Navy L (48-45 to La Tech)
33 Tennessee W (38-24 against Nebraska)
34 San Diego State W (34-10 against Houston)
35 W. Kentucky W (51-31 against Memphis)
36 Miami W (31-14 against WVU)
37 Georgia Tech
38 Kansas State W (33-28 against aTm)
Even assuming were #39 (no guarantees), just doesn't look like enough room to get there.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings/_/poll/1/seasontype/2/year/2016/week/15
18 VT W (35-24 over Arkansas)
19 Lsu
20 Florida
21 Iowa
22 Pitt L (31-24 against NW)
23 Temple L ( 34-26 to Wake)
24 Nebraska L (38-24 to Tennessee)
25 USF W (46-39 against South Carolina)
26 Houston L (34-10 to San Diego State)
27 Utah W (26-24 against Indiana)
28 Boise L (31-12 to Baylor)
29 Washington state L (17-12 to Minnesota)
30 Texas A&M L (33-28 to Kstate)
31 Air Force W (45-21 against USA)
32 Navy L (48-45 to La Tech)
33 Tennessee W (38-24 against Nebraska)
34 San Diego State W (34-10 against Houston)
35 W. Kentucky W (51-31 against Memphis)
36 Miami W (31-14 against WVU)
37 Georgia Tech
38 Kansas State W (33-28 against aTm)