College football bowl game rankings: The 41 postseason matchups from best to worst

bowl games by ranking

The college football bowl season is upon us. The three-week, 41-game extravaganza kicks off Saturday and will take us all the way into the new year.

Now we understand that holiday time is busy, so watching all of the games might not be possible. Obviously, if you’re an alum or supporter of a particular school, you’ll seek out your team’s spot on the schedule. But if you’re a casual follower who wants to find the best matchups and prioritize your calendar accordingly, well, that’s where we come in.

With so many bowls, some are inevitably going to be better than others. And, some of these will turn out to be more entertaining than anticipated while others that should provide quality contests will turn out to be duds. But with all that in mind, here's our annual attempt to rank the bowls by watchability.

1. Rose Bowl: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama

DETAILS: Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN, Pasadena, Calif.

We give the top nod to the Granddaddy given the multiple layers of intrigue. Of course there’s the well-chronicled controversy surrounding the Wolverines , who must now contend with the most accomplished program in the four-team era to live up to their top seeding. The Crimson Tide for their part were 31 yards from championship oblivion just a few short weeks ago, so one could say they’re essentially playing with house money at this point.

2. Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Washington vs. No. 4 Texas

DETAILS: Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN, New Orleans.

For once, the system works as the postseason lineup builds up to the two bowls that truly matter. We’ll put this one second only because of the pedigree of the other half of the foursome, but there’s certainly no lack of star power in this one. Both the Huskies and Longhorns have played their share of nail biters getting to this point, and it’s certainly fair to expect another.

3. Orange Bowl: No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 6 Georgia

DETAILS: Dec. 30, 4 p.m., ESPN, Miami Gardens, Fla.

In terms of rankings, by poll voters and the CFP committee alike, this should be the best of the non-playoff matchups. The undeniable fact, of course, is that neither team wants to be here. How the Seminoles approach their snub and how the Bulldogs shake off the disappointment of their Alabama loss will determine if this contest does indeed warrant this lofty position.

4. Cotton Bowl: No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Missouri

DETAILS: Dec. 29, 8 p.m., ESPN, Arlington Texas.

One would be hard pressed to find a more downtrodden one-loss team and fan base than the Buckeyes, so the squads level of interest in this contest is a major question mark. The Tigers by contrast were the SEC’s breakout team and figure to be enthusiastic participants. In short, it has great game potential but only if Ohio State decides to make it so.

5. Peach Bowl: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 11 Mississippi

DETAILS: Dec. 30, noon, ESPN, Atlanta.

Though something of a consolation prize for both participants, both can say without dispute that they won the games they were supposed to this season. The Rebels did pick up a signature win against LSU, and a positive result here for the young Nittany Lions could help their narrative heading into next year’s expanded Big Ten campaign.

6. Fiesta Bowl: No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 20 Liberty

DETAILS: Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ESPN, Glendale, Ariz.

Congratulations are in order for the Flames as they get this turn on the big stage, but we’d still have to rate this as the least attractive pairing of the New Year’s Six lineup. The level of participation from the Ducks’ high-end talent will also impact this game’s aesthetics.

7. ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin

DETAILS: Jan. 1, noon, ESPN2, Tampa, Fla.

We place this game here with the caveat that it would drop in the pecking order if the star attraction chooses not to participate, a decision Heisman winner Jayden Daniels has not yet made as of this writing. There’s less reason to watch if he opts out, though even the offense-challenged Badgers might give the Tigers’ leaky secondary a battle.

8. Citrus Bowl: No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 23 Tennessee

DETAILS: Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ABC, Orlando, Fla.

Say what you will about Iowa’s offensive shortcomings, but watching the Hawkeyes is always a fascinating study of tactical football. In this case, we’ll see how their rock-solid defense holds up against an SEC-caliber offense, and whether the Volunteers’ less accomplished stoppers can win a field-position game.

9. Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona

DETAILS: Dec. 28, 9:15 p.m. ESPN, San Antonio.

Once again, the question of what constitutes a successful season would be answered quite differently by these respective fan bases. For the Wildcats, with their highest win total since 2014 and first bowl of any kind since 2017, this campaign was a smash hit. The Sooners got one result they really wanted but were prevented from achieving even bigger things by a couple of close defeats, and the team that takes the field here could look reinvented on the fly due to portal activity.

10. Sun Bowl: No. 16 Notre Dame vs. No. 22 Oregon State

DETAILS: Dec. 29, 2 p.m., CBS, El Paso, Texas.

It’s an attractive matchup on paper, but with coaches and QBs coming and going it might not deliver the goods. Beating a name-brand program like Notre Dame could only help the Beavers as they embark on an uncertain future, while getting to 10 wins would perhaps quiet the grumbling from Fighting Irish fans who are always looking for more.

11. Pop-Tarts Bowl: No. 18 North Carolina State vs. Kansas State

DETAILS: Dec. 28, 5:45 p.m., ESPN, Orlando, Fla.

Edible mascot gimmick aside, this is a strong power-conference pairing. The Wolfpack unfortunately didn’t find their footing until late October, and the Wildcats were on the wrong side of several one-score decisions they’d dearly love to have back.

12. Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Kansas vs. UNLV

DETAILS: Dec. 26, 9 p.m., ESPN, Phoenix, Ariz.

Now we’re starting to reach the hidden gems as these two programs unaccustomed to sustained gridiron success should definitely bring the effort. Though the Rebels fell short in the Mountain West finale, the fact they were there at all after nine consecutive losing seasons speaks volumes, and the Jayhawks are no longer just a basketball school – ask Oklahoma.

13. Texas Bowl: No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M

DETAILS: Dec. 27, 9 p.m., ESPN, Houston.

It’s hard to know what we’ll get from either participant in this one, but curiosity makes it worth an early look. The Cowboys’ season can best be described as up-and-down, while the Aggies’ drift into mediocrity that led to an expensive coaching change is well documented.

14. Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Kentucky

DETAILS: Dec. 29, noon, ESPN, Jacksonville, Fla.

Naturally this contest won’t settle the ongoing ACC/SEC debate/feud, but it will be cited as a datapoint nevertheless. The Tigers to their credit closed on a four-game winning streak after their league title hopes were already dashed, and the Wildcats’ upset of Louisville helped to salvage a brutal second half of the season.

15. Holiday Bowl: No. 15 Louisville vs. Southern California

DETAILS: Dec. 27, 8 p.m., Fox, San Diego.

This isn’t the destination either team wanted, as the Trojans failed to live up to their preseason billing and the Cardinals dropped their last two games to miss out on the Orange Bowl. USC games tend to at least be high-scoring, but with its offense - minus Caleb Williams - now in flux that’s a bit more iffy.

16. Liberty Bowl: Iowa State vs. Memphis

DETAILS: Dec. 29, 3:30 p.m., ESPN, Memphis, Tenn.

The Tigers might have been the quietest nine-win team in the country, with all three of their losses by 10 points or fewer. Their hometown fans should make plenty of noise as they take on the Cyclones, classic overachievers in the crowded Big 12 overcoming a 2-3 start.

17. Armed Forces Bowl: No. 25 James Madison vs. Air Force

DETAILS: Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m., ABC, Fort Worth, Texas.

In the end, the Dukes got their first bowl opportunity ahead of schedule but had to bid farewell to the coach that oversaw the successful transition. The Falcons, in the New Year’s Six conversation until a winless November, would like to go out on a better note.

18. New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. New Mexico State

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 5:45 p.m., ESPN, Albuquerque.

The happy-to-be-here factor would seem to favor the Aggies, who made the most of their first year in Conference USA by reaching the title game and are bowling in consecutive seasons for the first time in over six decades. The Bulldogs were in the driver’s seat in the Mountain West before closing on a three-game slide that scuttled their title aspirations.

19. Duke's Mayo Bowl: North Carolina vs. West Virginia

DETAILS: Dec. 27, 5:30 p.m., ESPN, in Charlotte, N.C.

This is another case of identical records but very different views thereof. Eight wins is a significant feat for the Mountaineers in a season that began with the coach’s chair feeling quite warm, but for the Tar Heels it feels empty after a 6-0 start.

20. Cure Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Miami (Ohio)

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m., ABC, Orlando, Fla.

Among the better selections on opening Saturday is this pairing of the MAC champ and the Sun Belt runner-up. The RedHawks avenged their only league loss to Toledo in the title game and also own a victory against Big 12 rookie Cincinnati, while the Mountaineers’ season highpoints include handing the Dukes of James Madison their lone setback.

21. Birmingham Bowl: Duke vs. Troy

DETAILS: Dec. 23, noon, ABC, Birmingham, Ala.

The Sun Belt champion Trojans had to say goodbye to their coach but get to stay fairly close to home for this postseason opportunity. It’s a transition time for the Blue Devils as well as they look to salvage a disappointing second half of the season with their coach and injured star quarterback off to greener pastures.

22. LA Bowl: Boise State vs. UCLA

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., ABC, Inglewood, Calif.

In one of the highlights of the bowl season’s opening day, the Broncos, who came seemingly from out of nowhere to win the Mountain West title, take on the Bruins, whose offense took a significant step back in their last trip through the Pac-12.

23. Las Vegas Bowl: Northwestern vs. Utah

DETAILS: Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m., ABC, Las Vegas.

It’s an imperfect predictor of how the actual game will unfold, but this is a pairing of teams who feel quite differently about their records. The campaign was a letdown for the Utes, winners of the last two Pac-12 crowns, but a huge step forward for the Wildcats, especially considering the tumultuous start to the year.

24. New Orleans Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 2:15 p.m., ESPN, New Orleans.

Props to the Gamecocks, whose first season in the FBS will end with a bowl trip. They figure to provide a good test for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who finished in a crowded Sun Belt pack.

25. Military Bowl: No. 24 Tulane vs. Virginia Tech

DETAILS: Dec. 27, 2 p.m., ESPN, Annapolis, Md.

The Green Wave came up short in their repeat bid in the American Athletic, and they now find themselves in a coaching transition as they look to secure a Top 25 finish. The Hokies showed improvement over the course of the season, and they figure to have a crowd advantage as they look to carry the momentum into the offseason.

26. Hawaii Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State

DETAILS: Dec. 23, 10:30 p.m., ESPN, Honolulu.

The Mountain West tiebreaker didn’t go the way of the Spartans, but this destination is a nice consolation prize. They should also get a good game from the Chanticleers, who’ve come back to earth a bit since their 2020-21 run but remain in the Sun Belt’s upper tier.

27. Fenway Bowl: No. 19 SMU vs. Boston College

DETAILS: Dec. 28, 11 a.m., ESPN, Boston.

While we can’t endorse all the handwringing from certain league officials, there’s no disputing that the American Athletic champion Mustangs deserved a better bowl assignment. Nevertheless, SMU will want to make a positive impression against one of its future ACC opponents despite playing in the Eagles’ home territory.

28. Myrtle Beach Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Ohio

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 11 a.m., ESPN, Conway, S.C.

The first bowl to kick off will be worth a look. It does have mismatch potential though, as the Bobcats and their highly-ranked defense with a ledger that includes a win against Iowa State could subdue the Eagles, who dropped their last three games.

29. First Responder Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State

DETAILS: Dec. 26, 5:30 p.m., ESPN, Dallas.

You could do worse than watching this Lone Star State pairing. The Bobcats, relative newcomers to the FBS, make their bowl debut, while the Owls look to close out their first winning season since 2014, which also marked their last bowl victory.

30. Arizona Bowl: Toledo vs. Wyoming

DETAILS: Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m., Tucson, Ariz.

This could actually turn out to be among the more attractive contests matching Group of Five members. The fact that it can only be streamed, however, will deter casual viewers from finding it.

31. Pinstripe Bowl: Miami (Fla.) vs. Rutgers

DETAILS: Dec. 28, 2:15 p.m., ESPN, Bronx, N.Y.

Remember when the selling point for bowl games used to be a holiday venture to a warm-weather destination? But while convincing Hurricanes’ fans to come north is difficult, that still might not translate into much of a home region advantage for the Scarlet Knights, a mere blip on the Big Apple’s sports radar.

32. Music City Bowl: Auburn vs. Maryland

DETAILS: Dec. 30, 2 p.m., ABC, Nashville, Tenn.

While both these teams had some moments this season, they primarily came in the context of ‘close, but’ or ‘if only.’ As such, it’s hard to predict the level of effort the participants will put forth.

33. Frisco Bowl: Marshall vs. Texas-San Antonio

DETAILS: Dec. 19, 9 p.m., ESPN, Frisco, Texas.

Here we have yet another realignment reunion as former Conference USA members are brought together. The Roadrunners, now in the American, are a lot closer to home and have a good chance to even their series record against the Thundering Herd, now in the Sun Belt, who failed to score in double digits in three of their last five outings.

34. Gasparilla Bowl: Central Florida vs. Georgia Tech

DETAILS: Dec. 22, 6:30 p.m., ESPN, Tampa, Fla.

Life in the Power Five wasn’t a complete success for UCF, but the Knights did manage some good results in the Big 12, most notably a thrashing of eventual runner-up Oklahoma State. The Yellow Jackets, playing in their first bowl since 2018, will be enthusiastic participants.

35. Famous Toastery Bowl: Old Dominion vs. Western Kentucky

DETAILS: Dec. 18, 2:30 p.m., ESPN, Charlotte, N.C.

Sadly this bowl’s usual home in the Bahamas is undergoing renovations, but the Carolinas are nice this time of year, right? It probably won’t matter to the players, but things could get awkward for some school officials as Old Dominion, now in the Sun Belt, renews acquaintances with one of its former Conference USA opponents.

36. Independence Bowl: California vs. Texas Tech

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 9:15 p.m., ESPN, Shreveport, La.

For what it’s worth, it’s the first matchup of major conference squads in the bowl lineup. The Golden Bears are probably happier to be here after winning their last three games to get to the six-victory threshold, while the Red Raiders’ injury-plagued campaign that began with promise and a preseason ranking was largely a disappointment

37. Idaho Potato Bowl: Georgia State vs. Utah State

DETAILS: Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m., ESPN, Boise.

This one could produce some points if nothing else. The Aggies have a momentum advantage having won their last game against New Mexico to get eligible, while the Panthers enter on a five-game losing streak.

38. 68 Ventures Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama

DETAILS: Dec. 23, 7 p.m., ESPN, Mobile, Ala.

We’re not picking on the MAC, we promise. A couple of its member institutions will show up much higher on this list. But another clash of .500 squads, in effect a home game for the Jaguars, doesn’t move the needle.

39. Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State

DETAILS: Dec. 23, noon, ESPN, Montgomery, Ala.

Considering the RedWolves began the season by being outscored 110-3 in their first two games and the Huskies lost to an FCS opponent, getting to six wins is not to be taken lightly for either team. But unless you’re a diehard fan of one of these schools you probably won’t go out of your way to watch it.

40. Boca Raton Bowl: South Florida vs. Syracuse

DETAILS: Dec. 21, 8 p.m., ESPN, Boca Raton, Fla.

Not all 6-6 records are created equal. At Syracuse, it meant a coaching change was needed. But it’s a sign of progress for the Bulls with first-year coach Alex Golesh leading them to their first bowl since 2018.

41. Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota

DETAILS: Dec. 26, 2 p.m., ESPN, Detroit.

The bowl that drew the short straw having to take the team with a losing record lands at the bottom of the list. There’s actually a bit of recent history between these programs, as the Falcons upended the Golden Gophers 14-10 in September of 2021, but it’s doubtful anyone on either side was clamoring for a rematch of that one.

NCAAF

Ranking all 41 college football bowl games: So many bowls, so little time

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: A detailed view of the Rose Bowl sign is seen on the stadium prior to the 2023 Rose Bowl Game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Utah Utes at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

After ranking the top 10 college matchups of each weekend this past season, it’s only fair that we mark the end of a wild, chaotic, controversial, realignment- and scandal-infused year in proper fashion: ranking all 41 bowl games. Every bowl, first to last, save for the yet-to-be-decided national championship matchup. And unlike the College Football Playoff selection committee, there are no flaws in my formula.

I love bowl season. We all do. I can still close my eyes and hear ESPN’s old “most wonderful time of the year” commercial jingle that has somehow been lost to the deep recesses of the internet. (I searched.) Picking the best bowls was relatively easy — especially the obvious choice of putting the CFP semifinals at the top of the list. But the sad realization I came to while doing this exercise is how terrible so many of these matchups are. Of the 82 bowl teams, 21 have a record of 6-6. That’s more than a quarter of bowl participants. Another one is 5-7, which we’ll get to. So if the program you root for didn’t reach bowl eligibility this season? Yikes. But also, you’ll probably survive without a trip to the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl.

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Not that it will stop the rest of us from tuning in.

Speaking of sponsors, I’m adding a few elements, including breakout charts on the most-delicious-food sponsors, a Very Sickos Committee New Year and a quiz on how well you know your bowl promoters. The answer key for the quiz is near the end of the article.

Without further ado, let’s rank all 41 games, from the Quick Lane Bowl to The Granddaddy of Them All.

Note: All times Eastern.

41. Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit): Bowling Green (7-5) vs. Minnesota (5-7); Tue., Dec. 26, 2 p.m.; ESPN

The only reason Minnesota is in a bowl game with a 5-7 record is because there weren’t enough six-win teams this season and Minnesota has the best Academic Progress Rate (APR) of the five-win teams. Props to the Gophers for the educational achievement, truly, but it earns this bowl last place on our list.

Line: Minnesota -4, over/under 38.5

40. Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.): Arkansas State (6-6) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6); Sat., Dec. 23, noon; ESPN

The camellia is the state flower of Alabama, and this year’s game fittingly features former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive analyst Butch Jones as the coach of Arkansas State. Also featured is NIU running back Antario Brown , who is second in the MAC in rushing yards (1,164) and has announced he will return to the Huskies in 2024.

Line: Arkansas State -1, O/U 53.5

39. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise): Georgia State (6-6) vs. Utah State (6-6); Sat., Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m.; ESPN

We’ll see if the winning coach can look as iconic as former Ohio coach Frank Solich receiving the ceremonial french fry bath back in 2020. Georgia State will be without stud running back Marcus Carroll , who transferred to Missouri.

Line: Utah State -1, O/U 62.5

Frank Solich gave us one of the greatest college football photos of all-time: pic.twitter.com/yr0OuxhYmN — Steve Helwick (@s_helwick) July 14, 2021

38. 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Ala.): South Alabama (6-6) vs. Eastern Michigan (6-6); Sat., Dec. 23, 7 p.m.; ESPN

QUIZ TIME: What is 68 Ventures? (Other than almost — but not quite — nice.) South Alabama’s Kane Wommack leads the Jaguars in back-to-back bowl games for the first time in the program’s 12-year FBS history. And EMU’s Chris Creighton has led the Eagles to six bowl games in his 10 seasons at a program with only one other bowl appearance, way back in 1987. (Quiz answers below.)

Line: South Alabama -16, O/U 47

37. Famous Toastery Bowl (Charlotte, N.C.): Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Old Dominion (6-6); Mon., Dec. 18, 2:30 p.m.; ESPN

Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson leads the FBS with 170 tackles and is tied for fourth with 19 1/2 tackles for loss, garnering a slew of All-America honors including second team from us here at The Athletic . Also, I have never eaten at a Famous Toastery.

Line: Old Dominion -2.5, O/U 55.5

36. RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.): South Florida (6-6) vs. Syracuse (6-6); Thu., Dec. 21, 8 p.m.; ESPN

The beauty of the RoofClaim.com Bowl is in the eye of the 6-6 beholder. Syracuse is hitting the reset button, firing Dino Babers and hiring Fran Brown late last month . USF is soaking up the bowl experience after first-year coach Alex Golesh eclipsed the Bulls’ win total of the previous three seasons combined.

Line: Syracuse -3, O/U 61

35. Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, Fla.): Georgia Tech (6-6) vs. UCF (6-6); Fri., Dec. 22, 6:30 p.m.; ESPN

Hardly the most exciting matchup on paper, but again, it’s all relative. Georgia Tech reaches its first bowl game since 2018, and UCF wins six games in the program’s first season in the Big 12.

Line: UCF -4.5, O/U 64.5

34. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (Shreveport, La.): Cal (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (6-6); Sat., Dec. 16, 9:15 p.m.; ESPN

QUIZ TIME: What is Radiance Technologies? Hint: Not a tanning salon. Disappointing year for Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders, who entered the season as a Big 12 dark horse but are in danger of finishing below .500.

Line: Texas Tech -2.5, O/U 58

33. SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Dallas): Texas State (7-5) vs. Rice (6-6); Tue., Dec. 26, 5:30 p.m.; ESPN

Nice first year for Texas State coach G.J. Kinne, who led the Bobcats to a season-opening upset over Baylor and the program’s first bowl game in its dozen-year FBS history.

Line: Texas State -4.5, O/U 60.5

32. Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl (The Bronx, N.Y.): Rutgers (6-6) vs. Miami (7-5); Thu., Dec. 28, 2:15 p.m.; ESPN

A showdown between a pair of former Big East foes whose seasons started brightly … before each seemingly stepped into an empty elevator shaft. Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, indeed.

Line: Miami -1.5, O/U 41

31. TransPerfect Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tenn.): Auburn (6-6) vs. Maryland (7-5); Sat., Dec. 30, 2 p.m.; ABC

QUIZ TIME: What is TransPerfect? The most defining thing about each of these teams is the big game they didn’t win late in the season. Maryland played Michigan as tough as anyone but lost by 7, and Auburn managed to give up a fourth-and-31 touchdown pass to keep Alabama’s Playoff hopes alive.

Line: Auburn -2.5, O/U 50.5

30. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans): Jacksonville State (8-4) vs. Louisiana (6-6); Sat., Dec. 16, 2:15 p.m.; ESPN

Jacksonville State and coach Rich Rodriguez won eight games in the program’s first season at the FBS level. The Gamecocks were technically ineligible for postseason play due to their FBS transition but were granted a bowl berth because of a lack of six-win teams.

Line: Jacksonville State -3, O/U: 59.5

29. Myrtle Beach Bowl (Conway, S.C.): Georgia Southern (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-3); Sat., Dec. 16, 11 a.m.; ESPN

The first kickoff of bowl season, and one I’ll be watching intently as an Ohio alum. The Bobcats will be without standout quarterback Kurtis Rourke , who entered the transfer portal. Former UCF transfer Parker Navarro will get the start.

Line: Georgia Southern -3.5, O/U 49.5

28. Military Bowl Presented by GoBowling.com (Annapolis, Md.): Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Tulane (11-2); Wed., Dec. 27, 2 p.m.; ESPN

QUIZ TIME: What is GoBowling.com? And why are there multiple sponsors who include the “dot com” in their name? Everything has a website. This one is also a reminder of how thin the margins are for even really good Group of 5 teams. If Tulane beats SMU in the AAC championship, the Green Wave will be playing in a second straight New Year’s Six game.

Line: Virginia Tech -7.5, O/U 46.5

27. Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas): UTSA (8-4) vs. Marshall (6-6); Tue., Dec. 19, 9 p.m.; ESPN

After a slow start, losing three of its first four, UTSA won seven of its last eight. It’s a wonder it’s managed to hold on to coach Jeff Traylor for this long, finishing out his fourth season.

Line: UTSA -13, O/U 52.5

26. EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu): Coastal Carolina (7-5) vs. San Jose State (7-5); Sat., Dec. 23, 10:30 p.m.; ESPN

The Spartans are riding a six-game win streak after a 1-5 start, good enough to force a three-way tie atop the Mountain West standings, but computer rankings locked SJSU out of the title game. Coastal will be without quarterback Grayson McCall , the three-time Sun Belt player of the year and program’s all-time passing leader, who recently transferred to North Carolina State .

Line: SJSU -10, O/U 53.5

25. Wasabi Fenway Bowl (Boston): No. 24 SMU (11-2) vs. Boston College (6-6); Thu., Dec. 28, 11 a.m.; ESPN

QUIZ TIME: What is Wasabi? Hint: This one is not Japanese horseradish. I covered last year’s Fenway Bowl, which is a cool setting and environment right up until kickoff, at which point it becomes a weird football game on a strangely positioned field. Both benches are on the same sideline.

Line: SMU -11, O/U 51

24. Starco Brands LA Bowl (Inglewood, Calif.): UCLA (7-5) vs. Boise State (8-5); Sat., Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m.; ABC

QUIZ TIME: What is Starco Brands? Hint: I looked it up and I’m still not sure. Also confounding: Boise State fired its head coach and lost its starting quarterback to an injury, then won the Mountain West championship.

Line: UCLA -4, O/U 48.5

23. SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas): Utah (8-4) vs. Northwestern (7-5); Sat., Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m.; ABC

It feels like this is the hinge point in the rankings where the bowls start to become more intriguing. Utah quarterback and former walk-on pig farmer Bryson Barnes entered the transfer portal but will remain with the Utes through this game.

Line: Utah -6.5, O/U 41.5

22. Isleta New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, N.M.): New Mexico State (10-4) vs. Fresno State (8-4); Sat., Dec. 16, 5:45 p.m.; ESPN

QUIZ TIME: What is Isleta? New Mexico State will be the only team outside of the national championship participants to play 15 games this season. The Aggies played 13 regular-season games because of the Hawaii rule, which allows programs that travel to Hawaii to add a home game to offset travel costs. NMSU then made the CUSA title game, which it lost to Liberty.

Line: NM St -3.5, O/U 51.5

21. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas): James Madison (11-1) vs. Air Force (8-4); Sat., Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m.; ABC

QUIZ TIME: What (who?) is Lockheed Martin? The Dukes were barred from the Sun Belt championship due to their FBS transition but, like Jacksonville State, were granted a bowl game. And it’s still the Year of James Madison: The men’s basketball team is 9-0 and ranked 20th in the AP Top 25.

Line: James Madison -2.5, O/U 41

20. Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl (Orlando, Fla.): Miami Ohio (11-2) vs. Appalachian State (8-5); Sat., Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m.; ABC

A banner season for the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks: a MAC championship, their first rivalry win over Cincinnati in 16 years and 11-win season in 20 years — despite losing quarterback Brett Gabbert to injury in late October — and kicker Graham Nicholson won the Lou Groza Award.

Line: Appalachian State -6.5, O/U 44.5

19. 76 Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.): Troy (11-2) vs. Duke (7-5); Sat., Dec. 23, noon; ABC

The Coaching Change Bowl. Duke hired Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz to replace Mike Elko, who took the Texas A&M job, and will be led by interim coach Trooper Taylor. Troy is still searching for a head coach after Tulane recently hired away Jon Sumrall, and the Trojans will be led by interim coach Greg Gasparato.

Line: Troy -7.5, O/U 44.5

18. Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Fla.): No. 17 Iowa (10-3) vs. No. 21 Tennessee (8-4); Mon., Jan. 1, 1 p.m.; ABC

One last ride for embattled Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, which is why I fully expect the Hawkeyes to drop 40 on Tennessee.

Line: Tennessee -7.5, O/U 36.5

17. AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Memphis): Memphis (9-3) vs. Iowa State (7-5); Fri., Dec. 29, 3:30 p.m.; ESPN

Iowa State going 7-5 is one of the more impressive performances of the season. The Cyclones were rocked by an illegal gambling scandal this offseason that stripped them of several projected starters, most notably at quarterback, and still finished fourth in the Big 12.

Line: Iowa State -8.5, O/U 57.5

16. TaxAct Texas Bowl (Houston): Texas A&M (7-5) vs. No. 20 Oklahoma State (9-4); Wed., Dec. 27, 9 p.m.; ESPN

A&M hired Elko to replace Jimbo Fisher but will be led by interim coach Elijah Robinson , who will then depart to be the new defensive coordinator for Syracuse. How much will we see from Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II , the Doak Walker Award winner and leading rusher in the FBS this season?

Line: Texas A&M -3, O/U 53.5

15. Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.): No. 23 Liberty (13-0) vs. No. 8 Oregon (11-2); Mon., Jan. 1, 1 p.m.; ESPN

Oregon quarterback and Heisman finalist Bo Nix is expected to play in this game, which is awesome unless you play for Liberty. The Flames had the weakest strength of schedule in FBS this season, and the Ducks will be the first and only Power 5 opponent Liberty faces.

Line: Oregon -17.5, O/U 65.5

14. ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa, Fla.): Wisconsin (7-5) vs. No. 13 LSU (9-3); Mon., Jan. 1, noon; ESPN2

QUIZ TIME: What is ReliaQuest? If we see LSU’s Heisman-winning quarterback, Jayden Daniels , and star receiver Malik Nabers on the field, expect it to be brief. Nabers is just 21 yards short of LSU’s record for career receiving yards, currently held by Josh Reed. Nabers (and maybe Daniels) could suit up just long enough to get the record before moving on to the NFL .

Line: LSU -8.5, O/U 55.5

13. Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl (Tucson, Ariz.): Toledo (11-2) vs. Wyoming (8-4); Sat., Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m.; CW/Barstool

Wyoming coach Craig Bohl announced he will retire after this game, ending a 21-year head-coaching career, the last 10 with the Cowboys. Before that, he spent 11 seasons at the FCS level with North Dakota State, including three straight FCS national championships from 2011 to 2013.

Line: Wyoming -3, O/U 44.5

12. Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas): No. 19 Oregon State (8-4) vs. No. 16 Notre Dame (9-3); Fri., Dec. 29, 2 p.m.; CBS

How does Kellogg’s decide to dub this the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl instead of the Frosted Flakes Sun Bowl? An otherwise intriguing matchup has been ravaged by transfers and opt-outs, particularly for Oregon State, which lost coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State . Oregon State’s Ben Gulbranson and Notre Dame’s Steve Angeli will start at quarterback.

Line: Notre Dame -6.5, O/U 42.5

11. Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando, Fla.): No. 18 North Carolina State (9-3) vs. No. 25 Kansas State (8-4); Thu., Dec. 28, 5:45 p.m.; ESPN

This should be a fascinating game between ranked teams, but most important is the edible Pop-Tarts mascot that the winning team can eat on the field after the game. I’m all in.

Line: Kansas State -3, O/U 47.5

10. TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Fla.): No. 22 Clemson (8-4) vs. Kentucky (7-5); Fri., Dec. 29, noon; ESPN

Clemson will play in a 19th straight bowl game, but there are questions at cornerback. Nate Wiggins declared for the NFL Draft; Sheridan Jones , Jeadyn Lukus and Branden Strozier are sidelined by injury; and Toriano Pride Jr. entered the transfer portal.

Line: Clemson -5.5, O/U 46.5

9. DIRECTV Holiday Bowl (San Diego): No. 15 Louisville (10-3) vs. USC (7-5); Wed., Dec. 27, 8 p.m.; Fox

USC will be without star quarterback Caleb Williams , leading rusher MarShawn Lloyd and leading receiver Brenden Rice , all of whom opted out. Louisville, on the other hand, doesn’t anticipate any notable opt-outs for the bowl game.

Line: Louisville -7.5, O/U 57.5

8. Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington, Texas): No. 9 Missouri (10-2) vs. No. 7 Ohio State (11-1); Fri., Dec. 29, 8 p.m.; ESPN

The Buckeyes will be without starting quarterback Kyle McCord , who entered the transfer portal, and most likely without star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. , who many expect will declare for the draft. But they will have receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke , among others, against an ascendent, top-10 Missouri squad that was one of the surprises of the season.

Line: Missouri -2.5, O/U 48.5

7. Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, N.C.): North Carolina (8-4) vs. West Virginia (8-4); Wed., Dec. 27, 5:30 p.m.; ESPN

With all due respect to West Virginia and coach Neal Brown, I think we all want to see a victorious North Carolina coach Mack Brown get a bucket of mayonnaise dumped on him.

Line: WVU -6, O/U 56.5

go-deeper

Can bowls reinvent themselves in the Playoff era? 'Bowl games are meant to be fun, right?'

6. Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Phoenix): Kansas (8-4) vs. UNLV (9-4); Tue., Dec. 26, 9 p.m.; ESPN

In year one, UNLV coach Barry Odom has eclipsed the program’s win total of the past three seasons combined and led the Rebels to their first bowl since 2013. Kansas coach Lance Leipold has led the Jayhawks to their most wins since 2008, which is also the last time the program reached a bowl game in back-to-back seasons.

Line: Kansas -12.5, O/U 64.5

5. Valero Alamo Bowl (San Antonio): No. 14 Arizona (9-3) vs. No. 12 Oklahoma (10-2); Thu., Dec. 28, 9:15 p.m.; ESPN

Bowl season has gifted us an appointment-viewing clash of young quarterbacks: Oklahoma five-star true freshman Jackson Arnold , starting in place of transfer Dillon Gabriel , and Arizona redshirt freshman Noah Fifita .

Line: Arizona -3, O/U 62.5

4. Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta): No. 11 Ole Miss (10-2) vs. No. 10 Penn State (10-2); Sat., Dec. 30, noon; ESPN

This is one of the best pairings of bowl season between teams that would be in the Playoff under next year’s 12-team format. It’s also an opportunity for both coaches — Penn State’s James Franklin and Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin — to claim the type of marquee win each has struggled to secure.

Line: Penn State -3.5, O/U 48.5

3. Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Fla.): No. 6 Georgia (12-1) vs. No. 5 Florida State (13-0); Sat., Dec. 30, 4 p.m.; ESPN

This could be a tough one for the Seminoles, who won’t have quarterback Jordan Travis and have had a few significant opt-outs. But unlike the CFP selection committee, I won’t make any restrictive assumptions about how this game will unfold.

Line: Georgia -14, O/U 44.5

2. CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans): No. 3 Texas (12-1) vs. No. 2 Washington (13-0); Mon., Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m.; ESPN

We get to watch Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. against Texas’ Quinn Ewers at quarterback, with Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian dueling as play callers. Holiday blessings.

Line: Texas -4, O/U 64.5

1. CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential (Pasadena, Calif.): No. 4 Alabama (12-1) vs. No. 1 Michigan (13-0); Mon., Jan. 1, 5 p.m.; ESPN

As disappointing as it was to see Florida State get left out of the Playoff, there’s no denying the decision delivered a tantalizing matchup between two of the most storied programs in college football history. I suppose hypocrisy is the price we have to pay for this one.

Line: Michigan -1.5, O/U 45.5

(Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

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Justin Williams

Justin Williams covers college football and basketball for The Athletic. He was previously a beat reporter covering the Cincinnati Bearcats, and prior to that he worked as a senior editor for Cincinnati Magazine. Follow Justin on Twitter/X @williams_justin Follow Justin on Twitter @ williams_justin

bowl games by ranking

  • Dec 16, 2023

Ranking all 41 bowl games from best to worst

bowl games by ranking

There are 41 bowl games, starting early Saturday morning and wrapping on New Year's Day - with basically major college football on virtually every day from now until the end of 2023.

So with so many big games what are the best ones to watch?

Here are our annual rankings of bowl games from best to worst. Enjoy.

41. Quick Lane Bowl, Bowling Green vs. Minnesota (12/26 2PM, ESPN)

This game features a 5-7 Minnesota team that is as boring to watch any in the country, against a MAC team, in Detroit.

But hey, it's the day after Christmas and what else will you be doing?!

40. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Georgia State vs. Utah State (12/23 3:30 PM, ESPN)

Not even a french fry bath can save this game, which is on during the same time as a much higher ranked bowl game on a day that also has NFL games. Nobody is going watch this.

39. Camellia Bowl, Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois (12/23 Noon, ESPN)

Like the previous game, it’s on at the same time as a better game, on a day with a lot of football. Nothing is appealing about it, and I think your time would be spent better elsewhere.

38. Wasabi Fenway Bowl, No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College (12/28 11AM, ESPN)

SMU is fun to watch, and it’s cool to see Boston College in a bowl game, but a game on before Noon with three good games to watch the rest of the day in a baseball stadium is not particularly appealing.

37. Radiance Tech Independence Bowl, California vs. Texas Tech (12/16 9:15PM ET, ESPN)

Two mediocre college football teams on at the same time as an important NFL game? Hey, at least with a 9:15 start, it might be something to flip on after Broncos-Lions is done on Saturday night. So yeah, it's got that going for it!

36. Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl, Toledo vs. Wyoming (1/1 1PM, ESPN)

Depending on how much you do or don’t like Barstool, this could be a fun game to enjoy. But, on college football’s biggest day, Toledo and Wyoming aren’t exactly pulling you away from better competition.

35. TransPerfect Music City Bowl, Auburn vs. Maryland (12/30 2PM, ABC)

It’s not that this game is bad. But, it overlaps will two of our top five games, and we can’t recommend picking this game over those two.

One thing that can't be denied: Auburn fans are traveiling WELL for this one.

34. Taxslayer Gator Bowl, No. 22 Clemson vs. Kentucky (12/29 Noon ESPN)

This is the first game that I think is probably worth your time to watch. But, for those of us that like to see a lot of points, this game likely won’t produce many.

33. 68 Ventures Bowl, South Alabama VS Eastern Michigan (7PM 12/23, ESPN)

Eastern Michigan arguably is as tough of a job as any in the country, so it’s cool when they make a bowl game. But, it’s a pretty blah matchup, and only the most hardcore college football fans will watch this over and NFL game on at the same time.

On second thought, the NFL game at that time is Steelers-Bengals, so maybe this one really isn't that bad after all. You know, unless you're into Jake Browning.

32. AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Memphis vs. Iowa State (12/29 3:30, ESPN)

Tt’s overshadowed by the Sun Bowl at the same time, but this is an intriguing game. Matt Campbell did another excellent job at Iowa State this year and with Memphis playing in its home stadium, it should be a good crowd. This one could be more fun than expected.

31. Starco Brands LA Bowl, UCLA vs. Boise State (12/16 7:30, ESPN)

These two teams had two of the weirdest seasons in the country. Boise State fired head coach Andy Avalos mid-season before winning the Mountain West, and UCLA nearly fired coach Chip Kelly. For UCLA, this is a pseudo-important game to build some momentum heading into next year and avoid making this a long, painful off-season.

30. Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, Georgia Tech vs. UCF (12/22 6:30PM, ESPN)

In a year full of great candidates for National Coach of the Year, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key did as good of a job as anyone. It is the only game of the day, which helps. It won’t be great football, but it will be football.

29. SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, Texas State VS Rice (12/26 5:30PM, ESPN)

247Sports’ Josh Pate jokes that it’s never good to lose to food. Six teams did just that this year, making Rice bowl-eligible. And, Texas State head coach GJ Kinne is coming to a big-time program very soon as an offensive whiz-kid. It’s a standalone game ahead of Monday Night Football the day after Christmas. Go ahead and sign me up.

28. ReliaQuest Bowl, Wisconsin vs. No. 13 LSU (1/1 Noon, ESPN2)

A good game on its surface, but there are so many other good games that day. What's worth watching with this one is whether Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels plays, as he's been non-committal as to whether he's playing or not.

27. TaxAct Texas Bowl, Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma State (12/27 9PM, ESPN)

Two former Big 12 Rivals adds some intrigue, but the question is what Texas A&M will look like after so many portal defections. Safe to say the fan-base - understandably - isn't happy with former defensive line coach Elijah Robinson (who has since taken the Syracuse defensive coordinator job) still coaching this team. And in the process, recruiting for Syracuse off A&M's roster.

26. Isleta New Mexico Bowl, New Mexico State vs. Fresno State (12/16 5:45PM, ESPN)

New Mexico State is a very difficult job, but Jerry Kill has made it look easy. It’s great to see one of the nation’s best coaches in good health and winning football games again. Because of that, this game gets a bump above where you may think it should be.

25. Boca Raton Bowl, USF VS Syracuse (12/21 8PM, ESPN)

Don’t love NFL Thursday Night Football? This game provides a good alternative and is the only college football game of the day.

Also, it actually should be a pretty good crowd with USF selling a boatload of tickets.

24. EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl, Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State (12/23 10:30PM, ESPN)

The Hawai’i Bowl is cooler when it falls on Christmas Eve. But, due to that being a Sunday this year, it is on the 23rd. Still, it’s a really cool setting, and the late-night time slot on a Saturday rocks.

23. VRBO Fiesta Bowl, No. 23 Liberty vs. No. 8 Oregon (1/1 1PM, ESPN)

This is a really low ranking for a New Year’s Six Bowl. But, we just didn’t find this game all that enticing, and there are a lot of other games on New Year’s Day that should be more competitive.

22. Famous Toastery Bowl, WKU vs. Old Dominion (12/18 2:30PM, ESPN)

Football in The Bahamas on a Monday at 2:30? It beats actually working on the last Monday before Christmas.

21. Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, Rutgers vs. Miami (12/28 2:15PM, ESPN)

Points off for the baseball stadium, but anytime a school like Miami has to play in the cold, it’s worth watching. Rutgers could dominate this game up front, especially if Miami is unmotivated.

20. SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, Utah vs. Northwestern (12/23 7:30PM, ESPN)

Will there be a lot of points scored? No. But, given the offseason they had, nobody expected Northwestern to win 7 games this year, and they’re as well-coached as any team in the country this year.

19. Myrtle Beach Bowl, Georgia Southern vs. Ohio (12/16 11AM, ESPN)

Normally, this game would get a low ranking. But, it’s the first bowl game of the season, and that has to count for something.

18. Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl, No. 19 Oregon State VS Notre Dame (12/29 2PM, CBS)

These two teams played in arguably Oregon State’s biggest win ever, the 2001 Fiesta Bowl. Neither fan base has forgot.

17. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana (12/16 2:15PM, ESPN)

Two really fun offenses square off in the second bowl game of the bowl season, and it should be a raucous crowd with Louisiana fans making the two-or-so hour drive to New Orleans and Jacksonville State playing in their first ever bowl game.

16. Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl, UTSA VS Marshall (12/19 9PM, ESPN)

The matchup itself is not at all appealing. The fact that it’s the only game on a Tuesday means you will probably watch it.

15. Military Bowl, Virginia Tech vs. Tulane (12/27 2PM, ESPN)

The first of four games on the Wednesday after Christmas features a resurgent Virginia Tech team against a really good Tulane offense led by quarterback, Michael Pratt.

14. 76 Birmingham Bowl, Troy VS Duke (12/23 Noon, ESPN)

Troy is the best team you haven’t paid attention to this year. The 11-2 Sun Belt Champions are worth your attention. They could be in the College Football Playoff next season.

13. Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl, Miami (OH) VS Appalachian State (12/16 3:30PM, ABC)

These are two of the premier G5 teams in the country, and it’s the best game of the first day of Bowl Games.

12. DIRECTV Holiday Bowl, No. 15 Louisville vs. USC (12/27, 8PM FOX)

This is a really fun matchup in a pretty fun time slot. It's safe to assume there will be plenty of points scored in this matchup, no matter how poorly Louisville's offense looked in the ACC Championship Game.

11. Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, No. 17 Iowa vs. Tennessee (1/1 1PM, ABC)

Could there be two more different teams in America? Certainly not many. Iowa has an all-time bad offense that is truly fun to watch fail over and over. Meanwhile, Tennessee, in theory has an explosive offense. But, they could be bullied up front by Iowa's front.

Games like these is why college football is so much better than the NFL.

10. Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Kansas vs. UNLV (12/26 9PM, ESPN)

If you haven't seen UNLV's "Go-Go" offensive scheme yet, it's worth a watch. Kansas is really fun to watch, too. And, it's Tuesday night football. What more could you ask for?

9. Pop-Tarts Bowl, No. 18 North Carolina State vs. Kansas State (12/28 5:45PM, ESPN)

Top 25 matchups are always great and NC State's Dave Doeren is one of the most underrated coaches in the country. But, the intrigue here is mainly about Kansas State's true freshman quarterback Avery Johnson, who will likely make his first start.

Plus, there’s going to be an edible Pop-Tart as a mascot. No, really. That's happening.

8. Duke’s Mayo Bowl, North Carolina vs. West Virginia (12/27 5:30PM ESPN)

Is this game really that appetizing on paper with UNC star QB Drake Maye opting out? No. Is the prospect of a tub of mayonnaise being dumped on Mack Brown's head must-watch? Yes.

7. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, James Madison VS Air Force (12/23 3PM, ABC)

These are two of the best teams many people haven't seen this year. The color matchup is great, Air Force runs a cool scheme, and it's the best of all the early bowl games.

6. Valero Alamo Bowl, No. 14 Arizona VS No. 12 Oklahoma (12/28 9:15PM ESPN

This is the most intriguing of any non NY6 bowl game. Arizona coach Jedd Fisch has done a remarkable job and freshman quarterback Noah Fifita is a breakout star. Meanwhile, true freshman Jackson Arnold will likely make his first start for Oklahoma. He has the potential to be the next great Sooner quarterback.

5. Goodyear Cotton Bowl, No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 7 Ohio State (12/29 8PM, ABC)

Well, Ohio State fans wanted Kyle McCord out - now they get to see what they have in redshirt freshman Devin Brown. Also, we know Emeka Egbuka will play in this game, TreyVeon Henderson might too, and hey, we still haven't officially heard word from Marvin Harrison Jr.!?

So you're saying there's a chance?!

By the way, even if/when Harrison doesn't play, remember the Rose Bowl two years ago was a breakout game for Harrison, when Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave opted out. Could the same happen two years later with Carnell Tate or any of the Buckeyes' other star receivers?!

The thing is though, the Buckeyes better be careful, as Missouri played great ball down the stretch and have a potent, balanced attack with Brady Cook, Cody Schrader and Luther Burden.

4. Chick-FIl-A Peach Bowl, No. 11 Ole Miss VS No. 10 Penn State (12/30 Noon, ESPN)

Any game Lane Kiffin is involved in automatically gets a boost when it comes to entertainment factor. And, if you didn't watch the nation's top-ranked defense in Penn State yet, you're in for a treat. It feels like a big game for both programs, too, as both need a signature win this year.

3. Capital One Orange Bowl, No. 6 Georgia VS No. 5 Florida State (12/30 4PM, ESPN)

Both of these teams were in the top four of every College Football Playoff ranking this season until the one that mattered most. Florida State will get a chance to prove that it was robbed of a chance to win a national title.

If the Seminoles pull it out, a lot of people will have plenty of egg on their face.

2. Allstate Sugar Bowl, No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington (1/1 8:45PM, ESPN)

The other College Football Playoff Semifinal ranks above it. But Texas and Washington is still, on paper, one of the best semifinals we've had to date. Look for an all-time great quarterback duel between Texas's Quinn Ewers and Washington's Michael Penix Jr.

1. Rose Bowl, No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan (1/1 5PM ESPN

The Granddaddy of them all hosts arguably the most-anticipated College Football Playoff Semifinal of all time. Could this be the last time we see Nick Saban? Will it be the last game Jim Harbaugh ever coaches at Michigan?

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bowl games by ranking

  • Yahoo Sports AM
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  • Playoff and Bowl Games

Ranking the 42 college football bowl games from best to worst

Welcome to bowl season!

It's the most glorious time of the year. And from the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 17 to the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 10, there will be 43 postseason games played.

Not including the national title game, Yahoo Sports' Sam Cooper and Nick Bromberg have ranked all 42 bowl games from best to worst. Beyond the CFP bowls, there are many intriguing matchups to look forward to in the coming weeks.

( Full 2021 bowl game schedule with dates, times and TV channels )

1. Orange Bowl: Michigan (12-1) vs. Georgia (12-1)

Georgia opened as a 7-point favorite over the Wolverines but this could be an extremely even game. And an absolute battle in the trenches. Both of these teams excel because of their offensive and defensive lines and they love to run the football. This is an especially enticing game for fans of old-school football and it’s made better by involving two blue-blood programs searching for their first national title in decades.

2. Cotton Bowl: Alabama (12-1) vs. Cincinnati (13-0)

Cincinnati became the first Group of Five program to reach the College Football Playoff, and now it has to go up against mighty Alabama . The Bearcats earned it. They are undefeated this year, have won 22 of their past 23 and are 44-6 combined over the past four seasons. Now the Bearcats have to deal with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who just diced up Georgia’s acclaimed defense for 421 passing yards and four total touchdowns in the SEC title game.

3. Rose Bowl: Ohio State (10-2) vs. Utah (10-3)

Utah is a scary team at the moment. The Utes have won six straight games and dominated Oregon twice in that timeframe . Ohio State, meanwhile, has the best trio of wide receivers in the country. Utah’s ferociousness up front will be a challenge for Ohio State’s offensive line. The Buckeyes couldn’t handle Aidan Hutchinson and Michigan. Will they be able to stop the Utes?

4. Peach Bowl: Pittsburgh (11-2) vs. Michigan State (10-2)

The ascendance of Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett from middle of the road ACC starter to potential Heisman finalist has been one of the stories of the season. Another big story this year was Mel Tucker and Michigan State. MSU went 2-5 in 2020, Tucker’s first season as head coach. This year, MSU went 10-2 and was once ranked as high as No. 3 with RB Kenneth Walker III leading the way. This is going to be fun.

5. Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State (11-2) vs. Notre Dame (11-1)

This is a matchup of the two teams that missed out on the playoff. Oklahoma State came within inches of a playoff berth in the waning seconds of the Big 12 title game while Notre Dame is likely in the playoff if Georgia beat Alabama. This should be a great defensive matchup with Oklahoma State’s top defense and the head coaching debut of Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman.

6. Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss (10-2) vs. Baylor (11-2)

In Year 2 under Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss got to 10 regular season wins for the first time. Kiffin has Matt Corral and the Rebels' offense playing at a high level. The defense is much-improved, too. Baylor also has a second-year coach, Dave Aranda. BU went 2-7 last year. This year, BU won the Big 12. The Bears have been steady and well-coached on both sides of the ball. This is a really fun matchup.

7. Alamo Bowl: Oregon (10-3) vs. Oklahoma (10-2)

This is going to be the interim coach bowl in the only non-New Year’s Six game that features 10-win teams from Power Five conferences. Oklahoma will be coached by former coach Bob Stoops on an interim basis after Lincoln Riley left for USC. Oregon coach Mario Cristobal left for Miami on Monday and it's unclear who will lead the Ducks in this game.

8. Cheez-It Bowl: Iowa State (7-5) vs. Clemson (9-3)

Iowa State fell well short of expectations this season, but you know Matt Campbell’s team will be charged up to go against a team like Clemson in a bowl game. ISU has a senior-laden team that will be challenged by Clemson's defense. Clemson having three losses is out of the ordinary, but the Tigers quietly won seven of eight after a 2-2 start. Oh, and the winning coach will probably have a bucket of Cheez-Its dumped on his head.

9. Boca Raton Bowl: Appalachian State (10-3) vs. Western Kentucky (8-5)

The Boca Raton Bowl opens the first Saturday of bowl season with an enticing matchup. Both teams rank in the top 25 in points per game and Western Kentucky QB Bailey Zappe could set FBS records in this one. Zappe needs four TD passes for 60 on the season and a tie with LSU’s Joe Burrow in 2019 for the most passing TDs in a single season. Zappe (5,545 yards) is also less than 300 yards away from throwing for the most passing yards in a single season of any QB in FBS history.

10. Gator Bowl: Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Wake Forest (10-3)

Texas A&M had national championship aspirations this year, but ended up going 8-4. Still, TAMU has one of the nation’s most-talented rosters — especially on defense. The Aggies will have a challenge going against Wake Forest, which lost the ACC title game to Pitt on Saturday. The Demon Deacons have a great offense that averages 41.2 points and 469 yards per game.

11. Music City Bowl: Purdue (8-4) vs. Tennessee (7-5)

Two creative offenses in an even matchup within driving distance of both fan bases? Yes, please. Purdue won four of its last five games of the season including an upset win over Michigan State. Tennessee won three of its last four and scored at least 45 points in each of those victories.

12. Outback Bowl: Arkansas (8-4) vs. Penn State (7-5)

Yessir! Arkansas is back in a bowl game after a four-season absence. The Razorbacks won eight games combined in the three seasons before Sam Pittman arrived. In his second year, they are 8-4. Penn State had a disappointing year, but has an excellent defense and one of the best receivers in the country, Jahan Dotson. He and Arkansas WR Treylon Burks could both be first-round NFL draft picks.

13. Holiday Bowl: N.C. State (9-3) vs. UCLA (8-4)

N.C. State had an incredibly solid season in 2021 — its three losses came to Mississippi State, Miami and Wake Forest. All three of those teams are going to bowl games. QB Devin Leary has completed two-thirds of his passes and has thrown 35 TDs and just five interceptions. UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson can be electric in Chip Kelly's offense and the Bruins have scored at least 42 points in each of their last three games.

14. Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech (6-6) vs. Mississippi State (7-5)

On the surface, this is a mediocre Big 12 program vs. a decent SEC program. But if you know the history of Mississippi State coach Mike Leach and Texas Tech, you’re going to want to watch this one. To call Leach’s exit from Texas Tech messy would be an understatement. That was 12 years ago, but Leach’s lawyer last year said the coach has vowed to “fight” Texas Tech “until he dies.” Yeah, so go ahead and set a reminder to watch this one right now.

15. L.A. Bowl: Oregon State (7-5) vs. Utah State (10-3)

Utah State was the surprise winner of the Mountain West after a 1-5 season in 2020. The team’s turnaround under new coach Blake Anderson has been quick and fueled by the arrival of QB Logan Bonner after he came to Utah State with Anderson from Arkansas State. Though Oregon State has lost four of its last seven after a 4-1 start, this rushing attack is extremely fun to watch. OSU will be plenty motivated to win its first bowl since 2013.

16. Frisco Bowl: UTSA (12-1) vs. San Diego State (11-2)

UTSA is in the midst of its best season ever. The Roadrunners started the year 11-0, lost the regular season finale but then beat Western Kentucky in the Conference USA title game. Now UTSA is seeking the first bowl win in program history. SDSU has also had an excellent season, but is coming off a disappointing 46-13 loss to Utah State in the Mountain West title game. Tune in to this one just to see SDSU punter Matt Araiza, who is averaging 51.4 yards per attempt.

17. Sun Bowl: Washington State (7-5) vs. Miami (7-5)

There could be a lot of points in this one. Washington State has been playing very well and recently elevated interim coach Jake Dickert to full-time head coach. This will be his first game without the interim label. On the other side, Miami fired head coach Manny Diaz on Monday and hired Oregon's Mario Cristobal as his replacement. On the field, Miami has two exciting young offensive weapons in QB Tyler Van Dyke and RB Jaylan Knighton.

18. Fenway Bowl: SMU (8-4) vs. Virginia (6-6)

This game would be higher up the board if neither team came crashing to a halt in November. SMU was 7-0 before losing four of its last five games and falling to Tulsa in the regular season finale. Virginia was 6-2 before losing its last four games. It could be a shootout though, with Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong and SMU’s Tanner Mordecai both operating as some of the most proficient QBs in college football. And it’s the final game for Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall before he steps away from football.

19. Citrus Bowl: Kentucky (9-3) vs. Iowa (10-3)

Kentucky keeps putting winning seasons together under Mark Stoops and now can get to 10 wins for the fourth time in program history. Two transfers — QB Will Levis from Penn State and WR Wan’Dale Robinson from Nebraska — have had big seasons for the Wildcats. Iowa won the Big Ten West despite its offensive struggles. The Hawkeyes got to 10 wins thanks to an opportunistic defense and excellent special teams.

20. Gasparilla Bowl: Florida (6-6) vs. UCF (8-4)

It’s UCF’s chance to play Florida on a neutral site. Raymond James Stadium will be rocking for this one, though it’s hard to get excited about Florida. This is a team that lost to South Carolina and Missouri down the stretch and both head coach Dan Mullen and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham got fired. What kind of offensive trickery will UCF coach Gus Malzahn have up his sleeve for a rematch with a former SEC rival? And will Florida be motivated to play?

21. First Responder Bowl: Air Force (9-3) vs. Louisville (6-6)

Air Force had a nice season, going 9-3, and has a three-game win streak entering this game. AFA’s option was humming along at an excellent rate all year long. The Falcons also throw more than their service academy counterparts, Army and Navy. Louisville has one of the most exciting dual-threat QBs in the country with Malik Cunningham. This could be a fun contrast of offensive styles.

22. Las Vegas Bowl: Wisconsin (8-4) vs. Arizona State (8-4)

Arizona State and Wisconsin fans converging on Las Vegas is a match made in heaven. The game, however enticing it looks via record, isn’t as fun as envisioning Badgers and Sun Devils fans on the Strip. By now, you know the Wisconsin formula. Hand the ball off to a star running back (freshman Braelon Allen) and don’t let the QB (Graham Mertz) make too many mistakes. ASU was about as uninspiring as you can be for a team four games above .500 and there’s the whole NCAA investigation looming over the program too.

23. Birmingham Bowl: Houston (11-2) vs. Auburn (6-6)

The first year of the Bryan Harsin era at Auburn was up and down. The Tigers were once 6-2 and ranked No. 13. And then they lost their final four games, including a dramatic 4OT Iron Bowl against Alabama. Houston lost its opener to Texas Tech and then reeled off 11 consecutive victories before losing to Cincinnati in the AAC title game. Auburn wants to avoid a losing record. Houston wants to snap a four-game bowl losing streak.

24. Arizona Bowl: Boise State (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (7-5)

Boise State played 10 bowl teams in 2021. Only Colorado State and New Mexico were on the Boise State schedule and didn’t end up going to bowl games. Does that mean Boise is underrated? Central Michigan got to a bowl game after winning its last four games of the season. The Chippewas beat four bowl teams on that winning streak too. This could be a fun one.

25. New Orleans Bowl: Marshall (7-5) vs. Louisiana (12-1)

This does look like a bit of a mismatch on paper. Louisiana dominated the Sun Belt in 2021 while Marshall missed out on the C-USA title game. Louisiana coach Billy Napier is off to Florida, however, and Marshall has a defense that’s capable of slowing down Louisiana’s offense. Only UAB gave up fewer points in Conference USA.

26. Quick Lane Bowl: Western Michigan (7-5) vs. Nevada (8-4)

​​We could be in line for a lot of points in this one. Western Michigan scored 249 points in its last six games of the season while Nevada averaged 37 points per game. It may also be the final college game for Nevada QB Carson Strong, so it could be your last college chance to see a toolsy QB who could be an early-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Vai Taua will be Nevada's head coach in the bowl game, filling in for Jay Norvell who is leaving the Wolf Pack for Colorado State .

27. Texas Bowl: LSU (6-6) vs. Kansas State (7-5)

Ed Orgeron is out and Brian Kelly is in at LSU, but it will be offensive line coach Brad Davis running the show for the bowl game. He and the Tigers have a tough task against Kansas State, who has one of the most underrated running backs in the country in 5-foot-5 Deuce Vaughn. However, K-State will be very one-dimensional if starting QB Skylar Thompson cannot play. He got hurt late in the season.

28. Cure Bowl: Coastal Carolina (10-2) vs. Northern Illinois (9-4)

Coastal Carolina was one of the top stories of college football in 2020, and CCU had another good year in 2021. The Chanticleers run a unique offense and have an excellent quarterback in Grayson McCall. Northern Illinois went winless in 2020 and won the MAC in 2021. How about that turnaround? The Huskies have an excellent running game and are looking for their first bowl win since 2011.

29. Independence Bowl: BYU (10-2) vs. UAB (8-4)

No offense to UAB, but we were hoping to see BYU play UTSA in this one. The Cougars ended the season in the top 15 of the College Football Playoff rankings and are in this game via an agreement with the Independence Bowl before moving to the Big 12. While UAB nearly handed UTSA its first loss of the season, this is a team that also lost to Liberty and Rice. The Cougars are going to be big favorites.

30. Armed Forces Bowl: Army (8-3) vs. Missouri (6-6)

Anytime Army gets to go up against a Power Five program, it’s worth a watch. The Black Knights run a crisp, consistent triple-option offense. Missouri has one of the worst run defenses in the country, but that unit played much better down the stretch. At least Mizzou has three weeks to prepare.

31. Military Bowl: Boston College (6-6) vs. East Carolina (7-5)

East Carolina won four of its last five games after starting the season 3-4. The only loss in that stretch came to Cincinnati in the final game of the regular season. Boston College went 2-6 in the ACC as QB Phil Jurkovec missed most of the season with a wrist injury. He’s back now and gave the Eagles a big boost in his return to the field.

32. Duke’s Mayo Bowl: North Carolina (6-6) vs. South Carolina (6-6)

UNC started the year ranked No. 10 in the AP poll but went just 6-6. The Tar Heels have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Sam Howell, but that defense hasn’t stopped anybody. South Carolina is in its first season under Shane Beamer and exceeded expectations to get to a postseason game.

33. Guaranteed Rate Bowl: West Virginia (6-6) vs. Minnesota (8-4)

It’s hard to get excited about this one unless you’re a fan of either of these teams. This is a Minnesota team that lost to Bowling Green and West Virginia has been the epitome of .500 this season. And with this bowl game in Phoenix, so far away from either school, there may not be many fans in attendance.

34. Pinstripe Bowl: Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Maryland (6-6)

Virginia Tech fired coach Justin Fuente but got a rivalry win over Virginia to get bowl eligible. The Hokies struggled on offense for much of the year, but found a rhythm running the ball over the last month of the season. Maryland started 4-0 but needed to beat Rutgers in its last game to get bowl eligible for the first time under Mike Locksley.

35. New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State (9-3) vs. UTEP (7-5)

Fresno State enters this game without coach Kalen DeBoer after he was hired at Washington. And QB Jake Haener has his name in the transfer portal so he won’t play in the bowl game. UTEP has had a fantastic season to get to a bowl game but went 1-4 in its last five games.

36. Myrtle Beach Bowl: Tulsa (6-6) vs. Old Dominion (6-6)

Old Dominion did not play football in 2020 and started the 2021 season with a 1-6 record, only to rally and win five straight to get bowl eligible in Year 1 under Ricky Rahne. Tulsa also rallied to reach a bowl, winning its last three games, including a road upset over SMU, to get to 6-6.

37. Idaho Potato Bowl: Kent State (7-5) vs. Wyoming (6-6)

Wyoming was a tough team to figure out. The Cowboys won four to start the season then lost four before alternating wins and losses in its past four games. Kent State won the MAC East with a 6-2 record in the conference but was overmatched outside the conference and lost 108-33 to the three Power Five teams it played.

38. LendingTree Bowl: Liberty (7-5) vs. Eastern Michigan (7-5)

Liberty is coached by a familiar face (Hugh Freeze) and has an NFL draft prospect (Malik Willis) at quarterback, but enters the bowl game on a three-game losing streak. Eastern Michigan is looking for its first bowl win since 1987. The Eagles have played in three bowl games under Chris Creighton, but lost them all.

39. Frisco Football Classic: North Texas (6-6) vs. Miami, Ohio (6-6)

Welcome to the bowl game created so every team could go to a bowl game this season. The Frisco Football Classic effectively replaces the canceled Redbox Bowl and accommodates a North Texas team that won five straight at the end of the season to get to a bowl game and a Miami team that started the season 2-4 before winning four of six down the stretch.

40. Bahamas Bowl: Middle Tennessee (6-6) vs. Toledo (7-5)

Toledo was a preseason favorite in the MAC, but finished third in its division. The Rockets finished the season winning three of four, however, and are looking to win their first bowl game since 2015. MTSU needed a come-from-behind win in its last game to get bowl eligible. The Blue Raiders are just 2-6 in bowls under head coach Rick Stockstill.

41. Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii (6-7) vs. Memphis (6-6)

If you’re a football junkie you’ll be watching this game on Christmas Eve if you’re looking for a distraction before Santa comes. We can’t promise this is going to be a good distraction, but it’s always fun to dream about Hawaii on Christmas Eve, right?

42. Camellia Bowl: Ball State (6-6) vs. Georgia State (7-5)

Georgia State has won six of seven entering bowl play while Ball State has lost three of its past five. Neither team lights up the scoreboard on offense and there’s just three combined bowl wins between the two programs.

Yahoo Sports

Ranking every college football bowl game from worst to best

Welcome to bowl season!

It's the most glorious time of the year. And from the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 16 to the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 8, there will be 42 FBS postseason games played.

Not including the national title game, we have ranked all 41 bowl games from worst to best. Beyond the CFP bowls, there are many intriguing matchups to look forward to in the coming weeks.

( Full 2023 bowl game schedule with dates, times and TV channels )

41. Quick Lane Bowl (Dec. 26, 2 p.m., ESPN)

Minnesota (5-7) vs. Bowling Green (7-5)

Minnesota is the only sub-.500 team in a bowl game thanks to its Academic Progress Rate. The Gophers will play without QB Athan Kaliakmanis after he entered the transfer portal. Minnesota averages just 303 yards a game and gives up six yards a play. Bowling Green won five of its last six to get bowl eligible and its only loss in that span came to Toledo as the Rockets got a 59-yard TD to go ahead with 1:45 to go.

40. Boca Raton Bowl (Dec. 21, 8 p.m., ESPN)

South Florida (6-6) vs. Syracuse (6-6)

The Bulls are bowling for the first time since 2018 under first-year coach Alex Golesh after winning just eight games over the last four seasons. One of USF’s six losses this season came by a score of 17-3 to Alabama in a game that was the catalyst for QB Jalen Milroe’s emergence after he didn’t play at all against the Bulls. Syracuse fired coach Dino Babers before the final week of the season and interim coach Nunzio Campanile got a 35-31 win over Wake Forest to get the Orange into a bowl game.

39. 68 Ventures Bowl (Dec. 23, 7 p.m., ESPN)

South Alabama (6-6) vs. Eastern Michigan (6-6)

South Alabama also gets to host a bowl game this season. The Jaguars had a 26-point win at Oklahoma State in Week 3 before losing to Central Michigan the following week. South Alabama has outscored its opponents by a combined 108 points thanks to midseason blowout wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Southern Miss. Eastern Michigan also lost to CMU and won its final two games of the season to qualify for the postseason.

38. Potato Bowl (Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m., ESPN)

Georgia State (6-6) vs. Utah State (6-6)

QB Levi Williams’ powerful run in overtime got the Aggies a win over New Mexico in Week 13 to get to a bowl game. This will be Williams’ last game before he begins training to become a Navy SEAL . Georgia State lost its final five games and was outscored by at least three possessions in four of them before that dramatic defeat to Old Dominion.

37. Camellia Bowl (Dec. 23, Noon, ESPN)

Arkansas State (6-6) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6)

Butch Jones is back in a bowl game. The former Cincinnati and Tennessee coach has Arkansas State in the postseason for the first time since 2019. The Red Wolves won more games in 2023 than they had in Jones’ first two seasons with the program combined (five). NIU opened the season with a win at Boston College before losing four straight — including a game to Southern Illinois in Week 2. Huskies RB Antario Brown has rushed for 1,164 yards and 10 TDs on just 187 carries.

36. Famous Toastery Bowl (Dec. 18, 2:30 p.m., ESPN)

Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Old Dominion (6-6)

The Monarchs got bowl eligible in the final week of the season in dramatic fashion. ODU scored 11 points in the final two minutes to turn a 24-14 deficit into a 25-24 win over Georgia State. Western Kentucky’s offense took a step back in 2023 despite the return of QB Austin Reed. He’s thrown for fewer yards and TDs per game this season.

35. Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 22, 6:30 p.m., ESPN)

UCF (6-6) vs. Duke (7-5)

This is a rematch of last season’s Military Bowl, a game Duke won 30-13. The Blue Devils won’t have coach Mike Elko or QB Riley Leonard this time either. Elko is the new coach at Texas A&M and Leonard has entered the transfer portal. Leonard was limited to just seven games due to injuries in 2023. UCF played in four games that were decided by one or two points this season and went 2-2 in them.

34. New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 16, 2:15 p.m., ESPN)

Jacksonville State (8-4) vs. Louisiana (6-6)

The Gamecocks had a fantastic debut season at the FBS level under former West Virginia and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez. RB Malik Jackson averages 6.5 yards a carry. Louisiana lost three consecutive games to begin November before becoming bowl-eligible with a 52-21 win over Louisiana-Monroe to end the season.

33. Myrtle Beach Bowl (Dec. 16, 11 a.m., ESPN)

Georgia Southern (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-3)

The Eagles were bowl eligible on Oct. 26 with a 44-27 win over Georgia State. That ended up mattering as GSU lost its last four games of the season. Ohio beat Iowa State in Week 4 and limits opponents to just 265 yards per game. MAC champ Miami (Ohio) is the only team to score more than 23 against the Bobcats.

32. Military Bowl (Dec. 27, 2 p.m., ESPN)

Tulane (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)

Tulane will play this game without coach Willie Fritz after he was officially announced as Houston’s new coach on Sunday. The Green Wave were a win away from the Fiesta Bowl themselves, but lost 26-14 to the Mustangs. Virginia Tech sealed bowl eligibility in Week 13 with a 38-point win over rival Virginia.

31. Fenway Bowl (Dec. 28, 11 a.m., ESPN)

Boston College (6-6) vs. SMU (11-2)

SMU finished just one College Football Playoff rankings spot behind Liberty for the Group of Five’s New Year’s Six bowl berth. Instead of going to the Fiesta Bowl, the Mustangs make the trip to Boston to play a .500 team that they will share a conference with going forward. That’s a bummer for SMU.

30. First Responder Bowl (Dec. 26, 5:30 p.m., ESPN)

Texas State (7-5) vs. Rice (6-6)

The Bobcats are in a bowl game for the first time ever after a season that included a win over Baylor and two other bowl-eligible Sun Belt teams. Rice is looking for its first winning season since 2014 and will be without QB JT Daniels as he’s been forced to medically retire due to multiple concussions.

29. Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 28, 2:15 p.m., ESPN)

Rutgers (6-6) vs. Miami (7-5)

The Scarlet Knights qualified for a bowl game as a non-COVID replacement for the first time since 2014. RB Kyle Monangai has rushed for 1,099 yards and seven scores. He’s the only Rutgers RB or WR with more than 500 total yards. Miami will be without QBs Emory Williams and Tyler Van Dyke as Williams suffered a season-ending injury against Florida State and Van Dyke has entered the transfer portal.

28. Frisco Bowl (Dec. 19, 9 p.m., ESPN)

Marshall (6-6) vs. UTSA (8-4)

It’s our last chance to see UTSA seventh-year senior Frank Harris. He’s accounted for 22 total TDs and has thrown for over 2,500 yards in 10 games this season. Marshall won just two of its last eight games after a 4-0 start and needed a win over Arkansas State in the final week of the regular season to make a bowl.

27. Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m., ABC)

Northwestern (7-5) vs. Utah (8-4)

The Wildcats won four of their last five games as interim coach David Braun was named the team’s permanent coach. Northwestern gives up more points and yards per game than it scores, but also relies on forcing nearly two turnovers a game. The Utes played all season without QB Cameron Rising — who is coming back for 2024 — and should have QB Bryson Barnes back for the bowl game after the team started No. 4 QB Luke Bottari in the season-ending win over Colorado.

26. Independence Bowl (Dec. 16, 9:15 p.m., ESPN)

Texas Tech (6-6) vs. Cal (6-6)

The Red Raiders won three of their last four games to get bowl eligible, including a 16-13 win over Kansas and a 24-23 win over UCF. Cal was 3-6 with three games to go but scored wins over Washington State, Stanford and UCLA to get to the postseason for the first time since 2019.

25. Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 23, 10:30 p.m., ESPN)

Coastal Carolina (7-5) vs. San Jose State (7-5)

The Spartans lost out on a chance to play for the Mountain West title thanks to the conference’s computer tiebreakers. SJSU won six straight to end the season after a 1-5 start. Coastal Carolina makes the longest trek of the bowl season after a five-game win streak in the middle of the season got the Chanticleers bowl-eligible, but we’re guessing they won’t mind the trip to Hawaii.

24. New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 16, 5:45 p.m., ESPN)

New Mexico State (10-4) vs. Fresno State (8-4)

New Mexico State is one of the most fun stories of the college football season. The Aggies won 10 games in a season for the first time since 1960 and took down Auburn. Fresno State lost three straight to end the season and will be without coach Jeff Tedford for the bowl game because of a health issue. Tim Skipper will serve as the interim coach.

23. Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 23, Noon, ABC)

Georgia Tech (6-6) vs. Troy (11-2)

The Trojans get to stay in their home state after winning the Sun Belt title. It’s a good chance to check out Troy RB Kimani Vidal if you haven’t seen him yet. Vidal has rushed for 1,582 yards and 14 TDs this season. The Yellow Jackets are back in a bowl game for the first time since the 2018 season and are powered by the Haynes and Haynes show. Both RB Jamal Haynes and QB Haynes King average six yards a carry.

22. LA Bowl (Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., ABC)

Boise State (8-5) vs. UCLA (7-5)

Boise State promoted interim coach Spencer Danielson to the permanent gig on Sunday, a day after the Broncos won the Mountain West title over UNLV. Boise State won four straight to end the season and three of those wins were by 24 points or more. UCLA enters without 5-star freshman Dante Moore after he entered the transfer portal and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn was named the new defensive coordinator at USC.

21. Texas Bowl (Dec. 27, 9 p.m., ESPN)

Texas A&M (7-5) vs. Oklahoma State (9-4)

The old Big 12 foes met in the 2019 Texas Bowl where the Aggies snapped a four-game OSU win streak in the series. Jaylen Henderson will get the start at quarterback for Texas A&M after Max Johnson entered the transfer portal at the end of the season. Henderson completed 71% of his passes and threw two TDs against LSU. Oklahoma State is just a win shy of a 10-win season despite outscoring its opponents by a combined six points.

20. Gator Bowl (Dec. 29, Noon, ESPN)

Kentucky (7-5) vs. Clemson (8-4)

This is going to be a slobberknocker. Clemson hasn’t allowed more than 28 points in regulation all season and held North Carolina to 20 points in Week 12 and South Carolina to seven in Week 13. After losing five of six games entering the final week of the season, Kentucky scored the most points it had since Week 4 in a 38-31 upset win over Louisville.

19. Liberty Bowl (Dec. 29, 3:30 p.m., ESPN)

Iowa State (7-5) vs. Memphis (9-3)

Memphis earned a home bowl game with its 5-1 finish to the season. That loss was a four-point defeat to eventual AAC champion SMU. The three teams the Tigers lost to finished with a combined record of 32-6. Iowa State scored 42 points on 35 plays in its season-ending win over Kansas State and finished the year 5-2 after a 2-3 start.

18. Music City Bowl (Dec. 30, 2 p.m., ABC)

Maryland (7-5) vs. Auburn (6-6)

This could be the chaos game of bowl season. Both offenses can vacillate from dangerous to infuriating from drive to drive. Maryland relies on QB Taulia Tagovailoa’s arm while Auburn does most of its offensive damage on the ground. The Tigers average nearly 200 yards a game rushing and less than 160 yards a game passing.

17. ReliaQuest Bowl (Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN2)

Wisconsin (7-5) vs. LSU (9-3)

Jayden Daniels is the presumptive Heisman winner, but will we see him for an encore in Tampa? If we do, this game moves up the watchability rankings significantly. Wisconsin won its final two games of the season to finish with a winning record in Luke Fickell’s first year since moving from Cincinnati.

16. Cure Bowl (Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m., ABC)

Appalachian State (8-5) vs. Miami (Ohio) (11-2)

The Miami defense is one of the most underrated units in the country. The RedHawks haven’t allowed more than 21 points in a game since giving up 24 in a win at Cincinnati in Week 1 and the Miami Hurricanes are the only team to score more than 28 against Miami (Ohio) all season long. App State is the only team to beat James Madison this season and had won five straight before losing to Troy in the Sun Belt title game.

15. Holiday Bowl (Dec. 27, 8 p.m., Fox)

USC (7-5) vs. Louisville (10-3)

Much like with Drake Maye, it’s an open question if USC QB Caleb Williams plays in this game. While Williams has said it’s a “game-time decision” if he declares for the draft, we think that could refer more to the Dec. 27 game than the Jan. 15 draft deadline. Louisville was stifled by Florida State’s defense in the ACC title game but should find much better luck against a USC defense that’s been gashed time and time again this season.

14. Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 26, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Kansas (8-4) vs. UNLV (9-4)

The Jayhawks are in a bowl game for the second consecutive season and produced a thriller a season ago against Arkansas. UNLV is making its first bowl appearance since 2013 and looking for its first 10-win season since 1984. Don’t be surprised if this is one of the most high-scoring games of bowl season.

13. Pop-Tarts Bowl (Dec. 28, 5:45 p.m., ESPN)

NC State (9-3) vs. Kansas State (8-4)

Both teams’ starting QBs are in the transfer portal. KSU’s Will Howard entered the portal last week and MJ Morris entered the portal at NC State after playing in four games and redshirting the rest of the season. The Wolfpack still have an experienced starter in Brennan Armstrong and freshman Avery Johnson has been dynamic in spot duty for the Wildcats.

12. Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m., ABC)

Air Force (8-4) vs. James Madison (11-1)

The Dukes got into the postseason because there weren’t enough six-win teams and get a fun matchup with Air Force. James Madison will be playing without coach Curt Cignetti, however, as he was recently announced as the new coach at Indiana, and QB Jordan McCloud as he’s in the transfer portal. Air Force started the season 8-0 but lost four straight in November as the team was wracked by injuries. We’ll see if QB Zac Larrier and others can return for the bowl game.

11. Arizona Bowl (Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m., The CW)

Toledo (11-2) vs. Wyoming (8-4)

This game will be available on broadcast television for the first time as The CW will televise it. Toledo was the best team in the MAC during the regular season but lost to Miami in Saturday’s title game. Wyoming beat Texas Tech in Week 1 and gave Texas a scare in Week 3 before the Longhorns pulled away in the fourth quarter.

10. Sun Bowl (Dec. 29, 2 p.m., CBS)

Oregon State (8-4) vs. Notre Dame (9-3)

This was a possible New Year’s Six bowl matchup at one point earlier in the season. Instead, the Sun Bowl gets a great matchup of top-20 teams, even though Oregon State will be a little shorthanded as DJ Uiagalelei has already announced his intention to transfer. It’ll also be the first game for new Oregon State coach Trent Bray after he was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace new Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith.

9. Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Dec. 27, 5:30 p.m., ESPN)

West Virginia (8-4) vs. North Carolina (8-4)

Will Drake Maye play in the bowl game? He’s a possible No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While we’d love to see Maye play one more time for the Tar Heels (assuming he declares for the draft), we’d understand if he opts out. And no matter if he plays or not, this game could feature a lot of points. Both teams score over 30 points per game and give up more than 27 a contest.

8. Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN)

Oregon (11-2) vs. Liberty (13-0)

The Flames are in their first New Year’s Six bowl with a 13-0 record against a schedule that ranks among the weakest in college football. Oregon missed out on the playoff thanks to a Pac-12 title game loss to Washington. Coach Dan Lanning said Heisman candidate Bo Nix will play one more game as a Duck in the bowl game.

7. Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1, Noon, ABC)

Iowa (10-3) vs. Tennessee (8-4)

This is an incredible matchup of contrasting styles. Tennessee loves to push the tempo on offense and can gain yards by the dozens. Iowa is exactly the opposite. The Hawkeyes average four yards a play on offense and only three teams score fewer than Iowa’s 16.6 points per game. Conversely, the Iowa defense only gives up four yards a play and allows 13 points a game.

6. Alamo Bowl (Dec. 28, 9:15 p.m., ESPN)

Arizona (9-3) vs. Oklahoma (10-2)

The Alamo regularly ranks highly among the non-New Year’s Six bowl games and this year is no different. Arizona closed the season on a tear with a six-game win streak and Oklahoma has a legitimate case to be in a New Year’s Six bowl. After losing back-to-back games to Kansas and Oklahoma State, Oklahoma scored 159 points over its final three games of the season.

5. Peach Bowl (Dec. 30, Noon, ESPN)

Ole Miss (10-2) vs. Penn State (10-2)

Lane Kiffin’s creative Ole Miss offense will present a challenge for a stout Penn State defense. We’re betting Ole Miss will have a few trick plays. We’re also looking forward to seeing what the Penn State offense looks like with weeks of bowl prep. After parting ways with coordinator Mike Yurcich following an ugly offensive showing against Michigan, the Nittany Lions scored 69 points and rushed for over 500 yards in the final two games of the regular season.

4. Cotton Bowl (Dec. 29, 8 p.m., ESPN)

Missouri (10-2) vs. Ohio State (11-1)

Missouri is in a New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time since 2013. Ohio State could have some opt-outs for the NFL Draft, but this should be a fantastic matchup no matter what. Missouri RB Cody Schrader led the SEC in rushing, while the Buckeyes defense gives up just 4.1 yards per play and 11 points per game.

3. Orange Bowl (Dec. 30, 4 p.m., ESPN)

Florida State (13-0) vs. Georgia (12-1)

Both teams are going to be salty about missing the playoff, but this is still a fantastic matchup, even if Jordan Travis is unable to play. Florida State’s defense has been incredible over the past two weeks and Georgia is the first team to ever fall from No. 1 to outside the playoffs over conference championship weekend.

2. Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN)

No. 2 Washington (13-0) vs. No. 3 Texas (12-1)

The Sugar Bowl is just the second time in the playoff era that teams are meeting in a rematch of a non-playoff bowl the previous season. The Huskies beat Texas 27-20 in last season’s Alamo Bowl. This year, both teams are even better as Michael Penix Jr. and Quinn Ewers both had MVP performances in their respective conference title games.

1. Rose Bowl (Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN)

No. 1 Michigan (13-0) vs. No. 4 Alabama (12-1)

This matchup of two of the most iconic programs in college football is a tantalizing playoff semifinal. The Crimson Tide and Wolverines have met just three times and just once during the tenures of Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban. That game came on Jan. 1, 2020, when Alabama won 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl.

Gus Malzahn and the UCF Knights are staying in Florida for the Gasparilla Bowl. (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

Ranking every college football bowl game, from Lending Tree to Peach

bowl games by ranking

No bowl games will get more attention and hype than the two playoff semifinals. That’s as it should be, since the Fiesta and Peach bowls will set up next month’s national title game.

Yet the true meaning of the (bowl) season are the unexpected delights, whether it’s a rollicking matchup on a weekday afternoon before the holidays or a pairing of good-though-largely-overlooked teams who manage to deliver a fun game in the days leading into the more heavily promoted playoff games.

The thing is, it’s impossible to know what matchups will produce the most fun. It is possible to take an educated guess with The Washington Post’s annual 1-to-41 bowl guide. (All games are the first bowl matchups between the schools unless otherwise noted).

Georgia, Michigan, TCU, Ohio State to play in College Football Playoff

41. LendingTree Bowl: Rice vs. Southern Mississippi (Dec. 17)

Just a year after Southern Miss left for the Sun Belt, these former Conference USA rivals are reunited in Mobile, Ala. Rice is the lone sub-.500 team still playing, taking advantage of its strong Academic Progress Rate to earn its first bowl berth since 2014. Southern Miss (6-6) owns a victory over American Athletic champ Tulane (another former C-USA foe). Nonetheless, the familiarity (they’ve met in each of the past eight seasons) and the teams’ so-so overall performance (ahem) lends this one a decidedly regular season vibe.

40. Camellia Bowl: Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern (Dec. 27)

Georgia Southern needed double-overtime in its finale to beat Appalachian State and get to 6-6. Buffalo needed a late touchdown against Akron in a game postponed by a massive snowstorm to do the same. It is , however, a chance to see Georgia Southern’s new look under Clay Helton: a passing attack ranked fourth in the country at a school long known for running the option.

39. Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. New Mexico State (Dec. 26)

Two 6-6 teams. In Detroit. The day after Christmas. Which means this will invariably develop into one of the most entertaining games of the bowl season. Bowling Green makes a short trip up Interstate 75 for its first bowl appearance since 2015. New Mexico State makes a much longer trip for only its second postseason nod in 62 years. The Aggies are 3-0-1 all-time in bowls, and could become a more regular postseason participant under first-year coach Jerry Kill — especially after joining Conference USA next season.

38. First Responder Bowl: Memphis vs. Utah State (Dec. 27)

Another pair of 6-6 teams, though they got there in different ways. Utah State was 1-4 before winning five of its next six. Memphis started 4-1 and then lost five conference games by a combined 23 points.

37. Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 27)

The Cowboys (7-5) and Badgers (6-6) both began the season ranked in the top 20. Wisconsin made a coaching change in early October , and Oklahoma State has dropped four of five. It’s not a promising pairing for a great game in Phoenix.

36. Bahamas Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. UAB (Dec. 16)

There is no greater reward for going 6-6 than going to the Bahamas for a few days, as both teams will learn this month. As for watching from home, it’s a morning kickoff on a Friday. There are far worse diversions.

35. Cheez-It Bowl: Florida State vs. Oklahoma (Dec. 29)

It’s a brand-name bonanza in Orlando, but will it be a good game? Florida State (9-3) is enjoying a renaissance season, while Oklahoma (6-6) went 3-6 in the Big 12 under first-year coach Brent Venables. The Sooners’ last three losses came by three-point margins, but against the Big 12’s best teams — Kansas State, TCU and Texas — they gave up a combined 145 points. Yikes. This feels like it could be a blowout.

Postseason history: It’s the fifth bowl matchup between the teams. Florida State won the Gator Bowl after the 1964 season, and Oklahoma took back-to-back Orange Bowls after the 1979 and 1980 seasons. But the programs’ most meaningful postseason encounter was Oklahoma’s 13-2 triumph in the Orange Bowl after the 2000 season that delivered a national title to the Sooners.

34. Frisco Bowl: Boise State vs. North Texas (Dec. 17)

A pairing of conference runners-up delivers a compelling strength-vs.-strength showdown: the Broncos’ No. 6 total defense against North Texas’ No. 20 total offense. The Mean Green has the shortest commute of any team this bowl season; per Google Maps, it’s as little as 23.9 miles from Denton to Frisco. It also is the only bowl team to fire its coach after the season, dismissing Seth Littrell on Sunday. (Wisconsin also fired its coach, but in the middle of the season.)

33. Hawaii Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. San Diego State (Dec. 24)

At last, a Christmas Eve tradition returns. The pandemic led to the outright cancellation of the 2020 Hawaii Bowl, and last year’s game was declared a no-contest when Hawaii’s football team had a coronavirus outbreak. Both Middle Tennessee and San Diego State are 7-5.

Deion Sanders vows to make Colorado ‘elite’ after leaving Jackson State

32. Independence Bowl: Houston vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (Dec. 23)

It’s a year late for this matchup. Last season, Houston went 12-2 and UL Lafayette was 13-1. This fall? They were 7-5 and 6-6, respectively. No matter. The Ragin’ Cajuns have a strong postseason history, going 7-2 in bowls since 2011. It will be their first trip to the in-state Independence Bowl in Shreveport.

31. Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky (Dec. 31)

No power conference team that played 12 games ran fewer plays than Iowa (724). Kentucky took almost two more snaps a game and finished with 744 plays. Both teams are 7-5 and possess stout defenses. As for the offenses … the less said, the better.

Postseason history: Kentucky rang in 2022 by beating the Hawkeyes, 20-17, in the Citrus Bowl. The Wildcats will try to end the year in similar fashion, though a combined 37 points might be asking a bit much from these two.

30. Las Vegas Bowl: Florida vs. No. 14 Oregon State (Dec. 17)

Which version of 6-6 Florida shows up? It won’t have QB Anthony Richardson after he declared for the NFL draft. The Beavers (9-3) capped a fine year by rallying past Oregon to close the regular season. They’ve only enjoyed two 10-win years in program history (2000 and 2006).

29. Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas (Dec. 28)

Would be a great NCAA tournament game this basketball season. Instead, it’s a pairing of 6-6 teams — though in fairness to Kansas, it’s a cause for plenty of excitement as it ends the longest bowl drought among power conference teams. The Jayhawks’ last bowl berth came in 2008.

28. Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming (Dec. 30)

Ohio (9-4) lost in the MAC title game to miss out on its first league championship since 1968. Wyoming (7-5) was enjoying a fine season before back-to-back losses to Boise State and Fresno State in late November. The good news for both is there’s still a chance to salvage something from those late-autumn disappointments.

27. Myrtle Beach Bowl: Connecticut vs. Marshall (Dec. 19)

It’s U-Conn.’s first bowl trip in seven years, and it’s a chance to escape New England in December. Toss in the depth the Huskies plunged to in recent years, and there should not be many teams happier to be playing anywhere this bowl season. The Thundering Herd (8-4), which drew attention for winning at Notre Dame in September, rolls in on a four-game winning streak.

Postseason history: That last U-Conn. bowl game was also against Marshall. The Thundering Herd earned a 16-10 victory in the 2015 St. Petersburg Bowl.

26. Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. Baylor (Dec. 22)

Air Force (9-3) allowed just 25 points during a four-game winning game streak to close the regular season, and two of its losses occurred despite yielding less than 20 points. Baylor (6-6) heads into this on a three-game slide, though it did nearly topple playoff participant TCU last month.

25. New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. SMU (Dec. 17)

It’s the Big 12-bound Cougars’ final game as an Football Bowl Subdivision independent, and it’s a chance to see SMU senior wideout Rashee Rice (96 catches, 1,355 yards, 10 touchdowns) attempt to produce another monster day for the 7-5 Mustangs. That sure beats an afternoon at the mall on a December afternoon.

Postseason history: BYU beat SMU, 46-45, in the 1980 Holiday Bowl, the teams’ only prior postseason encounter.

24. Idaho Potato Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. San José State (Dec. 20)

Even before the weather forecast is set, this looks like it could be a low-scoring duel. Eastern Michigan (8-4) is 95th nationally in total offense, while San José State (7-4) is 96th. (They’re a more middle-of-the-road 65th and 74th, respectively, in scoring offense.) It’s two solid teams with coaches who have done fine work reinvigorating down-on-their-luck programs.

Postseason history: Nothing like an excuse to dust off a reference to the 1987 California Bowl, a 30-27 Eastern Michigan victory in Fresno. It remains the school’s only bowl triumph.

23. Boca Raton Bowl: Liberty vs. Toledo (Dec. 20)

Toledo (8-5) is coming off a Mid-American Conference title. Liberty (8-4) … is coming off an exquisite egg-laying, a 49-14 dud at home against New Mexico State as rumors (which were later validated) swirled about then-Flames coach Hugh Freeze leaving for Auburn . Liberty has dropped three in a row, too, firmly making it one of this bowl season’s top candidates for a sluggish showing.

22. Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri vs. Wake Forest (Dec. 23)

Two teams heading in opposite directions. Missouri (6-6) won its last two (and four of its final six) to salvage something from its season and will vie for its first postseason victory since the Citrus Bowl after the 2014 season. Wake Forest was 6-1 with a double-overtime loss to Clemson , then lost four of five as its defense unraveled.

21. Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota vs. Syracuse (Dec. 29)

It has the makings of a great running back showcase. The Golden Gophers (8-4) are at their best when Mohamed Ibrahim (1,594 yards, 19 TDs) has a heavy workload. He ranks fourth nationally in yards and third in carries (304) despite missing one game. Syracuse (7-5), which faded in the second half of the season, counters with Sean Tucker (1,060 yards, 11 TDs). In a cold-weather game in New York, both teams figure to lean on the run. The Gophers are seeking their sixth consecutive bowl victory.

Postseason history: Syracuse scratched out a 21-17 victory over the Gophers in the 2013 Texas Bowl in Houston.

20. Los Angeles Bowl: Fresno State vs. Washington State (Dec. 17)

The Mountain West champion Bulldogs have some older offensive skill position stars, with QB Jake Haener (2,616 yards, 18 TDs, 3 INTs in nine games), RB Jordan Mims (1,161 yards, 16 TDs in 13 games) and WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper (1,044 yards and 5 TDs on 79 catches) all enjoying fine years. They can get Fresno to the 10-win plateau against Washington State (7-5), which is arguably the sole member of the Pac-12’s middle class this season.

19. Fenway Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Louisville (Dec. 17)

Any game that revives a rivalry trophy that’s gone dormant for almost a decade has to be at least half-decent. And with a trophy name like the Keg of Nails, there was no way the teams’ first meeting since 2013 wouldn’t have some buzz. Then came Monday, when Cincinnati poached coach Scott Satterfield from Louisville. The Bearcats (9-3) aren’t a playoff team like last year and the Cardinals (7-5) had an average season. Big deal. Not only are I-71 bragging rights on the line, but Louisville can also get the last word with a coach whose wandering eyes caused frustration in the Derby City earlier in his four-year tenure.

Scott Satterfield leaves Louisville for Cincinnati ahead of bowl showdown

18. New Orleans Bowl: South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky (Dec. 21)

A sneaky-good game. South Alabama (10-2) has won five in a row, has already clinched its first winning season since moving up to the FBS in 2012 and will try to earn its first bowl victory (it capped 6-7 seasons with bowl losses in 2014 and 2016). Western Kentucky QB Austin Reed ranks second nationally in passing yards (4,249) and is fourth in touchdown passes (36). The Hilltoppers (8-5) won three of their last four.

17. Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. No. 18 UCLA (Dec. 30)

The Bruins (9-3) are aiming for their first 10-win season since 2014, while Pittsburgh (8-4) will try to win a bowl game outside of Detroit for the first time since knocking off Kentucky in Birmingham, Ala., after the 2010 season. It’s a good, solid matchup, made better by Pitt’s four-game winning streak in November.

16. Citrus Bowl: No. 17 LSU vs. Purdue (Jan. 2)

Both teams lost conference title games to undefeated teams, so there might not be much juice to this game. However, LSU (9-4) enjoyed a fine first season under Brian Kelly (besides its post-Thanksgiving no-show at Texas A&M), and no one can ever predict when Purdue (8-5) is going to uncork a randomly magical game. Maybe it’ll be in Orlando to close out the season.

15. Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Maryland vs. No. 23 N.C. State (Dec. 30)

It’s a reunion of former ACC rivals in Charlotte, the heart of ACC country. The Terrapins (7-5) and QB Taulia Tagovailoa have a potent offense even with WRs Jacob Copeland and Dontay Demus Jr. turning pro, while N.C. State (8-4) led the ACC in scoring defense (19.4 ppg) and ranks 14th nationally in the category.

Maryland will face N.C. State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Postseason history: First bowl meeting, though they met in the regular season every year from 1956 to 2013.

14. Military Bowl: Central Florida vs. Duke (Dec. 28)

The return of this game after a two-year hiatus delivers a pair of dual-threat quarterbacks in Annapolis, Md. John Rhys Plumlee led the Knights (9-4) to the American Athletic title game, while Riley Leonard was a central figure for the Blue Devils (8-4) in their impressive turnaround under first-year coach Mike Elko. Both Plumlee and Leonard led their respective teams in both passing and rushing.

13. ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois vs. No. 22 Mississippi State (Jan. 2)

The former Outback Bowl brings quite a contrast to Tampa. Bret Bielema has recreated his Wisconsin days with the Illini (8-4), cultivating a run-heavy attack led by Chase Brown. And Mississippi State (8-4), well, it attempted an FBS-high 589 passes this season. That’s par for the course for a team coached by Mike Leach, who will get to coach a game in a stadium with a pirate ship.

12. Texas Bowl: Mississippi vs. Texas Tech (Dec. 28)

The opposite of the Music City Bowl. No one will pack more football into a game than the Rebels (8-4) and Red Raiders (7-5). Texas Tech has run 1,006 plays, the most in the FBS — and did it in just a dozen games. Ole Miss is no slouch in that department with 917 plays, tied for 14th nationally and behind only Texas Tech, Oklahoma State (943), Buffalo (921) and SMU (918) among teams with 12 games or less.

Postseason history: Mississippi has won all three postseason meetings between the teams, the 1986 and 1998 Independence Bowls plus the Cotton Bowl after the 2008 season.

11. Birmingham Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina (Dec. 27)

There’s a big caveat here. If Grayson McCall plays — the fourth-year Coastal Carolina player missed time in November with a foot injury — this could be a wildly entertaining contest. McCall, the three-time player of the year in the Sun Belt, has thrown for 2,633 yards, 24 TDs and two interceptions. East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers has 3,408 yards, 23 TDs and five picks to his credit in 2022 and is the Pirates’ career passing leader.

10. Gator Bowl: No. 21 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 South Carolina (Dec. 30)

The Irish (8-4) will be down their starting quarterback after Drew Pyne opted to transfer. South Carolina (8-4) derailed the playoff hopes of both Tennessee and Clemson, and can add a victory over another storied program to cap Shane Beamer’s second season in Columbia.

9. Cure Bowl: No. 25 Texas-San Antonio vs. No. 24 Troy (Dec. 16)

It’s the only bowl game to pit conference champions, though a Georgia-Michigan national championship would spoil that stat. Frank Harris (3,865 yards, 31 TDs passing) leads the 11-2 Roadrunners, who have won consecutive Conference USA titles, against Sun Belt champion Troy (11-2) and linebacker Carlton Martial, the all-time leader in tackles at the FBS level. Slight bonus for a 3 p.m. Eastern kickoff on a Friday. Not a bad way to get a weekend started.

8. Rose Bowl: No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 8 Utah (Jan. 2)

The Utes (10-3) return to Pasadena by virtue of beating Southern California in the Pac-12 title game, their second victory over the Trojans this year. They’ll face a Penn State team that’s been low on thrilling moments all season. The Nittany Lions met expectations, losing to Michigan and Ohio State while beating everyone else and played just one game decided by less than 10 points (the 35-31 opener at Purdue). It’s hard for a 10-2 team to be unremarkable, but Penn State has managed to be precisely that. Maybe Utah — which came up short in a 48-45 barnburner against Ohio State in last season’s Rose Bowl — can get the Nittany Lions into a close game.

7. Cotton Bowl: No. 10 Southern California vs. No. 16 Tulane (Jan. 2)

The Trojans (11-2) could have been prepping for Michigan had they handled business against Utah in the Pac-12 title game. Instead, Coach Lincoln Riley returns to AT&T Stadium, where he won a few Big 12 titles at Oklahoma. American Athletic champion Tulane (11-2) is the top Group of Five champion, and its No. 21 pass efficiency defense will be tested plenty by Caleb Williams and Co.

Postseason history: In its first postseason appearance, the Green Wave dropped a 21-12 decision to the Trojans in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day in 1932. Southern Cal has played in 51 bowl games since then, while Tulane’s appeared in 13 more.

Heisman finalists include three QBs in CFP chase plus USC’s Caleb Williams

6. Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 9 Kansas State (Dec. 31)

Has 2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young played his final game for Alabama (10-2)? How about outside linebacker Will Anderson? The Crimson Tide — always loaded with next-level talent, even in a year when it isn’t its usual self — has some roster questions to sift through. Kansas State (10-3), the Big 12 champs, figures to be fired up for its first BCS/New Year’s Six appearance since the post-2012 Fiesta Bowl.

5. Alamo Bowl: No. 20 Texas vs. No. 12 Washington (Dec. 29)

Could it be a send-off for Texas RB Bijan Robinson (1,580 yards, 18 TDs rushing)? Depends on if he opts out or not. It definitely won’t be a swan song for Washington QB Michael Penix Jr., who leads the FBS with 4,354 yards passing and announced Sunday he would be back in Seattle for another season. The Longhorns (8-4) can cap an eventful and largely positive year with a win in their backyard, while the Huskies (10-2) have won six in a row — the longest winning streak for any Power Five team not named Georgia or Michigan.

Postseason history: The Longhorns claimed a 47-43 victory over the Huskies in the 2001 Holiday Bowl, erasing a 19-point deficit in the second half behind Major Applewhite. Washington enjoyed a more pedestrian 14-7 triumph against Texas in the 1979 Sun Bowl.

4. Orange Bowl: No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 6 Tennessee (Dec. 30)

Never has a game had a more appropriate name. Expect a sea of orange-clad fans in Miami as ACC champion Clemson (11-2) starts Cade Klubnik at quarterback for the first time. It’s a breakthrough moment for the Volunteers (10-2), who are playing in a BCS/New Year’s Six game for the first time since the Fiesta Bowl after the 1999 season.

Postseason history: The Tigers took a 27-14 decision in the Peach Bowl played after the 2003 season (the Peach was not part of the BCS structure).

3. Holiday Bowl: North Carolina vs. No. 15 Oregon (Dec. 28)

This might be the best quarterback matchup of the postseason. Oregon’s Bo Nix will have a month to heal up from an ankle injury that slowed him late in the regular season, while North Carolina’s Drake Maye — the ACC player of the year with 4,115 yards and 35 touchdowns — gets the spotlight as well in a game featuring two teams trying to get to 10 wins on the season.

2. Fiesta Bowl: No. 2. Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU (Dec. 31)

The Big Ten champion Wolverines (13-0) are back in the playoff semifinals for the second year in a row, while the Horned Frogs (12-1) make their playoff debut. The questions for TCU are the same as anyone who encounters Michigan: Can it hold up against the Wolverines’ offensive front, and can it find answers against the No. 3 total defense? Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs have a serious task ahead of them.

1. Peach Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State (Dec. 31)

On paper, it’s a glitzy matchup. Georgia’s dominant defense gets a crack at QB C.J. Stroud and Ohio State. Only the Buckeyes (11-1) got walloped their last time out against Michigan, and the Bulldogs (13-0) are more than capable of steamrolling Ohio State as well. Still, it’s no surprise TV chose this game for prime time on New Year’s Eve.

Postseason history: It feels like these two high-profile programs would have run into each other a bunch over the years, but it’s only the second time they’ve ever met. The other was on New Year’s Day 1993, when the Bulldogs earned a 21-14 victory in the Citrus Bowl.

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bowl games by ranking

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⛹️‍♀️ Women's scores

😱 Arizona stuns No. 3 Stanford WBB

⚾️ Arkansas pitcher Ks 17

🥎 No. 3 Georgia, No. 5 Tennessee fall

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How the 12-team college football playoff will work: teams, schedule, bids.

bowl games by ranking

The College Football Playoff will introduce a 12-team playoff bracket for the 2024-25 season, expanding from the current four-team format.

How CFP teams are selected under new format

The new 12-team College Football Playoff field will include the five highest-ranked conference champions, which will receive automatic bids. The seven highest-ranked teams remaining will round out the 12-team format. 

The top four teams will receive a first-round bye to the quarterfinals.

📊 UNDEFEATED TRACKER:  Here's a look at every undefeated FBS team

Where CFP games will be played

As mentioned before, the four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded Nos. 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. Seeds 5-12 will play each other in the first round. The higher-seeded teams will play host in their first round games. Here's a breakdown of the first round matchups:

  • No. 5 vs. No. 12
  • No. 6 vs. No. 11
  • No. 7 vs. No. 10
  • No. 8 vs. No. 9

New Year's Six bowl games will be introduced in the quarterfinal round. The semifinals will be played in bowls on a rotating basis while the national championship host site is determined through bids by prospective host sites.

Here's what the 12-team field would've looked like in 2023-24

On Sunday, Dec. 3, the CFP Selection Committee released the final set of rankings for the 2023-24 season . Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama comprised the top 4 that'll compete in the College Football Playoff in the final year before the expanded format is introduced. Utilizing the respective rankings, let's project what the 12-team bracket would look like for the 2023-24 season.

Here are the final CFP rankings of 2023-24: Released: Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023

First round

As stated in the official announcement by the CFP , the first rounds would take place at either the home field of the higher-seeded team or another site designated by the higher-seeded program during the week of Saturday, Dec. 21.

Although specific game dates have not yet been announced, we can make predictions on how each matchup will appear. Keep in mind that the No. 12 seed will go to Liberty, as the Flames are the sixth highest-ranked conference champion in the final CFP rankings, replacing Oklahoma — a team that finished third in the Big 12 — as the No. 12 team. 

No. 12 Liberty at No. 5 Florida State No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 6 Georgia No. 10 Penn State at No. 7 Ohio State No. 9 Missouri at No. 8 Oregon

🔮 FUTURE:  How the first College Football Playoff rankings predict the semifinals

With the top-four seeded teams receiving bye weeks, the winner of each team listed above would move on to face teams No. 1 through 4. Teams will not be reseeded. This means that the top-ranked team would proceed to face the winner of the No. 9 and No. 8 matchup.

CFP officials stated that the four quarterfinal games and two Playoff Semifinal games will be played in New Year's Six bowls on a rotating basis. 

2024 quarterfinals : Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl 2024 semifinals : Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl  2025 quarterfinals : Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl 2025 semifinals : Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl 

The CFP  schedule for the 2024 and 2025 seasons:

Tap here to learn more about the 12-team CFP expansion for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

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Super Bowl 2024 Was the Most-Watched Telecast of All Time, Reaching 123.7 Million Viewers

By Selome Hailu

Selome Hailu

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UPDATE: Nielsen has updated their estimate, reporting that Super Bowl LVIII reached 123.7 million viewers, up from the initial count of 123.4 million.

The Feb. 11 Super Bowl game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers brought in an average of 123.4 million viewers — the highest number of people watching the same broadcast in the history of television.

Before this, the biggest telecast of all time was last year’s Super Bowl game between the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. It was initially named the third most-watched , ranking behind the 2015 and 2017 Super Bowls which brought in 114.4 million and 113.7 million viewers, respectively. But Nielsen later caught errors in their measurement that raised the tally from 113 million to a record-breaking 115.1 million viewers . Sunday’s game improved on that number by 7%.

These figures, combined from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics, represent the average number of viewers who were tuned in at any given moment during each game, but Nielsen puts the number of people who viewed any portion of the telecast at 202.4 million, up 10% from last year’s 184 million.

The game took place at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. Kickoff was at 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET following a half-hour block of entertainment led by Reba McEntire’s rendition of the National Anthem . The half-time performance was headlined by Usher , who brought out A-list guests including Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Will.i.am, Lil John, Ludacris and Jermaine Dupri.

As always, the Super Bowl was stitched together with a host of celebrity-filled ads . Prominent among them on Sunday night was a Verizon spot featuring Beyoncé and Tony Hale , which the former used to announce “Renaissance Act II,” a country album set to follow up on 2022’s “Renaissance” and due for release on March 29.

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Ranking 2022 college football bowl games, 41-1: Rose, Cure, Alamo, Sun among major non-playoff highlights

Not all bowl games are created equal, and we prove that by ranking every single one on this year's slate.

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I'm told by more and more people how meaningless bowl games have become each college football season. With the College Football Playoff field set to expand to 12 teams in 2024, this sentiment will only grow more prevalent -- and I get it. You can never be sure which teams will take it seriously, and many of the best players opt out of the games to prepare for the NFL Draft.

But, you know what? I love bowls. Every single one of them. I love college football, and bowl games are college football games. I don't care if the team's leading rusher has decided to sit out. That only means I get to see what the new guy brings to the table. It also gives me a chance to see more college football.

If you're a fan of college football, what's not to love? Bowl Season isn't the regular season or the playoff, but it's a wonderful time of year. There are games on nearly every day of the week at random times! That's incredible! That's something to be celebrated!

Every year, I choose to celebrate it by watching them all, but I cover college football for a living. I know most people aren't able to dedicate that much time to these games, which is why I rank the bowls for you here at CBS Sports every year. Now, as I said, all these games are incredible and worth your time, but if you're on a budget, hopefully my handy guide can help you decide which games to watch and why. All times below Eastern

41. First Responder Bowl: Memphis vs. Utah State

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 3:15 p.m. -- This game has a chance to be exciting, but it's hard to tell which version of each team will show up. Memphis and Utah State looked like a different team each week, which helps explain why both finished the regular season with 6-6 records. The good news is we should know how this game will go pretty quickly. Utah State's six wins tended to be close battles, but the losses came by an average of 23 points each.

40. Bahamas Bowl: UAB vs. Miami (OH)

Friday, Dec. 16, 11:30 a.m. -- UAB will be a much more interesting team to follow next season when Trent Dilfer takes over as coach. The Blazers went 6-6 this season and are led by running back DeWayne McBride, who rushed for 1,713 yards and 19 touchdowns. They've been much better at home, where they went 5-1.

As for the RedHawks, it's been an up-and-down campaign as well. They beat Northwestern in September, which seemed like a bigger deal at the time, but they were only 4-4 in the MAC. However, they did win three of their last four games to earn bowl eligibility.

39. Myrtle Beach Bowl: Marshall vs. UConn

Monday, Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m. -- He's not going to win any of them, but UConn's Jim Mora should get consideration for Coach of the Year awards. Mora took over a UConn program that had gone 4-31 in its last three seasons (it didn't play in 2020) and guided the Huskies to a bowl game. That's a stunning turnaround! They also improved as the year went on, starting 1-4 and going 6-2 down the stretch while picking up wins over eventual Mountain West champ Fresno State and Boston College.

Marshall is 8-4 and had a successful first season in the Sun Belt. The Herd beat Notre Dame in South Bend early in the season and took down a James Madison squad that looked to be one of the best in the Sun Belt. They've won four in a row thanks to the churning legs of Khalan Laborn (1,423 yards rushing, 16 TD) and a sturdy defense. The only reason I have this game ranked this low is that I think there's a good chance Marshall will run away with it.

38. LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Rice

Saturday, Dec. 17, 5:45 p.m. -- Finally, after all these years, the rivalry is renewed! OK, so there's no real rivalry, but Southern Miss used to be in Conference USA before moving to the Sun Belt this season, where it went 6-6 overall but limped to the finish line. The Eagles have lost three of their last four but still have an exciting player in running back Frank Gore Jr.

Rice is the only 5-7 team to reach the postseason this year, but none of those five wins came against a team with a winning record. The Owls have also lost their last three and four of their last five, so, yeah, it's not the sexiest matchup you'll find.

37. Birmingham Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 6:45 p.m. -- This game would rank a lot higher if Coastal Carolina still had coach Jamey Chadwell and quarterback Grayson McCall, but their status is up in the air. Chadwell has accepted the coaching job at Liberty, and I don't imagine he will stick around to lead the Chanticleers in this one. As for McCall, he's one of the more exciting players in the country but suffered what was believed to be a season-ending injury earlier this year only to return for the 45-26 Sun Belt Championship Game loss to Troy. Fun fact about the Chants: They're 9-3 on the season, but after blowout losses in their last two games, they have a point differential of -12 on the season. I can't imagine there have been many nine-win teams with a negative point differential in the past.

East Carolina is led by one of my favorite players in the country, QB Holton Ahlers. Ahlers has played for the Pirates for what feels like 25 years, and he's been a productive player in each of those 25 seasons. However, none of those seasons -- and it has only been five, in truth -- have ended in a bowl game until this year. This is East Carolina's first postseason appearance since the 2014 Birmingham Bowl.

36. Frisco Bowl: Boise State vs. North Texas

Saturday, Dec. 17, 9:15 p.m. -- Boise State's entire season turned around following a 27-10 loss to UTEP in September. That's when Hank Bachmeier lost the starting QB job, and the team fired its offensive coordinator before bringing back Dirk Koetter. Since then, Taylen Green and the Broncos offense have been much more dangerous, if inconsistent. Green's a big play waiting to happen on each snap, but the Boise defense is the best unit on the field in this game. Unfortunately for the Broncos, after going 8-0 in conference play during the regular season, they lost in the MWC championship to Fresno State 28-16 after beating the Bulldogs in the regular season.

It's a feeling to which North Texas can relate; the Mean Green reached the Conference USA Championship Game themselves but were routed by UTSA 48-27. Unfortunately for coach Seth Littrell, reaching the conference championship was not enough to save his job as he was fired on Dec. 4. The Mean Green offense is led by QB Austin Aune, who has thrown for 3,309 yards and 32 touchdowns this season at the age of 29. Aune was a TCU commit out of high school but was drafted by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He opted to play baseball but returned to football in 2018 after his baseball career didn't pan out.

35. Quick Lane Bowl: New Mexico State vs. Bowling Green

Monday, Dec. 26, 2:30 p.m. -- This is not the sexiest matchup on paper, but we know one thing: Both of these teams will be happy to be here. Bowling Green is 6-6 and playing in its first bowl game since the Falcons reached the GoDaddy Bowl in 2015. They won 10 games that season but haven't won more than four games in a season until this year.

They'll face a New Mexico State team playing only the fifth bowl game in program history. The last appearance came in 2017, which was the Aggies' last season in the Sun Belt. They've been Independent for the last five years and have found life very difficult. They went 8-30 from 2018-21, but Jerry Kill has turned this program around quickly in his first season. The Aggies started the year 1-5 before winning five of their last six to get here.

34. Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Buffalo

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 12 p.m. -- A matchup of 6-6 teams with some upside. For those who don't pay close attention to the Sun Belt (and why don't you?), Georgia Southern is now led by former USC coach Clay Helton, who helped the Eagles get off to a surprising start. This is the same Georgia Southern team that went to Lincoln, Nebraska, earlier this season and ended the Scott Frost Era with a 45-42 win over the Cornhuskers. That was part of a 3-1 start to the season, but the Eagles hit hard times after that. Still, they're a fun team that scores points nearly as quickly as it allows them, which can make for a fun bowl experience.

Then there's Buffalo, which has given new meaning to the running of the Bulls. Buffalo started the season 0-3 before winning five straight. Then, the Bulls dropped three in a row and were on the verge of missing bowl season entirely before coming back to beat Akron in a game that had been postponed due to 6 feet of snow falling in the Buffalo area earlier in November. Something tells me there won't be snow in the forecast for this game.

33. Hawaii Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. San Diego State

Saturday, Dec. 24, 8 p.m. -- There's no tradition greater than getting the family together on Christmas Eve, gathering around the fireplace and opening the gift that is the Hawaii Bowl. Sure, the matchup isn't always great, and you'll have a hard time explaining to your relatives how Rick Stockstill is an institution in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but don't worry. You can also tell them about the time that the Blue raiders beat the Miami Hurricanes 45-31 earlier this season, and since they're a casual fan, they won't even realize that's not a big deal anymore. In fact, they'll probably think it's one of the biggest upsets of all time. Let them think so as a small gift to them.

Your relative might also recognize San Diego State coach Brady Hoke as "the guy who coached Michigan, right? when they were bad?" You can confirm that but also clarify that Mr. Hoke has done a solid job with the Aztecs. Sure, they're only 7-5, but their five losses this season came against teams that went a combined 42-21, including two conference champions (Utah and Fresno State).

32. Independence Bowl: Houston vs. Louisiana

Friday, Dec. 23, 3 p.m. -- Here's my concern about this game: When the Cougars are on, they're enjoyable to watch. They can put up points in a hurry, and QB Clayton Tune (3,845 yards passing, 491 rushing, 42 total TD) is a stud, as is receiver Tank Dell (1,354 yards, 15 TD). But you never know which Houston is going to show up. Dana Holgorsen's team is more difficult to predict than a random number generator, and you have to question how excited this team will be for an Independence Bowl against Louisiana. If they care, we've got a shot at having fun here; if they don't, we'll slog through.

The same question can be asked of the Ragin' Cajuns. While this isn't a program likely to take a bowl appearance for granted, the Cajuns spent the last few seasons playing for Sun Belt titles. This year, they needed a 41-13 win over Texas State in the season's final game to earn bowl eligibility. This game has a high ceiling but a low floor, too.

31. Armed Forces Bowl: Baylor vs. Air Force

Thursday, Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m. -- Baylor won the Big 12 last year and reached the Sugar Bowl thanks primarily to a defense that was one of the best in the country. This year, the Bears are only 6-6 because that defense abandoned them. While this game looks great on paper, I think there's bigger blowout potential here than most will assume. 

Baylor ranked 99th in the country this year in success rate against the run and 92nd in expected points added (EPA) per rush attempt. That's not great when facing an option team like Air Force! The Falcons are 9-3 on the season behind their rushing attack. They run the ball more often than any team in the country (88.8% of the time!) and rank 14th in yards per carry (5.40) and 13th in EPA per rush (0.14).

30. Potato Bowl: San Jose State vs. Eastern Michigan

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. -- Early in the season, San Jose State looked like one of the best teams in the Mountain West. The Spartans were 4-2 with close road losses to Auburn and Fresno State. Then tragedy struck when running back Camdan McWright was struck and killed by a bus. The loss had a profound impact on the Spartans' season, but they finished the season 7-4 behind quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, running back Kairee Robinson and receiver Elijah Cooks.

Eastern Michigan finished the regular season 8-4 and four points shy of playing for a MAC title. The Eagles finished with the same 5-3 record in conference play that Toledo did, but their 27-24 loss to the Rockets served as the tie-breaker. Still, the Eagles recovered from that loss with three wins to finish the regular season, and look to finish with nine wins for the first time since going 10-2 in 1987.

29. Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota vs. Syracuse

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2 p.m. -- I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that these teams could combine to make this ranking look very stupid when bowl season ends. While they're both Power Five teams, this isn't the most exciting matchup. Syracuse does a great job defensively of limiting explosive plays, and Minnesota's offense isn't built on big plays. We're likely to see a lot of clock-churning drives in this one, but on the bright side, that should keep things close.

On an even brighter side, it's another chance to see one of the best running backs in the country. Minnesota's Mohamed Ibrahim tore his Achilles last season but returned this year to rush for 1,594 yards and 19 touchdowns. His 144.91 rushing yards per game ranks second nationally. The battle between him and Syracuse running back Sean Tucker (1,060 yards, 11 TD) should be fun.

28. Gasparilla Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Missouri

Friday, Dec. 23, 6:30 p.m. -- Fun fact about Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman. He missed time early in the season due to an undisclosed medical condition. Hartman shared the news after the regular season of needing a rib removed, keeping it in his freezer and planning to have a necklace made out of it. So, you know that now! Congratulations! You should also know that Hartman has been one of the most productive QBs in the country for a few years now, and this Wake Forest offense is capable of putting up a lot of points when playing well. It's also capable of turning the ball over with alarming regularity, which makes it entertaining 100% of the time as long as you don't have a rooting interest.

The problem here is Missouri. The Tigers went 6-6, but outside of a 23-10 win over South Carolina, they don't have many wins to get excited about. They're strong enough defensively to keep most games close, but we've seen a significant number of Tigers players hit the transfer portal since the season ended. The questions about who will be available for this game make it hard for me to rank it much higher than this.

27. Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Liberty

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. -- This game has a low floor but could be very entertaining if both teams show up. Liberty began the season 8-1 and entered the College Football Playoff Rankings after beating Arkansas 21-19. That win amplified the rumors about Hugh Freeze leaving to take the Auburn job, and the Flames lost their final three games of the season. That includes a 49-14 loss to New Mexico State in which the team looked like it had been told by its coach that he was leaving, and they didn't take it very well. What Liberty team shows up for this game? Will it be a team that wants to impress new coach Jamey Chadwell or a team that just wants to finish the season?

Toledo could crush the Flames if they don't show up ready to play. The Rockets won the MAC, beating Ohio 17-7 in the title game after going 5-3 in conference play and 8-5 overall. This is an inconsistent team, but they've been much better when QB Dequan Finn (2,127 yards passing, 608 rushing, 30 TD) has been healthy. He played against Ohio and should be closer to 100% health by the time this game is played.

26. Military Bowl: Duke vs. UCF

Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m. -- Want a peek behind the curtain? When it comes to these bowl rankings, the 10 best and the 10 worst are usually pretty obvious, and then the 21 games in the middle are basically the same. I could've told you that long ago, but I wanted to save it as a reward for those who read this far. Well, unless you're a Duke or UCF fan who scanned this far just to see where your game is ranked. If you did, that's cheating; go back to the beginning and start over.

The point is that this game has all the potential in the world to be great, but I wonder about the matchup. UCF is a team that had much higher hopes than a Military Bowl appearance. It's also a team that runs the ball a lot and will face a Duke team that finished 34th nationally in EPA per rush on defense. Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't shout out Duke coach Mike Elko for the fantastic job he's done in his first season with the Blue Devils. This is Duke's first bowl game since 2018, and the Blue Devils have won more games this season (eight) than they did the last two years combined (five). They also went 5-3 in the ACC, giving them their first winning record in conference play since 2014.

25. Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Wisconsin

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 10:15 p.m. -- If you'd have told me before the season that we were getting a bowl game between Oklahoma State and Wisconsin, I'd have assumed it was in a New Year's Six bowl. Wisconsin was the favorite in the Big Ten West and Oklahoma State was a serious threat to win the Big 12. Instead, the Badgers went 6-6 and fired coach Paul Chryst during the season, and enter this game with starting QB Graham Mertz who opted to enter the transfer portal. Oklahoma State started 6-1 but lost four of five to finish the regular season.

I have no idea what to expect here. Neither of these offenses performed well in 2022, and it's hard to imagine a couple weeks of bowl practices will be enough to figure it out. 

24. New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. SMU

Saturday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. -- We've got potential here. SMU averaged 38.4 points per game this season (13th nationally) while BYU scored 31.9 (40th). Defensively, the Mustangs allowed 34.7 per game (123rd) and BYU allowed 30.0 (100th). If you're the betting type, you might want to have your head examined if you're considering the under because I don't see a lot of punts flying through the big blue skies of Albuquerque when these two meet.

The Mustangs won six of their last eight games to finish the season 7-5 and have one of the most talented receivers in the country in Rashee Rice (96 receptions, 1,355 yards, 10 TD). He's likely to hear his name called early in the NFL Draft this spring. For the Cougars, keep an eye on QB Jaren Hall, who threw for 31 touchdowns. He looks to be the next in a long line of prolific BYU passers.

23. New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 9 p.m. -- Ever had a friend who listens to a bunch of musicians you've never heard of? They'll tell you about this concert they saw at this tiny venue featuring an act with a name that makes no sense and say it was a life-changing experience. You'll shrug it off, "Greg being Greg" or whatever, but deep down inside you'll fear you're missing out. What if Greg's right? What if Greg is onto something you would love if only you gave it a shot?

Greg is really into the New Orleans Bowl this year. Greg wants you to know all about South Alabama. The Jaguars didn't win the Sun Belt, but they're the second-best team in the league, at worst. They just play in the wrong division. They're 10-2, and their lone losses were a one-point loss at UCLA and a four-point loss to Sun Belt champion Troy. The defense is fierce. Running back LaDamian Webb is a beast. You need to see them. You also need to see them against a Western Kentucky offense that writes some crazy songs. They can score on anybody. Austin Reed threw for 4,247 yards and 36 touchdowns. You've got to see him live, man. Greg knows. Listen to Greg.

22. Gator Bowl: (21) Notre Dame vs. (19) South Carolina

Friday, Dec. 30, 3:30 p.m. -- South Carolina finished the season with a bang. The Gamecocks started 6-3, but none of their six wins were that impressive unless you're really high on South Carolina. After a 38-6 loss to Florida, this team looked destined to finish 6-6 with games against Tennessee and Clemson remaining. Then the Gamecocks went and beat Tennessee 63-38 and followed it up with a 31-30 road win over Clemson. In consecutive weeks, the Gamecocks destroyed the playoff hopes (however faint) of a division rival and a state rival. It's the stuff of which dreams are made.

Now they get a shot to take down one of the most decorated programs in college football history when they face Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. So why am I ranking this game so low? Well, Notre Dame starting QB Drew Pyne is in the transfer portal, and he began the season as the backup. We could also see other draft prospects in this game opt out, which hurts the potential. I won't be surprised if it's close, but I can't count on it being exciting.

21. Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming

Friday, Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m. -- Every season, I fall in love with a team because I figure out that it's better than everybody realizes and win a bunch of money betting on it. This season that team was Ohio, which covered the spread in nine straight games by an average of 14 points each before finally falling in the MAC Championship Game against Toledo. I will always love Kurtis Rourke and the 2022 Bobcats, and I will probably bet on them in this game out of gratitude. The problem is Rourke has missed the last couple of games with an injury, and I don't know what his availability will be for this one.

That's important against a Wyoming team that is saltier than a Chicago street in winter. When I watch Craig Bohl's Cowboys, I get the impression they'd rather win a game 9-7 than 42-3. When it works, it's great, but when it doesn't, things get ugly. Only one of Wyoming's five losses this season was a one-score loss. Only two of their games saw at least 50 points scored. So they're usually playing low-scoring blowouts or competitive affairs, but the point is they're almost always low-scoring. Hard to rank a game much higher than this when you don't expect many fireworks.

20. Citrus Bowl: (17) LSU vs. Purdue

Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m. -- It's a battle of two teams that exceeded expectations, but one of them won't be as excited about it. Nobody was expecting too much of LSU in Brian Kelly's first season, but the Tigers upset Alabama to help them win the SEC West. The problem is that a few weeks ago, the Tigers thought they had a shot to reach the College Football Playoff because of it but lost to a bad Texas A&M team 38-23. They followed it up with a 50-30 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and are now riding a two-game losing streak as they prepare to play the Citrus Bowl. Will their top guys sit this one out, or could we see a wave of opt-outs?

Purdue was a surprise winner of the Big Ten West this season, but it wasn't the result of dominance. The Boilermakers went 6-3 in conference and hung with Michigan for a half in the Big Ten Championship Game before getting steamrolled in the second half. It's a team that's long made a habit of pulling off upsets over higher-ranked teams, and it has an exciting offense that can put points on the board, so LSU better take it seriously. However, there's a potential problem here. The Louisville job came open this week when Scott Satterfield left for Cincinnati, and Purdue's Jeff Brohm -- a former Louisville QB -- was seen as the top target for Louisville before it hired Satterfield. The Cardinals are bound to be interested again, so will Brohm turn down his alma mater twice?

19. Sugar Bowl: (5) Alabama vs. (9) Kansas State

Saturday, Dec. 31, 12 p.m. -- If these teams were playing at full strength, this would be a top-five game in these rankings, no questions asked. Well, Kansas State -- the Big 12 champion who ended TCU's undefeated run -- might be at full strength for this game, and it would love to make another statement by finishing the season with a win over mighty Alabama. But how mighty will this Alabama be? This is a program that wants to win the SEC and a national title every season. It accomplished neither this year, and we're probably going to see a lot of players opt out of this game, including last year's Heisman winner Bryce Young and one of the nation's best defensive players in Will Anderson.

That will stink because Kansas State is a genuinely good team, and it could beat Alabama even if the Tide didn't have players opt out. Regardless, I want another chance to see Young and Anderson play in an Alabama uniform, and I don't think we will get that chance. It takes a lot of the shine off this game. Now, that said, it's still Alabama. The reserves are pretty talented, too, so there's still a shot this game is great.

18. Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas

Wednesday, Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m. -- Let me start by saying that, if reports are to be believed, it is incredibly lame that Missouri refused to play Kansas in a bowl game because that would've been great. That said, this is probably a better matchup than that game would've been! The Jayhawks were the darlings of the first half of the season after opening the year 5-0, but they went 1-6 down the stretch after losing QB Jalon Daniels to injury. If Daniels is healthy and available for this game, however, the Jayhawks have one of the most entertaining offenses in the country.

But so does Arkansas with QB K.J. Jefferson. Combining these explosive and interesting offenses with the two defenses on the field, we're likely in for a tennis match. There's a strong chance this game becomes one of those "last team with the ball wins" kind of games, and in a mid-tier bowl game with low stakes, what more can you ask for than that?

17. Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky

Saturday, Dec. 31, 12 p.m. -- OK, so here's the thing. As a connoisseur of all kinds of college football, this matchup interests me. I don't need high-octane offenses and a bunch of touchdowns to be entertained. I'm the kind of person who can tune into a field-position battle and enjoy that just as much as I would a 49-48 game. So these two offenses don't scare me away.

The problem is we just saw this game last year as Kentucky defeated Iowa 20-17 in a very entertaining Citrus Bowl. Having the rematch a year later takes some of the shine off it. We can't even go with the angle of Mark Stoops facing his alma mater because it was beaten to death last year. Furthermore, Iowa QB Spencer Petras won't play in the game because of injury, and we might see Kentucky QB Will Levis sit it out, too. While it's not ideal, it does increase the odds of this game getting really weird and ending with an 11-5 score or something. Stupid football can be incredible entertainment.

16. Duke's Mayo Bowl: (23) NC State vs. Maryland

Friday, Dec. 30, 12 p.m. -- This ranking will rise quickly if either Dave Doeren or Mike Locksley promises to let somebody dump a cooler of mayonnaise on their head like South Carolina's Shane Beamer did last season; that should not be a one-time-only thing. In fact, every bowl game should dump whatever the product of the primary sponsor is over the coach after the game. Sure, that would be awful news for the winning coach of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, but if you want to make an omelet, you have to crack a few eggs.

The matchup here is an ACC reunion of two interesting teams. NC State is one of the most fascinating teams of 2022 because there's no rational reason for it to be 8-4 considering the injuries it's suffered. Doeren is clearly a practitioner of the dark arts. Then there's Maryland, which sports some NFL talent at the receiver position and a QB in Taulia Tagovailoa who isn't afraid to put the ball up there, for better or worse. This one is ranked No. 16 to start, but I won't be surprised if it's a top-five game in my post-bowl rankings.

15. Texas Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech

Wednesday, Dec. 28, 9 p.m. -- I'm happy Lane Kiffin stayed at Ole Miss instead of leaving for Auburn. Nothing against Auburn; I just think Ole Miss is a better fit for him. He can chill and put together fun, exciting teams without dealing with the insanity of Auburn. What does that have to do with the Texas Bowl? Nothing, but I'm 5,700 words into this thing, all right? My brain is going to wander at some point. Don't worry, though, because I'm about to get back on track.

So, yeah, I like this matchup. If you haven't seen Ole Miss yet in 2022, it's an explosive offense. Unlike 2021, however, it's built more on running the ball than vertical passing routes. It'll be up against a Texas Tech team that was a certified pain in the butt in the Big 12 this season. The Red Raiders didn't win every game, but Joey McGuire's team fought you for every point you scored. It did so thanks in large part to a rush defense that ranked 39th nationally in success rate against the run, so this will be a fun matchup to follow.

14. Fenway Bowl: Louisville vs. Cincinnati

Saturday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. --  Fun fact, this game came in at No. 20 in my initial rankings. It felt like a perfect "middle of the order" bowl game. Then, the news arrived Monday morning that Louisville coach Scott Satterfield was leaving to take the job at Cincinnati. All of a sudden, a mostly anonymous bowl game in a baseball stadium took on a lot more meaning. All of which begs one question, and one question only:

Can Satterfield coach both teams?

It would probably be too much work to handle all the head-coaching duties, but maybe Satterfield can be "all-time play caller" like you had an "all-time QB" when playing with your friends as a child. Sure, it would be awkward for Louisville players and near impossible for Cincinnati players to run plays from a playbook they haven't seen yet, but it would make for great television. Besides, if we don't, this will be two teams playing under interim coaches with motivational questions. Having Satterfield coach both teams at once solves the problem!

13. Sun Bowl: (18) UCLA vs. Pitt

Friday, Dec. 30, 2 p.m. -- UCLA doesn't play boring games. OK, it started the season with boring wins over Bowling Green and Alabama State, and had a boring win over Stanford, but that was more on the opponents. Every other game was a roller coaster. There were bangers against South Alabama, Washington, Utah, Oregon and USC, just to name a few. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a thrill ride and Zach Charbonnet is terrific as this offense is full of fun surprises.

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi is going to hate it! Narduzzi doesn't even like to see his own team score points. Still, just because their coach doesn't like them, that doesn't mean Pitt isn't willing to get into a shootout with you, and it can put points on the board too. Running back Israel Abanikanda finished the season with 1,431 yards and a national-best 20 rushing touchdowns.

12. Orange Bowl: (6) Tennessee vs. (7) Clemson

Friday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m. -- It is a literal Orange Bowl. In a perfect world, both teams would come out in all-orange uniforms and we'd see how well they'd be able to tell friend from foe. It would be hilarious. Of course, we could also see Tennessee come out in its gray uniforms and Clemson in purple, which would really ruin the vibe. And I'm not sure how many vibes this game can afford to lose because while it's a matchup of top-10 teams, it doesn't crack the top 10 of these rankings.

Tennessee isn't the same team without quarterback Hendon Hooker, though it's possible that with an extra month of preparation Joe Milton and the offense can function at the same high level it did with Hooker. But while many things can be said about Clemson's offense, few adjectives used to describe it are complimentary, though with five-star freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik being named the starter after his performance in the ACC Championship Game after DJ Uiagalelei was benched, that could change in a hurry. 

11. Cheez-It Bowl: (13) Florida State vs. Oklahoma

Thursday, Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. -- Florida State fans wish there was a button they could hit that would start the season over with the Seminoles playing at this level right now. If that happened, the 'Noles would probably end up winning the ACC and could even sneak into the College Football Playoff because it's been one of the best teams in the country for over a month. There were close losses to NC State and Clemson in October, then five straight wins to finish the season, most in blowout fashion. QB Jordan Travis has ascended to another level and is one of the most exciting players to watch in the country.

So while there's a chance this game turns into a blowout, even though Oklahoma is only 6-6, it has an offense capable of scoring in a hurry. This game has the potential to be an exciting shootout if the Sooners are healthy. I understand there's also a good chance I look like a moron for ranking this game so highly if Bad Oklahoma shows up and Florida State wins by a billion. Whatever happens, at least I feel confident the final score won't be 13-2.

10. Reliaquest Bowl: (22) Mississippi State vs. Illinois

Monday, Jan. 2, 12 p.m. -- While it's an SEC/Big Ten matchup, it's not a game featuring either conference's perennial powers. Still, both the Bulldogs and Illini had excellent seasons and present an interesting matchup for one another. Mississippi State is 8-4 and the poster child for a team with excellent résumé losses to LSU, Georgia and Alabama. It was a team that lost to the teams you'd expect but beat the ones a good team is supposed to beat and finished the year with a win over rival Ole Miss.

Illinois is one of the biggest surprises of 2022. The Illini are 8-4 and making their first bowl appearance since 2019. They got here behind one of the best defenses in the country, and that's where the matchup gets interesting. Mississippi State will run Mike Leach's Air Raid offense against an Illini defense that led the nation in defensive passing efficiency at 89.8 (Penn State was second at 104.0). Meanwhile, Illinois' offense is built on a physical rushing presence led by Doak Walker finalist Chase Brown but faces a Mississippi State team that ranked 47th in EPA per rush on defense. If styles make fights, this will be a fun fight.

9. Alamo Bowl: (20) Texas vs. (12) Washington

Thursday, Dec. 29, 9 p.m. -- Here's the thing about the Alamo Bowl: The matchup is almost always great, but you sometimes run into the problem of the teams not being thrilled to be there because they had been competing for conference titles and fell short. Still, I'm going to take my chances here with a game that offers an incredible quarterback matchup between Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Texas' Quinn Ewers. Penix has the kind of arm strength that will make you gasp at least twice per game, while Ewers routinely flings balls on a rope with a simple flick of his wrist. I hope both play and play well because, if they do, we're in for a treat.

As for motivation, I know this was a disappointing season for Texas seeing they missed out on playing for the Big 12 title, but it's a young team that can benefit from playing an opponent like this. Plus, let's not forget that Texas coach Steve Sarkisian used to coach at Washington, so I'm sure he'll do everything he can to keep his team's attention on this game. As for the Huskies, they're already playing with house money, as nobody was expecting this team to be 10-2 in Kalen DeBoer's first season. A win would give the Huskies their first 11-win season since they reached the College Football Playoff in 2016.

8. LA Bowl: Washington State vs. Fresno State

Saturday, Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m. -- Have you ever seen Fresno State QB Jake Haener? He's an amalgamation of every underdog quarterback you've seen in a movie or television show about a football team. Haener is listed as 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds, which might be generous. Still, Haener is a gamer regardless of size. I've seen this kid take so many shots during his career, but he gets up every time and keeps going. Sometimes he gets up slower than others, and sometimes he moves gingerly, but he gets up every time. I love him. He's the heart and soul of this Fresno State team that won the Mountain West.

I also love Washington State QB Cam Ward, who transferred to Wazzu from Incarnate Word before the season. He didn't put up the same numbers in the Pac-12 that he put up there, but he's an entertaining watch on a tough Washington State team. The Cougars lost five times this year, but the five losses came to Oregon, USC, Oregon State, Utah and Washington -- teams that were a combined 49-11. It's a better team than its 7-5 record indicates, and I like this game's chances of being entertaining.

7. Las Vegas Bowl: (14) Oregon State vs. Florida

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2:30 p.m. -- The Pac-12 got a lot of attention this year thanks to solid seasons from USC, Oregon, Washington, Utah and UCLA, but Oregon State still managed to fly under the radar despite having just as good of a season! The Beavers went 9-3 and nearly knocked off USC and Washington. Jonathan Smith has done a fantastic job building this program; its win total has increased every season since he took over in 2018, except for the 2020 COVID season. The nine wins the Beavers have already picked up are their most in a season since going 9-4 in 2012, and if they pick up a win here, it'll be the program's first 10-win season since 2006.

To get that win, it'll have to get past a Florida team with a high ceiling. Florida opened the year with a win over Utah, and while it was impressive, it probably raised expectations too quickly. The Gators came back down to earth in SEC play, finishing with a 3-5 mark, and went only 2-4 in the SEC East. The Gators will be trying to pick up a seventh win to finish over .500, but that would have been more likely if QB Anthony Richardson, who was projected by many to be a first-round NFL Draft pick, didn't decide to skip this game.

6. Holiday Bowl: (15) Oregon vs. North Carolina

Wednesday, Dec. 28, 8 p.m. -- Hurry up and bet the over before it gets higher because I can guarantee the total will get higher. The season did not end the way either of these teams hoped it would a month ago. Back then, Oregon was 8-1 with the Pac-12 title and a possible playoff berth in reach. Then the Ducks lost by three at home to Washington, Bo Nix sprained his ankle and the team literally limped to the finish line at 9-3. North Carolina was 9-1 with a QB in Drake Maye whom many were pegging as a future No. 1 draft pick. They were wins against Georgia Tech and NC State away from being 11-1. They then lost to both to fall to 9-3 and finished by getting trounced 39-10 by Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.

These teams are mirror images of one another who reside on opposite ends of the country. Two prolific offenses paired with defenses that can't stop anybody. Ladies and gentlemen, we might see 100 points scored in this game. You could end up telling your grandchildren about it one day.

5. Cotton Bowl: (10) USC vs. (16) Tulane

Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m. -- It used to be that we expected the Group of Five champion that earned the New Year's Six berth to get spanked in the bowl game because that used to be what happened. Then UCF happened, and last year Cincinnati made the CFP. We've all wisened up to the idea that these teams need to be taken seriously in spots like this, and USC would be well-served to take Tulane seriously, mostly because USC's defense shouldn't take anybody or anything for granted. Did you see those guys try to tackle Utah players in the Pac-12 Championship Game?

The Green Wave won the American thanks to a fun offense and an excellent pass defense, but that defense didn't come across many passing attacks like USC. Caleb Williams is one of the best QBs in the country and could win the Heisman Trophy this week. He has a cavalcade of weapons surrounding him on offense, and I anticipate the Trojans will put up points. But will the Trojans stop Tulane's Tyjae Spears? Again, did you see them try to tackle vs. Utah? There's a good chance this game comes down to the final minutes.

4. Cure Bowl: (24) Troy vs. (25) UTSA

Friday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m. -- HIPSTER ALERT! Get ready to be condescending as all hell, folks, because all the people who don't realize how incredible this game is going to be are not worthy of your time! Oh, you're a Troy and UTSA fan? Name three of their albums. I'll wait.

Seriously, it's a battle of conference champions. UTSA went 11-2 this season to win Conference USA as the Roadrunners have now gone 17-1 in conference games over the last two seasons. They are one of the most entertaining offenses in the country. Frank Harris runs it to perfection, and receiver Zakhari Franklin will catch balls in the NFL soon. Then there's Troy, which went 5-7 last year but finished 11-2 this year in Jon Sumrall's first season en route to a Sun Belt title. The Trojans lead with their defense, but don't think they aren't capable of putting up points themselves. Trust me, I understand that most of you reading this probably haven't seen either of these teams play, but take some time out of your schedule to make sure you tune into this game. You won't regret it.

3. Rose Bowl: (8) Utah vs. (11) Penn State

Monday, Jan. 2, 5 p.m. -- I know it's cool to hate the Rose Bowl these days because it was scapegoated as the only thing standing in the way of the playoff expanding to 12 teams as so many people wanted, but I love the Rose Bowl. I will always love the Rose Bowl. Whether it's part of the playoff or not, I don't care. I don't even need it to have the traditional matchup of Big Ten vs. Pac-12 (though I prefer it). This game has always been near my heart, and it always will be. It's one of the most beautiful scenes in college football every year, and it tends to have an excellent matchup to go with all the aesthetics.

This year is no different. We have Pac-12 champion Utah -- the only team to beat USC (doing so twice) this season -- going against Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 10-2, but while their losses were by an average of 18.5 points against Michigan and Ohio State, they dominated everybody else on the schedule. These are two physical, talented football teams likely to put on an epic performance in an incredible atmosphere. Don't even think of missing it.

2. Fiesta Bowl: (2) Michigan vs. (3) TCU

Saturday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m. -- The Fiesta Bowl provides a matchup of two teams that are more similar than you assume because of the style they prefer to play. TCU is a spread offense with a lot of Air Raid elements offensively, but running the ball is still fundamental to everything the Frogs do offensively -- much like the Michigan offense, which is seen as the old-school, smash-mouth offense often associated with the Wolverines and the Big Ten.

The biggest difference this season is that TCU has been far more explosive through the air than Michigan, but the Wolverines have begun to show flashes in that department in recent weeks. Still, the key will be what these teams do in the red zone. Both have struggled to finish drives with touchdowns at times this year, and it's made some games more difficult than they had to be. The team that does the better job here will win and move on to the title game.

1. Peach Bowl: (1) Georgia vs. (4) Ohio State

Saturday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m. -- If this isn't a battle of heavyweights, then what is? Sure, some people are mad at Ohio State being chosen for the College Football Playoff despite getting beat handily at home by Michigan to finish the regular season, but ignore that. Look at this matchup for what it is. It's a game between the defending champion with an elite defense against one of the most talented teams in the country filled with future NFL players.

If you can't get excited about watching QB C.J. Stroud and Ohio State's receiving corps going against the Georgia defense, what are you even doing reading these rankings? This is precisely the kind of game you dream of seeing when you watch college football. Playoff game or not, it's a banger.

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