We are smack dab in the middle of the college bowl fervor, where forty-one bowl games are being played, and then the championship will be decided on January 8. Texas joins the state of Florida in staging the most contests this year, with eight apiece, as the National Champion will be crowned in Houston. Orlando is the most-visited destination as that city stages three separate bowl contests this month.

Coaching changes are a common issue around this time, as are the opt-outs for those fearing injury ahead of declaring for the NFL draft. And, for reasons that only make sense to the NCAA elders, the transfer portal opened up just ahead of this post-season melee, so there will be questions about who will choose to sit out and who will see a chance to highlight themself to appeal to their possible new school. The transfer portal officially opened on December 5, and in just two days, over 1,000 players had already placed their names in the portal.  

Already, predictions have been compromised as the growing list of players sitting out from games has altered prospects. FSU, as an example, sees over two dozen players foregoing the Orange Bowl. And history was realized as, for the first time, there was an edible mascot at a game! Yes, the excitement was palpable, so read on for that dose of college football lore you do not want to miss. Here are all of the contest results to this point and the dates of the remaining games so you can fill out your phone calendar and receive all the proper updates.

    DECEMBER 16

MYRTLE BEACH BOWL  Conway, SC

• Ohio University 41 - Georgia Southern 21

Ohio, finishing second in its MAC division, has a strong 9-3 record but shuffled down the bowl list as invites were handed out. The 6-6 Eagles will have a tough order as the Bobcats sport a decent enough offense and a very stingy defense that gives up just over two touchdowns a game. 

RESULT - This was all Ohio, and running back Ricky Hunt. The Bobcats posted a 20-0 halftime lead, and Hunt scored touchdowns on three runs and added a passing score, while the Eagles turned the ball over five times in the rout.

NEW ORLEANS BOWL  New Orleans, LA

• Jacksonville State 34 - Louisianna 31

Initially blocked from a bowl appearance due to NCAA rules holding teams that transition to the FBS for two seasons, 8-3 Jax State was granted a bid after not enough teams qualified for bowl eligibility. The Ragin’ Cajuns, at 6-6 in the Sun Belt, will probably need the close-to-home field advantage to be competitive.

RESULT - This thriller was close throughout with four lead changes and neither team getting more than a TD ahead. Jacksonville State gets its first-ever FBS bowl victory with an overtime field goal.

CURE BOWL  Orlando, FL

• Appalachian State 13 - Miami (OH) 9

This could become a firefight. Miami comes off of an upset title win over undefeated Toledo in the MAC, while The Mountaineers had a strong season, handing James Madison its only loss in the Sun Belt. The Redhawks will lean on running back Rashad Amos, who delivered 895 yards and 12 TDs, hoping its strong defense can limit App State’s QB, who had over 3,500 passing yards.

RESULT - Sloppy rain-soaked conditions put a damper on the fireworks, as both teams worked to slog it out on the ground. Each team had three turnovers and a solitary touchdown. Miami’s  Rashad Amos was relied upon for offense as he gained 180 yards, but it was not enough.

NEW MEXICO BOWL  Albuquerque, NM

• Fresno State 37 - New Mexico State 10

Fresno had a quixotic year in the Mountain West. They beat some of the top-tier teams, such as UNLV and conference champ Boise State, then dropped their last three games, including to bottom dwellers New Mexico and San Diego State. The Aggies see their first bowl appearance in years after a great season. They had an eight-game win streak — including a massive upset on the road in Auburn — before dropping a close one in the Conference USA title game.

RESULT - The Bulldogs were in complete control throughout. QB Mikey Keene was the star with 380 yards passing, throwing for a pair of TDs, and rushing for another.

LA BOWL Los Angeles, CA

• UCLA 35 -  Boise State 22

Both teams are dealing with some upheaval coming into this one. Chip Kelly will be without his defensive coordinator, D’Anton Lynn, who just jumped to a new job with USC after he led the Bruins to one of the top defenses in the nation. Star Defensive End Laiatu Latu may sit out as he is projected to be a top draft pick in the NFL. There are also a number of portal names who are in question, including top QB recruit Dante Moore, who platooned for much of the year. Boise State has just hired Spenser Danielson as the full-time head coach, as he was brought up as a replacement with three games remaining and became the first interim coach to win a conference title. He will have a tall order as his starting QB Taylen Green sits out after entering the transfer portal, and his backup has an injury.

RESULT - Trailing by nine at the half, the Bruins opened up things in the third quarter with three touchdowns. UCLA platooned QBs Ethan Garbers and Collin Shlee as they combined for three TDs. Schlee was a threat on the ground with 127 yards, backed by TJ Harden, who ran for 105 and two scores.

INDEPENDENCE BOWL Shreveport, LA

• Texas Tech 34 - California 14

This makes for only the second time ever these schools have met — the last time was in the 2004 Holiday Bowl. They are very equally balanced, with matching 6-6 records; both had struggles against top opponents, and both are led by running backs. Cal has Jaydn Ott, who led the Pac-12 with 1,260 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, while Tahj Brooks for the Red Raiders was fourth in the country, posting 1,443 yards while also scoring nine touchdowns.

RESULT - Led by Behren Morton throwing and Tahj Brooks running, the Red Raiders settled in after giving up two touchdowns in the first quarter. The defense locked down the Golden Bears the rest of the game.

    December 18

FAMOUS TOASTERY BOWL  Charlotte, NC

• Western Kentucky 38 - Old Dominion 35

This is actually the former Bahamas Bowl, but this year, it has been relocated for 2023 because the stadium in Nassau is undergoing renovations. This year, it is being held on the mainland, and a local restaurant chain is serving as the primary sponsor. 

Talk about just getting in; Old Dominion managed to get its last two victories with the final play of each to make it to 6-6 and become bowl-eligible. The defense-minded Monarchs will have a tall order as the Hilltoppers bring quarterback Austin Reed with 3,340 yards passing and 31 touchdowns, and receiver Malachi Corley, who is the school’s reception record holder, as his favorite target. This season, he pulled in 75 passes for 958 yards and 11 touchdowns.

RESULT - The teams traded 28-7 returns in each half, with Caden Veltkamp delivering 40-52 and 383 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Hilltoppers back for an overtime victory.

    December 19

FRISCO BOWL  Frisco, TX

• University of Texas San Antonio 35 - Marshall 17

UTSA put up a strong season and the Roadrunners make their fifth bowl appearance while looking for their first win. They sport a potent offense led by wide receiver Joshua Cephus, with 1,049 yards and 9 TDs for the season. Marshall manages a bowl slot despite a 6th place divisional finish, and the Thundering Herd is just that, as it relies on running back Rasheen Ali, who punched in 14 touchdowns while gaining over 1,000 yards.

RESULT - The Roadrunners relied on a balanced offense to overcome three turnovers, and the defense kept the Herd off the scoreboard in the second half to lock down the victory.

    December 21

BOCA RATON BOWL  Boca Raton, FL

• South Florida 45 - Syracuse 0

This is a pair of 6-6 teams moving in opposite directions. Syracuse had no wins against notable opponents and fired its coach after losing six out of seven games. It took a fourth-and-goal defensive stop against Wake Forest in its final game to break even and just qualify for the bowl. The Bulls, meanwhile, come off of a one-win season and turned heads early in the year when they nearly beat Alabama. They are led by QB Byrum Brown, who passed for 3,078 yards and 23 touchdowns, becoming the second-leading rusher with 745 yards and 11 more TDs on the ground.

RESULT - The Orange lost their starting QB to injury and had to resort to a committee behind center, including their tight end and running back taking snaps at times. The Bulls had QB Byrum Brown throwing three TDs in the rout.

    December 22

GASPARILLA BOWL  Tampa, FL

• Georgia Tech 30 - Central Florida 17

Another matchup of 6-6 teams, but this one should be entertaining as these are better teams than the records indicate. The Yellowjackets had a tough schedule with notable wins against Miami and North Carolina, while the Golden Knights, in their first season in The Big 12, took Oklahoma to overtime and later trounced Oklahoma State. Tech is driven by QB Haynes King, who passed for 2,755 yards and 26 of his 35 touchdowns, adding 648 yards on the ground. Knights running back RJ Harvey went for 1.295 rushing and a dozen touchdowns.

RESULT - After opening up a 14-0 first-quarter lead, UCF fell apart and could only manage a field goal the remainder of the game. The Yellowjackets were all about the ground game, as they passed for barely 51 yards.

    December 23

BIRMINGHAM BOWL  Birmingham, AL

• Duke 17 - Troy 10 

Duke has been a team on the rise, and it was of little surprise that coach Mike Elko would be favored to fill the role at Texas A&M. They will also be without touted QB Riley Leonard, who is coming off of a foot injury and is one of the sought after players in the portal. Troy had a sterling year as Sun Belt Champions and has the added advantage of playing just a few hours from their home base.

RESULT - In another game affected by portal departures as well as Duke going with an interim head coach, the play appeared uninspiring at times. Troy only managed its touchdown with five minutes remaining, and a subsequent drive to tie the game ended with an interception.

CAMELLIA BOWL  Montgomery, AL

• Northern Illinois 21 - Arkansas State 19

With no notable wins, Arkansas State benefitted from a soft schedule to qualify for a berth, and despite matching 6-6 records, the Red Wolves could have some trouble. The Huskies dropped five straight after a Boston College win in the opener, but then managed to go 5-2 with a win against Ohio and narrowly lost to Troy. The key will be getting a performance from 1,100-yard rusher Antario Brown.

RESULT - A fake field goal in the second quarter went for the go-ahead score as the Huskies held on in a mostly scoreless second half, holding possession for over 40 minutes. The Red Wolves managed to get a touchdown with just over a minute to play but failed the 2-point conversion.

There was some amusement when ESPN was about to go to the broadcast of the game, while in studio, the graphics showed not the Red Wolves on screen but the logo for the Razorbacks.

🤦‍♂️ @espn doesn’t know the difference between @RazorbackFB and @ArkansasStateFB in #Camelliabowl 🤔 #blooper pic.twitter.com/sEEkJjj2U8

— Jk wash (@jk_wash) December 23, 2023

ARMED FORCES BOWL  Fort Worth, TX

•  Air Force 31 - James Madison 21

James Madison was a story for much of the year as they had been undefeated, ranked, and were plying the NCAA to waive its restriction on the school being the second to transition to the FBS this year. That talk quieted down after an overtime loss to Appalachian State, but the Dukes were eventually granted the bowl game. Jordan McCloud will be behind center, despite entering the portal, and will be looking for his thousand-yard receiver, Elijah Sarratt. The Falcons, at one point, were 8-0 and ranked 17 in the nation, but then the wheels came off as they dropped the last four games.

RESULT - McCloud was strong with three TDs and 257 yards passing, with Sarratt going for 115 on eight catches, but the Dukes could not contain the Falcons running game. Ironically, Air Force only went for 45 yards in the air as Emmanuel Mitchel ran for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL  Boise, ID

• Georgia State 45 - Utah State 22

The Georgia State Panthers were another with a hot start but a frozen finish, opening the year 6-1 before losing their final five games. The Cats will rely on Marcus Carroll out of the backfield after he put up 1,350 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. The Aggies had an up-and-down season and needed a double overtime thriller in their final game against New Mexico to make it into bowl contention.

RESULT - This was all Panthers, with running back Freddie Brock filling in and rushing for a school-record 276 yards, and QB Darren Grainger throwing for three scores and running in another pair.  

68 VENTURES BOWL  Mobile, AL

South Alabama 59 - Eastern Michigan 10

The Jaguars will be quite comfortable playing in their home stadium. Their middling season was highlighted by the upset blowout win on the road against Oklahoma State. Eastern Michigan had no notable victories, and making it to this bowl required winning their final two games with opponents sporting combined 5-19 records.

RESULT - The home crowd was worn out from cheering by the fourth quarter. Freshman QB Gio Lopez was on point, guiding the Jags to 627 yards of offense to earn USA its first-ever bowl victory.

LAS VEGAS BOWL  Las Vegas, NV

Northwestern 14 - Utah 7

It has been a frustrating season for the Utes, as their defense remained strong but lost starting QB Cameron Rising for the year due to injury, and that was a tough order in a strong PAC-12 conference. The Wildcats had a quiet season but closed out with three wins to go 7-5, but they may be outmatched in this one.

RESULT - Part defensive battle, part Utah self-destructing, there was only a solitary touchdown until midway through the fourth. The Utes could only manage 221 yards of total offense and gave up the ball three times.

HAWAII BOWL Honolulu, HI

• Coastal Carolina 24 - San Jose State 14

After a brutal schedule had them open at 1-5, San Jose St. took care of their final six games. They face the Chanticleers for the first time ever, as they probably have the longest travel in the bowls. Carolina’s receiver Sam Pickney set an NCAA record when he caught a pass in his 57th consecutive game. This should be a close matchup.

RESULT - The Spartans were held scoreless until the fourth, but after crawling back to within three points, Sam Pickney, who had 123 receiving yards, caught a TD with under three minutes to play.

    December 26

QUICK LANE BOWL  Detroit, MI

• Minnesota 30 - Bowling Green 24 

If there is such a thing as “good losses,” the Bowling Green Falcons can lay claim to those. Their winning record is marred by games dropped to Michigan, Liberty, and Toledo, while taking care of the teams they were expected to beat. The Golden Gophers, meanwhile, come to this game with a 5-7 record after finishing in the basement of the weak Western Division of The Big Ten, with maybe a 12-10 victory over Iowa as their lone bragging point.

RESULT - Here’s a stat for you: Gophers QB Cole Kramer only threw for 26 yards on 8/16 completions, and also threw for two touchdowns. Running back Darius Taylor had 208 yards running and a fourth-quarter TD to seal the victory.

FIRST RESPONDER BOWL  Dallas, TX

• Texas State 45 - Rice 20

In-state teams will meet up for an in-state bowl, so the crowds might be quasi-impressive for this matchup. The Bobcats are a frustration, as they have some firepower — Ismail Mahdi is a 1,200-yard rusher, and QB TJ Findley threw for 3,287 and 24 TDs — but their middling record is due to the defense being ranked 118th in the nation. The Owls, meanwhile, may not put up a full challenge as their starting quarterback is retiring due to concussion issues.

RETURN - While competitive for the first half, Rice fell apart, giving up six turnovers in the game, including two pick-6 plays by Brian Halloway. Running back Jahmyl Jeter had only eight rushes, but three of those went for scores.

 GUARANTEED RATE BOWL  Phoenix, AZ

• Kansas 49 - Nevada Las Vegas 36

This pair of traditional basketball schools have both developed respectable football programs. The Jayhawks had a fine season and sport wins over then-#6 Oklahoma, Iowa State, and BYU. Additionally, UNLV goes to its first bowl game in 10 years after losing to Boise State in the Mountain West final. 

RESULT - The Jayhawks were airing it out in blazing hot or cold action, as UNLV was prone to giving up the big plays. QB Jason Bean had only 19 completions, but four of those were touchdown strikes of 40 yards, as he piled up 449 yards passing with six TDs in total, but three interceptions as well. Luke Grimm was a preferred target, going for 160 yards receiving and three TDs.

    December 27

MILITARY BOWL  Annapolis, MD

• Virginia Tech 41 - Tulane 20

Tulane has built itself into a regular contender, and, as a result, it comes into this one with an interim coach, as Willie Fritz was poached by Houston. The Green Wave comes with a balanced offensive attack led by passer Michael Pratt. The Hokies season was just average, beating who they should and losing handily to better teams, with no surprises. They will hope their decent defense can keep them close in Maryland.

RESULT - Tulane got an early touchdown by a fumble recovery, but after that, the Green Wave’s impressive season ended. The Hokies relied entirely on QB Kyron Jones, the leading rusher with 176 yards and three combined touchdowns.

DUKE’S MAYO BOWL  Charlotte, NC

• West Virginia 30 - North Carolina 10

Close enough for the Tarheels to consider this a home advantage, they might need that as it is likely quarterback Drake Maye will sit out the game, as he is considered one of the prime prospects for the NFL draft. That means Amarion Hampton will likely be leaned on after posting 1,442 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Mountaineers mostly took care of business in-conference and largely lost to ranked opponents.

RESULT - With most of the significant players out of the game, the Tar Heels were not in a position to do much, and they never led. Mountaineers QB Garrett Green had an efficient enough day of it, going 12/24 and 225 passing with a TD throw, as well as leading all rushers with 64 yards on the ground.

HOLIDAY BOWL  San Diego, CA

• USC 42 - Louisville 28

The Cardinals built their way into the top 10 and went to the ACC final. The problem was they ran into a brick wall defense from FSU. They can produce, with Jack Plummer throwing for 3,000+ plus yards and Jawhar Jordan rushing for over 1,100. The Trojans, despite another big year from Caleb Williams, became exposed this season as incapable of stopping teams. The 134th-ranked defense surrendered four touchdowns or more in ten of their games.

RESULT - With Caleb Williams sitting out, Miller Moss got his first collegiate start, and he exploded. The QB tossed six TDs, and his favorite target, with other starting receivers out, was Tahj Washington, who hauled in seven receptions and scored twice. 

TEXAS BOWL  Houston, TX

• Oklahoma State 31 - Texas A&M 23

The question is: Which Cowboys team will show up? The one that put up at least 27 points during a five-game win streak, including the win against Oklahoma, or the one that lost to UCF and South Alabama by a combined 78-10? The Aggies, meanwhile, are just as inscrutable. They come in after firing Jimbo Fischer (good news) but have a rash of portal transfers that deliver challenges to the roster. Both of these teams should be better but could deliver an entertaining game.

RESULT - The quarterbacks took the opportunity as fill-ins for the starters who sat. Alan Bowman had a 400-yard-2TD game for the Cowboys, and his receiver was Rashod Owens, who hauled in 10 catches for 164 yards and those two scores. The Aggies played desperate, with freshman Marcel Reed having a decent game, going 20/33 for 361 yards and adding a rushing touchdown, but the depleted defense could not keep OSU in striking distance. 

    December 28

FENWAY BOWL  Boston, MA

• Boston College 23 - SMU 14

The AAC champs Mustangs are the definition of a balanced team. They are a top-20 team in passing, averaging 40 points a game (sixth in the nation), and the defense is 12th in points allowed. The BC Eagles, in contrast, are one-dimensional. They are 19th in the country in rushing, but that is mostly from QB Thomas Castellanos, and his passing game is woeful, ranking 108th. The biggest note of their 6-6 season is when they beat Georgia Tech; otherwise, there is little to be impressed by.

RESULT - SMU was compromised by losing their starting QB in the season finale, and a constant rain also mitigated things offensively. Castellanos played as advertised, with minimal passing compensated by him while gaining 156 yards on the ground and rushing for two scores in the fourth quarter. 

PINSTRIPE BOWL  Bronx, NY

• Rutgers 31 - University of Miami 24

Underwhelming would be a good description for both of these former Big East opponents. Rutgers has no notable wins it can point to, and the lone bright spot on the roster is running back Kyle Monangai, with an 1,100-yard season. The Hurricanes were frustrating as they played up to the level of the better teams and down to the lesser ones. The cloud still hangs from the loss to Georgia Tech when they literally gave away a victory. Coming into this game between the portal and NFL draft options, at least 10 players will be missing, including quarterback Tyler Van Dyke.

RESULT - Monangai delivered, with 165 yards and a score, as Miami fought but came up short. A blocked punt for a touchdown late in the third sparked the Knights. UM’s freshman QB Jacurri Brown looked good at times, having an efficient 20/31 for 181 and a TD and adding 57 rushing with another score. Receiver Xavier Restrepo went for 99 yards and a touchdown to lead the Hurricanes in receiving.

POP-TARTS BOWL Orlando, FL

• Kansas State 28 - NC State 19

Two strong programs square off. The K-State Wildcats are led by QB Will Howard, who put up 2,643 yards passing, 24 touchdowns, and added nine more rushing. They also feature a thousand-yard rusher in DJ Giddens. After juggling quarterbacks the Wolfpack go with Brennan Armstrong, as MJ Morris has entered the portal.

But — the real news is what happens after the game. Along with celebrating and receiving the trophy, the winning team will be encouraged to partake in eating the game’s mascot. This is sure to be a disturbing event, not to be missed!

RESULT - Both teams resorted to the running game, as neither quarterback managed to throw for more than 180 yards. Wildcats freshman replacement at QB Avery Johnson managed to still get two TD throws and rushed for a third. And, as expected, the ceremonial consumption of the mascot was as disturbing and odd as expected.

Here we are... the edible mascot in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.. pic.twitter.com/0XgKGoXseS

— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) December 29, 2023

ALAMO BOWL  San Antonio, TX

• Arizona 38 - Oklahoma 24

The looming question is whether quarterback Dillon Gabriel will be playing. He is considered possibly the highest-regarded player in the transfer portal, but has not ruled out playing in the game. The Sooners could use him, after a strong 3,660-yard/30-touchdown season, because Arizona is the real thing. Somewhat overlooked in the PAC-12 as the Huskies and Ducks delivered fireworks, the Wildcats closed with a six-game winning streak, four of those wins against ranked opponents.

RESULT - Both teams came to play, and it was a close gunfight, but the Wildcats took over in the fourth. Oklahoma amassed 565 total yards, but killed themselves with a six-turnover night. Gunner Maldonaldo had a fumble recovery 83-yard touchdown and added an interception. QB Noah Fifita threw for 354 yards, and Jacob Cowing, the offensive MVP, had seven receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns. The Sooners had to go with freshman Jackson Arnold, who looked impressive at times as he threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns, but he also tossed three interceptions.

    December 29

GATOR BOWL  Jacksonville, FL

• Clemson 38 - Kentucky 35

A good matchup of teams that are good, if not great. Kentucky raced out to a 5-0 start, but then their schedule turned nightmarish, as they had to play Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Tennessee. Clemson was hot and cold, with some key losses to Duke, Miami, and NC State. Both teams can put points on the board, so this should be a fun one.

RESULT - An entertaining romp between two schools playing seriously, it was a one-point game with just over six minutes to play, but ultimately, with 17 seconds remaining, Phil Mufta ran for his third touchdown of the quarter, fourth overall, and the Tigers endured.

TONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL  El Paso, TX

Notre Dame 40 - Oregon State 8

Both teams seem a notch below the top teams. OSU just could not get by the powerhouses in the PAC-12. Notre Dame put up numbers but would stumble against teams like Clemson and Louisville. Irish running back Audric Estine posted 1,341 on the ground. Question marks abound with both squads, as the Beavers have their two quarterbacks leaving for the portal, and the Irish also have 11 players declaring they will be out, including three receivers and a tight end.

RESULT - Steve Angelli was the fill-in QB for the Irish, and he passed for 232 yards and three scores, half of his yardage going to Jordan Faison, who had a TD. The Irish dominated with almost 40 minutes of possession and two dozen first downs.

LIBERTY BOWL  Memphis, TN

Memphis 36 - Iowa State 26

A strong year for the Tigers saw them come up short in the AAC, as they only lost to the top teams. Seth Henigan put up 3,500/28TD, and Blake Watson went over 1,000 rushing, so they can put up some offense. The Cyclones were competitive in the Big 12, with impressive wins over OSU and Kansas State. Its defense will make the difference in this one.

RESULT - Both teams combined for over 975 yards of offense and over 40 first downs. Memphis QB Seth Henigan was on fire with 364 yards and four TDs — three of which were for 48 yards or more — and added a running score as well.

COTTON BOWL  Dallas, TX

• Missouri 14 - Ohio State 3

The Tigers demanded attention all season, and they look to score. About the only team to hold them under 30 points was Georgia in a rare loss for Mizzou. The second-ranked Buckeyes defense will be needed, as a growing list of players are either in the portal or turning pro, including star quarterback Kyle McCord. That leaves only one of two freshmen to be the signal caller, so the Tigers may have the edge.

RESULT - To say the offenses struggled is an understatement — it was a 3-0 game going into the fourth quarter. While the clear star was Cody Schrader, rushing for 128 and a touchdown, this is the stat of the game: The teams combined had 17 points and 16 punts.

    December 30

PEACH BOWL  Atlanta, GA

• Ole Miss 38 - Penn State 25

This will be a contrast in styles between top-tier teams. The Rebels have a big strike offense, while the Nittany Lions opt for the Big Ten-style grinding running game plan. Penn State was 24th in the run game; Ole Miss 27th in passing. The Lions fired their offensive coordinator last month after the loss to Michigan.

RESULT - The Nittany Lions tried to stay close up to the half, but then the Rebels just turned it on. QB Jaxon Dart had a 379-yard three TD day, and added another running, while favoring his tight end Caden Prieskorn, who caught for 136 yards, two touchdowns, and then a 2-point conversion to load up the state sheet.

MUSIC CITY BOWL  Nashville, TN

• Maryland 31 - Auburn 13

Auburn was just not a factor when it counted. The Tigers dropped four straight to SEC opponents, and the only conference wins came against the bottom three schools. In the Iron Bowl, however, they rose to the occasion, requiring Alabama to hit a miracle play at the end to get the win. Likewise, the Terrapins had a four-game losing stretch and could not manage against the big-name schools. They will rely on Taulia Tagovailoa to throw them past the Tigers.

RESULT - Both teams had significant players out, and Auburn simply looked like they did not want to be there. The Tigers gave up 21 points in the first, and their QB by committee generated little effectiveness, and the running game was non-existent. Maryland was only marginally better statistically but managed to finish more, adding a pick-6 as well.

ORANGE BOWL  Miami, FL

• Georgia 63 - Florida State 3

There will be incredible focus on this game, beyond it being a major-six bowl. The controversy of the undefeated Seminoles being dropped from playoff consideration is still roiling fans and the press. The bowl organizers canceled the head coaches press conference, seemingly to avoid furthering the outrage. Meanwhile, the selection committee has to be pulling for a rout by the Bulldogs to justify their decision, and there are questions as well about how motivated Georgia might be after they fell from #1 to this out-of-contention game. 

RESULT - This game generated much interest, and it was ghastly. Thanks to the playoff snub and other factors, FSU came in with about two dozen players opting out, and it was a brutal result. Georgia bested their own record of widest margin of victory in a bowl game. This one was over early in the second quarter, and the Bulldogs went on to more than triple FSU in offense.

ARIZONA BOWL  Tuscon, AZ

• Wyoming 16 - Toledo 15

The Toledo Rockets had a great year before ultimately being upset by Miami (OH) in the Mid-Atlantic Conference final. They were 12th in the nation in rushing and managed to score less than 21 points only once all year. The Cowboys only lost to the top teams in the Mountain West, playing a solid, balanced team style that has no exemplary areas. Its defense does surrender 144 yards on the ground per game.

RESULT - Not much stands out in this low-scoring affair, as Wyoming controlled the ball for nearly double the game time and managed to come back in the fourth with a 12-play 84-yard drive to get the winning field goal with one second remaining.

    JANUARY 1

RELIA QUEST BOWL  Tampa, FL

• LSU / Wisconsin

The big question surrounds one name — Jayden Daniels. The Tigers’ QB had a dream season that eclipsed Joe Burrough, with the exception of a postseason appearance. Forty touchdowns against just four interceptions, and 3,812 yards in the air, AND another 1,100 rushing are just ridiculous numbers. But he has yet to state if he is playing, since he will be turning pro. Regardless, the Badgers will still be challenged to compete here. Without much of an offense to speak of, it will take a lot to give them a chance here.

    12:00 pm ESPN

CITRUS BOWL  Orlando, FL

• Iowa / Tennessee

This game comes down to a basic fact: If The Volunteers score, they will win. The Hawkeyes are all about winning with defense, as they rank near the bottom nationally in all offensive categories: Passing-130th, Rushing-109th, and Scoring-130th. Over their final eight games on the schedule, Iowa managed to score 22 points only one time, and they went 6-2 over that stretch. In the Big-10 championship against Michigan as a team the Hawkeyes managed just 155 yards in offense. 

    1:00 pm ABC

FIESTA BOWL  Glendale, AZ

• Oregon / Liberty

There will be a level of interest here, as people want to see just how valid Liberty's claim to greatness Liberty is. Led by the electric QB Kaiden Salter, the Flames earned a Big Six bowl appearance with a perfect season and a national ranking coming out of Conference USA, but this will be the real test. They face a genuine threat in the Ducks, led by Heisman candidate Bo Nix, with the second-best passing and scoring offense. Nix passed for 1,145 yards, 40 TDs, and just three interceptions, with a 77 percent completion rate. Oh, and the Ducks have a damned impressive defense as well.

    1:00 pm ESPN

THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

ROSE BOWL  Pasadena, CA

• Michigan / Alabama

Let the outrage flow! The Wolverines went undefeated with what many say is a weakened schedule, as only wins over Penn State and Ohio State stand out. But QB J.J. McCarthy is just a winner, and runningback Blake Corum is a touchdown machine (24). Alabama overcame a sluggish start (by its standards) and managed a miracle in Auburn to get to the SEC finals, where they hung on to win over #1 Georgia. It will be interesting to see the two very different styles of elite teams clashing.

    5:00 pm ESPN

SUGAR BOWL  New Orleans, LA

• Texas / Washington

Texas could be blamed for the playoff turmoil. Its early season victory over the Crimson Tide meant that sharing the same record saw them needing to be ranked above. Hence, FSU was squeezed out. This one could be a gunfight, with two high-octane offenses meeting and two QBS — Quinn Ewers and Michael Pennix — who can light it up. Give the Huskies the edge on offense and the Longhorns the edge on defense. Tell us either of these teams will win, and it makes sense, so this will be a compelling game.

    8:45 ESPN

January 8

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Houston, Texas

7:30 p.m. | ESPN