BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
Bowl Season is Back with a Full Slate of Games
By KEVIN M c NAMARAThere’s a little old and a whole lot of new in this year’s Bowl Season.
After an abbreviated post-season schedule last year, a full Bowl Season slate is set for this season. The fun begins Dec. 17 in the Bahamas, winds its way through Florida and New Mexico, hits Louisiana and Myrtle Beach, heads to Boise and California and eventually wraps up with the CFP National Championship game on Jan. 10 in Indianapolis.
A matchup at the very top typifies this enjoyable season. Alabama, the defending national champion, needed to beat undefeated Georgia to solidify its spot in the College Football Playoff and did just that. We shouldn’t have been surprised, but Bama will face Cincinnati in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic as the dangerous Bearcats become the first Group of Five team to make the CFP.
Also new to Bowl Season are games on both Coasts (Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel and the Wasabi Fenway Bowl). Deion Sanders starred in bowl contests as a player at Florida State but now he’s coaching in the Cricket Celebration Bowl for Jackson State.
Bowl games often create some dream matchups, and we certainly own a few this season. How about state bragging rights on the line when Central Florida faces Florida in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, the Battle of the Carolinas in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl with North Carolina facing South Carolina, and Heisman candidates Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Kenneth Walker III (Michigan State) squaring off in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. This year’s Bowl Season features 18 matchups in which the teams have never previously played each other. There are five other bowl games in which there was only one previous meeting.
Here is a look at every game in Bowl Season:
Bahamas Bowl
Middle Tennessee (6-6) vs. Toledo (7-5)
The Blue Raiders punched their ticket to Bowl Season with a 10-point win over Florida Atlantic in the final game of the regular season. Head Coach Jason Candle has guided the Rockets to five bowl games in six years, including the 2018 Bahamas Bowl.
FRI., DEC. 17 12:00pm | ESPN
BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
Tailgreeter Cure Bowl
Northern Illinois (9-4) vs. Coastal Carolina (10-2)
The explosive Chanticleers rank No. 2 nationally in yards per play and scored at least 35 points eight times this season. Quarterback Grayson McCall has tossed 49 TDs in the last two seasons. NIU won its sixth Mid-American title in the last 11 years and first since 2018 behind a strong running game.
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
Western Kentucky (8-5) vs. Appalachian State (10-3)
The Mountaineers will be out to extend one of the most impressive streaks in college football. They are a perfect 6-0 in bowl games since joining FBS. The Hilltoppers boast a superb QB in Bailey Zappe who led the country with 56 touchdowns and over 5,500 yards in the air.
Cricket Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State (6-5) vs. Jackson State (11-1)
READY FOR PRIME
TIME: Jackson State’s dominant defense was a big part of the Tigers winning the SWAC.
Head Coach Deion Sanders was left speechless after leading the Tigers to the SWAC championship and not just because his son, Shedeur, is the star quarterback. Corey Fields is no slouch at QB for the MEAC champion Bulldogs.
PUBG MOBILE New Mexico Bowl
UTEP (7-5) vs. Fresno State (9-3)
Fresno enjoyed a strong season and Head Coach
SAT., DEC. 18
2:15pm | ESPN
Kalen DeBoer has already left to lead the Washington Huskies. The Bulldogs will face old WAC rival Texas El-Paso who have not won a bowl game since the 1967 Sun Bowl.
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
UAB (8-4) vs. BYU (10-2)
MIGHTY MINER: UTEP's Tyrin Smith caught 30 balls this season, averaging 17.0 yards per catch. As a team, the Miners racked up 2,975 in receiving yards and 17 TDs.
LendingTree Bowl
Eastern Michigan (7-5) vs. Liberty (7-5)
SAT., DEC. 18
SAT., DEC. 18
3:30pm | ABC
No. 13 BYU becomes the highest ranked team to play in an Independence Bowl in the game’s 45-year history. The Cougars have a top back in Tyler Allgeier. This is UAB’s fourth bowl trip in five seasons under Head Coach Bill Clark. The Blazers boast explosive sophomore running back DeWayne McBride who’s run for over 1,100 yards.
Hugh Freeze is taking his Flames to a third straight bowl game. They own two wins in the Cure Bowl, including a win over Coastal Carolina last year. Eastern Michigan averages 31 points per game with QB Ben Bryant completing 69 percent of his passes and the Eagles are looking for their first bowl win since 1987.
5:45pm | ESPN
BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl
Presented by Stifel
Oregon State (7-5) vs. Utah State (10-3)
SAT., DEC. 18
7:30pm | ABC
The very first LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium matches the Mountain West champion Aggies against a Beaver team returning to a bowl for the first time in eight years. Players from both teams are excited about attending a filming of the Jimmy Kimmel Show.
GROUND AND POUND:
The Louisiana ground game averages 184.5 yards per game this season.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Louisiana (12-1) vs. Marshall (7-5)
SAT., DEC. 18
9:15pm | ESPN
Former star quarterback Michael Desormeaux will lead the Ragin’ Cajuns, sporting a 12-game winning streak and its first outright Sun Belt championship. Marshall is making its eighth bowl appearance in nine seasons but will play in a bowl game in the Big Easy for the first time.
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Tulsa (6-6) vs. Old Dominion (6-6)
MON., DEC. 20
2:30pm | ESPN
ODU carries a five-game winning streak into its second-ever bowl game after beating Eastern Michigan in the 2016 Bahamas Bowl. Tulsa rallied to bowl eligibility with three straight wins to close the season and gave unbeaten Cincinnati a major scare before falling, 28-20.
OFFENSIVE POTENTIAL:
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Kent State (7-6) vs. Wyoming (6-6)
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl
UTSA (12-1) vs. San Diego State (11-2)
TUE., DEC. 21
3:30pm | ESPN
Both teams fought through up-and-down campaigns in 2021. Kent State won its first bowl game in program history in 2019, upsetting another Mountain West opponent in Utah State in the Frisco Bowl. A victory would give the Golden Flash three straight winning seasons for the first time since 1972-74.
TUE., DEC. 21
7:30pm | ESPN
This looms as an excellent matchup with the Roadrunners boasting an explosive offense (37.8 ppg) and the Aztecs deploying a stiff defense (19.4 points against). Greg Bell leads a strong SDSU rushing attack, while UTSA’s Sincere McCormick (15 TDs) is a major star.
Old Dominion averaged 28.50 points per game in 2021. Expect a high-scoring game in Myrtle Beach.
BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Missouri (6-6) vs. Army (8-3)
Frisco Football Classic
North Texas (6-6) vs. Miami (OH) (6-6)
THR., DEC. 23
3:30pm | ESPN WED., DEC. 22
8:00pm | ESPN
Army led the country with 43 rushing touchdowns and stay on the ground for 87 percent of its plays from scrimmage. Mizzou’s Tyler Badie is third in the country in rushing (1,600 yards, 14 TDs) and needs to be watched closely.
This inaugural game in Frisco, Tex., matches two programs pointed in the right direction. North Texas won its last five regular season games to secure bowl eligibility for the fifth time in six seasons under Head Coach Seth Littrell. Miami (OH) fell just one win short of the MAC title game.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
UCF (8-4) vs. Florida (6-6)
FOCUSED ON THE GATORS:
UCF averaged over 400 yards of offense per game, and they might need all of that vs. Florida.
THR., DEC. 23
7:00pm | ESPN
It’s a Battle of Florida at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in the third-ever meeting between these schools. Florida is rebuilding and just hired Billy Napier, but assistant Greg Knox is expected to coach the Gators. The Knights finished 8-4 in Head Coach Gus Malzahn’s first season in Orlando.
EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl
Memphis (6-6) vs. Hawai’i (6-7)
FRI., DEC. 24
8:00pm | ESPN
The Rainbow Warriors will play at home and be in a bowl game for a programrecord fourth consecutive season and fifth time in six years. UH is 5-4 in the Hawai’i Bowl. Memphis is bowl eligible for the eighth straight season and boasts explosive receiver Calvin Austin III.
TaxAct Camellia Bowl
Ball State (6-6) vs. Georgia State (7-5)
Quick Lane Bowl
Western Michigan (7-5) vs. Nevada (8-4)
SAT., DEC. 25
2:30pm | ESPN
Ball State is making its 11th all-time bowl appearance and posted its first bowl win in school history with a win in last year’s Arizona Bowl. Georgia State won six of its last seven games to close the regular season and the Panthers have earned bowl berths in five of the last seven years.
MON., DEC. 27
11:00am | ESPN
Nevada is bowl bound for the fourth consecutive season. The Wolf Pack has appeared in 19 bowl games and has won three of its last four. The Wolf Pack brings the fourth-ranked passing offense in the nation into the game, looking for a nine-win season for the first time under Head Coach Jay Norvell.
BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
Military Bowl Presented by Peraton
Boston College (6-6) vs. East Carolina University (7-5)
Boston College is making its 19th bowl game appearance over the past 23 seasons and first bowl game appearance under Head Coach Jeff Hafley. East Carolina brings a 7-5 record into this bowl. Evenly matched offenses and defenses should make this an excellent matchup.
RUSH HOUR: East Carolina averaged 162.4 yards per game on the ground this season and will look to run the ball vs. BC.
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl
Houston (11-2) vs. Auburn (6-6)
The Birmingham Bowl will be the Tigers’ 46th bowl appearance and the seventh meeting between Auburn and Houston. Auburn holds a 5-1 advantage in the series. This is the Tigers’ ninth consecutive bowl appearance, tying the longest stretch in school history.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Air Force (9-3) vs. Louisville (6-6)
For just the second time, a Mountain West team will play in the First Responder Bowl. This is the first meeting between these two teams. The Cardinals will look to finish above .500 for the second time in Head Coach Scott Satterfield’s three years and win its second bowl game.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Mississippi State (7-5) vs. Texas Tech (6-6)
A familiar face will be across the field from the Red Raiders as former coach Mike Leach will lead the Bulldogs at the Liberty Bowl. The Red Raiders made a bowl game for the first time since 2017. Mississippi State last played in the Liberty Bowl in 2013 when the Bulldogs defeated Rice 44-7 with Dak Prescott as the game’s Most Valuable Player.
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
UCLA (8-4) vs. NC State (9-3)
This matchup is the first meeting between the two programs since 1960. The Wolfpack come into the contest averaging 33.1 points a game in a season highlighted with victories over Clemson and North Carolina. UCLA averages 36.5 points a game. This is the first appearance for an ACC school in the Holiday Bowl.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
West Virginia (6-6) vs. Minnesota (8-4)
GIMME FIVE: The Golden Gophers are gunning for their fifth-straight bowl win. West Virginia wants to have something to say about that.
TUE., DEC. 28
10:15pm | ESPN
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Gophers and Mountaineers. Minnesota is 31-15-1 all-time against teams from the Big 12. The Gophers have won four straight bowl games. This will be West Virginia’s third time playing in this bowl game, tying them for the second most appearances.
BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
Wasabi Fenway Bowl Virginia (6-6) vs. SMU (8-4)
SMU will be playing its 19th bowl game in program history. The Mustangs were ranked in the top 25 for five weeks in 2021, reaching as high as No. 16, and feature one of the nation’s top offenses, led by quarterback Tanner Mordecai. This will be UVA’s 22nd bowl game appearance in program history. The matchup marks the first-ever meeting between SMU and Virginia.
FEAR THE TURTLE:
Taulia Tagovailoa has thrown for 3,595 yards and 24 touchdowns this season.
WED., DEC. 29
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Maryland (6-6)
WED., DEC. 29
2:15pm | ESPN
For the first time since 2016, the Maryland football team is playing in a bowl game. It also marks Virginia Tech’s 34th all-time bowl berth. The Tech-Maryland bowl contest renews a series that dates back to 1919. The Hokies have won five of their last six games against the Terrapins.
Valero Alamo Bowl
Oregon (10-3) vs.
Oklahoma (10-2)
Cheez-It Bowl
Clemson (9-3) vs. Iowa State (7-5)
WED., DEC. 29
5:45pm | ESPN
The contest will be the first all-time meeting between the Tigers and Cyclones. The bowl berth extends Clemson’s school-record bowl streak to 17 years, the longest streak in the ACC and the fifth-longest streak in the country. Iowa State has a 5-11 all-time record in bowl games.
CYCLONE WARNING: Iowa State has experience on both sides of the ball, with a hunger to win another bowl game this year.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
North Carolina (6-6) vs.
South Carolina (6-6)
WED., DEC. 29
9:15pm | ESPN
The Sooners lead the series 6-1 and won each of the first six meetings. OU is making its 23rd straight bowl appearance and 55th overall, fourth most nationally. The Ducks are 5-5 all-time against Big 12 teams in bowl games. The teams will meet for the first time since 2006.
THR., DEC. 30
11:30am | ESPN
The Gamecocks will participate in a bowl game for the first time since 2018. This will be the 24th bowl game in USC history, going 9-14 all time. The Tar Heels will be making their fifth appearance in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and first since 2013. This will be the 59th meeting, with the Tar Heels leading, 35-19-4.
BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Tennessee (7-5) vs. Purdue (8-4)
The Boilermakers are playing in their 20th bowl game. Purdue’s last bowl appearance came at the end of the 2018 season, when it also played in the Music City Bowl. The Volunteers and Boilermakers will square off for the second time and first since the 1979 Bluebonnet Bowl (Purdue won, 27-22). It will be Tennessee’s 54th all-time bowl appearance, which ranks fifth nationally.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Pittsburgh (11-2) vs. Michigan State (10-2)
Both teams will be making their first-ever trip to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The Spartans will be making an appearance in a New Year’s Six Bowl for the first time since 2015 when they faced Alabama in the CFP Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, while this will be Pitt’s first appearance since the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. This will be the first matchup between the two programs since 2007.
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Wisconsin (8-4) vs. Arizona State (8-4)
CRUNCH TIME: The Sun Devils have a knack for playing well when it counts. The Badgers will be ready.
Wisconsin got off to a tough start but won seven of its last eight. The Badgers have an elite-level defense as well. Arizona State started 5-1 before a midseason fade. Expect a close game in this one, and a lot of rushing the football.
THR., DEC. 30 10:30pm | ESPN
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Wake Forest (10-3) vs. Texas A&M (8-4)
FRI., DEC. 31
11:00am | ESPN
Texas A&M’s deep running game can gain yards, chew the clock and score points. Wake can score with almost anyone this season. A&M’s defense is one of the best that the Deacons will face this year. This game might come down to turnovers.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Washington State (7-5) vs. Miami (7-5)
Miami started out 2-4 but won five of its last six.
FRI., DEC. 31
12:00pm | CBS
Freshman Tyler Van Dyke came on strong at QB with 25 TDs and only six picks. The Cougars had many distractions yet won three of their last four games under new Head Coach Jake Dickert.
INSTANT OFFENSE: Texas Aggie Devon Achane was MVP of the Capital One Orange Bowl last year. What can he do for an encore?
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Central Michigan (8-4) vs. Boise State (7-5)
FRI., DEC. 31
2:00pm | BARSTOOL
Boise State had an up and down season and missed the Mountain West title game for the first time since 2016. Central Michigan fell just short of the MAC championship game, winning their last four. Both quarterbacks are solid; expect a lot through the air.
BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
No. 4 Cincinnati (13-0) vs. No. 1 Alabama (12-1)
FRI., DEC. 31
3:30pm | ESPN
Cincinnati made history as the first team not in a power-five conference to make the College Football Playoff. Conversely, Alabama has been in seven of the eight CFP fields. Can the Bearcats prove their worth?
Capital One Orange Bowl
No. 3 Georgia (12-1) vs. No. 2 Michigan (12-1)
FRI., DEC. 31
7:30pm | ESPN
Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines finally beat their biggest rival and won the Big Ten. Georgia’s defense is the best in the nation. These two haven’t met since 1965 in Ann Arbor and, like that matchup, this one should be a classic.
Outback Bowl
Arkansas (8-4) vs. Penn State (7-5)
Penn State started 5-0 but faltered when QB Sean Clifford battled an injury. Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks started and ended the season strong, with a balanced offensive attack. Both teams would like to send their seniors off on the right note.
VRBO Citrus Bowl
Iowa (10-3) vs. Kentucky (9-3)
Iowa has lived off its defense causing turnovers this year, including 20 during a 6-0 run to begin the season. Can their offense create some points? That will be tough against a Wildcat defense that was key in Kentucky’s nine-win season.
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma State (11-2) vs. Notre Dame (11-1)
PUTTING THE D IN ND: Marcus Freeman’s defense was a big reason why the Irish went 11-1 in the regular season.
Notre Dame is 0-7 in New Year’s Six bowls since 1998. Oklahoma State is 10-5 in bowl games under Mike Gundy. Can Marcus Freeman win his debut as head coach of the Irish?
BOWL SEASON MATCHUPS
Rose Bowl Game
Presented by Capital One Venture X Ohio State (10-2) vs. Utah (10-3)
Utah is playing in its firstever Rose Bowl and may be the hottest team in the country over the last six weeks. Ohio State can’t wait to get back on the field after a hard-fought loss at Michigan.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Baylor (11-2) vs. Ole Miss (10-2)
This is Baylor’s third Sugar Bowl (1-1) while Ole Miss has won six of its last seven appearances in the Sugar Bowl. It’s a battle of great coaches, as Dave Aranda and Lane Kiffin have led their teams into the top-10 of the CFP final rankings.
TaxAct Texas Bowl
Kansas State (7-5) vs. LSU (6-6)
CATS VS. CATS: The Wildcats will face a depleted LSU squad in Houston. But that’s when the Tigers can be dangerous.
TUE.,
JAN. 4 9:00pm | ESPN
