It is the holiday season, but we must include one more in this celebratory-choked calendar segment. Yes, it is also College Bowl Season, where any NCAA school playing at a level of mediocrity or better will be rewarded with one more appearance this postseason, leading up to the College Football Championship!
Over the course of the coming weeks, forty-one bowl games will be played, and then the championship will be decided on January 8. Texas joins the state of Florida as staging the most contests this year, with eight apiece, as the National Champion will be crowned in Houston. Orlando will be the most-visited destination as that city is staging three separate bowl contests in December.
Coaching changes are a common issue around this time. And, for reasons that only make sense to the NCAA elders, the transfer portal is 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. In just two days, already over 1,000 players have placed their names in the portal.
This year, history is being made with a never-before-seen occurrence taking place. (We do not mean FSU’s exclusion from the playoffs.) For the first time, there will be an edible mascot at a game! Yes, the excitement is palpable, so read on for that dose of college football lore you do not want to miss. Here are all of the contests and dates so you can fill out your phone calendar and receive all the proper updates.
DECEMBER 16
MYRTLE BEACH BOWL Conway, SC
Georgia Southern / Ohio University
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.
11 am - ESPN
NEW ORLEANS BOWL New Orleans, LA
Jacksonville State / Louisianna
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.
2:15 - ESPN
CURE BOWL Orlando, FL
Miami (OH) / Appalachian State
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.
3:30 pm - ABC
NEW MEXICO BOWL Albuquerque, NM
Fresno State / New Mexico State
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 the 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.
5:45 pm ESPN
LA BOWL Los Angeles, CA
UCLA / Boise State
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.
7:30 pm ABC
INDEPENDENCE BOWL Shreveport, LA
Texas Tech / California
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 9 touchdowns.
9:15 pm ESPN
December 18
FAMOUS TOASTERY BOWL Charlotte, NC
Western Kentucky / Old Dominion
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.
2:30 pm ESPN
December 19
Frisco Bowl Frisco, TX
Marshall / University of Texas San Antonio
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.
9:00 pm ESPN
December 21
Boca Raton Bowl Boca Raton, FL
South Florida / Syracuse
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.
8 pm ESPN
December 22
GASPARILLA BOWL Tampa, FL
Georgia Tech / Central Florida
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.
6:30 ESPN
December 23
BIRMINGHAM BOWL Birmingham, AL
Troy / Duke
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.
12 pm ABC
CAMELLIA BOWL Montgomery, AL
Arkansas State / Northern Illinois
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.
12 pm ESPN
ARMED FORCES BOWL Fort Worth, TX
James Madison / Air Force
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.
3:30 pm ABC
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL Boise, ID
Georgia State / Utah State
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.
3:30 pm ESPN
68 VENTURES BOWL Mobile, AL
Eastern Michigan / South Alabama
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.
7:00 pm ESPN
LAS VEGAS BOWL Las Vegas, NV
Utah / Northwestern
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.
7:00 pm ESPN
HAWAII BOWL Honolulu, HI
San Jose State / Coastal Carolina
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.
10:30 pm ESPN
December 26
QUICK LANE BOWL Detroit, MI
Bowling Green / Minnesota
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-10, with maybe a 12-10 victory over Iowa as their lone bragging point.
2:00 pm ESPN
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL Dallas, TX
Texas State / Rice
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.
5:30 pm ESPN
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL Phoenix, AZ
Kansas / Nevada Las Vegas
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.
9:00 pm ESPN
December 27
MILITARY BOWL Annapolis, MD
(23) Tulane / Virginia Tech
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.
2:00 pm ESPN
DUKE’S MAYO BOWL Charlotte, NC
North Carolina / West Virginia
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.
5:30 pm ESPN
HOLIDAY BOWL San Diego, CA
Louisville - USC
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.
8:00 pm FOX
TEXAS BOWL Houston, TX
Oklahoma State / Texas A&M
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.
9:00 pm ESPN
December 28
FENWAY BOWL Boston, MA
SMU / Boston College
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.
11:00 am ESPN
PINSTRIPE BOWL Bronx, NY
University of Miami / Rutgers
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.
2:15 ESPN
POP-TARTS BOWL Orlando, FL
NC State / Kansas State
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!
5:45 pm ESPN
Very important news: The @PopTartsBowl will have the first-ever edible mascot.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 27, 2023
Per the bowl, when the final whistle blows, the winning team will celebrate by taking a bite of the giant pastry mascot. pic.twitter.com/obie6w1qrM
ALAMO BOWL San Antonio, TX
Oklahoma / Arizona
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.
9:15 pm ESPN
December 29
GATOR BOWL Jacksonville, FL
Clemson / Kentucky
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.
12:00 ESPN
Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl El Paso, TX
Notre Dame / Oregon State
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.
2:00 pm CBS
LIBERTY BOWL Memphis, TN
Memphis / Iowa State
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
3:30 ESPN
COTTON BOWL Dallas, TX
Ohio State / Missouri
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.
8:00 pm ESPN
December 30
PEACH BOWL Atlanta, GA
Penn State / Ole Miss
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-10 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.
12:00pm ESPN
MUSIC CITY BOWL Nashville, TN
Auburn / Maryland
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.
2:00 pm ABC
ORANGE BOWL Miami, FL
Georgia / Florida State
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.
4:00 pm ESPN
ARIZONA BOWL Tuscon, AZ
Toledo / Wyoming
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.
4:30 pm Barstool TV/CW
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.
12:00pm 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
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