College Bowl Games Central...Talk,Match-Ups,Scores,Highlights,Etc.

[Greenbacks]

St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs.

St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Date: Dec. 26, 11 a.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Tropicana Field | St. Petersburg, Florida


Miami (Ohio) RedHawks

Best moment: Miami's 21-20 victory against Ball State in the regular-season finale made the RedHawks bowl eligible for the first time since 2010. Even more remarkable: Miami became the first team in college football history to finish a regular season 6-6 after losing its first six games.

Lowest moment: When Akron defeated Miami 35-13 on Oct. 8, it appeared there was no way the RedHawks would make a bowl game. It marked Miami's sixth consecutive loss to open the season, and the RedHawks committed three turnovers.

Key player: Quarterback Gus Ragland has been sensational this season. He recovered from an offseason ACL tear in time to take over as the starting quarterback Oct. 15 against Kent State. Ragland has led Miami to six consecutive victories while throwing 15 touchdowns and no interceptions.

Motivation level: High. This season was supposed to be a dud when the RedHawks fell to 0-6. Now, they've made history as a postseason participant. Why not keep the magical turnaround rolling?


Mississippi State

Best moment: There was plenty to feel bad about before the final week of the regular season. A 4-7 record wasn’t exactly something to pat yourself on the back for. But then the Egg Bowl came and suddenly there was something to play for. Not only would Mississippi State savor beating The School Up North, but it also had the added satisfaction of eliminating Ole Miss from bowl eligibility. What’s more, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald won SEC Player of the Week for his 367-yard, five-touchdown performance.

Lowest moment: The season didn’t start with a bang. Rather, it was a dull thud. Dak Prescott was gone, a new era was beginning and Mississippi State somehow lost at home to lowly South Alabama. Fitzgerald wasn’t anywhere near the player he’d become, failing to complete any of the three passes he attempted before he was pulled. The loss set the tone for an underwhelming season that if not for a solid APR score and good luck wouldn’t have led to a bowl game with a sub-.500 record.

Key player: As Fitzgerald went, so went Mississippi State. In the Bulldogs’ seven losses, he threw six touchdowns and five interceptions. In their five wins, he had 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. And that’s not taking into account his ability to run the football, which he did to the tune of a team-high 1,361 yards and 14 touchdowns. Like with Prescott before him, games went almost entirely through Fitzgerald as he accounted for 35 of the offense’s 46 touchdowns.

Motivation level: You better believe that some red-and-blue clad folks in Mississippi will have a fun time telling State that it shouldn’t be in a bowl game, that it snuck in through the back door. And if that’s not motivation enough to prove you belong, what is? This is a young football team that ought to use these next few weeks to build a future around Fitzgerald and others. Winning a bowl game won’t undo a lackluster season, but it could serve as a springboard into a brighter future in 2017.

 

[Greenbacks]

Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland Terrapins vs. Boston College Eagles.

Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland Terrapins vs. Boston College Eagles

Date: Dec. 26, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Ford Field | Detroit


Maryland

Best moment: Becoming bowl eligible. Gatorade baths, a marriage proposal, a rivalry win -- those are some pretty key ingredients for a memorable senior day. Maryland upended Rutgers 31-13 in the last week of an up-and-down regular season to reach six wins and send the Terps bowling.

Lowest moment: Big back-to-back losses against Michigan and Ohio State. First came the Terps’ 59-3 loss to the Wolverines and then a 62-3 loss to the Buckeyes. That showed just how far D.J. Durkin’s team has to go and, in case it’s not obvious, it’s a long, long way. The games weren’t even as close as the scores suggested. At halftime, Maryland trailed in the two games by a combined 80-3.

Key player: QB Perry Hills. It’s clear Maryland’s offense isn’t the same without him. Hills has been incredibly efficient this season, throwing 10 touchdowns to three interceptions, in spite of missing two games and leaving early in four. He’s completing a conference-high 66 percent of his passes.

Motivation level: Medium-high. The Terps haven’t won a bowl since 2010, so they’d obviously like to change that this season. Maryland has already shown improvement by rebounding from a 3-9 season, so a winning record and bowl victory would be yet another step in the right direction.


Boston College

Best moment: Beating Wake Forest. Without the 17-14 win to close out the regular season, the Eagles wouldn’t have reached six wins and wouldn’t have clinched bowl eligibility after missing the postseason a year ago. Winning at NC State 21-14 was also a huge win for Steve Addazio and his program, considering the stakes. BC finished with three more wins than it had a year ago.

Lowest moment: Playing the top four teams in the ACC and losing by a combined score of 202-24. Though the nonconference schedule was easy (wins over Buffalo, UMass, Wagner and UConn), the ACC schedule was not. Boston College was completely overwhelmed by Clemson, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Florida State.

Key player: Harold Landry. The best player on another solid defense was Landry, who set the school single-season record with 15 sacks. That’s tied for the national lead with Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker. Landry also leads the nation with seven forced fumbles.

Motivation level: High. We’re talking about a bunch of dudes who are going to be ready to play. Well, at least that is what Addazio would say. With such a young team that still needs to develop, the extra 15 bowl practices should be instrumental moving forward. Plus, the Eagles haven’t won a bowl game since 2007.

 

[Greenbacks]

Saturday, Dec 17, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
02:00 PM	Texas San Antonio			+7	-105						Ov	62½	-110
	New Mexico			-7	-115						Un	62½	-110
03:30 PM	Houston			-3	-115						Ov	57	-110
	San Diego State			+3	-105						Un	57	-110
05:30 PM	Arkansas State			+5½	-110						Ov	49	-110
	Central Florida			-5½	-110						Un	49	-110
05:30 PM	Appalachian State			+1	-110						Ov	56½	-110
	Toledo			-1	-110						Un	56½	-110
09:00 PM	Southern Mississippi			-3½	-110						Ov	58	-110
	Louisiana Lafayette			+3½	-110						Un	58	-110
Monday, Dec 19, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
02:30 PM	Central Michigan			+11½	-110						Ov	68	-110
	Tulsa			-11½	-110						Un	68	-110
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
07:00 PM	Memphis			+4½	-110						Ov	77	-110
	Western Kentucky			-4½	-110						Un	77	-110
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
09:00 PM	Brigham Young			-8½	-110						Ov	57	+100
	Wyoming			+8½	-110						Un	57	-120
Thursday, Dec 22, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
07:00 PM	Colorado State			-13½	-110						Ov	64	-110
	Idaho			+13½	-110						Un	64	-110
Friday, Dec 23, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
01:00 PM	Eastern Michigan			+3½	-115						Ov	64	-110
	Old Dominion			-3½	-105						Un	64	-110
04:30 PM	Louisiana Tech			+1½	-110
	Navy			-1½	-110
08:00 PM	Ohio			+3½	-110						Ov	48½	-110
	Troy			-3½	-110						Un	48½	-110
Monday, Dec 26, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
11:00 AM	Miami Ohio			+12½	-110						Ov	58	-110
	Mississippi State			-12½	-110						Un	58	-110
02:30 PM	Maryland			-2½	-105						Ov	44½	-110
	Boston College			+2½	-115						Un	44½	-110
05:00 PM	Vanderbilt			+4	-110						Ov	44	-110
	NC State			-4	-110						Un	44	-110
Tuesday, Dec 27, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
12:00 PM	Army			-9	-110
	North Texas			+9	-110
03:30 PM	Wake Forest			+13	-110						Ov	41	-110
	Temple			-13	-110						Un	41	-110
07:00 PM	Washington State			-6½	-110						Ov	60	-110
	Minnesota			+6½	-110						Un	60	-110
10:15 PM	Baylor			+7½	-110						Ov	66½	-110
	Boise State			-7½	-110						Un	66½	-110
Wednesday, Dec 28, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
02:00 PM	Northwestern			+5	-110						Ov	66½	-110
	Pittsburgh U			-5	-110						Un	66½	-110
05:30 PM	West Virginia			+3	-105						Ov	56½	-110
	Miami Florida			-3	-115						Un	56½	-110
08:30 PM	Indiana			+8	-110						Ov	54	-110
	Utah			-8	-110						Un	54	-110
09:00 PM	Kansas State			+2	-110						Ov	56½	-110
	Texas A&M			-2	-110						Un	56½	-110
Thursday, Dec 29, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
02:00 PM	South Florida			-10½	-110						Ov	62½	-110
	South Carolina			+10½	-110						Un	62½	-110
04:30 PM	Arkansas			+7	-110						Ov	62½	-110
	Virginia Tech			-7	-110						Un	62½	-110
09:00 PM	Oklahoma State			+3	-105						Ov	62½	-110
	Colorado			-3	-115						Un	62½	-110
Friday, Dec 30, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
12:00 PM	TCU			+1	-105						Ov	49	-110
	Georgia			-1	-115						Un	49	-110
02:00 PM	North Carolina			+3½	-110						Ov	54	-110
	Stanford			-3½	-110						Un	54	-110
03:30 PM	Nebraska			+3	+100						Ov	61	-110
	Tennessee			-3	-120						Un	61	-110
05:30 PM	South Alabama			+12½	-110						Ov	57½	-110
	Air Force			-12½	-110						Un	57½	-110
08:00 PM	Florida State			+7	-115			+225			Ov	56	-110
	Michigan			-7	-105			-265			Un	56	-110
Saturday, Dec 31, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
11:00 AM	LSU			-3½	-110						Ov	60	-110
	Louisville			+3½	-110						Un	60	-110
03:00 PM	Washington U			+16	-110			+600			Ov	54½	-110
	Alabama			-16	-110			-800			Un	54½	-110
07:00 PM	Ohio State			-3½	+100			-155			Ov	61½	-110
	Clemson			+3½	-120			+135			Un	61½	-110
11:00 PM	Kentucky			+3½	-105						Ov	60½	-110
	Georgia Tech			-3½	-115						Un	60½	-110
Monday, Jan 02, 2017 - NCAA Football Game
01:00 PM	Iowa			+2½	-110						Ov	40½	-110
	Florida			-2½	-110						Un	40½	-110
01:00 PM	Western Michigan			+7½	-110			+250			Ov	54	-110
	Wisconsin			-7½	-110			-300			Un	54	-110
05:00 PM	USC			-7	+100			-275			Ov	63	-110
	Penn State			+7	-120			+230			Un	63	-110
08:30 PM	Auburn			+4½	-115			+165			Ov	62½	-110
	Oklahoma			-4½	-105			-190			Un	62½	-110

<tbody>
</tbody>

 

[HamGlaze]

Las Vegas Bowl: Houston Cougars vs. San Diego State Aztecs.

Las Vegas Bowl Presented by Geico: Houston Cougars vs. San Diego State Aztecs

Date: Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC

Location: Sam Boyd Stadium | Las Vegas


Houston Cougars

Best moment: It ultimately didn’t lead to a playoff bid, but what a scene on opening Saturday when the Cougars beat then-No. 3 Oklahoma in Houston. Holding a tenuous two-point lead after the break, the Cougars broke the game open with a 100-yard kick-six. The win over Louisville at home was another wild environment.

Lowest moment: The Cougars’ playoff hopes were washed away in a loss at Navy back in October, and it was the beginning of a three-game struggle. That six-point loss turned into a narrow win against Tulsa before a shocking 22-point loss to rival SMU, which finished the season 5-7.

Key player: Ed Oliver. It’s rare for a true freshman to start on the offensive or defensive line -- let alone be one of the most dominant linemen nationally -- but few are better than Oliver. In his first season at Houston, Oliver has 19 tackles for loss, and five of those tackles came against Oklahoma and Louisville.

Motivation level: Low. It will be tough for the remaining coaches to get the Cougars excited about a bowl game after Tom Herman bolted for nearby Texas. The team came out flat against Memphis as rumors swirled that Herman was leaving, and now he’s officially out the door. There isn’t a New Year’s Six bowl to spark motivation, either.


San Diego State

Best moment: Donnel Pumphrey announced his Heisman Trophy candidacy with a 281-yard rushing effort in a 45-40 win over California back in September. The senior running back averaged 9.7 yards per carry in the Aztecs’ win over a Pac-12 foe, setting the table for his team’s 9-3 regular season, which featured many blowout wins.

Lowest moment: The Aztecs were a total no-show in their regular-season finale against Colorado State, losing 63-31 on their home turf. This came a week after a gut-wrenching 34-33 loss at Wyoming. Those two defeats damaged Pumphrey’s push for a ticket to New York City, as he averaged only 69.5 rushing yards in those games.

Key player: Pumphrey is worth the price of admission here. Despite the slow finish to the regular season, the 5-foot-9 back will finish with a 2,000-yard season. He also may have the best chance of any player to challenge Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey for the all-purpose yardage crown -- but it’ll take a big bowl performance.

Motivation level: High. The Aztecs bounced back nicely with their conference title win over Wyoming, exacting revenge for the defeat that soured the end of their regular season. With a 10-win season already in tow, San Diego State should be feeling good about making a postseason statement and sending Pumphrey out on a good note.

Now this is a great match up! Hope to make it.

 

[Greenbacks]

Independence Bowl: NC State Wolfpack vs. Vanderbilt Commodores.

Camping World Independence Bowl: NC State Wolfpack vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

Date: Dec. 26, 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Location: Independence Stadium | Shreveport, Louisiana


NC State

Best moment: Toppling North Carolina in Chapel Hill easily qualifies. A day earlier, the Wolfpack were faced with the prospect of watching bowl season from home, and head coach Dave Doeren was on the hot seat. But a 28-21 win over their arch rivals went a long way toward changing the entire perception of the Wolfpack’s season.

Lowest moment: A short field-goal attempt to beat Clemson sailed wide, and with it went the hopes for a big season in Raleigh. The Wolfpack were a play or two away from a number of big wins, but none stung more than the Clemson loss -- and the hangover a week later led to a blowout loss at the hands of Louisville.

Key player: Defensive end Bradley Chubb anchors a line that is among the most underrated groups in college football. Chubb racked up 20.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks this season, establishing himself as one of the ACC’s best edge rushers. But he’s also joined by a talented group -- including B.J. Hill, Darian Roseboro and Kentavius Street -- that will challenge any offensive line.

Motivation level: High. This bowl game is about more than an end-of-season reward. It’s about proving that 2016’s failures were more flukes and that the successes are what this team should ultimately be judged by. A year ago, NC State laid a massive egg in its bowl game, and Doeren doesn’t want that to happen again.


Vanderbilt

Best moment: This has to be when Derek Mason & Co. were dancing their way to a 45-34 upset of then-No. 17 Tennessee at home. The win officially made the Commodores bowl eligible, and it knocked the Vols out of the Allstate Sugar Bowl hunt. Vandy’s previously struggling offense churned out a season-high 608 yards.

Lowest moment: Losing 38-7 to Georgia Tech had everyone thinking Vandy had no chance at a bowl berth, and there were some who thought Mason might find himself without a job at the end of the season. Vandy gave up 511 yards and a season-worst 8.1 yards per play.

Key player: If the offense is going to run the way offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig wants it to, quarterback Kyle Shurmur has to play the way he did in the final two games of the season. In the past two games -- both wins -- Shurmur threw for 689 yards and four touchdowns to only one interception. The offense absolutely runs through him now.

Motivation level: It’s soaring right now. The Commodores weren’t even supposed to be in a bowl game a month ago but won four of their last six games and found an exciting offense in the process. A win would do wonders for the confidence of this entire program going into the offseason.

 

[Greenbacks]

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army Black Knights vs. North Texas Mean Green.

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army Black Knights vs. North Texas Mean Green

Date: Dec. 27, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Cotton Bowl | Dallas


Army Black Knights

Best moment: Army set the tone for its breakout season with a 28-13 win over Temple. Army racked up 329 rushing yards against the Owls, who would go on to win the American Athletic Conference East Division.

Lowest moment: On Nov. 5, the Black Knights could not hang with Air Force, as the Falcons dominated the second half on the way to a 31-12 victory. The score resulted in Air Force’s claiming the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Army hasn't won the trophy since 1996.

Key player: Linebacker Andrew King leads the Black Knights’ defense with 88 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, to go along with five sacks and two forced fumbles.

Motivation level: Army has been to only one bowl in the last 20 years, so the Black Knights should be fired up to put an exclamation point on what has been a terrific season.


North Texas

Best moment: Facing the second-rated defense in the nation at the time, Jeffrey Wilson rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns and North Texas beat Army 35-18 on a rainy field. It was the Mean Green’s first victory over Army in five tries.

Lowest moment: With a chance to get to six wins and clinch their bowl eligibility the official way, the Mean Green were routed in their regular-season finale at UTEP, 52-24. North Texas had no answer for Aaron Jones, who ran for 301 yards and four touchdowns, both career highs.

Key player: Nate Brooks finished the regular season with four interceptions, which ranks second in Conference USA for a North Texas pass defense that finished the regular season as the third-best statistical pass defense.

Motivation level: Having won only five games, the Mean Green have to be thrilled with the opportunity to play in a bowl game. The opportunity should give Seth Littrell and his program plenty of momentum going into 2017.

 

[Greenbacks]

Military Bowl: Temple Owls vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman: Temple Owls vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Date: Dec. 27, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium | Annapolis, Maryland


Temple

Best moment: The Owls’ 34-10 road rout of Navy was a fitting win for a team that enters bowl season on a seven-game win streak. Temple upset the favored Midshipmen by jumping out to a 21-0 lead early and never relenting, as it captured its first ever AAC title and won 10 games for the second-straight season.

Lowest moment: A season-opening 28-13 home loss to Army was not what Temple expected following a historic 10-4 season in 2015. Moreover, it was completely uncharacteristic of a team that would go on to win the American East division title for the second-straight season.

Key player: Senior quarterback Phillip Walker will be talked about for years to come in Philadelphia. The four-year starter became the first Temple player to reach the 10,000-yard mark for his career and has been a steady leader for this golden era of Owls football.

Motivation level: High. Temple has just two bowl wins in its history, and it will hope for a better showing than last year’s 32-17 loss to Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl.


Wake Forest

Best moment: There were certainly a lot more high points this season than at any other time during Dave Clawson’s Wake Forest tenure, but the highest might have been Jessie Bates III’s 39-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter of a 27-20 win over Virginia. Wake was a resilient team all season, and this was the ultimate example.

Lowest moment: It would’ve been the biggest upset of the season in the ACC. Wake, a 35-point underdog, led Louisville 12-10 early in the fourth quarter … and then the bottom fell out. The Cardinals, who had trailed 12-0 at one point, dropped 34 points on Wake in the final frame, and what was once a near-miracle for the Deacons turned into a brutal 44-12 defeat.

Key player: Linebacker Marquel Lee is the foundation of a very good Wake defense. On the back end, Bates, Ryan Janvion and Brad Watson have done a solid job, and Duke Ejiofor has been a revelation as a pass-rusher. But it’s Lee in the middle who makes the whole system work. He finished the regular season with 98 tackles -- 19 for a loss -- and 7.5 sacks.

Motivation level: High. This was a watershed year for Wake Forest, which went from back-to-back three-win seasons to a bowl berth. But a 2-6 mark down the stretch left a bitter taste the Deacons will be eager to erase. For a team looking for ways to measure its success, a 7-6 campaign feels a whole lot different than 6-7.

 

[Greenbacks]

Holiday Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Washington State Cougars.

National Funding Holiday Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Washington State Cougars

Date: Dec. 27, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Qualcomm Stadium | San Diego


Minnesota

Best moment: With speculation continuing to swirl about whether Tracy Claeys had earned a more secure contract, quarterback Mitch Leidner effectively locked it up for Claeys with a fourth-quarter touchdown run to pull away from Northwestern for Minnesota’s eighth win. Minnesota's 8-4 record record offers some evidence that Claeys is capable of leading the Gophers into the future and building on Jerry Kill’s fine work.

Lowest moment: With a chance to finally snap its losing skid against Wisconsin and reclaim the Axe after building a 10-point lead at halftime, the Gophers watched it all vanish in front of their eyes in a scoreless, turnover-filled second half. The Badgers rallied to win for the 13th year in a row, sending the Gophers off to the postseason on a low note.

Key player: Largely overlooked among the league’s most prolific offensive stars, Rodney Smith just kept on piling up yardage and touchdowns for the Gophers. The sophomore running back finished fourth in the league with 1,084 yards -- but only one player found the end zone more often than Smith, who punched in 16 touchdowns to lead the way back to a bowl game.

Motivation level: High. The Gophers basically just held serve this season, beating the teams they should and failing to produce any real upsets on the way to eight wins. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does mean Minnesota could use a strong performance to cap the season and validate its work.


Washington State

Best moment: Oregon and Stanford have dominated the Pac-12 for years, and in a two-week period in early October, the Cougars blew out both of them. More than Washington State's own arrival as a factor in the Pac-12 race, it signified a changing of the guard in the conference.

Lowest moment: The season was bookended by a pair of in-state losses Wazzu fans would like to erase from memory, but even losing to FCS Eastern Washington in the opener wasn’t as bad as getting blown out 45-17 by Washington in the Apple Cup with a trip to the Pac-12 championship game on the line.

Key player: Wide receiver Gabe Marks. Quarterback Luke Falk wouldn’t be a bad choice, either, but Marks will be the one to watch in what will be the final game of his college career. He already owns the Pac-12 career receptions record (312), and with 85 catches this season he is one monstrous game away from a second consecutive 100-catch season.

Motivation level: Low. The Cougars went into the final week of the season with the Rose Bowl still in play, so this is somewhat of a letdown. But that shouldn’t affect the team’s motivation heading into its most prestigious bowl game since 2003.

 

[Greenbacks]

Cactus Bowl: Boise State Broncos vs. Baylor Bears.

Motel 6 Cactus Bowl: Boise State Broncos vs. Baylor Bears

Date: Dec. 27, 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Chase Field | Phoenix


Boise State

Best moment: In retrospect, it might have been a Week 2 win over Washington State -- the Cougars won eight in a row following a 31-28 loss to the Broncos on Sept. 10 and came within one victory of playing in the Pac-12 title game. But in the larger picture, starting 7-0 -- the Broncos’ best start to a season since 2011 -- kept Boise State in the mix for a New Year’s Six bowl until late in the season.

Lowest moment: The Broncos lost to Air Force in the regular-season finale after being denied at the 1-yard line while trying to tie the game in the final minutes. It was Boise State’s second loss of the season and meant Wyoming would go on to the play in the Mountain West title game. Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said there was “a lot of disappointment” in the locker room afterward.

Key player: Jeremy McNichols. The junior finished the regular season with the fifth-most rushing yards of any FBS running back (1,663), and his 23 rushing touchdowns led all FBS running backs (not including conference championships). The two-time All-Mountain West second-team selection posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and ended the regular season with nine 100-plus-yard games, including three of more than 200 yards.

Motivation level: High. After narrowly missing out on the Mountain West title game, Boise State will be eager to prove its caliber as a 10-win team and assert itself as the class of the Group of 5. A strong showing against a Power 5 team could help ease the sting of a late-season slip-up.


Baylor

Best moment: Baylor played its best football early in the season, and the highlight of its 6-0 start was a 35-24 win over Oklahoma State on Sept. 24. Knocking off one of the Big 12’s two best teams to start off conference play offered hope Baylor could put another big run together under interim coach Jim Grobe.

Lowest moment: November was a brutal month for the Bears, and the low point came Nov. 5 when rival TCU came to Waco and handed Baylor a 62-22 thrashing. A week later, the Bears lost senior quarterback Seth Russell to a season-ending ankle injury and fell 45-24 at Oklahoma. Those losses killed any hopes Baylor had of competing for a Big 12 title.

Key player: QB Zach Smith. Smith's continued development will be critical for the long-term future of the Bears, since he’s their only scholarship quarterback set to return in 2017. Smith took over when Russell went down with the injury and showed promise down the stretch.

Motivation level: Questionable. Baylor players wanted this bowl game for their seniors. They earned it by winning six games. But with a coaching staff ready to depart and a terrible second-half finish, it’s hard to know what the vibe will be when this Baylor team takes the field one final time.

 

[Greenbacks]

Pinstripe Bowl: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Northwestern Wildcats.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Date: Dec. 28, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Yankee Stadium | Bronx, New York


Pittsburgh

Best moment: When you’re the only team to beat Clemson in the regular season, this is your best moment. As three-touchdown underdogs, Pitt went into Death Valley and knocked off the Tigers on a 48-yard field goal from Chris Blewitt to win 43-42, giving the Panthers their second top-10 win of the season after beating rival Penn State in Week 2.

Lowest moment: Of Pitt’s four losses this season, three have come by one possession or less. The Panthers’ Nov. 5 loss at Miami was the only tilt in which they were completely outplayed, losing 51-28 to a Hurricanes team that entered on a four-game losing streak. It was also the only FBS game in which Pitt failed to score 36 or more points.

Key player: You could go with Ejuan Price, the sixth-year senior end who finished second in ACC Defensive Player of the Year voting, or Quadree Henderson, who has four return touchdowns this season (including a nation-best three kick return TDs), or James Conner, who overcame a knee injury and cancer to post 1,060 yards and 16 touchdowns, giving him ACC career marks for total TDs (56) and rushing TDs (52).

Motivation level: High. Why wouldn’t it be? A win would make Pitt 9-4, a one-game improvement on Pat Narduzzi’s debut 2015 campaign. And it would likely ensure the Panthers finish 2016 ranked in the top 25.


Northwestern

Best moment: Northwestern's offense came to life in consecutive victories against Iowa and Michigan State that showed how good the Wildcats could be. Quarterback Clayton Thorson had six touchdown passes and one interception during that stretch to help put his team back on a path toward a bowl game.

Lowest moment: Northwestern's 9-7 loss to FCS foe Illinois State in Week 2 was a real stunner. It dropped the Wildcats to 0-2 following a season-opening loss to Western Michigan and demonstrated Northwestern was far from the team than won 10 games a year ago.

Key player: Wide receiver Austin Carr has been one of the more unexpected, remarkable stories in college football this season. Northwestern coaches didn't even actively recruit him, but he became the most productive receiver in the Big Ten this season. He and running back Justin Jackson are the pieces who can make the offense special.

Motivation level: Medium. No team wants to finish the season with a losing record, and Northwestern can avoid that with a strong performance in the bowl game. At the same time, this is not the bowl game the Wildcats expected coming off last year's 10-win season.

 

[X-Files]

Info. Knowledge. $$$.

 

[silver7]

Holiday Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Washington State Cougars.

National Funding Holiday Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Washington State Cougars

Date: Dec. 27, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Qualcomm Stadium | San Diego


Minnesota

Best moment: With speculation continuing to swirl about whether Tracy Claeys had earned a more secure contract, quarterback Mitch Leidner effectively locked it up for Claeys with a fourth-quarter touchdown run to pull away from Northwestern for Minnesota’s eighth win. Minnesota's 8-4 record record offers some evidence that Claeys is capable of leading the Gophers into the future and building on Jerry Kill’s fine work.

Lowest moment: With a chance to finally snap its losing skid against Wisconsin and reclaim the Axe after building a 10-point lead at halftime, the Gophers watched it all vanish in front of their eyes in a scoreless, turnover-filled second half. The Badgers rallied to win for the 13th year in a row, sending the Gophers off to the postseason on a low note.

Key player: Largely overlooked among the league’s most prolific offensive stars, Rodney Smith just kept on piling up yardage and touchdowns for the Gophers. The sophomore running back finished fourth in the league with 1,084 yards -- but only one player found the end zone more often than Smith, who punched in 16 touchdowns to lead the way back to a bowl game.

Motivation level: High. The Gophers basically just held serve this season, beating the teams they should and failing to produce any real upsets on the way to eight wins. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does mean Minnesota could use a strong performance to cap the season and validate its work.


Washington State

Best moment: Oregon and Stanford have dominated the Pac-12 for years, and in a two-week period in early October, the Cougars blew out both of them. More than Washington State's own arrival as a factor in the Pac-12 race, it signified a changing of the guard in the conference.

Lowest moment: The season was bookended by a pair of in-state losses Wazzu fans would like to erase from memory, but even losing to FCS Eastern Washington in the opener wasn’t as bad as getting blown out 45-17 by Washington in the Apple Cup with a trip to the Pac-12 championship game on the line.

Key player: Wide receiver Gabe Marks. Quarterback Luke Falk wouldn’t be a bad choice, either, but Marks will be the one to watch in what will be the final game of his college career. He already owns the Pac-12 career receptions record (312), and with 85 catches this season he is one monstrous game away from a second consecutive 100-catch season.

Motivation level: Low. The Cougars went into the final week of the season with the Rose Bowl still in play, so this is somewhat of a letdown. But that shouldn’t affect the team’s motivation heading into its most prestigious bowl game since 2003.

Leidner is the worst SR. QB by far in the B10. He will kill them eventually. Smith is VERY good, OL not bad,D is a B, But WS passinggame will be too much, Lay the #

 

[neverbend]

Poor Penn State if the would have placed #4 & gooten into the
Championship group the would have played Alabama the best team
in the nation. They placed 5th and will be facing USC who with their
new QB is probably the second most formidable opponent currently to Alabama

 

[vitterd]

Poor Penn State if the would have placed #4 & gooten into the
Championship group the would have played Alabama the best team
in the nation. They placed 5th and will be facing USC who with their
new QB is probably the second most formidable opponent currently to Alabama

I'm a psu fan but do not think for a second they are one of 4 best teams in country. They will have to win a shootout against USC I believe....gonna be tough

 

[Greenbacks]

Russell Athletic Bowl: West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Miami Hurricanes.

Russell Athletic Bowl: West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Miami Hurricanes

Date: Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m ET on ESPN

Location: Camping World Stadium | Orlando, Florida


West Virginia

Best moment: The Mountaineers did not earn a marquee win, but the Week 11 triumph at Texas felt like it. In extending the Longhorns’ misery and winning for the second time in three trips as a Big 12 member to this flagship campus in the league, WVU stopped four Texas drives in the fourth quarter to secure a 24-20 victory.

Lowest moment: Emotions stirred early on Nov. 19 as snow fell in a rare top-10 matchup in Morgantown. And then, West Virginia failed to show up in the first half. Oklahoma built a 34-0 lead against the mistake-prone hosts en route to a 56-28 win that eliminated WVU from Big 12 title contention and squashed talk of an unlikely playoff run for the Mountaineers.

Key player: Cornerback Rasul Douglas epitomized the spirit of West Virginia’s aggressive defense, snagging eight interceptions. His play in the secondary, often matched against elite receivers in the nation’s top passing conference, pushed the Mountaineers’ defensive production to the top of the league. Its energy sparked QB Skyler Howard and the offense.

Motivation level: West Virginia won 10 games for the first time in five years of Big 12 play. It can reach 11 for the first time since 2007 and sixth time overall with a bowl victory. Already, the Mountaineers broke through barriers this season with a third-place league finish. But a bowl win would punctuate the season nicely.


Miami

Best moment: Beating Pitt 51-28. Going into the game, Miami was on a four-game losing streak and in an offensive rut. But the Hurricanes had their best offensive performance of the season, scoring 51 points and racking up 534 yards of offense -- all while holding the best offense in Pitt history to a season-low 28 points. The victory set Miami on a four-game winning streak to end the season.

Lowest moment: Losing to Florida State (again). Miami went into the game ranked No. 10 after a 4-0 start and built a 13-3 halftime lead. After Florida State pulled ahead 20-13 in the fourth quarter, Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Stacy Coley with 1:38 to play. But DeMarcus Walker blocked the ensuing extra-point attempt, preserving a 20-19 win and Florida State’s seventh straight in the series.

Key player: Kaaya. The junior became the school’s career passing leader and the first player in school history to pass for over 3,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Though there were some rough patches during the season, Kaaya hit his stride late thanks to the emergence of freshman receiver Ahmmon Richards (866 yards, 2 TDs) and tight end David Njoku (654 yards, 7 TDs).

Motivation level: High. It has been a decade since Miami won a bowl game, and finally breaking through is high on the list of priorities -- as is earning coach Mark Richt a win to complete his first season. Plus, this could be Kaaya’s final game, as he decides whether to return to school or leave for the NFL draft.

 

[Greenbacks]

Foster Farms Bowl: Indiana Hoosiers vs. Utah Utes.

Foster Farms Bowl: Indiana Hoosiers vs. Utah Utes

Date: Dec. 28, 8:30 p.m. ET on Fox

Location: Levi's Stadium | Santa Clara, California


Indiana

Best moment: Running back Devine Redding powered Indiana into the end zone and into its second consecutive bowl game with a fourth-quarter score against rival Purdue. Beating the Boilermakers for the fourth straight year capped a six-win season and also marked only the fifth time in program history that the team won both its Big Ten rivalry games against Purdue and Michigan State.

Lowest moment: Five interceptions against Wake Forest in late September led to the Hoosiers’ first loss of the season and some serious doubt about those bowl chances. With a loss in the nonconference schedule, the Hoosiers didn’t have a ton of room for error during the Big Ten season. From there, transfer quarterback Richard Lagow managed to take better care of the ball (to be fair, he did throw for nearly 500 yards in the loss) and Indiana eventually got the wins it needed.

Key player: Mitchell Paige may not be the home run threat that some of Indiana’s other wide receivers present, but he’s the player that opponents would be wise to keep on their radar. He leads the team in receptions and has used his slippery running style effectively whether he’s catching passes, running sweeps or returning punts.

Motivation level: High, but with coach Kevin Wilson suddenly out of the picture, it’s a wild card for the Hoosiers. Indiana has not won a bowl game since 1991, which means there’s a good chance there is no one on the Hoosiers’ roster who has been alive for a postseason victory in Bloomington. That should be enough to get the troops excited about a late December trip.


Utah

Best moment: The Utes trailed USC by two scores late but came storming back to grab a dramatic win. Troy Williams led a 93-yard drive to give Utah a 31-27 victory, hitting Tim Patrick for a touchdown with 16 seconds left. That September win is even more impressive in retrospect: That was the last time USC lost.

Lowest moment: Oregon’s Justin Herbert threw a touchdown pass to Darren Carrington to beat Utah, 30-28, with two seconds left. That loss knocked the Utes out of the Pac-12 title race. Utah managed only 51 combined points in losses to the Ducks and California, the Pac-12’s two worst defenses -- both giving up over 40 points per game.

Key player: Running back Joe Williams returned from a four-game in-season retirement to scorch box scores from mid-October until the end of the season. He racked up 1,110 yards over five games -- 222 yards per game -- in a tear that shocked many and included a 332-yard effort at UCLA.

Motivation level: Questionable. The Utes were in serious Pac-12 title contention until very recently, before they suffered deflating season-ending losses to Oregon and Colorado. That made the 8-4 finish to the regular season disappointing. If Kyle Whittingham doesn’t effectively rally the troops, there’s a real chance of a bowl hangover here.

 

[Greenbacks]

Texas Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Kansas State Wildcats.

AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Kansas State Wildcats

Date: Dec. 28, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: NRG Stadium | Houston


Texas A&M

Best moment: The Aggies’ 45-38 double-overtime win over then-No. 9 Tennessee was a wild one. Texas A&M led by 21 points in the third quarter and were within feet of icing the game in the final two minutes only to fumble near the goal line and open the door for a Vols’ comeback, but the Aggies got it done in the second overtime.

Lowest moment: With its College Football Playoff fate in its hands, the then-No. 4 Aggies let it all slip away in a disastrous trip to Starkville, Mississippi, losing 35-28 to Mississippi State and virtually ending their playoff hopes. Trevor Knight was injured in the loss, and the defense gave up a season-worst 365 rushing yards, both of which sparked a November nosedive where A&M went 1-3 overall and 0-3 vs. SEC teams.

Key player: Myles Garrett is the Aggies’ best player, but Knight is the most important one. The difference in Texas A&M’s offense with him and without him is stark because Knight’s running ability adds a dimension to the offense that no other quarterback on the roster currently does. When Knight is at his best -- and to be fair, he was good, not great, this season -- the Aggies are hard to beat.

Motivation level: It might be a little higher than you think because this will be the last game for a lot of key Aggies: Knight, receiver Josh Reynolds, defensive end Daeshon Hall, safety Justin Evans and starting offensive tackles Avery Gennesy and Jermaine Eluemunor are all seniors, and Garrett is likely to enter the NFL draft and some others (perhaps receiver Ricky Seals-Jones) are likely to consider early entry.


Kansas State

Best moment: Though they didn’t play their best, the Wildcats defeated Kansas 34-19 on Nov. 26 to give coach Bill Snyder his 200th career win, before carrying him on their shoulders off the field. Snyder became the sixth coach to win 200 games at only one university.

Lowest moment: The Wildcats had an opportunity to get off to a terrific start in Big 12 play, taking a 16-3 lead at West Virginia into the fourth quarter. K-State, however, couldn’t hold on, and Matthew McCrane misfired on a 43-yard field goal attempt that would’ve given the Wildcats the lead again in the final two minutes.

Key player: Defensive end Jordan Willis emerged as a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year contender after topping the conference in sacks. He moved into third place in school history and into the top 10 in Big 12 history in career sacks.

Motivation level: Snyder usually finds a way to have his team motivated. The Wildcats have also improved as the season has gone on, so ending a positive note should be a factor in the locker room.

 

[Greenbacks]

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida Bulls vs. South Carolina Gamecocks.

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida Bulls vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

Date: Dec. 29, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Legion Field | Birmingham, Alabama


South Florida

Best moment: Beating No. 19 Navy, 52-45. South Florida had something to prove after losing to Temple, and scored on its first six possessions of the game to build a commanding lead. The Midshipmen came storming back in the fourth quarter, but the Bulls held off the late charge for the win. They set single-game records for rushing yards (412) and had three 100-yard rushers for the first time as well.

Lowest moment: Losing to Temple. A win in this game would have sent the Bulls to the American Athletic Conference championship game. But the Owls ran for 319 yards and completely dominated on the ground, winning decisively, 46-30. It didn’t help matters for the Bulls when star quarterback Quinton Flowers injured his hamstring in the fourth quarter and missed the rest of the game.

Key player: Flowers. One of the greatest players in school history, Flowers has a plethora of records to his name: the first 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher in school history; single-season rushing touchdowns (13); single-game total offense (473 yards), and more. He ranks 10th in the nation in total offense, averaging 331.3 yards per game.

Motivation level: High. USF already has set a school record with 10 wins this season, so how about one more? The Bulls haven’t won a bowl game under Willie Taggart, who has done a phenomenal job turning around the program in four years. And a win here could be a huge lift into 2017, with Flowers back running the offense.


South Carolina

Best moment: Bear in mind that this was a team expected to finish last in the SEC East, a team no one really imagined would make a bowl game. The roster Steve Spurrier left behind when he abruptly retired last season was woefully inadequate, and not many people were high on Will Muschamp getting the job done after his stint at Florida. So, in a way, you could point to a Week 1 win over Vanderbilt as the tone-setter. But for argument’s sake, let’s zero in on the 24-21 win over Tennessee later in the season. That, in a nutshell, said to the South Carolina fan base that there is hope. By beating, at home, the team picked to win the East, the Gamecocks and Muschamp sent a message that the program didn’t have to be as bad as everyone believed.

Lowest moment: It’s not that South Carolina was supposed to beat Clemson. Keeping the game close might have been a long shot. But to lose 56-7 was painful. The game started with an odd non-exchange between Muschamp and Dabo Swinney, and South Carolina players alleged that they heard racial slurs from Clemson players. All the way around, the game was ugly. The only solace in ending the regular season with such a terrible defeat was knowing that a bowl game was on the way.

Key player: With all due respect to Perry Orth and Brandon McIlwain, they weren’t getting the job done at quarterback. The offense was, in a word, miserable. So, Muschamp did what he didn’t really want to do: he called on true freshman Jake Bentley. And, mind you, this wasn’t an ordinary freshman. Bentley was 17 years old and skipped his senior year of high school to enroll at South Carolina. Feeding him to the wolves was dangerous. But it paid off. Bentley’s numbers might not be eye-popping, but they were solid with six touchdowns, two interceptions and a 63 percent completion rate. More than that, though, was the shot of adrenaline he gave the offense. With Bentley pulling the levers, South Carolina went from woeful to respectable.

Motivation level: High. When 90 percent of your offensive touchdowns are being scored by underclassmen, you know you’re young. And with that kind of inexperience, these next few weeks of practice and the bowl game to follow are crucial. Muschamp has already made a statement by getting this far. A win would mean even more toward building a vision of a better future for South Carolina football.

 

[Greenbacks]

Belk Bowl: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Virginia Tech Hokies.

Belk Bowl: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

Date: Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, North Carolina


Arkansas Razorbacks

Best moment: It came early, in Week 2, when the Razorbacks went on the road to beat then-No. 15 TCU 41-38 in double overtime. The Razorbacks led 20-7, fell behind 28-20, pulled off a trick play for two points to tie the game, blocked a field goal attempt to force overtime and came out with the win. It was also an arrival of sorts for quarterback Austin Allen.

Lowest moment: Without question, it was a 56-3 loss at Auburn. The Tigers ran over the Razorbacks to the tune of 543 rushing yards, an SEC regular-season record. The defense was overmatched from start to finish, Allen took a beating and it was a flat-out embarrassing loss for the Hogs.

Key player: Allen had a strong first season as the starting quarterback, finishing second in the SEC in passing yards (3,152) and touchdown passes (23), but his interception total (12) was tied for the league lead with Tennessee’s Josh Dobbs. Allen also showed his toughness, playing well despite being the most-sacked quarterback in the SEC (28).

Motivation level: Finishing the regular season with losses in two of their last three games, including a 28-24 loss to Missouri when the Razorbacks led 24-7, left the team with a bad taste in its mouth. After starting 5-2 and showing some promise through half the season, a 7-5 finish is not what Arkansas was looking for. The chance to finish with eight wins for a second consecutive season should provide at least some motivation.


Virginia Tech Hokies

Best moment: The North Carolina win put Virginia Tech in the driver’s seat, but the Hokies’ comeback win at Notre Dame provided the necessary late-season momentum heading into rivalry and then championship weekends. They trailed 17-0 early and by 10 entering the fourth quarter, but a resilient group left South Bend with a win.

Lowest moment: The week before the Notre Dame game, the Hokies had a chance to clinch the Coastal Division with a win at home against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets were missing several starters, but the Hokies came out flat. They lost as heavy favorites and had to wait two weeks to seal the division.

Key player: Woody Baron. Jerod Evans was the missing piece the offense needed, but the Hokies needed to emerge as one of the better defenses again too, and defensive tackle Baron led the charge on the defensive line. His 17.5 tackles for loss ranks fifth in the ACC.

Motivation level: High. An opportunity to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2011 should have the Hokies very motivated. The senior class has been influential on the younger group this season, and it’ll make sure the team is prepared for this game.

 

[Greenbacks]

Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Colorado Buffaloes.

Valero Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Colorado Buffaloes

Date: Dec. 29, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Alamodome | San Antonio


Oklahoma State

Best moment: October wins over Texas, after two losses in three weeks, and West Virginia at home were satisfying, but the Cowboys produced their most complete performance in a 31-6 Week 12 win at TCU. Oklahoma State dominated in handing the Horned Frogs their worst home loss since 1997.

Lowest moment: The Week 2 loss to Central Michigan that loomed large late in the season after the Cowboys resurrected their season in Big 12 play. The Cowboys should never have let CMU stay close. And officials should not have awarded an untimed final down to the Chippewas, who won the game on a Hail Mary.

Key player: Mason Rudolph quietly ranked among the top quarterbacks nationally over the final two months of the season. Rudolph improved upon his first season as the starter a year ago to grow into the Cowboys’ offensive leader and primary source of production during a six-game midseason stretch in which OSU averaged 42.7 points.

Motivation level: A 10-win season remains within reach, but Oklahoma State enters the postseason still feeling the sting of disappointment that Oklahoma delivered in taking a Big 12 title from the Cowboys’ grasp. Rudolph and many of the top weapons, offensively and defensively, return next year, so there’s incentive to gain a head of steam for 2017.


Colorado

Best moment: The Buffs opened some eyes by playing Michigan tough at the Big House, but it wasn’t until the following week at Oregon when the program finally got its signature win. Ahkello Witherspoon's interception in the final minute sealed it, and while Oregon’s season went south from there, it set the stage for Colorado’s amazing run.

Lowest moment: Quarterback Sefo Liufau's touchdown pass to Shay Fields early in the third quarter against Michigan gave the Buffs a 28-24 lead, but it was his last play of the game due to injury. With Liufau out, Michigan rallied, and the same injury prevented him from playing in Colorado’s only other loss of the regular season – at USC.

Key player: Liufau. Steven Montez is a capable backup with a bright future, but perhaps no one in the Pac-12 meant more to his team this year than Colorado’s senior quarterback.

Motivation level: High. This is a program that hasn’t won a bowl game since 2004 or played in a bowl since 2007. That should tell you everything you need to know about what it means to Colorado.