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

[Greenbacks]

Liberty Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs. TCU Horned Frogs.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs. TCU Horned Frogs

Date: Dec. 30, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Memphis, Tennessee


Georgia

Best moment: Nick Chubb’s 222-yard performance in the season-opening win over North Carolina would be a nice choice, but the correct one is probably the defense’s showing in a 13-7 win over Auburn on Nov. 12. The Bulldogs scored their only touchdown on Maurice Smith’s pick-six and limited a powerful Auburn offense to only 164 total yards. It marked first-year coach Kirby Smart’s first win over a top-10 opponent.

Lowest moment: For Georgia, any regular season that ends with a loss to Georgia Tech is a low moment, but the Bulldogs’ Oct. 1 loss to Tennessee was even worse. The Bulldogs claimed the lead on Jacob Eason’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Riley Ridley with only 10 seconds remaining. However, Tennessee’s Jauan Jennings came down with a 43-yard Hail Mary from Joshua Dobbs on the game’s final play, giving Tennessee a 34-31 victory.

Key player: Eason gets the nod here over Chubb (988 rushing yards, 8 TDs) and running back Sony Michel (753 yards, 3 TDs). The freshman quarterback has had a fine season but also endured the consistency issues one might expect from a young player manning such an important position. When Eason (2,266 passing yards, 14 TDs, 8 INTs) is on his game, though, watch out.

Motivation level: Eh. After going 3-3 down the stretch and needing a field goal at the buzzer to avoid an upset at Kentucky, Georgia wants to put Smart’s debut season in the rear-view mirror so it can focus on what it hopes will be a brighter future under its new coach. This will not be an exciting bowl season for a team that sat at No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25 early in the fall.


TCU

Best moment: Not much goes better with turkey and stuffing than a roasted steer. TCU lassoed the Longhorns, winning 31-9 on Thanksgiving in Austin, Texas. It sealed the fate of Charlie Strong as coach at Texas. The Horned Frogs’ joy, though, came from skewering its rival with flashes of the potential that earned TCU such high expectations before the season.

Lowest moment: From Arkansas’ block of a late field goal that forced overtime in Week 2 to the blowing of a two-touchdown lead against Oklahoma, low moments filled this season for the Frogs. But worst of all was the Week 9 home loss to Texas Tech, 27-24, in double overtime, punctuated by Brandon Hatfield’s third errant field goal attempt at the end.

Key player: TCU’s up-and-down season mirrored the ride this fall of talented receiver and return specialist KaVontae Turpin. Injuries caused Turpin to miss five games. His presence might have mattered in a six-point loss to Oklahoma, a game in which a different outcome might have swung the seasons in a new direction for both teams.

Motivation level: The Horned Frogs just need to turn the page on this season. They backed into bowl season with four losses in six games to finish 6-6. TCU needs a bowl win to avoid a third losing season in the past 19 years, so it’s got that to motivate it through December -- and much of its roster returns in 2017.

 

[Greenbacks]

Sun Bowl: Stanford Cardinal vs. North Carolina Tar Heels.

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Stanford Cardinal vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

Date: Dec. 30, 2 p.m. ET on CBS

Location: Sun Bowl | El Paso, Texas


Stanford

Best moment: The Cardinal’s season hit its crescendo early. After dominating USC, Stanford trailed late in a physical game at UCLA. Quarterback Ryan Burns led a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that finished with the go-ahead touchdown pass to JJ Arcega-Whiteside -- a majestic fade -- and kept Stanford undefeated for the time being.

Lowest moment: That UCLA win was the beginning of the end of the Cardinal’s playoff chances. Both starting cornerbacks were hurt in that game, and Washington pasted Stanford -- also playing without fullback Daniel Marx -- 44-6 in Seattle the following Friday. That matched the Cardinal’s worst margin of defeat in the Jim Harbaugh-David Shaw era.

Key player: Christian McCaffrey is undoubtedly Stanford’s best player, but Marx has made a case to be considered the Cardinal’s key one. Stanford’s offense sputtered in the six weeks it played without its fullback but has been fully proficient in the games he has played -- two to open the season and three to close it.

Motivation level: High. Stanford’s five-game game win streak to close the regular season came against teams featuring bad defenses. The Cardinal would like to prove their improvement has been legitimate against a better opponent in a bowl game. This is also a chance to secure another 10-win season.


North Carolina

Best moment: A Nick Weiler missed PAT nearly cost the Tar Heels a signature win at Florida State, but with 23 seconds left on the clock, they drove 38 yards into field goal range and Weiler earned redemption by connecting on a 54-yarder for the win. It was the second week in a row North Carolina came back to win in the final minute of play, and it was arguably the biggest victory of Larry Fedora’s tenure as UNC coach.

Lowest moment: For all the successes this season, North Carolina finished 0-2 against its two biggest rivals. The Heels were heavy favorites against both Duke and NC State, and they lost both games. For a team that wanted to be considered among the ACC’s big boys, the losses to two underachieving teams ended up being the defining images of a season that never quite lived up to its potential.

Key player: Running back Elijah Hood was tremendous when he carried the ball down the stretch -- he just didn’t carry it very often. Hood averaged nearly 8 yards per carry in November, tops among ACC backs, but his 49 rushing attempts during the month ranked 12th. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky will carry the bulk of the offensive load, but Hood can be the difference-maker UNC needs to earn a bowl win.

Motivation level: Low. It’s hard to shake the poor finish to the season, particularly the flat performance against NC State. For a team that had Orange Bowl aspirations early, bowl season might feel more like a consolation prize. Add in rumors surrounding Fedora’s job prospects and a wealth of players eyeing the NFL, and it’s easy to envision a lackluster outing in the Sun Bowl.

 

[Greenbacks]

Music City Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Tennessee Volunteers.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Tennessee Volunteers

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

Location: Nissan Stadium | Nashville, Tennessee


Nebraska

Best moment: In the season opener against Fresno State, Nebraska intentionally lined up to punt with only 10 men on the field. It was a tribute to Sam Foltz, their punter who was killed in a car accident this summer. It was a touching moment, and the Cornhuskers drew inspiration from Foltz all season.

Lowest moment: A week after an overtime loss at Wisconsin, Nebraska failed to show much fight at Ohio State. The 62-3 blowout loss -- the program’s biggest margin of defeat in 12 years -- exposed a team that had started 7-0 and risen into the top 10 while playing a soft schedule. The Cornhuskers would lose three of their final five games.

Key player: Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. was knocked out of the Ohio State game early, hurt his hamstring the next week against Minnesota and missed the Maryland game. He returned but did not have his trademark mobility in a 40-10 loss at Iowa in the season finale. As he goes, usually, the Nebraska offense also goes.

Motivation level: Medium. The late-season swoon calls into question how invested the Cornhuskers will be in a postseason contest. Then again, Nebraska sneaked into a bowl at 5-7 last year and beat UCLA. Head coach Mike Riley has praised the high character of this year’s team, and he’ll have to hope a strong group of seniors leads the way in December.


Tennessee

Best moment: That last-second, Hail Mary victory at Georgia was the last great moment of the Tennessee season. Just seconds before Joshua Dobbs heaved a 43-yard pass to Jauan Jennings in a sea of red, Jacob Eason thought he won the game with his own Hail Mary.

Lowest moment: Losing to South Carolina was bad, but getting beat by 11 to Vanderbilt to close the season – with the Allstate Sugar Bowl in sight – was gut-wrenching for the Vols. What’s more is that the defense gave up 608 yards to the SEC’s worst offense.

Key player: Defensive end Derek Barnett has been the best player on Tennessee’s team from day one this season. On a depleted defensive line, he’s the key to everything Tennessee is capable of doing on defense. Barnett ended the regular season leading the SEC in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (18).

Motivation level: It can’t be very high after the way the Vols ended the season. The overwhelming favorite to win the SEC East went 4-4 in conference play, despite beating Florida for the first time in 11 years. Tennessee had a chance at the Sugar Bowl, but those dreams were dashed after the loss to Vandy.

 

[Greenbacks]

Arizona Bowl: South Alabama Jaguars vs. Air Force Falcons.

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl: South Alabama Jaguars vs. Air Force Falcons

Date: Dec. 30, 5:30 p.m. ET on Campus Insiders

Location: Arizona Stadium | Tucson, Arizona


South Alabama

Best moment: The moment Westin Graves' 28-yard field-goal attempt bounced off the left upright will be a moment the South Alabama players and coaches will remember forever. It preserved the Jaguars’ 21-20 win over Mississippi State and gave the program its first win over an SEC school. It’s only the eighth time a Sun Belt team has beaten an SEC team.

Lowest moment: Four of South Alabama’s six losses came by a touchdown or less, but the most gut-wrenching came in overtime against Louisiana-Monroe. It was a back-and-forth game throughout, but between 12 penalties and giving up four fourth-down conversions, it was a game the Jaguars felt they should’ve won.

Key player: Randy Allen. The senior defensive end has wreaked havoc in opposing backfields all season and is among the Sun Belt leaders with 14.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He also has forced three fumbles, and he blocked a field goal against Presbyterian.

Motivation level: Still searching for its first bowl victory, the momentum should be high. South Alabama has played in only one other bowl game in school history, losing 33-28 to Bowling Green in the 2014 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.


Air Force

Best moment: A goal-line stand in the final minutes sealed a 27-20 win against then-No. 19 Boise State. Any win against Boise State in the Mountain West is something to be treasured, and this one prevented the Broncos from winning the Mountain division.

Lowest moment: All three of Air Force’s losses came in a three-game stretch in the middle of the season to divisional opponents -- Wyoming, New Mexico and Hawaii. The Hawaii loss particularly stings because it came in double overtime and quarterback Nate Romine completed just 1 of 10 passes.

Key player: Defensive back Weston Steelhammer, a fantastic name for a defensive player, was named first-team All-Mountain West for the third straight year. Along with USC’s Adoree’ Jackson, Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers and Alabama’s Jonathan Allen, Steelhammer is a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, a national defensive player of the year award that also takes into account character.

Motivation level: Low. The Falcons aren’t new to the bowl scene, having played in one in nine of the past 10 seasons, so it’s fair to wonder just how excited they’ll be for this one, especially after finishing fourth in their division.

 

[Greenbacks]

Citrus Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. Louisville Cardinals.

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. Louisville Cardinals

Date: Dec. 31, 11 a.m. ET on ABC

Location: Camping World Stadium | Orlando


LSU

Best moment: Junior running back Leonard Fournette was not healthy for much of the season, but he provided a lasting memory against Ole Miss with one of the great individual performances any of us will ever see. Fournette carried only 16 times in LSU’s 38-21 win, but he racked up 284 rushing yards and scored touchdowns of 59, 76 and 78 yards.

Lowest moment: It has to be the way the Auburn game ended, with LSU’s D.J. Chark catching the winning touchdown pass with zeros on the clock, only to learn upon review that the Tigers did not get the final snap off in time. LSU athletic director Joe Alleva fired coach Les Miles the next day after the 2-2 start.

Key player: At this point, it might be running back Derrius Guice. With several key Tigers -- a group that included Fournette, linebacker Kendell Beckwith and outside linebacker Arden Key -- sitting out the season finale against Texas A&M, Guice broke Fournette’s brand-new school record with 285 rushing yards in a 54-39 win over the Aggies.

Motivation level: Moderate. New head coach Ed Orgeron did an excellent job getting the team amped before each game while compiling a 5-2 record as interim coach. Orgeron’s challenge here will be to convince a team loaded with draft-eligible players to focus on winning their final college game.


Louisville

Best moment: Beating Florida State 63-20. That game announced Louisville to the college football nation as a playoff contender. The Cards had such a resounding lead that they pulled their starters in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Lamar Jackson saw his Heisman Trophy campaign really take off after gaining 362 yards and scoring five touchdowns (four rushing). Florida State simply had no answers for him.

Lowest moment: Back-to-back losses to end the season. Louisville was ranked No. 5 down the stretch but got embarrassed 36-10 at Houston to see its playoff hopes vanish. To top it all off, the Cardinals lost at home to rival Kentucky, ending a five-game winning streak in the series and closing the regular season with their two worst performances.

Key player: Jackson. Despite those two losses, Jackson is still in the Heisman hunt after becoming the first player in FBS history to throw for more than 3,300 yards and rush for more than 1,500 in a single season -- not to mention the only player in FBS history to throw for 30-plus touchdowns and rush for 20-plus TDs in the regular season.

Motivation level: Moderate. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino cannot be happy with the way the regular season ended. Nor can his players. They are going to have something to prove after weeks in which they have been mocked for losing to double-digit underdogs. But a 10-win season is still in play. And let’s remember what happened last bowl season: a big win over Texas A&M that set 2016 into motion.

 

[Greenbacks]

TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Kentucky Wildcats.

TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Kentucky Wildcats

Date: Dec. 31, 11 a.m. ET on ESPN

Location: EverBank Field | Jacksonville, Florida


Georgia Tech

Best moment: Any time the Yellow Jackets post consecutive wins in Athens, Georgia, that calls for a celebration. They did just that by following up their 2014 overtime win at Georgia with a last-second, come-from-behind win this time around to cap the regular season with an 8-4 mark and, just as importantly, take a three-game win streak into the postseason.

Lowest moment: The Nov. 5 loss at North Carolina was the only game in which Georgia Tech was never all that competitive, as the Yellow Jackets fell 48-20 in a tilt that saw them get completely dominated in the second half. It also doubled as the last great UNC performance of 2016, as the Heels dropped their next two ACC games.

Key player: The offense goes as Justin Thomas goes, and the redshirt senior has left behind a nice legacy in Atlanta. While his production wasn’t what it was during that charmed 2014 Orange Bowl run from a pure numbers standpoint, Thomas still threw for 1,454 yards and eight touchdowns against just two interceptions, while rushing for 562 yards and five touchdowns.

Motivation level: High. Georgia Tech has talked late in the season about finishing with nine wins, and that would certainly provide a huge boost of momentum if the program can end 2016 on a four-game winning streak, erasing the stench of a 3-9 campaign from 2015.


Kentucky

Best moment: Take your pick between the pair of last-minute field goals by Austin MacGinnis: a 51-yard boot to beat Mississippi State 40-38 or the 47-yarder to topple Louisville 41-38. The Louisville kick probably takes the cake because of the stakes involved, not just beating a rival, but also one that was ranked 11th nationally at the time.

Lowest moment: It’s hard to imagine a major-conference team having a worse period than the time between the second quarter of the opener against Southern Miss until the fourth quarter of Week 2 against Florida. USM closed the opener on a 34-0 scoring run to win 44-35 and Florida scored the first 45 points of the following week’s game. In that stretch of the better part of six quarters, opponents outscored Kentucky 79-0.

Key player: The backfield combination of Stanley “Boom” Williams and freshman Benny Snell Jr. made it easy to transform Kentucky’s offense into the run-first force it became once Stephen Johnson took over at quarterback. Williams is one of the SEC’s most dynamic offensive players, rushing for a team-high 1,135 yards and averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Snell is the power runner, totaling 1,057 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Motivation level: High. The Wildcats finished the season as one of the SEC’s hottest teams, winning five of their last seven games to claim their first bowl bid since the 2010 campaign. The Louisville win was a massive momentum builder for Mark Stoops, who increasingly seemed like a lame-duck coach in September.

 

[Greenbacks]

Peach Bowl: No. 4 Washington Huskies vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide.

No. 4 Washington Huskies vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide

Date: Dec. 31, 3 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Georgia Dome | Atlanta


No. 4 Washington Huskies

Best moment: The Huskies’ win over Colorado gave them their first conference title since 2000. Chris Petersen’s team arrived a year earlier than most anticipated it would, but the Huskies are worthy Pac-12 champions and the league is all too happy to have a representative return to the College Football Playoff.

Lowest moment: The loss to USC. This is the only blemish on the Huskies’ season. The home loss to the Trojans -- as well as how the Huskies lost to the Trojans -- gave the committee enough pause to question if this group was qualified. The Washington defense gave up 400 yards of offense while Jake Browning tallied his lowest passer efficiency rating since last season against -- you guessed it -- USC.

Key player: Browning. Washington often goes as Browning goes. During his career wins, he has averaged a 68 percent completion rate and a 6-1 ratio of touchdowns to turnovers. In losses, those numbers drop to a 57 percent completion rate and a 1-2 TD/turnover ratio.

Motivation level: High. Washington isn’t just carrying its own hopes -- it has the weight of the conference as well. After being boxed out of the playoff a season ago, the Pac-12 is back. Washington fans will rejoice that Petersen has this team in uncharted territory, and now is the time to prove that the loss to USC was the exception, not the rule, when playing talented teams.


No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide

Best moment: In an undefeated season, picking one moment is too hard. So we’re going to cheat and call it a series of moments that lasted from Week 1 through Week 9 in which Alabama found a way to score without the offense ever taking the field. Everyone around Tuscaloosa became familiar with the acronym: N.O.T, as is non-offensive touchdown. Eddie Jackson scored on defense and special teams, Jonathan Allen had two fumble returns for touchdowns and Minkah Fitzpatrick had a pick-six. Even big nose guard Da’Ron Payne scored, creating a friendly competition with middle linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton, asking him when he was going to find the end zone.

Lowest moment: At first, the play didn’t look bad. Maybe Jackson tweaked something or rolled an ankle. But, no, it was more serious than that. The cart was called on the field against Texas A&M and Alabama would lose its starting safety and emotional leader of the defense for the rest of the season. Even coach Nick Saban was dejected, telling reporters, “Eddie was a fantastic player for us, a great leader, I think an All-American player as a safety, at least in my book. We’re certainly going to miss him. What a great player. What a great competitor. What a great guy to have in this program in the time he’s been here. He’s done a fantastic job for us and I’m just sick for him and his family and hate it.”

Key player: Defensive end Jonathan Allen might well be the best player on the best defense in college football, but is he the most important? That’s debatable. You could make an argument that defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick is the key to the entire operation. At first, he was Alabama’s shutdown corner. Then Jackson was lost for the season and the true sophomore shifted to safety where he has played just as well, hauling in an interception in the regular-season finale against Auburn. With Maurice Smith and Kendall Sheffield transferring before the season and not a ton of experience to replace them, having Fitzpatrick’s skill and versatility has been invaluable to Alabama.

Motivation level: High. You can spend all day drooling over the talent Saban has assembled at Alabama. You can lose track of the championships he has won. But his real value this season might be the way he has motivated a team that easily ran the table during the regular season, won the SEC West with several weeks to go and never let off the gas. With a second consecutive national championship on the line, Alabama is going to be all-in on winning the semifinal game.

 

[Greenbacks]

Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 2 Clemson Tigers.

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 2 Clemson Tigers

Date: Dec. 31, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: University of Phoenix Stadium | Glendale, Arizona


No. 3 Ohio State

Best moment: As Curtis Samuel came around the left edge with a clear path to the end zone, the Horseshoe erupted with perhaps the loudest cheer the vaunted stadium has ever produced as Ohio State clinched the comeback, double-overtime victory over Michigan. There hadn’t been all that much to cheer for when the Buckeyes were trailing, allowing the Ohio State fans and players to save up for the celebration and unleash it all at once.

Lowest moment: Urban Meyer’s programs are known for their prolific work on special teams, which made it all the more puzzling and disappointing for Ohio State when its perfect season was lost thanks in large part to two blocked kicks at Penn State. The Buckeyes bounced back, obviously, but that loss certainly created some headaches.

Key player: For all the records J.T. Barrett has broken and the quarterback’s command of the offense, it’s possible Samuel might actually be the true key for the Buckeyes to reach their explosive potential. When the H-back is consistently involved, he’s a matchup nightmare for defenses with his versatility, and he’ll be in the spotlight on the sport’s biggest stage.

Motivation level: Off the charts. The Buckeyes let a chance to repeat as national champs slip away last season with one of the most talented teams in program history, but a hungry group of youngsters is out to prove it can bring home the hardware the way their predecessors did two seasons ago.


No. 2 Clemson

Best moment: The regular-season finale against South Carolina was hardly Clemson’s biggest win -- victories over Louisville and at Florida State qualify there -- but it was the Tigers’ most dominant performance, and it came at the perfect time to remind fans this is a team capable of winning it all. The 56-7 blowout of their in-state rival capped a season in which the Tigers had to spend too much time defending close scores, and it showcased quarterback Deshaun Watson as a legitimate Heisman Trophy threat.

Lowest moment: Watson tossed a pick in the end zone in the fourth quarter against Pitt. A touchdown there would have secured an easy win. Instead, Pitt scored to pull within two. Clemson still could have iced the game by simply converting from 1 yard away on third and fourth downs, but failed again. A field goal later, and the Tigers were staring at their first regular-season loss in two years.

Key player: Watson is the superstar on a roster filled with stars. He has shouldered a big chunk of the offense this season, and while he has not run as much as he did in 2015 and his interception total is up, his overall numbers are still stellar and he has a wealth of weapons at his disposal. Watson and the Tigers have endured criticism this season for not living up to their potential, but that was less a matter of poor performance and more a function of the enormous potential this team has.

Motivation level: High. Hey, this is the College Football Playoff, and Clemson has already climbed the mountain once to play in the title game. The Tigers know all too well what it will take to win a national championship, and anything less will feel like they came up short. The entire season has been building to this moment, and no one is going to let the opportunity pass by without a real fight.

 

[Greenbacks]

Orange Bowl: Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida State Seminoles.

Capital One Orange Bowl: Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida State Seminoles

Date: Dec. 30, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, Florida


Michigan

Best moment: Amara Darboh's 46-yard touchdown sprint down the home sideline at the Big House on Oct. 1 led Michigan to a win over then-No. 8 Wisconsin. Colorado, vanquished by Michigan the week before, had yet to prove itself so beating the Badgers was Michigan’s first legitimizing victory of the season. It also turned out to be the Wolverines’ best victory all year.

Lowest moment: The last moment of the regular season was Michigan’s lowest. One play after a controversial fourth-down conversion, Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel scored a game-winning touchdown in double overtime for the Buckeyes. It wasn’t the worst loss of the season for Michigan, but the emotional toll of coming so close to locking up a spot in the Big Ten title game and then having it snatched away by a bitter rival will linger for a while in Ann Arbor.

Key player: Michigan’s offense comes and goes with quarterback Wilton Speight. The first-year starter has at times looked seasoned beyond his years leading an efficient scoring machine. When he struggles, though, the rest of the group grinds to a slow crawl. If he’s healthy, he’s a difference maker.

Motivation level: Low. Losing two of their last three games in heartbreaking fashion probably has left a bad taste in the mouths of Jim Harbaugh and his team. Still, after spending all year talking about their goal of winning a championship, it will take a good coaching job and buy-in from a veteran-laden team to keep their sights set on a non-championship bowl and not what personal futures might be waiting for many of them.


Florida State

Best moment: As the season teetered following a 3-2 start, the Seminoles trailed early against Miami, which had lost six in a row in the rivalry. Florida State had just lost to North Carolina and hadn’t dropped back-to-back games since 2011. FSU took a second-half lead, but Miami made a late comeback. With 1:38 left, the Canes attempted a game-tying PAT that DeMarcus Walker blocked for the 20-19 win. The legend of the “Block at Hard Rock” was born, and FSU finished out the rest of the regular season 6-1.

Lowest moment: The week began with the news that Derwin James would miss significant time, and a few days later Josh Sweat tore cartilage in his knee on the final practice play before the Louisville game. Banged up and in a hostile environment, the Seminoles were blown out, 63-20.

Key player: Once he shook off a slow start, Dalvin Cook re-established himself as one of the country’s best running backs. He ended the season with eight 100-yard efforts over his final nine games, and he’s second among Power 5 players in rushing and scrimmage yards. Few players are as explosive as Cook.

Motivation level: High. Questions about the Seminoles’ motivation level lingered through the season’s first half, but those have been erased. Florida State should be extremely motivated to end with at least 10 wins for a fifth consecutive season. The seniors rallied this group when the season was in the balance.

 

[Greenbacks]

Outback Bowl: Florida Gators vs. Iowa Hawkeyes.

Outback Bowl: Florida Gators vs. Iowa Hawkeyes

Date: Jan. 2, 1 p.m. ET on ABC

Location: Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida


Florida

Best moment: No question, it was when Florida upset No. 16 LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on that goal-line stop as time expired. The win clinched the SEC East for the second straight year for the Gators and it ruined LSU’s plans of having an extra home game against Florida after Hurricane Matthew pushed the game out of Gainesville, Florida, and into November.

Lowest moment: Losing to Tennessee and Arkansas by double digits, especially that beat-down at Arkansas, were bad, but this team hit rock bottom with a 31-13 at archrival Florida State to conclude the regular season. The Gators had their worst offensive showing of the season and didn’t muster an offensive touchdown.

Key player: Running back Jordan Scarlett is the most consistent offensive weapon the Gators have. He has nearly 800 rushing yards, but he’s a grinder and a slasher at the same time. If he can’t get going to open up the pass, Florida’s offense is sunk, no matter who it faces in the postseason.

Motivation level: It has to be even at this point. Sure, this team wants to win, but for the second straight year, the Gators are ending a year with an East title, but a lot of disappointment with a big loss to Florida State and Alabama in the SEC title game, proving they just aren’t good enough to compete on an elite level yet.


Iowa

Best moment: No one gave the Hawkeyes much of a chance against then-No. 3 Michigan at home on Nov. 12, especially a week after they lost at Penn State by 27 points. But an enormous defensive effort and Keith Duncan's field goal as time expired gave Iowa the 14-13 upset that upended the Big Ten race and turned around its own season.

Lowest moment: North Dakota State is no average FCS team, as it has long been a power at that level, capable of beating the big boys. Still, it was an embarrassing moment when the Hawkeyes -- the defending Big Ten West champions who were riding a 14-game regular-season winning streak -- lost to the Bison at home in Week 3. Much of the credibility gained from 2015 vanished that day.

Key player: Desmond King didn’t repeat as the Thorpe Award winner and didn’t match his 2015 interception total. But the senior cornerback had another All-America-caliber season in which he shut down half of the field in the passing game, while also serving as a dangerous kick returner. You don’t want to send the ball his way.

Motivation level: High. The Hawkeyes were 5-4 heading into that Michigan game but finished the season on a high note, winning their final three contests and hammering Nebraska in the finale. They should be feeling good heading into the bowl game and will look to avoid getting blown out like they were in the Rose Bowl against Stanford and in the TaxSlayer Bowl against Tennessee the past two seasons.

 

[Greenbacks]

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Western Michigan Broncos vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Date: Jan. 2, 1 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Texas


Western Michigan

Best moment: Despite the 11-0 start and the College GameDay visit, beating Toledo to punch its ticket to the MAC Championship was no sure thing for Western Michigan. A pick-six from Asantay Brown on the first play of the season finale had Waldo Stadium rocking and got P.J. Fleck’s team off to the full-throttle start it needed to finish an unbeaten regular season.

Lowest moment: Not much shakes the incessant positivity of Fleck and his team, but the closest to a down moment this season probably came when Kent State returned a fumble for a touchdown and opened up a 14-0 lead over the Broncos in early November. They bounced back, scoring the final 16 points of the game and securing the first 10-win season in school history.

Key player: No player in FBS history has more receiving yards that Western Michigan wideout Corey Davis. The future NFL pass-catcher is a focal point for the Broncos’ air attack. He is also part of a senior class that bought into Fleck’s unorthodox leadership style and helped build the unique culture that launched a mediocre Group of 5 program into a team that's capable of challenging college football’s traditional powers.

Motivation level: High. Fleck’s energy could get most folks fired up about filing taxes while visiting the dentist, but that probably won’t be necessary this month. A third win against a Power 5 team -- the Broncos beat two Big Ten teams in September -- will make this a team to remember for a long time to come.


Wisconsin

Best moment: There are so many games from which to choose, but Wisconsin's 23-17 overtime victory against Nebraska on Oct. 29 was huge. It represented the Badgers' third win against a top-10 team this season and gave them a chance to win the Big Ten West. It also helped soothe the team after Wisconsin lost an overtime game two weeks earlier to Ohio State.

Lowest moment: Losing 30-23 at home in overtime to Ohio State on Oct. 15 was difficult for Badgers players to accept. They had largely outplayed the Buckeyes and led the game in the fourth quarter. It marked Wisconsin's second consecutive loss and dropped the Badgers to 1-2 in Big Ten play.

Key player: Running back Corey Clement has been a workhorse and leads the team in rushing yards and touchdowns. Although his yards-per-carry average is down from earlier in his career, he has willingly taken the load for tough yards to keep the chains moving. Defensively, linebacker T.J. Watt has wreaked havoc on opponents and paces the Badgers in sacks and tackles for loss.

Motivation level: High. Wisconsin has put together a season few pundits, if anybody, saw coming. The Badgers were picked to finish third in the Big Ten West, and a 7-5 season didn't seem unreasonable given such a tough schedule. The more Wisconsin wins, the more special the season becomes.

 

[Greenbacks]

Rose Bowl Game: USC Trojans vs. Penn State Nittany Lions.

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual: USC Trojans vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

Date: Jan. 2, 5 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California


USC

Best moment: There really wasn’t one moment that stands out from the rest for USC, but quarterback Sam Darnold's insertion into the starting lineup definitely qualifies. He was sensational after taking over the job, and from that point on, USC was the best team in the Pac-12.

Lowest moment: Coach Clay Helton said his lowest moment was after the loss to Utah, but what happened in Arlington, Texas, to start the season was a true humiliation. The Trojans' 52-6 loss to Alabama won’t soon be forgotten. It goes down as one of the worst losses in program history.

Key player: Darnold would be a good pick, but Adoree' Jackson is must-see TV. Few in college football can affect the game like he does, and the one-time Olympic hopeful is now preparing for what could be his final game in a USC uniform. Look for him to go out in style.

Motivation level: High. The Trojans were undeterred by a 1-3 start, so the chance to finish off a remarkable turnaround should be motivation enough. Nine straight wins to close the season is something few teams can say they accomplished.


Penn State

Best moment: The 24-21 upset win over then-No. 2 Ohio State. Fans rushed the field and players mimed making snow angels after one of the biggest home wins in Penn State’s 129-year football history. Penn State last beat a top-two team in 1990, but this was bigger. It signified the return of the Nittany Lions to the national stage, and the Big Ten title game comeback win against Wisconsin only solidified that.

Lowest moment: The blowout loss to Michigan. Quarterback Trace McSorley apologized to fans after the humiliating 49-10 loss and swore that wouldn’t happen again. Penn State’s defense was missing six starters -- and all of the Nittany Lions' starting linebackers were injured -- but that didn’t take the sting away from the team's worst loss of the season.

Key player: RB Saquon Barkley. He’s widely regarded as the best Penn State running back in more than a decade -- the best since 2002, when Larry Johnson Jr. crossed the 2,000-yard plateau. Barkley ran the fastest 40-yard dash in the spring (4.38 seconds) and broke a team record by power-cleaning 390 pounds. Put simply: He’s special.

Motivation level: Very high. Earlier this season, the talk was still about what Penn State was. For the first time in a long time, it’s now about what Penn State is. This team still carries a chip on its shoulder, and it hasn’t been in a major bowl since the sanctions hit in 2012.

 

[Greenbacks]

Sugar Bowl: Auburn Tigers vs. Oklahoma Sooners.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Auburn Tigers vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Date: Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome | New Orleans


Auburn

Best moment: It has to be the LSU game. That wasn’t the most complete game Auburn has played all season, but it was the most compelling by far. One moment, you think Auburn lost. Then, after a review, Auburn won. It was craziness. But it was a defining moment for Gus Malzahn and his team, which went on to win five in a row after the LSU victory.

Lowest moment: It was painful trying to watch Auburn move the ball in the second half at Georgia. Running back Kamryn Pettway didn’t play. Quarterback Sean White was clearly not 100 percent. But the Tigers couldn’t even muster a first down in a game they had to win if they wanted any shot at the division title or the COllege Football Playoff.

Key player: White. The offense just isn’t the same with Jeremy Johnson or John Franklin III under center. That was evident in the Iron Bowl. White might not be the most talented quarterback in the SEC, but when healthy, he’s efficient and he knows how to run the offense. Malzahn expects White to return for the Sugar Bowl.

Motivation level: High. Just go back to last season. Auburn endured a difficult season and got stuck in the Birmingham Bowl. But the players were motivated. They took care of business against a good Memphis team, and it gave them momentum heading into the offseason. It should be the same attitude again this year, especially now that the Tigers are in a better bowl game.


Oklahoma

Best moment: What’s better for Oklahoma than beating Texas? The Sooners traded punches with the Longhorns in the Red River Showdown before pulling away late. The game was also Dede Westbrook’s breakout party, as he set a school single-game record with 232 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Lowest moment: After dropping the opener to Houston, the Sooners had a prime opportunity for redemption at home against Ohio State. Instead, the Buckeyes wiped out Oklahoma on its home field by three touchdowns while severely dimming the Sooners’ CFP chances.

Key player: It’s difficult to choose between quarterback Baker Mayfield and Westbrook, who are both generating Heisman consideration. Mayfield, however, appears to be on the verge of setting an FBS record for passing efficiency.

Motivation level: Coming into the season, the Sooners had their eyes set on returning to the playoff. So it’ll be interesting to see how motivated they are playing in what amounts to a consolation game.

 

[Greenbacks]

College Football Playoff National Championship.

Date: Jan. 9, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Location: Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida

First year played: 2015

Previous results:
2015: Ohio State 42, Oregon 20
2016: Alabama 45, Clemson 40​

 

[Greenbacks]

Saturday, Dec 17, 2016 - NCAA Football Game

02:00 PM	Texas San Antonio		+7½	-110			+250			Ov	59½	-110
	New Mexico		-7½	-110			-300			Un	59½	-110
03:30 PM	Houston		-3½	-110			-170			Ov	52½	+100
	San Diego State		+3½	-110			+150			Un	52½	-120
05:30 PM	Arkansas State		+5½	-110			+185			Ov	50	-110
	Central Florida		-5½	-110			-215			Un	50	-110
05:30 PM	Appalachian State		+1	-105						Ov	59	-110
	Toledo		-1	-115						Un	59	-110
09:00 PM	Southern Mississippi		-4½	-110			-195			Ov	58	-110
	Louisiana Lafayette		+4½	-110			+170			Un	58	-110
Monday, Dec 19, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
02:30 PM	Central Michigan		+12½	-110			+400			Ov	68½	-110
	Tulsa		-12½	-110			-475			Un	68½	-110
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
07:00 PM	Memphis		+5	-110			+175			Ov	79	-110
	Western Kentucky		-5	-110			-205			Un	79	-110
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
09:00 PM	Brigham Young		-8½	-110			-330			Ov	55½	-115
	Wyoming		+8½	-110			+275			Un	55½	-105
Thursday, Dec 22, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
07:00 PM	Colorado State		-13.5	-110			-500			Ov	64	-110
	Idaho		+13.5	-110			+405			Un	64	-110
Friday, Dec 23, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
01:00 PM	Eastern Michigan		+4	-115			+155			Ov	64	-110
	Old Dominion		-4	-105			-175			Un	64	-110
04:30 PM	Louisiana Tech		-4½	-110			-195			Ov	66	-110
	Navy		+4½	-110			+170			Un	66	-110
08:00 PM	Ohio		+3½	-105			+155			Ov	49	-110
	Troy		-3½	-115			-175			Un	49	-110
Monday, Dec 26, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
11:00 AM	Miami Ohio		+13	-110			+405			Ov	58	-115
	Mississippi State		-13	-110			-500			Un	58	-105
02:30 PM	Maryland		-1	-110						Ov	43½	-110
	Boston College		+1	-110						Un	43½	-110
05:00 PM	Vanderbilt		+4	-105			+165			Ov	44	-110
	NC State		-4	-115			-190			Un	44	-110
Tuesday, Dec 27, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
12:00 PM	Army		-10	-110			-380			Ov	49	-110
	North Texas		+10	-110			+320			Un	49	-110
03:30 PM	Wake Forest		+13	-115			+400			Ov	40½	-110
	Temple		-13	-105			-475			Un	40½	-110
07:00 PM	Washington State		-9	-110			-340			Ov	60	-115
	Minnesota		+9	-110			+285			Un	60	-105
10:15 PM	Baylor		+7½	-115			+250			Ov	67	-110
	Boise State		-7½	-105			-300			Un	67	-110
Wednesday, Dec 28, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
02:00 PM	Northwestern		+5½	-110			+185			Ov	65	-102
	Pittsburgh U		-5½	-110			-215			Un	65	-118
05:30 PM	West Virginia		+3	-115						Ov	57	-118
	Miami Florida		-3	-105						Un	57	-102
08:30 PM	Indiana		+7½	-115			+250			Ov	54	-110
	Utah		-7½	-105			-300			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			-415			Ov	62½	-110
	South Carolina		+10½	-110			+345			Un	62½	-110
04:30 PM	Arkansas		+7	-110			+230			Ov	61½	-110
	Virginia Tech		-7	-110			-275			Un	61½	-110
09:00 PM	Oklahoma State		+3½	-115			+145			Ov	62½	-110
	Colorado		-3½	-105			-165			Un	62½	-110
Friday, Dec 30, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
12:00 PM	TCU		+1	-105						Ov	48½	-110
	Georgia		-1	-115						Un	48½	-110
02:00 PM	North Carolina		+3½	-110			+150			Ov	54½	-110
	Stanford		-3½	-110			-170			Un	54½	-110
03:30 PM	Nebraska		+3	+100						Ov	61	-110
	Tennessee		-3	-120						Un	61	-110
05:30 PM	South Alabama		+13	-110			+405			Ov	57½	-110
	Air Force		-13	-110			-500			Un	57½	-110
08:00 PM	Florida State		+7	-115			+225			Ov	52½	-110
	Michigan		-7	-105			-265			Un	52½	-110
Saturday, Dec 31, 2016 - NCAA Football Game
11:00 AM	LSU		-3½	-105			-165			Ov	60	-110
	Louisville		+3½	-115			+145			Un	60	-110
03:00 PM	Washington U		+15	-115			+600			Ov	54	-110
	Alabama		-15	-105			-800			Un	54	-110
07:00 PM	Ohio State		-3½	+100			-155			Ov	59½	-110
	Clemson		+3½	-120			+135			Un	59½	-110
11:00 PM	Kentucky		+3½	-115			+148			Ov	61½	-110
	Georgia Tech		-3½	-105			-168			Un	61½	-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	-108			+250			Ov	54	-110
	Wisconsin		-7½	-112			-300			Un	54	-110
05:00 PM	USC		-6½	-108			-250			Ov	62	-105
	Penn State		+6½	-112			+210			Un	62	-115
08:30 PM	Auburn		+3	-125			+119			Ov	62½	-110
	Oklahoma		-3	+105			-139			Un	62½	-110

<tbody>
</tbody>

 

[Greenbacks]

Gildan New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico vs. Texas-San Antonio
(2 p.m., ESPN, University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Former LSU assistant Frank Wilson has done an excellent job in his first season at UTSA, but the Roadrunners will struggle against the nation's best rushing attack in New Mexico. Led by 1,200-yard back Teriyon Gipson, the Lobos get the win on their home field. New Mexico 38, UTSA 27.

 

[Greenbacks]

Las Vegas Bowl presented by Geico: Houston vs. San Diego State
(3:30 p.m., ABC, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas)

Houston brings the nation's No. 3 rushing defense to Sin City to face San Diego State's Donnel Pumphrey, a Las Vegas native who ranks second nationally in rushing yards (2,018). Who gets the edge? Houston's motivation level is a concern, and Pumphrey had a big day in his return home. San Diego State 34, Houston 28.

 

[Greenbacks]

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Toledo
(5:30 p.m., ESPN, Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama)

These teams are evenly matched -- Toledo is No. 55 in ESPN's FPI and Appalachian State is No. 58 -- and both have electrifying rushing threats in the Rockets' Kareem Hunt and the Mountaineers' Jalin Moore. Appalachian State's defense will be the big difference, as the Mountaineers are stingy, especially on third down (15th nationally in conversions). Appalachian State 28, Toledo 23.

 

[Greenbacks]

AutoNation Cure Bowl: UCF vs. Arkansas State
(5:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida)

UCF is back in a bowl game under first-year coach Scott Frost after going 0-12 in 2015, while Arkansas State climbed out of an 0-4 hole to win seven of its final eight. Both teams will be motivated, but UCF is playing 25 minutes from campus and, led by the remarkable Shaquem Griffin, subdues the Red Wolves with defense. UCF 26, Arkansas State 21.

 

[Greenbacks]

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
(9 p.m., ESPN, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans)

The matchup oozes with regional flavor, but Southern Miss has a decided edge on offense behind quarterback Nick Mullens, who has a big night against a middling Louisiana-Lafayette team that suffers its first (non-vacated) loss in five appearances in the New Orleans Bowl. Southern Miss 40, Louisiana-Lafayette 36.