Utah’s physical dominance over USC on Friday launches the Utes to their second straight Rose Bowl appearance and likely knocks out the Trojans from the College Football Playoff. The Utes’ win also vaults Ohio State into the CFP and causes a ripple effect throughout the bowl lineup on Selection Sunday eve.
Utah’s victory causes only one team to vacate the New Year’s Six (Washington). With the Buckeyes sliding up to the Playoff, Penn State will formalize its Rose Bowl appearance with a Michigan win. Tennessee shifts to the Orange Bowl, and USC now travels to the Cotton Bowl instead of the CFP.
Beyond the major bowls, the shakeup is significant. The Big Ten retains its ReliaQuest spot while the ACC sends a team outside of its direct bowl agreements. Utah’s upset win forces 18 overall changes from Friday morning’s projections alone.
In other updates, Buffalo became the 81st team to become bowl eligible after a 23-22 comeback win against Akron. Rice (5-7) will become the only fill-in opponent based on its Academic Progress Rate. After speculation surfaced of Missouri not wanting to play Kansas in the Liberty Bowl — which first was reported by Action Network’s Brett McMurphy — both the Tigers and coach Eli Drinkwitz denied that speculation. We’ll see if the ancient “Border War” resurfaces in Memphis.
Not True … looking forward to our bowl game vs. any team! https://t.co/dlHGGEpIvt
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) December 2, 2022
Finally, colleague Justin Williams reported Cincinnati-Louisville will resume their Keg of Nails rivalry in the Fenway Bowl. Let’s hope we get a few more matchups restoring old rivalries when pairings are unveiled Sunday.
Reminders:
- Most bowls do not have to select in strict order of conference standings. “Big 12 No. 3” or “Big Ten No. 3” means third choice, not third place, which is why a team with a worse record or head-to-head loss can jump a conference rival.
- The SEC office plays matchmaker with its bowls and schools.
- ESPN Events owns and operates 16 of the 41 FBS bowls. Most of those bowls involve Group of 5 conferences. ESPN Events can move teams to create intriguing matchups.
- All times Eastern.
New Year’s Six
| BOWL | DATE | TEAM | CITY | VIEWING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orange |
Dec. 30 |
Clemson (ACC) vs. Tennessee (SEC/B1G/ND) |
Miami |
8 p.m. ESPN |
|
Sugar |
Dec. 31 |
Kansas State (Big 12) vs. Alabama (SEC) |
New Orleans |
Noon, ESPN |
|
Fiesta |
Dec. 31 |
No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU |
Glendale, Ariz. |
4 p.m./8 p.m. ESPN |
|
Peach |
Dec. 31 |
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State |
Atlanta |
4 p.m./8 p.m. ESPN |
|
Cotton |
Jan. 2 |
USC (at-large) vs. Tulane (at-large/G5) |
Arlington, Texas |
1 p.m. ESPN |
|
Rose |
Jan. 2 |
Penn State (B1G) vs. Utah (Pac-12) |
Pasadena, Calif. |
5 p.m. ESPN |
Remaining bowls
| BOWL | DATE | TEAMS | CITY | VIEWING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bahamas |
Dec. 16 |
Miami-OH (MAC) vs. UAB (C-USA) |
Nassau, Bahamas |
11:30 a.m. ESPN |
|
Cure |
Dec. 16 |
Marshall (ESPN) vs. BYU (ESPN) |
Orlando, Fla. |
3 p.m. ESPN |
|
Fenway |
Dec. 17 |
Louisville (ACC No. 9) vs. Cincinnati (AAC) |
Boston |
11 a.m. ESPN |
|
New Mexico |
Dec. 17 |
San Jose State (MWC) vs. Rice (ESPN) |
Albuquerque, N.M. |
2:15 p.m. ESPN |
|
LA Bowl |
Dec. 17 |
Washington State (Pac-12 No. 6) vs. Boise State (MWC No. 1) |
Inglewood, Calif. |
3:30 p.m. ABC |
|
Lendingtree |
Dec. 17 |
Southern Miss (Sun Belt No. 5) vs. Bowling Green (C-USA/MAC) |
Mobile, Ala. |
5:45 p.m. ESPN |
|
Vegas |
Dec. 17 |
UCLA (Pac-12 No. 4) vs. Ole Miss (SEC Nos. 3-8) |
Las Vegas |
7:30 p.m. ABC |
|
Frisco |
Dec. 17 |
Houston (ESPN) vs. Fresno State (ESPN) |
Frisco, Texas |
9:15 p.m. ESPN |
|
Myrtle Beach |
Dec. 19 |
South Alabama (ESPN) vs. Liberty (ESPN) |
Myrtle Beach, S.C. |
2:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
Idaho Potato |
Dec. 20 |
Utah State (MWC) vs. Buffalo (MAC) |
Boise, Idaho |
3:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
Boca Raton |
Dec. 20 |
East Carolina (ESPN) vs. Connecticut (ESPN) |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
7:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
New Orleans |
Dec. 21 |
Troy (Sun Belt No. 2) vs. North Texas (C-USA) |
New Orleans |
8 p.m. ESPN |
|
Armed Forces |
Dec. 22 |
Air Force (ESPN) vs. Baylor (ESPN) |
Fort Worth, Texas |
7:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
Independence |
Dec. 23 |
Louisiana* (Army) vs. Memphis (AAC) |
Shreveport, La. |
3 p.m. ESPN |
|
Gasparilla |
Dec. 23 |
Coastal Carolina (ESPN) vs. Wake Forest (ESPN) |
Tampa, Fla. |
6:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
Hawaii |
Dec. 24 |
San Diego State (MWC) vs. Middle Tennessee (C-USA) |
Honolulu |
8 p.m. ESPN |
|
Quick Lane |
Dec. 26 |
Ga. Southern* (Big Ten No. 8) vs. Eastern Michigan (MAC) |
Detroit |
2:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
Camellia |
Dec. 27 |
UTSA (ESPN) vs. Ohio (ESPN) |
Montgomery, Ala. |
Noon ESPN |
|
First Responder |
Dec. 27 |
New Mexico State (ESPN) vs. Western Kentucky (ESPN) |
University Park, Texas |
3:15 p.m./6:45 p.m. ESPN |
|
Birmingham |
Dec. 27 |
SMU (AAC) vs. Florida (SEC No. 9) |
Birmingham, Ala. |
3:15 p.m./6:45 p.m. ESPN |
|
Guaranteed Rate |
Dec. 27 |
Wisconsin (Big Ten No. 7) vs. Kansas (Big 12 No. 6) |
Phoenix |
10:15 p.m. ESPN |
|
Military |
Dec. 28 |
UCF (AAC) vs. Duke (ACC No. 8) |
Annapolis, Md. |
2 p.m. ESPN |
|
Liberty |
Dec. 28 |
Oklahoma State (Big 12 No. 5) vs. Missouri (SEC Nos. 3-8) |
Memphis, Tenn. |
5:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
Holiday |
Dec. 28 |
North Carolina (ACC Nos. 2-4) vs. Oregon (Pac-12 No. 3) |
San Diego |
8 p.m. Fox |
|
Texas |
Dec. 28 |
Texas Tech (Big 12 No. 4) vs. Arkansas (SEC Nos. 3-8) |
Houston |
9 p.m. ESPN |
|
Pinstripe |
Dec. 29 |
Minnesota (Big Ten No. 5) vs. Syracuse (ACC Nos. 5-7) |
Bronx, N.Y. |
2 p.m. ESPN |
|
Cheez-It |
Dec. 29 |
Oklahoma (Big 12 No. 3) vs. Florida State (ACC Nos. 2-4) |
Orlando, Fla. |
5:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
Alamo |
Dec. 29 |
Texas (Big 12 No. 2) vs. Washington (Pac-12 No. 2) |
San Antonio, Texas |
9 p.m. ESPN |
|
Duke’s Mayo |
Dec. 30 |
Maryland (Big Ten No. 6) vs. NC State (ACC Nos. 5-7) |
Charlotte, N.C. |
Noon ESPN |
|
Sun |
Dec. 30 |
Pittsburgh (ACC Nos. 5-7) vs. Oregon State (Pac-12 No. 5) |
El Paso, Texas |
2 p.m. CBS |
|
Gator |
Dec. 30 |
Notre Dame (ACC Nos. 3-5) vs. Mississippi State (SEC Nos. 3-8) |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
3:30 p.m. ESPN |
|
Arizona |
Dec. 30 |
Wyoming (MWC) vs. Toledo (MAC) |
Tucson, Ariz. |
4:30 p.m. Barstool |
|
Music City |
Dec. 31 |
Iowa (Big Ten No. 4) vs. Kentucky (SEC Nos. 3-8) |
Nashville |
Noon ABC |
|
ReliaQuest |
Jan. 2 |
Illinois (Big Ten No. 3) vs. LSU (SEC Nos. 3-8) |
Tampa, Fla. |
Noon ESPN2 |
|
Citrus |
Jan. 2 |
Purdue (Big Ten No. 2) vs. South Carolina (SEC No.2 ) |
Orlando, Fla. |
1 p.m. ABC |
Teams that have accepted official bids are in bold.
* Replacement team for a conference without an eligible team.
(Photo: Kevin Abele / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
