Uncovering the Bowl Picture and Team Dynamics of a Decade

GAME

During this time, various bowl games were scheduled with specific teams and locations. For instance, the Celebration Bowl was set to take place in Atlanta on December 14, with Jackson State facing off against South Carolina State. The Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, on the same day would see Western Michigan competing against South Alabama. In Frisco, Texas, on December 17, Western Kentucky was projected to take on Texas State.

Further down the line, the Boca Raton Bowl in Boca Raton, Florida, on December 18 would feature Miami-Ohio against Arkansas State. The LA Bowl in Inglewood, California, on the same day would have UNLV going up against California. The New Orleans Bowl in New Orleans on December 19 would witness James Madison taking on Liberty. The Cure Bowl in Orlando on December 20 would see North Texas facing Louisiana-Lafayette. The Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa on December 20 would have East Carolina playing against Jacksonville State.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND

In the College Football Playoff first round, there were several exciting matchups. On December 20 in Bloomington, Indiana, No. 10 Georgia would face No. 7 Indiana. In University Park, Pennsylvania, on December 21, No. 11 Ole Miss would take on No. 6 Penn State. In Columbus on December 21, No. 12 BYU would battle No. 5 Ohio State. And in South Bend, Indiana, on the same day, No. 9 Alabama would meet No. 8 Notre Dame.

These matchups added to the excitement and anticipation of the college football season, with teams vying for a chance to advance to the next rounds and potentially claim the national championship.

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Buffalo and Marshall were set to meet in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, South Carolina, on December 23. These two teams had a history together, having spent six years in the MAC. Their upcoming matchup would be another highlight of the bowl season.

The Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, on December 23 would see Bowling Green facing San Jose State. In Honolulu on December 24, Tulane would take on Sam Houston in the Hawaii Bowl. In Detroit on December 26, Wisconsin would go up against Toledo in the Detroit Bowl. The Rate Bowl in Phoenix on December 26 would feature Nebraska against TCU. The 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on December 26 would have West Virginia playing against Georgia Southern.

Birmingham Bowl

Boston College and Oklahoma were scheduled to clash in the Birmingham Bowl in Birmingham on December 27. Michigan and Cincinnati would also face off in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth on the same day. Baylor and LSU would battle it out in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. And Georgia Tech and Washington would meet in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

These bowl games showcased the diversity and excitement of the college football landscape during that era.

Las Vegas Bowl

South Carolina and Colorado were set to compete in the Las Vegas Bowl in Las Vegas on December 27. Virginia Tech and Navy would meet in the Fenway Bowl in Boston on December 28. Pittsburgh and Rutgers would face each other in the Pinstripe Bowl in the Bronx, New York. South Florida and Arkansas would battle in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque. Iowa State and Duke would meet in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. Ohio and Colorado State would face off in the Arizona Bowl in Tucson. Memphis and North Carolina would compete in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland. And Connecticut and Arizona State would meet in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

Each of these matchups offered a unique opportunity for the teams to showcase their skills and make a mark in the bowl season.

Music City Bowl

Iowa and Texas A&M were set to meet in the Music City Bowl in Nashville on December 30. This was a matchup that had been long awaited, as the two teams had not played since 1931. The anticipation for this game was palpable.

Vanderbilt and Clemson would face off in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on December 31. Louisville and USC would meet in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, on the same day. Illinois and Tennessee would battle in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Kansas State and Missouri would compete in the Texas Bowl in Houston. And No. 12 BYU or No. 5 Ohio State would take on No. 4 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.

Peach Bowl

No. 11 Ole Miss or No. 6 Penn State would face No. 3 Miami in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on January 1. This was another highly anticipated matchup that would determine which teams would advance to the next stage of the playoffs.

No. 9 Alabama or No. 8 Notre Dame would meet No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on the same day. No. 10 Georgia or No. 7 Indiana would face No. 2 Texas in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. And SMU would take on Florida in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville on January 2.

First Responder Bowl

Virginia and Texas Tech would meet in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas on January 3. This game added another layer of excitement to the bowl season, with two talented teams going head-to-head.

Minnesota and Syracuse would face each other in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte. Northern Illinois and NC State would meet in the Bahamas Bowl in Nassau on January 4. And in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 9, the Peach Bowl winner would face the Sugar Bowl winner.

Cotton Bowl

The Fiesta Bowl winner would face the Rose Bowl winner in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on January 10. This matchup would determine which teams would have a chance to compete in the national championship.

National Championship

Finally, on January 20 in Atlanta, the Orange Bowl winner would face the Cotton Bowl winner in the national championship. This was the ultimate showdown, with the top teams vying for the coveted title.

Throughout this era, there were many interesting team overlaps and historical matchups. For example, Western Kentucky and Texas State (Frisco Bowl) only overlapped in a particular conference for one year, with the Hilltoppers winning their only Sun Belt matchup 38–7 in 2013. North Texas and Louisiana-Lafayette (Cure Bowl) spent 2001 to 2012 together in the same league. Georgia and Indiana (CFP first round) had never met in football before. Kudos to Alabama and Notre Dame (CFP first round) for improving, as three weeks ago, these projections had them linking up in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Buffalo and Marshall (Myrtle Beach Bowl) had a six-year history together in the MAC. Nebraska and TCU (Rate Bowl) had played seven times but never in a bowl game, with the Cornhuskers being ranked 12th or higher in every matchup but one. Michigan and Cincinnati (Armed Forces Bowl) had only played once, with the Wolverines winning 36–14 in 2017. Baylor and LSU (Liberty Bowl) had played in 1985 and the 1963 Bluebonnet Bowl (the Bears won both). Virginia Tech and Navy (Fenway Bowl) hadn't played since 1995. Iowa and Texas A&M (Music City Bowl) hadn't met since 1931. In games where both Vanderbilt and Clemson (ReliaQuest Bowl) are major schools, the Commodores lead the all-time series 3-1. Illinois and Tennessee (Citrus Bowl) had never played, while Kansas State and Missouri (Texas Bowl) had played 98 times as major schools. Ole Miss leads its all-time series against Miami (Peach Bowl) 2-1, but the two teams hadn't met since a 20–7 Hurricanes win in 1951. Virginia and Texas Tech (First Responder Bowl) met in the Gator Bowl after the 2007 season and then again in a more famous sporting event 12 years later. Northern Illinois and NC State (Bahamas Bowl) were dubbed the "Dave Doeren Bowl"! If Boise State and Oregon (Cotton Bowl) were to have a bowl matchup, it was worth noting that the Ducks won their September 7 matchup 37–34.