Bowl Rankings: Great Bowls
You watched these bowls, you liked them, and then you moved on as a richer and more fulfilled person.
13. Duluth Trading Cure Bowl
Troy 18, UTSA 12
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 9
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 14, 2020: 1, 2019: 28
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 5, 2020: 1, 2019: 24
Get past all the mistakes UTSA made and the lack of overall scoring pop. The only battle of two conference champions was expected to be one of the most interesting bowls of the season, and it absolutely delivered.
No, it wasn’t the sharpest UTSA could be, but the Troy defense was fantastic as it held on time and again. The hitting and intensity from both sides was there throughout.
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
12. Camellia Bowl
Buffalo 23, Georgia Southern 21
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 41
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 24, 2020: 10, 2019: 29
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 27, 2020: 7, 2019: 17
There was a whole lot of intensity and intrigue for a very early Tuesday bowl game. The only sin was a general sense of frustration thanks to all the missed opportunities by Georgia Southern, but that made for good theater.
Buffalo did what it had to do, but it struggled to close as too many second half drives ended in field goals. Georgia Southern had opening after opening, but couldn’t jump through as UB held on.
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
11. Cheez-It Bowl
Florida State 35, Oklahoma 32
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 7
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 29, 2020: 6, 2019: 5
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 16, 2020: 4, 2019: 19
This was supposed to be entertaining, and it didn’t disappoint.
There was a ton of offense, a whole lot of energy, and it felt and played like a big bowl game. Finally – it only took until December 30th – there was an actual atmosphere in one of these bowl things.
There wasn’t the fantastic finish like some of the other top bowls of the season, but Florida State QB Jordan Travis went off, the Oklahoma attack was creative, it took an amazing catch to set up the Seminole game-winning field goal, and one final stop was needed to get out.
This bowl game was just … fun.
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
10. HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl
UAB 24, Miami University 20
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 40
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 10, 2020: NA, 2019: 28
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 42, 2020: NA, 2019: 24
This is why bowl season is so great. This should’ve been awful, and it really, really wasn’t.
Miami University was missing a slew of players, UAB was waiting to get the Trent Dilfer coaching era off and running, and anytime there’s a double-digit spread in a bowl game you should assume the worst.
The game was a bit ragged for a while, but when it came to fantastic finishes, the first bowl game of the season set the bar obnoxiously high. UAB scored a touchdown on a do-or-die 4th-and-1 run to take the lead, and the D held on for dear life as Miami’s final pass was stopped at the two.
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
9. San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
Oregon 28, North Carolina 27
Pre-Bowl Matchup Ranking: 13
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 6, 2020:NA , 2019: 7
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: T40, 2020: NA, 2019: 26
This is probably overrated based just on the fun finish.
The game itself was a relative dud for a stretch, and then came the final few minutes. Oh sure, the 21-14 North Carolina lead in the first half was entertaining, but this was supposed to be a 44-40 shootout – or at least hit 76 according to the Vegas point total – and it wasn’t.
We were promised fireworks and we got a few firecrackers and a couple of sparklers.
But the last ten minutes were gripping, Bo Nix led the Ducks – down six at the time – 79 yards for what seemed to be the game-winning touchdown, that touchdown was under further review and was really, really close to being a game-ending fourth down stop by a defense that couldn’t stop you and a few friends from completing a downfield pass with a saturated Nerf football.
But the touchdown tied it, the extra point ricocheted off the upright and somehow went through, and that’s all anyone will remember.
What Happened, Player of the Game, Fun Stats, What it Means
Bowl Rankings 2022-2023
Bowls of Sad | Instant Memory Dumped Bowls
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