Tag: Georgia State

Sun Belt Heat: The College Football Playoff Is A Lie

The College Football Playoff Committee screwed the conferences that risked life and limb to save the season Contact @astatefanrules It was as anticlimactic as it was profoundly unjust. The College Football Playoff committee delivered their annual …

The College Football Playoff Committee screwed the conferences that risked life and limb to save the season

Contact @astatefanrules

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It was as anticlimactic as it was profoundly unjust. The College Football Playoff committee delivered their annual bounty to the game’s wealthy elite – the same committee who had once upon a time said that “if you take care of business, win your conference, and go undefeated, the Playoff will take care of itself.

This was a lie.

Even during an unprecedented season that turned the entire college football world upside down, the Committee did what they do best: maintain the status quo. Consider, not a single team selected for the Playoff is new to the format. Even worse, not a single team truly deserves to be there.

Alabama didn’t play a single opponent outside of the SEC.

Ohio State played six games. They shouldn’t even qualify.

Clemson and Notre Dame have already played twice, and canceled each other out.

Meanwhile, two programs – Coastal Carolina and Cincinnati – did everything the Committee told them to do, which is to beat Top 25 teams, win its conference, and (as if it’s not hard enough) go undefeated. The Committee’s response was to rank Florida, Oklahoma and Texas A&M ahead of the Bearcats, and rank the Chanticleers completely out of NY6 consideration.

It. Was. A. Lie.

I’m not the only one bitching. While the Committee patted itself on the back for rewarding the same wealthy programs year in and year out, a handful of pundits raised a voice to grouse:

The Playoff is just one insult. The Bowl lineup is a completely separate line-item of Power Privilege. Look at this ghastly menu of sub .500 SEC teams who are awarded a plum Bowl game in 2020:

2-8 South Carolina – Gasparilla Bowl
4-6 Kentucky – Gator Bowl
3-7 Arkansas – Texas Bowl
3-6 Tennessee – Liberty Bowl
2-7 MissState – Armed Forces Bowl

Combined, they have exactly two more wins than Coastal Carolina, And yes, 2-7 Mississippi State is going to the Armed Forces Bowl while 9-2 Army get the shaft. This system is complete crap. It rewards teams not for their merit, but for their privilege.

It was all a lie. The College Football Playoff was supposed to bring balance to college football. We were told we’d have a place at the table so long as we pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps and proved our mettle to out just and benevolent overlords. In this dumb season of COVID, you’d have thought that playing more than 10 games would count for something, or that playing only within your conference would count against you. Nope. Not a bit. It’s they eye test that counts.

Why do we even play?

A former notary public, Jeremy Harper is a professional writer and Chief Instigator for Storm the Castle Creative. He spends much of his free time staring blankly into space. 

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The Sun Belt Is On ESPN College GameDay And It’s A Big Deal

After years of the Sun Belt not being any time to shine, ESPN College GameDay is making its first ever pilgrimage to a Sun Belt campus.

After years of the Sun Belt not being any time to shine, ESPN College GameDay is making its first ever pilgrimage to a Sun Belt campus.

Contact @astatefanrules

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It only took an NCAA baseball champion to get ESPN College GameDay to visit a Sun Belt campus.

This Saturday, the universally loved and over-produced college football carnival sets up tents at Coastal Carolina, where the undefeated Chanticleers take on Lib…uh, the BYU Cougars, who are also undefeated and monolithed* into the schedule thanks to COVID-19. As one columnist observed, this is the ULTIMATE 2020 college football game.

Perhaps to the chagrin of Troy, Appalachian State and Louisiana – all recent AP Top 25 Sun Belt Programs – #16 Coastal Carolina receives the blessing of the world’s leading sports network, bringing its upstart brand of suddenly very good football to a global audience. While that may make many in the Sun Belt orbit burn with teeth-gritting envy, the value Coastal is bringing to the conference is pure bitcoin.

The Sun Belt needs this juice, and the timing couldn’t be better. After all, once the mighty College Football Playoff Committee weighs in, anybody not in the Top 6 may as well spend their time polishing their Tinder profiles. On Saturday, College GameDay won’t be in Tuscaloosa or Clemson or Columbus – it’sConway, baby. You want an in-depth analysis of Ohio State’s scheduling situation? TOO BAD, YOU GOT COASTAL. Looking for a status report on Nick Saban’s health? PROGNOSIS UNKNOWN, SUCKER, YOU GOT COASTAL. How about a look at whatever Oregon is wearing? EAT IT! YOU GOT COASTAL!

Fortunately for America, Coastal Carolina plays an entertaining brand of football, well rounded on all facets of the game. By Sunday, freshman sensation quarterback Grayson McCall is going to be a household name. On the opposing sideline, BYU has already murdered Troy and Texas State, so the Chants have an obligation to avenge the Sun Belt. Chances of this game being a dud is small, giving Game Day incentive to visit the Sun Belt again.

Who’s going to win? Who knows? The Cougars are big and fast. But they haven’t played a team like Coastal Carolina, a school with a recent national championship and beach access. I give the edge to the Chants.

* To “monolith” is to appear suddenly and mysteriously

A former notary public, Jeremy Harper is a professional writer and Chief Instigator for Storm the Castle Creative. He spends much of his free time staring blankly into space. 

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Appalachian State Battles Coastal Carolina In The Sun Belt Bowl

The Old School Marshall duels the Young Gun Chanticleers this Saturday when Coastal Carolina hosts Appalachian State

The Old School Marshall duels the Young Gun Chanticleers this Saturday when Coastal Carolina hosts Appalachian State

Contact @astatefanrules

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At the start of this stupid season, if you had told me that Coastal Carolina would be undefeated and ranked #15 in the nation after 12 weeks of football, I’d have probably said, “Yeah, okay” because Lord Entropy is the Sun Belt’s only master. If you told me Rip Torn would also lead in rushing, I’d have believed it, too.

Yet, the Sun Belt’s Sheriff’s badge still shines on the chest of the Mountaineers, its only blemish a loss to currently undefeated Marshall. Appalachian State may be a bit longer in the tooth than the Chants, but Zack Thomas is still a unit behind center, the defense is as stingy as ever, and the citizens of Boone are plenty surly that anyone would dare question their legitimacy.

Short story shorter, Appalachian State wasn’t letting anyone besmirch the supremacy of the Mountaineers. Respect and fist bumps, App fans.

However, to dismiss the Chanticleers is to make a very big mistake; they are legit good. The Chants shut-out a Georgia State offense that puts up 39 points per game. They’re a member of the Sun Belt’s 2020 Big XII Massacre Squad. They’ve defeated #21 Louisiana in Lafayette. Coastal’s freshman QB, Grayson McCall, has been added to the Maxwell Award watch list.

Coastal Carolina’s proficiency on both sides of the ball reminds me of…Appalachian State.

The Mountaineers are also legit good – and well-rounded. The offense and defense both rank second in the Sun Belt. QB Zac Thomas is having another elite season behind center. And they made Arkansas State look like a division two school in Jonesboro.

Yet, while the Mountaineers have been solid, they haven’t been dominating. Comparing apples, Appalachian State struggled in a 17-13 win at Boone over Georgia State – the same Georgia State that Coastal demolished 51-zero in Atlanta. Sometimes, the Mountaineers’ offense stalls. Coastal always seems to coast.

Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina enjoy an early tee-time in Boone this Saturday on ESPN 2. Whoever wins gets to pin the Sun Belt Sheriff Star on their chests, even if Lord Entropy remains the law of the conference.

A former notary public, Jeremy Harper is a professional writer and Chief Instigator for Storm the Castle Creative. He spends much of his free time staring blankly into space. 

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Gators News: September 28, 2020

Against what seemed like insurmountable odds a couple of months ago the SEC successfully kicked off its 2020 football schedules on Saturday.

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Against what seemed like insurmountable odds a couple of months ago, the Southeastern Conference and Florida Gators successfully kicked off their 2020 football schedules on Saturday, with both emerging victorious as all 14 teams saw action this weekend.

On that note, USA TODAY Sports Network writers talk about how the opening of SEC’s season was like no other. The article takes a look at all of the aspects of the strangest start ever to conference play.

In rankings news, UCF and Florida surge ahead in the latest polls while Oklahoma and LSU tumble. The first week of conference play in the SEC and Big 12 produced several upsets and a few more close calls that caused considerable shuffling in the Amway Coaches Poll.

The Sooners’ big upset gives Dan Wolken reason to think that the Big 12 is in trouble. So far, the conference isn’t merely living up to its reputation as the league most susceptible to chaos and parity; it’s signaling that the bad teams are really bad and the good teams aren’t particularly good.

In COVID-19 news, Georgia State says the positive COVID-19 test that led to the postponed game was the result of an error. The results from Thursday’s batch of tests came in Friday, before the team was scheduled to travel to Charlotte.

Finally, Paul Myerberg re-ranks the SEC based on what he saw this past weekend. One thing is certain: The picture isn’t any clearer.

Around the Swamp

It’s great to be a Florida Gator

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Gators News: August 21, 2020

We have reached the end of another week and as the days fly by, we get closer and closer to the start of fall football in the SEC.

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Welcome to a Friday edition of Gators News! We have reached the end of another week and as the waning days of August begin to bleed away, we get closer and closer to the start of fall football in the Southeastern Conference.

At the top of the news, Notre Dame is facing uncertainty as football program hits pause after the athletic department issued a press release on Wednesday described the reasoning for the pause succinctly and ambiguously as “an abundance of caution.”

Sun Belt Conference member Georgia State’s quarterback Mikele Colasurdo will miss the entire 2020 season due to a recently-diagnosed heart condition after he became infected with COVID-19. In non-coronavirus injury news, the South Carolina Gamecocks lose freshman running back MarShawn Lloyd for the entire season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while participating in practice Wednesday.

Finally, Tom Schad at USA TODAY Sports talks about why college football players whose teams canceled fall season won’t be sent home in his latest article.

Around the Swamp

It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

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Falcons activate S Chris Cooper, waive OL Hunter Atkinson

The Atlanta Falcons removed safety Chris Cooper from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, while waiving undrafted free agent OT Hunter Atkinson

The Atlanta Falcons removed safety Chris Cooper from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday while waiving undrafted free agent OT Hunter Atkinson, as reported by ESPN’s Vaughn McClure.

Cooper joined the COVID reserve on Sunday and after two days, he returns to the team. Atlanta still has two players, DB Jamal Carter ad FB Keith Smith, on the league’s virus designation.

Atkinson, a four-year starter at left tackle for Georgia State, was a long-shot to make the Falcons’ roster due to the team’s depth at offensive tackle.

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Will Alabama have to pay the $3.5M for cancelled non conference games?

It might be easier to just pay the original contracted fee. But then again, maybe each of the three teams would be content with rescheduling

After the SEC made the decision at the end of July to play a conference-only schedule, one of the first questions that began being asked was, “what happens to the non-conference teams?”

It’s a question that begs to be answered, considering that many second-tier FBS schools and FCS schools rely on the financial revenue from matchups against teams like Alabama.

Alabama had scheduled home games against Georgia State on Sept. 12, Kent State on Sept. 26 and Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 14. Now that all three games have been cancelled, what happens now?

According to a report done by USA Today Sports, “Alabama signed contracts worth $1.3 million for the Georgia State game, $1.75 million for the Kent State game and $500,000 for the Tenn.-Martin game.”

For a school like Alabama, not playing the game doesn’t necessarily matter, but for a program like Kent State, the matchup against Alabama brings in almost 6% of its yearly revenue. When you think about it, that’s a lot.

To teams like the Crimson Tide, it’s normally just a “practice game,” while the smaller programs use the money to fund its athletic department.

Tennessee-Martin athletic Director Kurt McGuffin made the loss of the game clear,

“This news is regrettable but is a new reality. Losing a game of this magnitude is not only a disappointment for our players and fans, but also a reflection of the associated financial implications.”

So, what does Alabama do? Do they pay the contracted fees now, or simply reschedule the game for a later time?

According to Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, that’s a decision currently being worked through.

“Details regarding the non-conference home games that were on our 2020 football schedule are being worked through,”

It’s all in the contract.

That’s what the decision will come down to.

Each of the three contracts Alabama has with Georgia State, Kent State, and Tennessee- Martin says this: “In the event of … prohibitory or governmental authority, including that of the Southeastern Conference or the National Collegiate Athletic Association, making it impossible or impractical to play the game, both parties shall be relieved of any and all obligations of this agreement.”

But if for some reason the SEC’s decision to cancel the non-conference games meant Alabama’s matchup cancellations were a breach of contract, it could be a hefty punishment for the Tide, including having to pay both Georgia State and Kent State one million dollars each, while also having to pay Tennessee-Martin $500,000.

If Alabama simply reschedules the games, the fees could possibly be avoided. And that’s exactly what Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork is hoping for. He has offered to reschedule Texas A&M’s matchups against Abilene Christian, North Texas and Fresno State.

Georgia State athletic director Charlie Cobb said in a statement to The Tuscaloosa News (courtesy of USA Today Sports) that:

“In 2017, the American Athletic Conference made a unilateral decision to cancel our game against Memphis within weeks of its scheduled date for their independent desire to play more conference games. To their credit, the cancellation fee was paid promptly, primarily recognizing the hardship this last-minute decision placed on us.

We expect Alabama to do likewise as they have significantly more resources than Memphis.”

So, what should Alabama do?

At the point, it might be the simpler thing to just pay the original contracted fee. But then again, maybe each of the three teams would be content with rescheduling.

It’s a decision that’s never easy to make.

And for smaller programs, the decision, whatever it may be, could have a huge and immediate impact on their future.

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Arizona Bowl, Wyoming vs. Georgia State: Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More

Arizona Bowl, Wyoming vs. Georgia State: Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More Wyoming is looking to end its season on a high note. Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Strength vs. Strength? Wyoming is taking the field for the …

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Arizona Bowl, Wyoming vs. Georgia State: Game Preview, TV, Radio Schedule, Livestream, Odds, More

Wyoming is looking to end its season on a high note.

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Strength vs. Strength?

Wyoming is taking the field for the first time since Nov. 30, gotta love the bowl layoffs, right? The Cowboys will be facing off against Georgia State who finished is 7-5 and hails from the Sun Belt.

The biggest and most odd scenario with this bowl game is the Wyoming quarterback situation. Sean Chambers has been out for a while with an injury but Tyler Vander Wall has entered the transfer portal but is still part of the team, or sort of is.

The ultimate decision ended with head coach Craig Bohl going with Williams and one has to think Bohl went that way since he will be back in 2020.

“We’ve had a great competition both with him and Tyler, and they’re both team players,” Bohl said. “We’ll see how the game unfolds, but we’ve made the determination going into this game that Levi is going to give us the best opportunity to win. Both of those two guys have played a lot of football, and we’ll utilize that. But right now, we’re going with Levi.”

This should not come as a surprise since Williams had been getting a lot more reps and slowly took over Vander Waal’s snaps and that is also what likely land to him entering the transfer portal.

With Williams at quarterback look back to the Air Force game where he earned most of the carries and was just so-so passing the ball by going 6 of 11 with a pick. His legs powered him to 79 yards with a long of 39.

Williams’ play is more closer to Chambers with the ground game being more successful than the air game, so that keeps the playbook inline with what the Cowboys have done all year.

WHO: Wyoming vs. Georgia State (Sun Belt)
WHERE: Arizona Stadium; Tucson, Arizona
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
STREAMING: FuboTV – Get a seven-day free trial
RADIO: Wyoming | Georgia State
GAME NOTES: Wyoming | Georgia State

Georgia State’s Key Players

1. QB Dan Ellington

The Panthers offense runs through Ellington, especially when he has good games. There is a correlation with Georgia State wins and Ellington’s ability to play well. This game could prove to be on the bad side since this Cowboys defense will be the toughest Georgia State will have played all year.

Part of the struggles are that early in the year, Ellington injured his knee and it was thought to be a torn ACL. The knee was injured but not to that exact, however, that ailment has limited Ellington’s running ability and has just -5 rushing yards on 21 attempts. The lack of running ability has made this offense go stale. Post-injury the Panthers are averaging just 21.7 points per game compared to the 36 points a game before. His passing game has taken a dip as well by not being able to put his full force of power behind his throws.

2. RB Tra Barnett

This is where the game might be won or lost for Georgia State. Barnett is the best running back in Panther’s history and depending on what he does in the bowl game will lead the Sun Belt in rushing yards. However, this defense will be one of the most difficult he has faced all year.

He is extremely fast and has averaged at least five yards per carry in nine games this season, including three games above 6.5 yards a carry. So, he is a player that the Cowboys defense will need to focus on if they want to get a win.

3. LB Trajan Stephens-McQueen

The Georgia State defense isn’t great but Stephens-McQueen is their star player. He had 100 tackles, seven for a loss, a sacks and had two interceptions. The Sun Belt was deep in that position and he missed the cut from being named all-league.

Against Army, Stephens-McQueen recorded 20 tackles and reached double-digit tackles four times this season. He is the leader of this defense as injuries took out linebacker Ed Curney and safety Remy Lazarus earlier this year.

 

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Arizona Bowl: Georgia State vs. Wyoming odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Arizona Bowl between the Georgia State Panthers and Wyoming Cowboys, with NCAA football betting odds, picks and tips.

The Georgia State Panthers (7-5) and Wyoming Cowboys (7-5) tangle in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (CBS Sports Network). We analyze the Georgia State-Wyoming odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Georgia State vs. Wyoming: Three things you need to know

1. Wyoming was rolling right along before redshirt freshman QB Sean Chambers (knee) suffered a season-ending injury, knocking things off the rails. QB Tyler Vander Waal led the team to one win in his absence. Vander Waal is nursing an ankle injury but is expected to play. Both he and dual-threat option Levi Williams will likely see time under center.

2. Cowboys RB Xazavian Valladay rushed for a team-high 1,061 yards and 4.8 yards per carry with five touchdowns, and he is the player to watch. Wyoming also has a familiar name, WR Raghib Ismail Jr., as the ‘Baby Rocket’ posted 20 grabs for a team-high 305 yards and two scores.

3. Georgia State was a bit one-dimensional, ranking 93rd in the nation in passing (201.8 yards per game) while ranking 14th in rushing yards (245.2). RB Tra Barnett is the star, rushing for 1,389 yards and 12 scores.

College football season is almost over! Place your bets on this game, or others, at BetMGM now. Place your bets and win, win, win!

Georgia State vs. Wyoming: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9:55 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Wyoming 25, Georgia State 16

Moneyline (ML)

Wyoming (-264) is expected to win this one, but it will cost you nearly three times your potential return. PASS and look to the spread instead.

Against the Spread (ATS)

WYOMING (-6.5, -121) has a star in Valladay, and he’ll be the difference. The Cowboys are a little more balanced offensively, too, and head coach Craig Bohl gives Wyoming the coaching edge, too.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 47.5 (-106) is the play. This game won’t be a 10-7 battle like last season’s Cal-TCU battle in the Arizona Bowl, mainly because each team has a tailback that can house it every time he touches the ball, but the lack of crisp passing attacks on each side will keep the score down.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Your complete college football bowl game, playoff schedule

A complete list of the college football bowl game schedule for this year.

From Nassau, Bahamas to Hawaii, the 2019  college football bowl schedule features some intriguing matchups, a few newcomers and some teams in unexpected territory.

LSU, Ohio State, Clemson and Oklahoma round out the College Football Playoff. LSU makes its first appearance in the playoff while Clemson is in its fifth straight playoff. Ohio State, in the playoff for the third time, is hoping for a better performance after its beat down by Clemson in 2016. Oklahoma is in the field for its fourth playoff and third straight.

The state of Florida has the most teams in bowl games with six, followed by Michigan and Ohio with five teams each. California, Texas, Lousiana and North Carolina each have four representatives.

The states of Florida and Texas have the most bowl games, with seven each. Including the National Championship game, Louisiana is hosting four bowl games.

Ten ACC teams made a bowl this season. The SEC has nine teams going bowling, including three (Georgia, Florida and LSU) in New Year’s and CFP bowls.

Dec. 20 — Bahamas Bowl: Charlotte vs. Buffalo, ESPN, 2 p.m.

Dec. 20 — Frisco Bowl: Kent State vs. Utah State, ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — New Mexico Bowl: Central Michigan vs. San Diego State, ESPN, 2 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Cure Bowl: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern, CBSSN, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Boca Raton Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. SMU, ABC, 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Camellia Bowl: Florida International vs. Arkansas State, ESPN, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington, ABC, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — New Orleans Bowl: Alabama-Birmingham vs. Appalachian State, ESPN, 9 p.m.

Dec. 23 — Gasparilla Bowl: Marshall vs. Central Florida, ESPN, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 24 — Hawaii Bowl: BYU vs. Hawaii, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 26 — Independence Bowl: Miami (Fla.) vs. Louisiana Tech, ESPN, 4 p.m

Dec. 26 — Quick Lane Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. Pittsburgh, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Military Bowl: North Carolina vs. Temple, ESPN, noon

Dec. 27 — Pinstripe Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Michigan State, ESPN, 3:20 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M, ESPN, 6:45 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Holiday Bowl: Iowa vs. Southern California, FS1, 8 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force vs. Washington State, ESPN, 10:15 p.m.

Dec. 28 — Camping World Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Iowa State, ABC, noon

Dec. 28 — Cotton Bowl: Penn State vs. Memphis, ESPN, noon

Dec. 28 — Peach Bowl: LSU vs. Oklahoma, ESPN, 4 p.m.

Dec. 28 — Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Clemson, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 30 — First Responder Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Western Kentucky, ESPN, 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 30 — Redbox Bowl: Illinois vs. California, Fox, 4 p.m.

Dec. 30 — Music City Bowl: Louisville vs. Mississippi State, ESPN, 4 p.m.

Dec. 30 — Orange Bowl: Virginia vs. Florida, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 31 — Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky, ESPN, noon

Dec. 31 — Sun Bowl: Florida State vs. Arizona State, CBS, 2 p.m.

Dec. 31 — Liberty Bowl: Kansas State vs. Navy, ESPN, 3:45 p.m.

Dec. 31 — Arizona Bowl: Wyoming vs. Georgia State, CBSSN, 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 31 — Alamo Bowl: Utah vs. Texas, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Citrus Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan, ABC, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Outback Bowl: Minnesota vs. Auburn, ESPN, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon, ESPN, 5 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Sugar Bowl: Baylor vs. Georgia, ESPN, 8:45 p.m.

Jan. 2 — Birmingham Bowl: Boston College vs. Cincinnati, ESPN, 3 p.m.

Jan. 2 — Gator Bowl: Indiana vs. Tennessee, ESPN, 7 p.m.

Jan. 3 — Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Nevada, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 4 — Armed Forces Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs. Tulane, ESPN, 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 6 — Mobile Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 — College Football Playoff title game: Semifinal winners, ESPN, 8 p.m.