2016-2017 College Football National Title Game - Clemson vs Bama part II - Who you going with?
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Celebration Bowl: North Carolina Central Eagles vs. Grambling State Tigers
Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl: North Carolina Central Eagles vs. Grambling State Tigers
Date: Dec. 17, Noon ET ABC
Location: Georgia Dome | Atlanta
Best moment: The Eagles beat then-No. 9 North Carolina A&T 42-21 to win the MEAC title outright. It is the third consecutive season that North Carolina Central has won at least a share of the MEAC, but this is the first such season in that span that it has the title to itself. The Eagles were dominant, taking a 35-7 lead early in the fourth quarter, and it was their 15th consecutive victory over a MEAC opponent.
Lowest moment: North Carolina Central’s only two losses came to FBS teams at the beginning of the year: a 49-6 loss to Duke followed by a 70-21 loss to unbeaten Western Michigan.
Key player: Quarterback Malcolm Bell was a first-team All-MEAC selection this season, leading the league in average total offensive yards per game (248.6). Bell threw for 2,191 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 544 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Motivation level: The Eagles just missed out on the Celebration Bowl last year (rival North Carolina A&T represented the MEAC), so they’ll be looking to capitalize on their opportunity with a victory.
Grambling State
Best moment: It has to be the Tigers’ 52-30 victory over rival Southern on Nov. 26 in the annual Bayou Classic. It gave Grambling the SWAC’s West Division title and a berth in the SWAC championship game. It was the Tigers’ 18th consecutive SWAC regular-season win.
Lowest moment: The Tigers have only one loss this season, a 31-21 loss to Pac-12 opponent Arizona, and even that was a positive development in some ways because Grambling – a 45-point underdog going into the game – led 21-3 at halftime. Getting shut out in the second half while the Wildcats mounted a comeback was tough, though.
Key player: Quarterback DeVante Kincadehas been outstanding for the Tigers this season, throwing 28 touchdowns to only three interceptions, the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the FCS of anyone with at least 23 touchdown passes. Kincade, an Ole Miss transfer, is third in the FCS in passing efficiency (171.6).
Motivation level: This will be big for Grambling; the Tigers lost the SWAC title game to Alcorn State in 2015, so by beating the Braves this time around, they get their chance to be showcased on a national stage. A victory would put an exclamation point on what has been a fantastic season for the Tigers and has them feeling a little nostalgic for the glory days of Grambling football.
Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl: North Carolina Central Eagles vs. Grambling State Tigers
Date: Dec. 17, Noon ET ABC
Location: Georgia Dome | Atlanta
Best moment: The Eagles beat then-No. 9 North Carolina A&T 42-21 to win the MEAC title outright. It is the third consecutive season that North Carolina Central has won at least a share of the MEAC, but this is the first such season in that span that it has the title to itself. The Eagles were dominant, taking a 35-7 lead early in the fourth quarter, and it was their 15th consecutive victory over a MEAC opponent.
Lowest moment: North Carolina Central’s only two losses came to FBS teams at the beginning of the year: a 49-6 loss to Duke followed by a 70-21 loss to unbeaten Western Michigan.
Key player: Quarterback Malcolm Bell was a first-team All-MEAC selection this season, leading the league in average total offensive yards per game (248.6). Bell threw for 2,191 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 544 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Motivation level: The Eagles just missed out on the Celebration Bowl last year (rival North Carolina A&T represented the MEAC), so they’ll be looking to capitalize on their opportunity with a victory.
Grambling State
Best moment: It has to be the Tigers’ 52-30 victory over rival Southern on Nov. 26 in the annual Bayou Classic. It gave Grambling the SWAC’s West Division title and a berth in the SWAC championship game. It was the Tigers’ 18th consecutive SWAC regular-season win.
Lowest moment: The Tigers have only one loss this season, a 31-21 loss to Pac-12 opponent Arizona, and even that was a positive development in some ways because Grambling – a 45-point underdog going into the game – led 21-3 at halftime. Getting shut out in the second half while the Wildcats mounted a comeback was tough, though.
Key player: Quarterback DeVante Kincadehas been outstanding for the Tigers this season, throwing 28 touchdowns to only three interceptions, the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the FCS of anyone with at least 23 touchdown passes. Kincade, an Ole Miss transfer, is third in the FCS in passing efficiency (171.6).
Motivation level: This will be big for Grambling; the Tigers lost the SWAC title game to Alcorn State in 2015, so by beating the Braves this time around, they get their chance to be showcased on a national stage. A victory would put an exclamation point on what has been a fantastic season for the Tigers and has them feeling a little nostalgic for the glory days of Grambling football.
New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico Lobos vs. Texas San Antonio Roadrunners
Gildan New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico Lobos vs. Texas San Antonio Roadrunners
Date: Dec. 17, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: University Stadium | Albuquerque, New Mexico
Teriyon Gipson (217 yards), Lamar Jordan (176) and Richard McQuarley (121) -- all ran for over 100 yards in the victory.
Lowest moment: It’s never good for New Mexico to lose to New Mexico State, and this year was especially bad considering how both teams played the rest of the year (NMSU won three games total). The Lobos also lost to Rutgers, which was 0-9 and outscored 360-86 the rest of the season.
Key player: Running back Tyrone Owens or Gipson, take your pick. Both running backs have rushed for more than 1,000 yards this year, both average over 8 yards per carry and both have scored on touchdown runs longer than 80 yards. They present the best 1-2 punch most of the country probably hasn’t heard about.
Motivation level: New Mexico has won exactly one bowl game since 1961, so, yes, this is a big deal for the Lobos. They’re also trying to reach the nine-win mark for just the fifth time in the program’s 85-year history, which would be another historic achievement. -- Kyle Bonagura
UTSA
Best moment: Becoming bowl eligible for the first time in the history of the program by beating Charlotte, 33-14, to end the regular season. First-year head coach Frank Wilson has taken this team a long way in a short period of time and was carried off the field by his players after the victory. “Today,” he said, “all the hard work was vindicated.”
Lowest moment: UTSA’s toughest loss of 2016 might’ve been coming up just short in five overtimes against UTEP, a 52-49 loss in the longest game in Conference USA history. The Roadrunners missed a game-winning field goal attempt in the fourth overtime and another kick late in the fourth quarter that could’ve put it away against a UTEP team that went 4-8.
Key player: This bowl will be a proper send-off for senior Jarveon Williams, who’ll leave as the all-time leading rusher in school history. The running back duo of Williams and Jalen Rhodes has combined for 1,883 total yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
Motivation level: High. Winning the first bowl game in the history of UTSA football would be a big deal for Wilson, the former LSU assistant who took a big chance on this program after Larry Coker retired. Wilson and his players have a chance to take a big step forward with this bowl. -- Max Olson
Gildan New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico Lobos vs. Texas San Antonio Roadrunners
Date: Dec. 17, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: University Stadium | Albuquerque, New Mexico
Teriyon Gipson (217 yards), Lamar Jordan (176) and Richard McQuarley (121) -- all ran for over 100 yards in the victory.
Lowest moment: It’s never good for New Mexico to lose to New Mexico State, and this year was especially bad considering how both teams played the rest of the year (NMSU won three games total). The Lobos also lost to Rutgers, which was 0-9 and outscored 360-86 the rest of the season.
Key player: Running back Tyrone Owens or Gipson, take your pick. Both running backs have rushed for more than 1,000 yards this year, both average over 8 yards per carry and both have scored on touchdown runs longer than 80 yards. They present the best 1-2 punch most of the country probably hasn’t heard about.
Motivation level: New Mexico has won exactly one bowl game since 1961, so, yes, this is a big deal for the Lobos. They’re also trying to reach the nine-win mark for just the fifth time in the program’s 85-year history, which would be another historic achievement. -- Kyle Bonagura
UTSA
Best moment: Becoming bowl eligible for the first time in the history of the program by beating Charlotte, 33-14, to end the regular season. First-year head coach Frank Wilson has taken this team a long way in a short period of time and was carried off the field by his players after the victory. “Today,” he said, “all the hard work was vindicated.”
Lowest moment: UTSA’s toughest loss of 2016 might’ve been coming up just short in five overtimes against UTEP, a 52-49 loss in the longest game in Conference USA history. The Roadrunners missed a game-winning field goal attempt in the fourth overtime and another kick late in the fourth quarter that could’ve put it away against a UTEP team that went 4-8.
Key player: This bowl will be a proper send-off for senior Jarveon Williams, who’ll leave as the all-time leading rusher in school history. The running back duo of Williams and Jalen Rhodes has combined for 1,883 total yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
Motivation level: High. Winning the first bowl game in the history of UTSA football would be a big deal for Wilson, the former LSU assistant who took a big chance on this program after Larry Coker retired. Wilson and his players have a chance to take a big step forward with this bowl. -- Max Olson
Las Vegas Bowl: Houston Cougars vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Las Vegas Bowl Presented by Geico:Houston Cougars vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Date: Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium | Las Vegas
Lowest moment: The Cougars’ playoff hopes were washed away in a loss at Navy back in October, and it was the beginning of a three-game struggle. That six-point loss turned into a narrow win against Tulsa before a shocking 22-point loss to rival SMU, which finished the season 5-7.
Key player: Ed Oliver. It’s rare for a true freshman to start on the offensive or defensive line -- let alone be one of the most dominant linemen nationally -- but few are better than Oliver. In his first season at Houston, Oliver has 19 tackles for loss, and five of those tackles came against Oklahoma and Louisville.
Motivation level: Low. It will be tough for the remaining coaches to get the Cougars excited about a bowl game after Tom Herman bolted for nearby Texas. The team came out flat against Memphis as rumors swirled that Herman was leaving, and now he’s officially out the door. There isn’t a New Year’s Six bowl to spark motivation, either. -- Jared Shanker
San Diego State
Best moment: Donnel Pumphrey announced his Heisman Trophy candidacy with a 281-yard rushing effort in a 45-40 win over California back in September. The senior running back averaged 9.7 yards per carry in the Aztecs’ win over a Pac-12 foe, setting the table for his team’s 9-3 regular season, which featured many blowout wins.
Lowest moment: The Aztecs were a total no-show in their regular-season finale against Colorado State, losing 63-31 on their home turf. This came a week after a gut-wrenching 34-33 loss at Wyoming. Those two defeats damaged Pumphrey’s push for a ticket to New York City, as he averaged only 69.5 rushing yards in those games.
Key player: Pumphrey is worth the price of admission here. Despite the slow finish to the regular season, the 5-foot-9 back will finish with a 2,000-yard season. He also may have the best chance of any player to challenge Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey for the all-purpose yardage crown -- but it’ll take a big bowl performance.
Motivation level: High. The Aztecs bounced back nicely with their conference title win over Wyoming, exacting revenge for the defeat that soured the end of their regular season. With a 10-win season already in tow, San Diego State should be feeling good about making a postseason statement and sending Pumphrey out on a good note. --David Lombardi
Las Vegas Bowl Presented by Geico:Houston Cougars vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Date: Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium | Las Vegas
Lowest moment: The Cougars’ playoff hopes were washed away in a loss at Navy back in October, and it was the beginning of a three-game struggle. That six-point loss turned into a narrow win against Tulsa before a shocking 22-point loss to rival SMU, which finished the season 5-7.
Key player: Ed Oliver. It’s rare for a true freshman to start on the offensive or defensive line -- let alone be one of the most dominant linemen nationally -- but few are better than Oliver. In his first season at Houston, Oliver has 19 tackles for loss, and five of those tackles came against Oklahoma and Louisville.
Motivation level: Low. It will be tough for the remaining coaches to get the Cougars excited about a bowl game after Tom Herman bolted for nearby Texas. The team came out flat against Memphis as rumors swirled that Herman was leaving, and now he’s officially out the door. There isn’t a New Year’s Six bowl to spark motivation, either. -- Jared Shanker
San Diego State
Best moment: Donnel Pumphrey announced his Heisman Trophy candidacy with a 281-yard rushing effort in a 45-40 win over California back in September. The senior running back averaged 9.7 yards per carry in the Aztecs’ win over a Pac-12 foe, setting the table for his team’s 9-3 regular season, which featured many blowout wins.
Lowest moment: The Aztecs were a total no-show in their regular-season finale against Colorado State, losing 63-31 on their home turf. This came a week after a gut-wrenching 34-33 loss at Wyoming. Those two defeats damaged Pumphrey’s push for a ticket to New York City, as he averaged only 69.5 rushing yards in those games.
Key player: Pumphrey is worth the price of admission here. Despite the slow finish to the regular season, the 5-foot-9 back will finish with a 2,000-yard season. He also may have the best chance of any player to challenge Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey for the all-purpose yardage crown -- but it’ll take a big bowl performance.
Motivation level: High. The Aztecs bounced back nicely with their conference title win over Wyoming, exacting revenge for the defeat that soured the end of their regular season. With a 10-win season already in tow, San Diego State should be feeling good about making a postseason statement and sending Pumphrey out on a good note. --David Lombardi
Good looks Mask. 
Man just don't ok. Don't...I ain't even no Bama fan but you know what you doing
Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Toledo Rockets
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Toledo Rockets
Date: Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Cramton Bowl | Montgomery, Alabama
Appalachian State
Best moment: The best moment was almost an upset of No. 9 Tennessee. Appalachian State was a field goal away. But it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, it was probably the Mountaineers’ 42-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe earlier this month because that was the game that Marcus Cox became the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards.
Lowest moment: This could also be the Tennessee game, but the loss to Troy cost Appalachian State an undefeated conference record and an outright Sun Belt title. The Mountaineers took the lead with 3:29 left, but Troy responded, going 85 yards and punching in the winning touchdown with a minute left in the game.
Key player: Cox might be the school’s rushing leader, but it’s fellow running backJalin Moore who leads the team with 1,367 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. When Moore went over 100 yards in a game, the Mountaineers were 8-0. When he failed to reach the century mark, they were just 1-3.
Motivation level: Considering it will be only the second bowl game in school history, there should be plenty of motivation. In last year’s Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Appalachian State made a furious fourth-quarter comeback and kicked a field goal as time expired to knock off Ohio, 31-29. What will the Mountaineers do for an encore? -- Greg Ostendorf
Toledo
Best moment: Toledo trailed Northern Illinois, 14-3, on the road at halftime but rallied for a 31-24 victory. Kareem Hunt scored the game-winning touchdown with 1 minute, 15 seconds left to keep the Rockets in contention in the MAC West Division. Before the comeback win, Toledo had lost six straight games to the Huskies.
Lowest moment: After a 6-1 start, the Rockets lost at home to Ohio, 31-26. It was the Bobcats’ first win in Toledo since 1967 and first win in the series since 1988. Ohio went on to win the MAC East, but it was still a surprising upset and one in which Toledo squandered multiple opportunities.
Key player: In his first season as a starter, quarterback Logan Woodside has thrown for 3,882 yards and 43 touchdowns with nine interceptions while completing 69.1 percent of his throws. He ranks No. 4 in the FBS in passing yards and No. 2 nationally in passer efficiency rating, behind only Oklahoma’sBaker Mayfield.
Motivation level: High. There was no shame in finishing second in the MAC West behind Western Michigan, which had a magical year. MAC teams are usually fired up to play before a national audience in the postseason, and the Rockets should be poised to put on a show with their exciting offense under first-year head coach Jason Candle.
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Toledo Rockets
Date: Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Cramton Bowl | Montgomery, Alabama
Appalachian State
Best moment: The best moment was almost an upset of No. 9 Tennessee. Appalachian State was a field goal away. But it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, it was probably the Mountaineers’ 42-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe earlier this month because that was the game that Marcus Cox became the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards.
Lowest moment: This could also be the Tennessee game, but the loss to Troy cost Appalachian State an undefeated conference record and an outright Sun Belt title. The Mountaineers took the lead with 3:29 left, but Troy responded, going 85 yards and punching in the winning touchdown with a minute left in the game.
Key player: Cox might be the school’s rushing leader, but it’s fellow running backJalin Moore who leads the team with 1,367 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. When Moore went over 100 yards in a game, the Mountaineers were 8-0. When he failed to reach the century mark, they were just 1-3.
Motivation level: Considering it will be only the second bowl game in school history, there should be plenty of motivation. In last year’s Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Appalachian State made a furious fourth-quarter comeback and kicked a field goal as time expired to knock off Ohio, 31-29. What will the Mountaineers do for an encore? -- Greg Ostendorf
Toledo
Best moment: Toledo trailed Northern Illinois, 14-3, on the road at halftime but rallied for a 31-24 victory. Kareem Hunt scored the game-winning touchdown with 1 minute, 15 seconds left to keep the Rockets in contention in the MAC West Division. Before the comeback win, Toledo had lost six straight games to the Huskies.
Lowest moment: After a 6-1 start, the Rockets lost at home to Ohio, 31-26. It was the Bobcats’ first win in Toledo since 1967 and first win in the series since 1988. Ohio went on to win the MAC East, but it was still a surprising upset and one in which Toledo squandered multiple opportunities.
Key player: In his first season as a starter, quarterback Logan Woodside has thrown for 3,882 yards and 43 touchdowns with nine interceptions while completing 69.1 percent of his throws. He ranks No. 4 in the FBS in passing yards and No. 2 nationally in passer efficiency rating, behind only Oklahoma’sBaker Mayfield.
Motivation level: High. There was no shame in finishing second in the MAC West behind Western Michigan, which had a magical year. MAC teams are usually fired up to play before a national audience in the postseason, and the Rockets should be poised to put on a show with their exciting offense under first-year head coach Jason Candle.
Cure Bowl: UCF Knights vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves
AutoNation Cure Bowl: UCF Knights vs.Arkansas State Red Wolves
Date: Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network
Location: Camping World Stadium | Orlando, Florida
Lowest moment: Losing to South Florida is never ideal for the Knights, but the way they lost to Houston might be slightly more painful. UCF had a 24-3 lead early in the second half on the road against the Cougars before letting it all slip away. The Knights had four turnovers in the second half and 29 total yards. Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. took advantage and rallied the Cougars to the 31-24 victory.
Key player: LB Shaquem Griffin. Griffin might be the most remarkable player in college football. Playing with one hand, the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year is tied for No. 10 in the nation in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (19), and he ranks second on the team with 85 total tackles. His twin brother, Shaquill, starts on defense, too. Shaquill leads the team with 12 pass breakups.
Motivation level: High. UCF went 0-12 last season, so getting to six wins and a bowl game under first-year coach Scott Frost is a huge accomplishment. Winning the bowl would be even bigger. It would be the Knights’ first bowl win since Blake Bortles led them to the Fiesta Bowl title over Baylor to end the 2013 season. -- Andrea Adelson
Arkansas State
Best moment: The Red Wolves went on the road and whipped an AP-ranked Troy team 35-3. The Trojans came into the game with the Sun Belt’s top scoring offense but committed five turnovers and didn’t reach the end zone once. “They felt like they had already won the Sun Belt title,” Arkansas State defensive end Chris Odom said. “Well, they had to go through us … and we showed them how we play.”
Lowest moment: A 28-23 loss to FCS foe Central Arkansas on Sept. 24 gave the Red Wolves their first 0-4 start in 15 years. The team committed four turnovers, three of which turned into Central Arkansas points. It was Central Arkansas’ first win over an FBS opponent in seven years.
Key player: Ja’Von Rolland-Jones is one sack away from breaking Arkansas State’s school record for career sacks (28). The junior defensive end has 11 of those sacks this season and 16 tackles for loss, leading the Sun Belt in both categories.
Motivation level: Bowl games are always good showcases for schools that don’t get the kind of attention that Power 5 programs get, so you can be assured the Red Wolves will be plenty motivated. This is the sixth consecutive season Arkansas State is bowl eligible and the ninth time in the past 12 years. -- Sam Khan Jr.
AutoNation Cure Bowl: UCF Knights vs.Arkansas State Red Wolves
Date: Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network
Location: Camping World Stadium | Orlando, Florida
Lowest moment: Losing to South Florida is never ideal for the Knights, but the way they lost to Houston might be slightly more painful. UCF had a 24-3 lead early in the second half on the road against the Cougars before letting it all slip away. The Knights had four turnovers in the second half and 29 total yards. Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. took advantage and rallied the Cougars to the 31-24 victory.
Key player: LB Shaquem Griffin. Griffin might be the most remarkable player in college football. Playing with one hand, the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year is tied for No. 10 in the nation in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (19), and he ranks second on the team with 85 total tackles. His twin brother, Shaquill, starts on defense, too. Shaquill leads the team with 12 pass breakups.
Motivation level: High. UCF went 0-12 last season, so getting to six wins and a bowl game under first-year coach Scott Frost is a huge accomplishment. Winning the bowl would be even bigger. It would be the Knights’ first bowl win since Blake Bortles led them to the Fiesta Bowl title over Baylor to end the 2013 season. -- Andrea Adelson
Arkansas State
Best moment: The Red Wolves went on the road and whipped an AP-ranked Troy team 35-3. The Trojans came into the game with the Sun Belt’s top scoring offense but committed five turnovers and didn’t reach the end zone once. “They felt like they had already won the Sun Belt title,” Arkansas State defensive end Chris Odom said. “Well, they had to go through us … and we showed them how we play.”
Lowest moment: A 28-23 loss to FCS foe Central Arkansas on Sept. 24 gave the Red Wolves their first 0-4 start in 15 years. The team committed four turnovers, three of which turned into Central Arkansas points. It was Central Arkansas’ first win over an FBS opponent in seven years.
Key player: Ja’Von Rolland-Jones is one sack away from breaking Arkansas State’s school record for career sacks (28). The junior defensive end has 11 of those sacks this season and 16 tackles for loss, leading the Sun Belt in both categories.
Motivation level: Bowl games are always good showcases for schools that don’t get the kind of attention that Power 5 programs get, so you can be assured the Red Wolves will be plenty motivated. This is the sixth consecutive season Arkansas State is bowl eligible and the ninth time in the past 12 years. -- Sam Khan Jr.
New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
Date: Dec. 17, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome | New Orleans
Best moment: Even after a nine-win season a year ago, it was a big deal to get bowl eligible in the first year under Jay Hopson, the Golden Eagles’ fifth coach in nine years. Southern Miss did it in the regular-season finale against Conference USA West Division champ Louisiana Tech, getting 342 yards through the air from Nick Mullens and 12 receptions fromD.J. Thompson.
Lowest moment: Charlotte rolled off 31 straight points and knocked out Mullens with a head injury in a 38-27 win at Southern Miss. The 49ers, a fourth-year program in only their second season at the FBS level, earned perhaps their biggest win ever in the Week 10 debacle for the Golden Eagles, who nearly went off the rails after this defeat.
Key player: Go with Mullens, the veteran QB who threw for 2,926 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games. When he went down against Charlotte, so did the hopes of Southern Miss. It lost to Old Dominion and North Texas without him before Mullens returned for senior day. His 86 career TD passes are a school record.
Motivation level: The Golden Eagles were highly motivated to win their finale and get back to the postseason. Expect a similar mindset in the bowl game. While never a given for a 6-6 team, Southern Miss wanted to extend its season. One more game serves as a reward for their resiliency. -- Mitch Sherman
Louisiana-Lafayette
Best moment: The Ragin’ Cajuns barely kept their bowl hopes alive on Nov. 26 when they held on for a 24-19 win over Arkansas State. Arkansas State appeared to score the winning touchdown when Joseph Bacchusscooped up quarterback Justice Hansen's last-gasp pitch and ran it in for a touchdown. However, replay officials ruled that Hansen’s knee was down before the pitch, sealing the Cajuns’ wild win.
Lowest moment: The midseason skid where the Cajuns lost four of five games, culminating with a homecoming defeat against Idaho, was the low period of the season. Included in that stretch were a quadruple-overtime loss at Tulane and a double-overtime loss at New Mexico State before getting shut out at home by Appalachian State. At that point, the Cajuns were 3-5 and had little hope of reaching bowl eligibility.
Key player: Running back Elijah McGuire still gets the nod here. He leads the team with 918 rushing yards and also has 231 receiving yards and a total of eight touchdowns. The senior has not matched his impressive production from the previous two seasons, but he’s still a dangerous runner and the Cajuns’ top offensive threat.
Motivation level: Moderate. There were all kinds of reasons to doubt whether the Cajuns would even make it to a bowl game, so getting to this point is quite an achievement. But this has not been the most memorable year for the ULL football program and this season’s ups and downs mirrored that disappointment. -- David Ching
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
Date: Dec. 17, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome | New Orleans
Best moment: Even after a nine-win season a year ago, it was a big deal to get bowl eligible in the first year under Jay Hopson, the Golden Eagles’ fifth coach in nine years. Southern Miss did it in the regular-season finale against Conference USA West Division champ Louisiana Tech, getting 342 yards through the air from Nick Mullens and 12 receptions fromD.J. Thompson.
Lowest moment: Charlotte rolled off 31 straight points and knocked out Mullens with a head injury in a 38-27 win at Southern Miss. The 49ers, a fourth-year program in only their second season at the FBS level, earned perhaps their biggest win ever in the Week 10 debacle for the Golden Eagles, who nearly went off the rails after this defeat.
Key player: Go with Mullens, the veteran QB who threw for 2,926 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games. When he went down against Charlotte, so did the hopes of Southern Miss. It lost to Old Dominion and North Texas without him before Mullens returned for senior day. His 86 career TD passes are a school record.
Motivation level: The Golden Eagles were highly motivated to win their finale and get back to the postseason. Expect a similar mindset in the bowl game. While never a given for a 6-6 team, Southern Miss wanted to extend its season. One more game serves as a reward for their resiliency. -- Mitch Sherman
Louisiana-Lafayette
Best moment: The Ragin’ Cajuns barely kept their bowl hopes alive on Nov. 26 when they held on for a 24-19 win over Arkansas State. Arkansas State appeared to score the winning touchdown when Joseph Bacchusscooped up quarterback Justice Hansen's last-gasp pitch and ran it in for a touchdown. However, replay officials ruled that Hansen’s knee was down before the pitch, sealing the Cajuns’ wild win.
Lowest moment: The midseason skid where the Cajuns lost four of five games, culminating with a homecoming defeat against Idaho, was the low period of the season. Included in that stretch were a quadruple-overtime loss at Tulane and a double-overtime loss at New Mexico State before getting shut out at home by Appalachian State. At that point, the Cajuns were 3-5 and had little hope of reaching bowl eligibility.
Key player: Running back Elijah McGuire still gets the nod here. He leads the team with 918 rushing yards and also has 231 receiving yards and a total of eight touchdowns. The senior has not matched his impressive production from the previous two seasons, but he’s still a dangerous runner and the Cajuns’ top offensive threat.
Motivation level: Moderate. There were all kinds of reasons to doubt whether the Cajuns would even make it to a bowl game, so getting to this point is quite an achievement. But this has not been the most memorable year for the ULL football program and this season’s ups and downs mirrored that disappointment. -- David Ching
I have been watching Washington all season and they are well coached and explosive on offense. Bama has a banged up secondary and I am not sure if those players would be back in time. The loss another player with a torn AcL Saturday.
To me a major key is the true Freshman QB from Bama. The strength of the Huskies is their secondary as they are one of the best in the country. If they can force the freshmen to have to beat them with his arm, that could favor the the Huskies big time if they can get a quick lead on bama
Miami Beach Bowl: Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
Miami Beach Bowl: Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Date: Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Marlins Park | Miami
Lowest moment: Losing to in-state rival Eastern Michigan is a tough enough pill to swallow. Losing by way of a last-minute touchdown heave despite good coverage makes it all the more unpleasant. John Bonamego’s teams have been on the happy side of dramatic finishes a couple times in his two years coaching his alma mater; they got a bitter taste of their own medicine in the season finale this year.
Key player: Quarterback Cooper Rush is one of a handful of bona fide NFL talents flying below the radar in the MAC this season. The 6-foot-3 actuarial sciences major has thrown for 3,299 yards and 23 touchdowns in his final season with the Chippewas. He has a big-time arm that has tested every secondary he has faced. Bowl season should be no different.
Motivation level: High. The tough loss to Eastern Michigan should leave the Chippewas eager to end the year on a high note. They don’t have the sexiest stage in bowl season to perform on, but Rush and the rest of an impactful senior class have a chance to finish their careers without ever posting a losing record. -- Dan Murphy
Tulsa
Best moment: Tulsa’s most impressive performance of the season likely came Oct. 29 at Memphis, when the Golden Hurricane upset the eventual 8-4 Tigers in impressive fashion, 59-30. James Flanders' 249 rushing yards and five touchdowns led the way.
Lowest moment: There’s no shame in losing to Houston, especially when the Cougars were ranked No. 13, but the way it happened had to sting a little. After mounting a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback, Tulsa fumbled the ball with 1:21 remaining, and the Cougars returned it 24 yards for the decisive score in a 38-31 final.
Key player: Flanders led the league in rushing (1,529 yards) by a wide margin. He was also second in rushing touchdowns (17) and all-purpose yards (1,546). It has been a remarkable finish for the redshirt senior.
Motivation level: High. Tulsa will be playing for a 10-win season, which would be the program’s second time reaching double-digit wins since 2012. This is no small sign of progress for a program that is in its second year under Philip Montgomery. -- Matt Fortuna
Miami Beach Bowl: Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Date: Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Marlins Park | Miami
Lowest moment: Losing to in-state rival Eastern Michigan is a tough enough pill to swallow. Losing by way of a last-minute touchdown heave despite good coverage makes it all the more unpleasant. John Bonamego’s teams have been on the happy side of dramatic finishes a couple times in his two years coaching his alma mater; they got a bitter taste of their own medicine in the season finale this year.
Key player: Quarterback Cooper Rush is one of a handful of bona fide NFL talents flying below the radar in the MAC this season. The 6-foot-3 actuarial sciences major has thrown for 3,299 yards and 23 touchdowns in his final season with the Chippewas. He has a big-time arm that has tested every secondary he has faced. Bowl season should be no different.
Motivation level: High. The tough loss to Eastern Michigan should leave the Chippewas eager to end the year on a high note. They don’t have the sexiest stage in bowl season to perform on, but Rush and the rest of an impactful senior class have a chance to finish their careers without ever posting a losing record. -- Dan Murphy
Tulsa
Best moment: Tulsa’s most impressive performance of the season likely came Oct. 29 at Memphis, when the Golden Hurricane upset the eventual 8-4 Tigers in impressive fashion, 59-30. James Flanders' 249 rushing yards and five touchdowns led the way.
Lowest moment: There’s no shame in losing to Houston, especially when the Cougars were ranked No. 13, but the way it happened had to sting a little. After mounting a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback, Tulsa fumbled the ball with 1:21 remaining, and the Cougars returned it 24 yards for the decisive score in a 38-31 final.
Key player: Flanders led the league in rushing (1,529 yards) by a wide margin. He was also second in rushing touchdowns (17) and all-purpose yards (1,546). It has been a remarkable finish for the redshirt senior.
Motivation level: High. Tulsa will be playing for a 10-win season, which would be the program’s second time reaching double-digit wins since 2012. This is no small sign of progress for a program that is in its second year under Philip Montgomery. -- Matt Fortuna
Poinsettia Bowl: BYU Cougars vs. Wyoming Cowboys
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: BYU Cougars vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Date: Dec. 21, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Qualcomm Stadium | San Diego
Jake Oldroyd hit a 33-yard field goal. The season-opening, 18-16 win also marked the return of senior QB Taysom Hill, who missed all but the opener last year because of a foot injury.
Lowest moment: The Cougars lost four games by a total of eight points, so there’s a collection of low moments from which to choose. We’re going with the first defeat, 20-19 in Week 2 to rival Utah. Down six, the Cougars scored with 18 seconds to play. Overtime? Nope. Sitake went for the win, and Hill was stopped on the two-point conversion run.
Key player: The Hill era is over. He won’t play in San Diego because of an elbow injury suffered in the regular-season finale against Utah State. Replacement Tanner Mangumgained experience a year ago, but the offensive load might fall on running backJamaal Williams, who gained 1,165 yards in nine games -- including a BYU-record 286 against Toledo.
Motivation level: Nine wins would be nice, but BYU could easily be in position for 11 after losing four of five games decided by three points or fewer. The Cougars might choose to use their close losses as a motivating factor to make a statement about the real strength of this team. Or it could go the other way. -- Mitch Sherman
Wyoming
Best moment: The Cowboys’ 30-28 win over No. 13 Boise State over Halloween weekend. Wyoming might’ve won on a safety, but the Cowboys’ play was a big statement and solidified their strong play at home all season. Wyoming held Boise State to just 2-of-8 on third-down conversions and forced two turnovers, earning its first win over a top-25 opponent since 2002.
Lowest moment: UNLV kicker Nicolai Bornand’s game-winning 40-yard field goal in the third overtime gave Wyoming its second loss of the season. The Cowboys gave up 653 yards of offense and turned the ball over four times in a crucial conference loss.
Key player: Running back Brian Hill didn’t take home Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors, but he’s been pivotal to Wyoming’s success. He ranks among the top 10 in FBS in rushing yards per game (139.5), rushing touchdowns (21), rushes for 10 or more yards (40) and 100-yard games (nine).
Motivation level: High. Comeback kids. A season after losing 10 of 12 games, the Cowboys came roaring back for not only an appearance in the Mountain West title game but also a postseason appearance. Not too shabby, Wyoming. The Cowboys will be hungry for a good showing in their first bowl game since the 2011 season, when they lost to Temple in the Gildan New Mexico bowl. --Chantel Jennings
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: BYU Cougars vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Date: Dec. 21, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Qualcomm Stadium | San Diego
Jake Oldroyd hit a 33-yard field goal. The season-opening, 18-16 win also marked the return of senior QB Taysom Hill, who missed all but the opener last year because of a foot injury.
Lowest moment: The Cougars lost four games by a total of eight points, so there’s a collection of low moments from which to choose. We’re going with the first defeat, 20-19 in Week 2 to rival Utah. Down six, the Cougars scored with 18 seconds to play. Overtime? Nope. Sitake went for the win, and Hill was stopped on the two-point conversion run.
Key player: The Hill era is over. He won’t play in San Diego because of an elbow injury suffered in the regular-season finale against Utah State. Replacement Tanner Mangumgained experience a year ago, but the offensive load might fall on running backJamaal Williams, who gained 1,165 yards in nine games -- including a BYU-record 286 against Toledo.
Motivation level: Nine wins would be nice, but BYU could easily be in position for 11 after losing four of five games decided by three points or fewer. The Cougars might choose to use their close losses as a motivating factor to make a statement about the real strength of this team. Or it could go the other way. -- Mitch Sherman
Wyoming
Best moment: The Cowboys’ 30-28 win over No. 13 Boise State over Halloween weekend. Wyoming might’ve won on a safety, but the Cowboys’ play was a big statement and solidified their strong play at home all season. Wyoming held Boise State to just 2-of-8 on third-down conversions and forced two turnovers, earning its first win over a top-25 opponent since 2002.
Lowest moment: UNLV kicker Nicolai Bornand’s game-winning 40-yard field goal in the third overtime gave Wyoming its second loss of the season. The Cowboys gave up 653 yards of offense and turned the ball over four times in a crucial conference loss.
Key player: Running back Brian Hill didn’t take home Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors, but he’s been pivotal to Wyoming’s success. He ranks among the top 10 in FBS in rushing yards per game (139.5), rushing touchdowns (21), rushes for 10 or more yards (40) and 100-yard games (nine).
Motivation level: High. Comeback kids. A season after losing 10 of 12 games, the Cowboys came roaring back for not only an appearance in the Mountain West title game but also a postseason appearance. Not too shabby, Wyoming. The Cowboys will be hungry for a good showing in their first bowl game since the 2011 season, when they lost to Temple in the Gildan New Mexico bowl. --Chantel Jennings
Dec. 22
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Idaho vs. Colorado State
7 p.m., ESPN
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Idaho vs. Colorado State
7 p.m., ESPN
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
Date: Dec. 23, 1 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium | Nassau, Bahamas
Brogan Roback throwing for 468 yards and three scores to punch a postseason ticket.
Lowest moment: There’s no shame in coming up short against a team that stormed through the regular season without a loss. But the Eagles might look back and wonder what could have been after standing toe to toe with Western Michigan and even taking a lead in the second quarter that opened up the possibility of a huge upset. The Broncos eventually pulled away to win comfortably, but that memory will surely stick with Eastern Michigan.
Key player: Everything flows through Roback for the Eagles, and the junior quarterback has done a steady job helping lead the program during the remarkable turnaround season. Roback has thrown for 2,394 yards while completing 59.2 percent of his attempts, spreading the ball around to a deep arsenal of targets that included 10 players with double-digit reception totals.
Motivation level: High. The Eagles haven’t been to a bowl game since 1987, so they will no doubt be looking to make a splash in their postseason return. A victory would also be the eighth of the year for Chris Creighton’s program -- a year after finishing with just one.– Austin Ward
Old Dominion
Best moment: On Nov. 28, when the Monarchs accepted a bid to play in the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl against Eastern Michigan, the first bowl in the history of the program. From 2009-10, ODU was not eligible for the FCS playoffs, and from 2013-14, the Monarchs were not eligible for a bowl because of NCAA transitioning rules.
Lowest moment: In a showdown with major Conference USA East Division implications, the Monarchs were blown out at Western Kentucky 59-24. ODU trailed 52-14 at halftime in a game that proved to be the difference in which side would play for the Conference USA championship.
Key player: Quarterback David Washingtonleads a powerful Old Dominion offense and is one of four FBS quarterbacks to have thrown for 25 touchdown passes and four or fewer interceptions. He also threw for 2,648 yards while completing 60 percent of his passes.
Motivation level: The motivation should be tremendous for a program that has never been to a bowl. It will be paramount, however, for the Monarchs to manage their emotions in an exciting setting. – Jake Trotter
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
Date: Dec. 23, 1 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium | Nassau, Bahamas
Brogan Roback throwing for 468 yards and three scores to punch a postseason ticket.
Lowest moment: There’s no shame in coming up short against a team that stormed through the regular season without a loss. But the Eagles might look back and wonder what could have been after standing toe to toe with Western Michigan and even taking a lead in the second quarter that opened up the possibility of a huge upset. The Broncos eventually pulled away to win comfortably, but that memory will surely stick with Eastern Michigan.
Key player: Everything flows through Roback for the Eagles, and the junior quarterback has done a steady job helping lead the program during the remarkable turnaround season. Roback has thrown for 2,394 yards while completing 59.2 percent of his attempts, spreading the ball around to a deep arsenal of targets that included 10 players with double-digit reception totals.
Motivation level: High. The Eagles haven’t been to a bowl game since 1987, so they will no doubt be looking to make a splash in their postseason return. A victory would also be the eighth of the year for Chris Creighton’s program -- a year after finishing with just one.– Austin Ward
Old Dominion
Best moment: On Nov. 28, when the Monarchs accepted a bid to play in the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl against Eastern Michigan, the first bowl in the history of the program. From 2009-10, ODU was not eligible for the FCS playoffs, and from 2013-14, the Monarchs were not eligible for a bowl because of NCAA transitioning rules.
Lowest moment: In a showdown with major Conference USA East Division implications, the Monarchs were blown out at Western Kentucky 59-24. ODU trailed 52-14 at halftime in a game that proved to be the difference in which side would play for the Conference USA championship.
Key player: Quarterback David Washingtonleads a powerful Old Dominion offense and is one of four FBS quarterbacks to have thrown for 25 touchdown passes and four or fewer interceptions. He also threw for 2,648 yards while completing 60 percent of his passes.
Motivation level: The motivation should be tremendous for a program that has never been to a bowl. It will be paramount, however, for the Monarchs to manage their emotions in an exciting setting. – Jake Trotter
Armed Forces Bowl: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Navy Midshipmen
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl:Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Navy Midshipmen
Date: Dec. 23, 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium | Fort Worth, Texas
Ryan Higgins threw for 454 yards in the Week 6 home victory.
Lowest moment: Tech blew a 20-point second-half lead in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in Week 4, falling to 1-3 after a 38-34 loss to Middle Tennessee. The silver lining? The Bulldogs then won seven straight games, but on the last Saturday of September, things looked bleak when Louisiana Tech couldn’t win while posting 622 yards of offense.
Key player: Undersized receiver Trent Taylorranks among the national leaders in catches and yards. At 5-foot-8 and 178 pounds, Taylor weaves through defenses as the primary option for Higgins, who also connects regularly with prolific wideout Carlos Henderson. Taylor caught 17 balls for 210 yards in the aforementioned loss to Middle Tennessee.
Motivation level: Incentive to win is always high for the Bulldogs in the postseason. Louisiana Tech beat Illinois two years ago under coach Skip Holtz and closed the season with a victory over Arkansas State last season, playing well in both bowl games. The opportunity to win nine games for the fourth time in five years adds to Tech’s motivation in the Armed Forces Bowl. -- Mitch Sherman
Navy
Best moment: You can go with the Oct. 8 upset of then-No. 6 Houston, since that was the official announcement to the rest of the nation that Navy’s 2015 season wasn’t some kind of one-year wonder. Or you could go with the Nov. 5 win over rival Notre Dame, given how methodical the Midshipmen were in that 28-27 victory.
Lowest moment: A 28-14 loss at Air Force on Oct. 1 meant Navy did not control its destiny as it related to the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Sure enough, the Falcons later went on to beat Army and claim it for themselves.
Key player: Will Worth had a pleasantly surprising season after an early injury to expected starting quarterback Tago Smith. Worth hit the 1,000-yard mark as both a rusher and as a passer, orchestrating a Navy offense that posted 66 and 75 points, respectively, in its final two regular-season games.
Motivation level: High. Navy will be looking to win its fourth straight bowl game, something it has never done before. First things first, though: the annual season-ending tilt with Army on Dec. 10. -- Matt Fortuna
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl:Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Navy Midshipmen
Date: Dec. 23, 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium | Fort Worth, Texas
Ryan Higgins threw for 454 yards in the Week 6 home victory.
Lowest moment: Tech blew a 20-point second-half lead in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in Week 4, falling to 1-3 after a 38-34 loss to Middle Tennessee. The silver lining? The Bulldogs then won seven straight games, but on the last Saturday of September, things looked bleak when Louisiana Tech couldn’t win while posting 622 yards of offense.
Key player: Undersized receiver Trent Taylorranks among the national leaders in catches and yards. At 5-foot-8 and 178 pounds, Taylor weaves through defenses as the primary option for Higgins, who also connects regularly with prolific wideout Carlos Henderson. Taylor caught 17 balls for 210 yards in the aforementioned loss to Middle Tennessee.
Motivation level: Incentive to win is always high for the Bulldogs in the postseason. Louisiana Tech beat Illinois two years ago under coach Skip Holtz and closed the season with a victory over Arkansas State last season, playing well in both bowl games. The opportunity to win nine games for the fourth time in five years adds to Tech’s motivation in the Armed Forces Bowl. -- Mitch Sherman
Navy
Best moment: You can go with the Oct. 8 upset of then-No. 6 Houston, since that was the official announcement to the rest of the nation that Navy’s 2015 season wasn’t some kind of one-year wonder. Or you could go with the Nov. 5 win over rival Notre Dame, given how methodical the Midshipmen were in that 28-27 victory.
Lowest moment: A 28-14 loss at Air Force on Oct. 1 meant Navy did not control its destiny as it related to the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Sure enough, the Falcons later went on to beat Army and claim it for themselves.
Key player: Will Worth had a pleasantly surprising season after an early injury to expected starting quarterback Tago Smith. Worth hit the 1,000-yard mark as both a rusher and as a passer, orchestrating a Navy offense that posted 66 and 75 points, respectively, in its final two regular-season games.
Motivation level: High. Navy will be looking to win its fourth straight bowl game, something it has never done before. First things first, though: the annual season-ending tilt with Army on Dec. 10. -- Matt Fortuna
Dollar General Bowl: Ohio Bobcats vs. Troy Trojans
Dollar General Bowl: Ohio Bobcats vs. Troy Trojans
Date: Dec. 23, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Ladd-Peebles Stadium | Mobile, Alabama
Lowest moment: The loss might not look quite as bad in hindsight given Eastern Michigan’s massive improvement this season. But given the historic struggles of that program and the fact the game was at home, Ohio dropping a 27-20 decision to the Eagles still probably qualifies as the one outcome the Bobcats would like to erase from memory.
Key player: There is no shortage of defensive talent to choose from, but Tarell Basham is where everything starts for the Bobcats. The senior lineman was the MAC defensive player of the year after racking up 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, and he’ll no doubt be looking to add to those totals in the last game of his career.
Motivation level: Average. The Bobcats have been no stranger to the postseason under Frank Solich, who has built the program into an annual contender in the MAC and a regular in the bowl lineup. But that also means there’s probably nothing truly special or unique about this particular trip, which can make it hard to predict what kind of performance the Bobcats will deliver. -- Austin Ward
Troy
Best moment: This was big. This was history. After beating Appalachian State late in the season, Troy broke into the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in school history. In fact, it became the first Sun Belt team to be ranked. And why not? At the time, Troy was 8-1 with its only loss a 30-24 defeat on the road at then-No. 2 Clemson.
Lowest moment: History is a heavy thing. Sometimes it weighs you down. Such was the case the very week Troy became ranked for the first time. At home, against a 6-5 Arkansas State team, the Trojans got absolutely destroyed. Thanks to five turnovers, they lost 35-3 and failed to score a point in the second half. “They came in as champions and they’re leaving as champions,” Troy coach Neal Brown said after the game. “We haven’t earned that yet.” It was the right word to use at the time -- “earned” -- because while Troy had come so far, losing in such deflating fashion showed just how far there was left to go.
Key player: Brandon Silvers picked up right where he left off as a sophomore last season. The 6-foot-2 righty from Orange Beach, Alabama, completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,945 yards, 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. What’s more, he ran for 150 yards and four scores. All told, he’s up to 7,276 total yards and 63 total touchdowns in his career -- and he has one more year of eligibility after this season.
Motivation level: It took only a few days to fall out of the rankings, but maybe a win at the end of the season might be enough to creep back in. After all, with a 9-2 regular season and a six-point loss to a great team in Clemson, the resume is there. Winning big in a bowl game might be enough to justify a ranking in the low 20s, and that would be huge for a program looking to break through under Brown. -- Alex Scarborough
Dollar General Bowl: Ohio Bobcats vs. Troy Trojans
Date: Dec. 23, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Ladd-Peebles Stadium | Mobile, Alabama
Lowest moment: The loss might not look quite as bad in hindsight given Eastern Michigan’s massive improvement this season. But given the historic struggles of that program and the fact the game was at home, Ohio dropping a 27-20 decision to the Eagles still probably qualifies as the one outcome the Bobcats would like to erase from memory.
Key player: There is no shortage of defensive talent to choose from, but Tarell Basham is where everything starts for the Bobcats. The senior lineman was the MAC defensive player of the year after racking up 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, and he’ll no doubt be looking to add to those totals in the last game of his career.
Motivation level: Average. The Bobcats have been no stranger to the postseason under Frank Solich, who has built the program into an annual contender in the MAC and a regular in the bowl lineup. But that also means there’s probably nothing truly special or unique about this particular trip, which can make it hard to predict what kind of performance the Bobcats will deliver. -- Austin Ward
Troy
Best moment: This was big. This was history. After beating Appalachian State late in the season, Troy broke into the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in school history. In fact, it became the first Sun Belt team to be ranked. And why not? At the time, Troy was 8-1 with its only loss a 30-24 defeat on the road at then-No. 2 Clemson.
Lowest moment: History is a heavy thing. Sometimes it weighs you down. Such was the case the very week Troy became ranked for the first time. At home, against a 6-5 Arkansas State team, the Trojans got absolutely destroyed. Thanks to five turnovers, they lost 35-3 and failed to score a point in the second half. “They came in as champions and they’re leaving as champions,” Troy coach Neal Brown said after the game. “We haven’t earned that yet.” It was the right word to use at the time -- “earned” -- because while Troy had come so far, losing in such deflating fashion showed just how far there was left to go.
Key player: Brandon Silvers picked up right where he left off as a sophomore last season. The 6-foot-2 righty from Orange Beach, Alabama, completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,945 yards, 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. What’s more, he ran for 150 yards and four scores. All told, he’s up to 7,276 total yards and 63 total touchdowns in his career -- and he has one more year of eligibility after this season.
Motivation level: It took only a few days to fall out of the rankings, but maybe a win at the end of the season might be enough to creep back in. After all, with a 9-2 regular season and a six-point loss to a great team in Clemson, the resume is there. Winning big in a bowl game might be enough to justify a ranking in the low 20s, and that would be huge for a program looking to break through under Brown. -- Alex Scarborough
Hawai'i Bowl: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Hawai'i Bowl: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors vs.Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Date: Dec. 24, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Aloha Stadium | Honolulu, Hawai'i
Marcus Kempthrew a pair of touchdown passes to Dru Brown in consecutive overtime periods to lead the Rainbow Warriors past Air Force in Colorado Springs. The victory ended Air Force’s 15-game home winning streak and ended up being necessary for the Rainbow Warriors to secure bowl eligibility.
Lowest moment: For the most part, the Rainbow Warriors beat who they should have beaten and vice versa, but they would surely want another crack at UNLV. The Rebels went to Honolulu and beat Hawai'i on homecoming 41-38, which was far worse than the 63-3 thumping it received from Michigan.
Key player: Sophomore linebacker Jahlani Tavai led the team with 118 tackles, including seven sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. He was the team’s lone recipient of first-team All-Mountain West honors.
Motivation level: The Rainbow Warriors didn’t play well for most of the second half of the season and now they’re in a bowl game with a losing record. It’s understandable if they lack motivation after a long season in which they traveled approximately 47,000 miles -- roughly the same distance as two trips around the Earth. -- Kyle Bonagura
Middle Tennessee
Best moment: How about a road win over an SEC team? Middle Tennessee knocked off Missouri 51-45 in October thanks to a big day from its prolific triplets: QB Brent Stockstillput up 361 total yards and four TDs, RBI'Tavius Mathers rushed for 215 yards and WR Richie James contributed 129 receiving yards. “A phenomenal win for us,” coach Rick Stockstill said.
Lowest moment: After losing Brent Stockstillto a broken collarbone a week earlier, Middle Tennessee took a 42-17 loss on the road against a Marshall team that went 3-9. The Herd grabbed four takeaways and pitched a 28-0 second-half shutout after trailing at halftime in Middle Tennessee backup QBJohn Urzua’s first career start.
Key player: Mathers. The former Ole Miss transfer became only the seventh player in FBS history to produce 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in one season. Whether or not the Blue Raiders get Stockstill back for the bowl, we’ll see plenty of Mathers in the senior’s final game.
Motivation level: Solid. With a powerful offense that averaged 40 points per game and broke all sorts of school records in offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s first season, Middle Tennessee promises to be a tough out and an even tougher one if Brent Stockstill gets healthy. -- Max Olson
Hawai'i Bowl: Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors vs.Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Date: Dec. 24, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Aloha Stadium | Honolulu, Hawai'i
Marcus Kempthrew a pair of touchdown passes to Dru Brown in consecutive overtime periods to lead the Rainbow Warriors past Air Force in Colorado Springs. The victory ended Air Force’s 15-game home winning streak and ended up being necessary for the Rainbow Warriors to secure bowl eligibility.
Lowest moment: For the most part, the Rainbow Warriors beat who they should have beaten and vice versa, but they would surely want another crack at UNLV. The Rebels went to Honolulu and beat Hawai'i on homecoming 41-38, which was far worse than the 63-3 thumping it received from Michigan.
Key player: Sophomore linebacker Jahlani Tavai led the team with 118 tackles, including seven sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. He was the team’s lone recipient of first-team All-Mountain West honors.
Motivation level: The Rainbow Warriors didn’t play well for most of the second half of the season and now they’re in a bowl game with a losing record. It’s understandable if they lack motivation after a long season in which they traveled approximately 47,000 miles -- roughly the same distance as two trips around the Earth. -- Kyle Bonagura
Middle Tennessee
Best moment: How about a road win over an SEC team? Middle Tennessee knocked off Missouri 51-45 in October thanks to a big day from its prolific triplets: QB Brent Stockstillput up 361 total yards and four TDs, RBI'Tavius Mathers rushed for 215 yards and WR Richie James contributed 129 receiving yards. “A phenomenal win for us,” coach Rick Stockstill said.
Lowest moment: After losing Brent Stockstillto a broken collarbone a week earlier, Middle Tennessee took a 42-17 loss on the road against a Marshall team that went 3-9. The Herd grabbed four takeaways and pitched a 28-0 second-half shutout after trailing at halftime in Middle Tennessee backup QBJohn Urzua’s first career start.
Key player: Mathers. The former Ole Miss transfer became only the seventh player in FBS history to produce 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in one season. Whether or not the Blue Raiders get Stockstill back for the bowl, we’ll see plenty of Mathers in the senior’s final game.
Motivation level: Solid. With a powerful offense that averaged 40 points per game and broke all sorts of school records in offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s first season, Middle Tennessee promises to be a tough out and an even tougher one if Brent Stockstill gets healthy. -- Max Olson
St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) RedHawksvs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Date: Dec. 26, 11 a.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Tropicana Field | St. Petersburg, Florida
Lowest moment: When Akron defeated Miami 35-13 on Oct. 8, it appeared there was no way the RedHawks would make a bowl game. It marked Miami's sixth consecutive loss to open the season, and the RedHawks committed three turnovers.
Key player: Quarterback Gus Ragland has been sensational this season. He recovered from an offseason ACL tear in time to take over as the starting quarterback Oct. 15 against Kent State. Ragland has led Miami to six consecutive victories while throwing 15 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Motivation level: High. This season was supposed to be a dud when the RedHawks fell to 0-6. Now, they've made history as a postseason participant. Why not keep the magical turnaround rolling? – Jesse Temple
Mississippi State
Best moment: There was plenty to feel bad about before the final week of the regular season. A 4-7 record wasn’t exactly something to pat yourself on the back for. But then the Egg Bowl came and suddenly there was something to play for. Not only would Mississippi State savor beating The School Up North, but it also had the added satisfaction of eliminating Ole Miss from bowl eligibility. What’s more, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald won SEC Player of the Week for his 367-yard, five-touchdown performance.
Lowest moment: The season didn’t start with a bang. Rather, it was a dull thud. Dak Prescott was gone, a new era was beginning and Mississippi State somehow lost at home to lowly South Alabama. Fitzgerald wasn’t anywhere near the player he’d become, failing to complete any of the three passes he attempted before he was pulled. The loss set the tone for an underwhelming season that if not for a solid APR score and good luck wouldn’t have led to a bowl game with a sub-.500 record.
Key player: As Fitzgerald went, so went Mississippi State. In the Bulldogs’ seven losses, he threw six touchdowns and five interceptions. In their five wins, he had 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. And that’s not taking into account his ability to run the football, which he did to the tune of a team-high 1,361 yards and 14 touchdowns. Like with Prescott before him, games went almost entirely through Fitzgerald as he accounted for 35 of the offense’s 46 touchdowns.
Motivation level: You better believe that some red-and-blue clad folks in Mississippi will have a fun time telling State that it shouldn’t be in a bowl game, that it snuck in through the back door. And if that’s not motivation enough to prove you belong, what is? This is a young football team that ought to use these next few weeks to build a future around Fitzgerald and others. Winning a bowl game won’t undo a lackluster season, but it could serve as a springboard into a brighter future in 2017. -- Alex Scarborough
St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) RedHawksvs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Date: Dec. 26, 11 a.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Tropicana Field | St. Petersburg, Florida
Lowest moment: When Akron defeated Miami 35-13 on Oct. 8, it appeared there was no way the RedHawks would make a bowl game. It marked Miami's sixth consecutive loss to open the season, and the RedHawks committed three turnovers.
Key player: Quarterback Gus Ragland has been sensational this season. He recovered from an offseason ACL tear in time to take over as the starting quarterback Oct. 15 against Kent State. Ragland has led Miami to six consecutive victories while throwing 15 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Motivation level: High. This season was supposed to be a dud when the RedHawks fell to 0-6. Now, they've made history as a postseason participant. Why not keep the magical turnaround rolling? – Jesse Temple
Mississippi State
Best moment: There was plenty to feel bad about before the final week of the regular season. A 4-7 record wasn’t exactly something to pat yourself on the back for. But then the Egg Bowl came and suddenly there was something to play for. Not only would Mississippi State savor beating The School Up North, but it also had the added satisfaction of eliminating Ole Miss from bowl eligibility. What’s more, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald won SEC Player of the Week for his 367-yard, five-touchdown performance.
Lowest moment: The season didn’t start with a bang. Rather, it was a dull thud. Dak Prescott was gone, a new era was beginning and Mississippi State somehow lost at home to lowly South Alabama. Fitzgerald wasn’t anywhere near the player he’d become, failing to complete any of the three passes he attempted before he was pulled. The loss set the tone for an underwhelming season that if not for a solid APR score and good luck wouldn’t have led to a bowl game with a sub-.500 record.
Key player: As Fitzgerald went, so went Mississippi State. In the Bulldogs’ seven losses, he threw six touchdowns and five interceptions. In their five wins, he had 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. And that’s not taking into account his ability to run the football, which he did to the tune of a team-high 1,361 yards and 14 touchdowns. Like with Prescott before him, games went almost entirely through Fitzgerald as he accounted for 35 of the offense’s 46 touchdowns.
Motivation level: You better believe that some red-and-blue clad folks in Mississippi will have a fun time telling State that it shouldn’t be in a bowl game, that it snuck in through the back door. And if that’s not motivation enough to prove you belong, what is? This is a young football team that ought to use these next few weeks to build a future around Fitzgerald and others. Winning a bowl game won’t undo a lackluster season, but it could serve as a springboard into a brighter future in 2017. -- Alex Scarborough
Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland Terrapins vs. Boston College Eagles
Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland Terrapins vs.Boston College Eagles
Date: Dec. 26, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Ford Field | Detroit
Lowest moment: Big back-to-back losses against Michigan and Ohio State. First came the Terps’ 59-3 loss to the Wolverines and then a 62-3 loss to the Buckeyes. That showed just how far D.J. Durkin’s team has to go and, in case it’s not obvious, it’s a long, long way. The games weren’t even as close as the scores suggested. At halftime, Maryland trailed in the two games by a combined 80-3.
Key player: QB Perry Hills. It’s clear Maryland’s offense isn’t the same without him. Hills has been incredibly efficient this season, throwing 10 touchdowns to three interceptions, in spite of missing two games and leaving early in four. He’s completing a conference-high 66 percent of his passes.
Motivation level: Medium-high. The Terps haven’t won a bowl since 2010, so they’d obviously like to change that this season. Maryland has already shown improvement by rebounding from a 3-9 season, so a winning record and bowl victory would be yet another step in the right direction. -- Josh Moyer
Boston College
Best moment: Beating Wake Forest. Without the 17-14 win to close out the regular season, the Eagles wouldn’t have reached six wins and wouldn’t have clinched bowl eligibility after missing the postseason a year ago. Winning at NC State 21-14 was also a huge win for Steve Addazio and his program, considering the stakes. BC finished with three more wins than it had a year ago.
Lowest moment: Playing the top four teams in the ACC and losing by a combined score of 202-24. Though the nonconference schedule was easy (wins over Buffalo, UMass, Wagner and UConn), the ACC schedule was not. Boston College was completely overwhelmed by Clemson, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Florida State.
Key player: Harold Landry. The best player on another solid defense was Landry, who set the school single-season record with 15 sacks. That’s tied for the national lead with Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker. Landry also leads the nation with seven forced fumbles.
Motivation level: High. We’re talking about a bunch of dudes who are going to be ready to play. Well, at least that is what Addazio would say. With such a young team that still needs to develop, the extra 15 bowl practices should be instrumental moving forward. Plus, the Eagles haven’t won a bowl game since 2007. -- Andrea Adelson
Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland Terrapins vs.Boston College Eagles
Date: Dec. 26, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Location: Ford Field | Detroit
Lowest moment: Big back-to-back losses against Michigan and Ohio State. First came the Terps’ 59-3 loss to the Wolverines and then a 62-3 loss to the Buckeyes. That showed just how far D.J. Durkin’s team has to go and, in case it’s not obvious, it’s a long, long way. The games weren’t even as close as the scores suggested. At halftime, Maryland trailed in the two games by a combined 80-3.
Key player: QB Perry Hills. It’s clear Maryland’s offense isn’t the same without him. Hills has been incredibly efficient this season, throwing 10 touchdowns to three interceptions, in spite of missing two games and leaving early in four. He’s completing a conference-high 66 percent of his passes.
Motivation level: Medium-high. The Terps haven’t won a bowl since 2010, so they’d obviously like to change that this season. Maryland has already shown improvement by rebounding from a 3-9 season, so a winning record and bowl victory would be yet another step in the right direction. -- Josh Moyer
Boston College
Best moment: Beating Wake Forest. Without the 17-14 win to close out the regular season, the Eagles wouldn’t have reached six wins and wouldn’t have clinched bowl eligibility after missing the postseason a year ago. Winning at NC State 21-14 was also a huge win for Steve Addazio and his program, considering the stakes. BC finished with three more wins than it had a year ago.
Lowest moment: Playing the top four teams in the ACC and losing by a combined score of 202-24. Though the nonconference schedule was easy (wins over Buffalo, UMass, Wagner and UConn), the ACC schedule was not. Boston College was completely overwhelmed by Clemson, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Florida State.
Key player: Harold Landry. The best player on another solid defense was Landry, who set the school single-season record with 15 sacks. That’s tied for the national lead with Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker. Landry also leads the nation with seven forced fumbles.
Motivation level: High. We’re talking about a bunch of dudes who are going to be ready to play. Well, at least that is what Addazio would say. With such a young team that still needs to develop, the extra 15 bowl practices should be instrumental moving forward. Plus, the Eagles haven’t won a bowl game since 2007. -- Andrea Adelson
Independence Bowl: NC State Wolfpack vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Camping World Independence Bowl: NC State Wolfpack vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Date: Dec. 26, 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Location: Independence Stadium | Shreveport, Louisiana
Lowest moment: A short field-goal attempt to beat Clemson sailed wide, and with it went the hopes for a big season in Raleigh. The Wolfpack were a play or two away from a number of big wins, but none stung more than the Clemson loss -- and the hangover a week later led to a blowout loss at the hands of Louisville.
Key player: Defensive end Bradley Chubbanchors a line that is among the most underrated groups in college football. Chubb racked up 20.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks this season, establishing himself as one of the ACC’s best edge rushers. But he’s also joined by a talented group -- including B.J. Hill, Darian Roseboro and Kentavius Street -- that will challenge any offensive line.
Motivation level: High. This bowl game is about more than an end-of-season reward. It’s about proving that 2016’s failures were more flukes and that the successes are what this team should ultimately be judged by. A year ago, NC State laid a massive egg in its bowl game, and Doeren doesn’t want that to happen again. -- David M. Hale
Vanderbilt
Best moment: This has to be when Derek Mason & Co. were dancing their way to a 45-34 upset of then-No. 17 Tennessee at home. The win officially made the Commodores bowl eligible, and it knocked the Vols out of the Allstate Sugar Bowl hunt. Vandy’s previously struggling offense churned out a season-high 608 yards.
Lowest moment: Losing 38-7 to Georgia Tech had everyone thinking Vandy had no chance at a bowl berth, and there were some who thought Mason might find himself without a job at the end of the season. Vandy gave up 511 yards and a season-worst 8.1 yards per play.
Key player: If the offense is going to run the way offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig wants it to, quarterback Kyle Shurmur has to play the way he did in the final two games of the season. In the past two games -- both wins -- Shurmur threw for 689 yards and four touchdowns to only one interception. The offense absolutely runs through him now.
Motivation level: It’s soaring right now. The Commodores weren’t even supposed to be in a bowl game a month ago but won four of their last six games and found an exciting offense in the process. A win would do wonders for the confidence of this entire program going into the offseason. -- Edward Aschoff
Camping World Independence Bowl: NC State Wolfpack vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Date: Dec. 26, 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Location: Independence Stadium | Shreveport, Louisiana
Lowest moment: A short field-goal attempt to beat Clemson sailed wide, and with it went the hopes for a big season in Raleigh. The Wolfpack were a play or two away from a number of big wins, but none stung more than the Clemson loss -- and the hangover a week later led to a blowout loss at the hands of Louisville.
Key player: Defensive end Bradley Chubbanchors a line that is among the most underrated groups in college football. Chubb racked up 20.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks this season, establishing himself as one of the ACC’s best edge rushers. But he’s also joined by a talented group -- including B.J. Hill, Darian Roseboro and Kentavius Street -- that will challenge any offensive line.
Motivation level: High. This bowl game is about more than an end-of-season reward. It’s about proving that 2016’s failures were more flukes and that the successes are what this team should ultimately be judged by. A year ago, NC State laid a massive egg in its bowl game, and Doeren doesn’t want that to happen again. -- David M. Hale
Vanderbilt
Best moment: This has to be when Derek Mason & Co. were dancing their way to a 45-34 upset of then-No. 17 Tennessee at home. The win officially made the Commodores bowl eligible, and it knocked the Vols out of the Allstate Sugar Bowl hunt. Vandy’s previously struggling offense churned out a season-high 608 yards.
Lowest moment: Losing 38-7 to Georgia Tech had everyone thinking Vandy had no chance at a bowl berth, and there were some who thought Mason might find himself without a job at the end of the season. Vandy gave up 511 yards and a season-worst 8.1 yards per play.
Key player: If the offense is going to run the way offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig wants it to, quarterback Kyle Shurmur has to play the way he did in the final two games of the season. In the past two games -- both wins -- Shurmur threw for 689 yards and four touchdowns to only one interception. The offense absolutely runs through him now.
Motivation level: It’s soaring right now. The Commodores weren’t even supposed to be in a bowl game a month ago but won four of their last six games and found an exciting offense in the process. A win would do wonders for the confidence of this entire program going into the offseason. -- Edward Aschoff
Dec. 27
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl
Army vs. North Texas
12 p.m., ESPN
Cotton Bowl, Dallas
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman
No. 24 Temple vs. Wake Forest
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Md.
National Funding Holiday Bowl
Minnesota vs. Washington State
7 p.m., ESPN
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
Motel 6 Cactus Bowl
Boise State vs. Baylor
10:15 p.m., ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl
Army vs. North Texas
12 p.m., ESPN
Cotton Bowl, Dallas
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman
No. 24 Temple vs. Wake Forest
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Md.
National Funding Holiday Bowl
Minnesota vs. Washington State
7 p.m., ESPN
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
Motel 6 Cactus Bowl
Boise State vs. Baylor
10:15 p.m., ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix
Dec. 28
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
No. 23 Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern
2 p.m., ESPN
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
Russell Athletic Bowl
No. 16 West Virginia vs. Miami
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Foster Farms Bowl
Indiana vs. No. 19 Utah
8:30 p.m., Fox
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl
Texas A&M vs. Kansas State
9 p.m., ESPN
NRG Stadium, Houston
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
No. 23 Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern
2 p.m., ESPN
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
Russell Athletic Bowl
No. 16 West Virginia vs. Miami
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Foster Farms Bowl
Indiana vs. No. 19 Utah
8:30 p.m., Fox
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl
Texas A&M vs. Kansas State
9 p.m., ESPN
NRG Stadium, Houston