Cnotes 2017 college bowl matchups with t.v. Schedule !

Here’s the 2017-2018 bowl schedule in its entirety.


All times are Eastern, and streaming destinations are linked where available.


Saturday, December 16
Celebration Bowl, 12 p.m on ABC: Grambling vs. North Carolina A&T
New Orleans Bowl, 1 p.m. on ESPN: Troy vs. North Texas
Cure Bowl, 2:30 p.m. on CBSSN: Georgia State vs. Western Kentucky
Las Vegas Bowl, 3:30 p.m. on ABC: Boise State vs. Oregon
New Mexico Bowl, 4:30 p.m. on ESPN: Marshall vs. Colorado State
Camellia Bowl, 8 p.m. on ESPN: Arkansas State vs. Middle Tennessee

Tuesday, December 19
Boca Raton Bowl, 7 p.m. on ESPN: FAU vs. Akron

Wednesday, December 20
Frisco Bowl, 8 p.m. on ESPN: SMU vs. Louisiana Tech

Thursday, December 21
Gasparilla Bowl, 8 p.m. on ESPN: FIU vs. Temple


Friday, December 22
Bahamas Bowl, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN: Ohio vs. UAB
Potato Bowl, 4 p.m. on ESPN: CMU vs. Wyoming


Saturday, December 23
Birmingham Bowl, 12 p.m. on ESPN: USF vs. Texas Tech
Armed Forces Bowl, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN: Army vs. San Diego State
Dollar General Bowl, 7 p.m. on ESPN: Appalachian State vs. Toledo

Sunday, December 24
Hawaii Bowl, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN: Fresno State vs. Houston


Tuesday, December 26
Heart of Dallas Bowl, 1:30 p.m on ESPN: Utah vs. West Virginia
Quick Lane Bowl, 5:15 p.m. on ESPN: Duke vs. NIU
Cactus Bowl, 9 p.m. on ESPN: Kansas State vs. UCLA


Wednesday, December 27
Independence Bowl, 1:30 p.m. on ESPN: Florida State vs. Southern Miss
Pinstripe Bowl, 5:15 p.m. on ESPN: Boston College vs. Iowa
Foster Farms Bowl, 8:30 p.m. on FOX: Arizona vs. Purdue
Texas Bowl, 9 p.m. on ESPN: Texas vs. Missouri

Thursday, December 28
Military Bowl, 1:30 p.m. on ESPN: Virginia vs. Navy
Camping World Bowl, 5:15 p.m. on ESPN: Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech
Holiday Bowl, 9 p.m. on FS1: Michigan State vs. Washington State
Alamo Bowl, 9 p.m. on ESPN: Stanford vs. TCU


Friday, December 29
Belk Bowl, 1 p.m. on ESPN: Wake Forest vs. Texas A&M
Sun Bowl, 3 p.m. on CBS: Arizona State vs. NC State
Music City Bowl, 4:30 p.m. on ESPN: Kentucky vs. Northwestern
Arizona Bowl, 5:30 p.m. on CBSSN: New Mexico State vs. Utah State
Cotton Bowl, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN: Ohio State vs. USC


Saturday, December 30
TaxSlayer Bowl, 12 p.m. on ESPN: Mississippi State vs. Louisville
Liberty Bowl, 12:30 p.m. on ABC: Memphis vs. Iowa State
Fiesta Bowl, 4 p.m. on ESPN: Penn State vs. Washington
Orange Bowl, 8 p.m. on ESPN: Miami vs. Wisconsin

Monday, January 1
Outback Bowl, 12 p.m. on ESPN2: Michigan vs. South Carolina
Peach Bowl, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN: Auburn vs. UCF
Citrus Bowl, 1 p.m. on ABC: Notre Dame vs. LSU
Rose Bowl Playoff semifinal, 5 p.m. on ESPN: Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Sugar Bowl Playoff semifinal, 8:45 p.m. on ESPN: Clemson vs. Alabama

Monday, January 8
Playoff National Championship, 8 p.m. on ESPN: Rose winner vs. Sugar winner

Cure Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017

Georgia State (6-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) vs. Western Kentucky (6-6, 4-4 Conference USA), Dec. 16, 2:30 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Orlando, Florida


TOP PLAYERS


Georgia State: WR Penny Hart. The sophomore leads the Sun Belt with a school-record 73 receptions for 1,094 yards and eight touchdowns.


Western Kentucky: QB Mike White. The Senior Bowl invitee leads Conference USA in total offense (300.3 yards per game).


NOTABLE


Georgia State: RB Glenn Smith is one of just three active FBS players with at least 1,000 yards rushing, 1,000 receiving and 1,000 return yards in his career.


Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers are one of 11 teams in FBS with five or more receivers that have 25 or more catches.


LAST TIME


Western Kentucky won 44-28 in a 2013 regular-season game. That was the Hilltoppers' final season in the Sun Belt.


BOWL HISTORY


Georgia State is making only its second bowl appearance. The Panthers lost 27-16 to San Jose State in the 2015 Cure Bowl.


Western Kentucky is 4-1 and is in a bowl game for the fourth straight season. The Hilltoppers have a three-game bowl win streak.


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Las Vegas Bowl matchup
December 3, 2017

Boise State (10-3, Mountain West) vs Oregon (7-5, Pac-12), Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Las Vegas


TOP PLAYERS


Boise State: QB Brett Rypien, 2,515 yards passing, 14 TDs


Oregon: RB Royce Freeman, 1,475 yards rushing, 16 TDs


NOTABLE


Boise State: The Broncos avenged a loss to Fresno State the week before by beating the Bulldogs 17-14 in the Mountain West title game.


Oregon: The Ducks finished the season on a two-game winning streak, thrashing Arizona and rival Oregon State to reach seven victories in coach Willie Taggart's first season.

LAST TIME


Boise State 19, Oregon 14. (Sept. 3, 2009)


BOWL HISTORY


Boise State: Sixteenth consecutive bowl appearance, tied for sixth-best in the nation with Wisconsin.


Oregon: Twelfth bowl appearance in the last 13 years, third appearance in Las Vegas Bowl.


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New Mexico Bowl matchup
December 3, 2017


Colorado State (7-5, Mountain West) vs Marshall (7-5, C-USA), Dec. 16, 4:30 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Albuquerque, New Mexico


TOP PLAYERS


Colorado State: QB Nick Stevens, 3,479 yards passing, 27 TDs


Marshall: QB Chase Litton, 2,853 yards passing, 23 TDs


NOTABLE


Colorado State: Beat San Jose State 42-14 in regular-season finale, snapping a three-game losing streak.


Marshall: The Thundering Herd dropped four of their last five games after a 6-1 start.

LAST TIME


First meeting.


BOWL HISTORY


Colorado State: Fifth straight bowl appearance. The Rams are 1-3 in those games.


Marshall: The Herd last played in a bowl in 2015, beating UConn 16-10 in St. Petersburg, Fla.


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Camellia Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Middle Tennessee (6-6, 4-4 Conference USA) vs. Arkansas State (7-4, 6-2 Sun Belt), Dec. 16, 8 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: Montgomery, Alabama


TOP PLAYERS


Middle Tennessee: S Javonte Moffat leads the team with 95 tackles.


Arkansas State: QB Justice Hansen has broken Ryan Aplin's school single-season passing record with 3,630 yards. He has also thrown a Sun Belt-record 34 touchdown passes.


NOTABLE


Middle Tennessee: Went 3-1 after QB Brent Stockstill, the school's career passing leader, returned after missing six games with an injury. Became bowl eligible with a closing 41-10 win over Old Dominion.


Arkansas State: Ja'Von Rolland-Jones needs one more sack to break the career FBS record of 44 held by Terrell Suggs and Jonathan Peterson. Ended regular season with a 32-25 loss to Troy on a touchdown with 17 seconds left with a share of the Sun Belt title on the line.


LAST TIME


Arkansas State won 45-0 on Dec. 1, 2012.


BOWL HISTORY


Middle Tennessee: Bowl eligible for the sixth straight year; 3-7 all-time in bowl appearances with four straight losses.


Arkansas State: Seventh consecutive bowl berth and eighth overall, going 3-4.


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New Orleans Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017

North Texas (9-4, 7-1 C-USA) vs. Troy (10-2, 7-1 Sun Belt), Dec. 16, 1 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: New Orleans


TOP PLAYERS


North Texas: QB Mason Fine. He's thrown for 3,749 yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions this season. Seven different receivers have caught at least 24 passes.


Troy: LB Tron Folsom. He leads the team with 77 tackles and also has nine tackles for a loss and an interception.


NOTABLE


North Texas: The Mean Green set several single-season program records, including scoring, total offense, passing yards and passing touchdowns. They won eight of their last 10 games.


Troy: The Trojans' biggest moment of the season was when they beat LSU 24-21 on Sept. 30.


LAST TIME


Troy beat North Texas 14-7 in 2012. Troy has won eight of 10 vs. North Texas.


BOWL HISTORY


North Texas is in its 10th bowl game and has 3-6 record in previous bowls.


Troy is in its seventh bowl game and has a 3-3 record in previous bowls.

Boca Raton Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Akron (7-6, Mid-American Conference) vs. Florida Atlantic (10-3, Conference USA), Dec. 19, 7 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: Boca Raton, Florida


TOP PLAYERS


Akron: LB Ulysees Gilbert is a first-team all-Mid-American Conference selection who has recorded more than 120 tackles each of the last two seasons.


Florida Atlantic: RB Devin Singletary, 1,796 yards rushing, 6.5 yards per carry, 29 touchdown runs.


NOTABLE


Akron: The Zips reached the Mid-American Conference championship game for the first time since 2005. They lost the MAC championship game 45-28 to Toledo.


Florida Atlantic: After going 3-9 each of the last three years, Florida Atlantic captured the Conference USA title this season under new coach Lane Kiffin. The Owls have won nine straight and now play a bowl game at their home stadium.


LAST TIME

This is the first meeting between Akron and Florida Atlantic.


BOWL HISTORY


Akron: First Boca Raton Bowl appearance and fourth bowl berth overall.


Florida Atlantic: First Boca Raton Bowl berth and third bowl appearance overall. This marks Florida Atlantic's first bowl game since a 2008 Motor City Bowl victory.

Frisco Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017

SMU (7-5, AAC) vs. Louisiana Tech (6-6, Conference USA), Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET.


LOCATION: Frisco, Texas

TOP PLAYERS


SMU: WR Trey Quinn, 106 catches, 1191 yards, 12 TDs; WR Courtland Sutton, 62 catches, 1,017 yards, 12 TDs; QB Ben Hicks, 3,442 yards passing, 32 TDs.


Louisiana Tech: QB J'Mar Smith, 3,114 total yards, 18 TDs.

NOTABLE


SMU: The Mustangs have made steady progress under third-year coach Chad Morris, the former Clemson offensive coordinator and Texas high school coach. They improved from 2-10 in 2015 to 5-7 last year and 7-5 this season - including a 41-38 win over Tulane to end the regular season.


Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs needed wins in their final two regular season games to extend their bowl streak to four straight years, and they did so by defeating UTEP and UTSA. Boston Scott rushed for 138 yards on 20 carries as Louisiana Tech secured its bowl eligibility with a 20-6 win over UT San Antonio to end the regular season.


LAST TIME


Louisiana Tech 41, SMU 10 (Oct. 16, 2004)


BOWL HISTORY


SMU: The Mustangs are making their first bowl appearance since defeating Fresno State 43-10 in the 2012 Hawaii Bowl.


Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs reached a bowl game for a fourth straight season, coming after they defeated Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl a year ago.

Gasparilla Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Florida International (8-4, Conference USA) vs. Temple (6-6, American Athletic Conference), Dec. 21, 8 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: St. Petersburg, Florida


TOP PLAYERS


Florida International: QB Alex McGough, 2,791 yards passing, 17 touchdowns, eight interceptions


Temple: S Delvon Randall, 76 tackles, 6 + tackles for loss, four interceptions

NOTABLE


Florida International: The Golden Panthers already have matched a school single-season record for victories and have clinched their first winning season since 2011. Former Miami and North Carolina coach Butch Davis has orchestrated the turnaround in his first year at Florida International.


Temple: The Owls won three of their last four games to reach the .500 mark and become bowl eligible. Temple's only loss during that stretch was against unbeaten Central Florida.


LAST TIME


This is the first meeting between Florida International and Temple.


BOWL HISTORY


Florida International: Second Gasparilla Bowl berth and third bowl appearance overall. Florida International lost this game 20-10 to Marshall in 2011, when it was known as the Beef O'Brady's Bowl.


Temple: First Gasparilla Bowl berth and seventh bowl appearance overall. The Owls are bowling for a third straight season.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Wyoming (7-5, Mountain West) vs. Central Michigan (8-4, Mid-American), Dec. 22, 4 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Boise, Idaho


TOP PLAYERS


Wyoming: QB Josh Allen, 1,659 yards passing, 13 touchdown passes.


Central Michigan: RB Jonathan Ward, 990 yards rushing, 9 TDs; QB Shane Morris, 2,908 yards passing, 29 total TDs.


NOTABLE


Wyoming: Allen entered the season as one of the most highly touted NFL draft prospects in the country, but he's struggled and missed the Cowboys' final two regular-season games - both losses - with a shoulder injury. Wyoming coach Craig Bohl said last week that he expects Allen to declare for the draft after the season.


Central Michigan: After starting the season 3-4, the Chippewas won their final five conference games to secure a postseason berth and finish second in the MAC's West Division.


LAST TIME


Central Michigan 32, Wyoming 20 (Sept. 7, 2002)


BOWL HISTORY


Wyoming: The Cowboys are making their second straight bowl appearance, having lost 24-21 to BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl a year ago.


Central Michigan: The Chippewas have reached a bowl game in five of the last six seasons and are coming off a 55-10 loss to Tulsa in last year's Miami Beach Bowl. They haven't won a bowl game since the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Western Kentucky.

Bahamas Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) Ohio (8-4, MAC) vs UAB (8-4, Conference USA), Dec. 22, 12:30 p.m. EST

LOCATION: Nassau, Bahamas.


TOP PLAYERS


UAB: RB Spencer Brown broke Jordan Howard's school freshman records with 1,292 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Ranks third on the program's single-season rushing chart.


Ohio: QB Nathan Rourke has passed for 2,018 yards and 15 touchdowns while also rushing for 882 yards.


NOTABLE


UAB: Restarted the program after it was disbanded following the 2014 season. Set a school FBS record with eight wins.


Ohio: Averaged 38.9 points and 244.2 rushing yards per game. Lost last two games after winning four straight.


LAST TIME


First meeting.


BOWL HISTORY


UAB: Second bowl appearance, including the 2004 Hawaii Bowl.


Ohio: 2-8 all-time in bowl games. Has been bowl-eligible for nine straight seasons under coach Frank Solich.

Dollar General Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Appalachian State (8-4, 7-1 Sun Belt) vs. Toledo (11-2, 7-1 MAC), Dec. 23, 7 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: Mobile, Alabama


TOP PLAYERS


Appalachian State: QB Taylor Lamb has thrown for 27 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He has rushed for 539 yards and passed for 2,606.


Toledo: QB Logan Woodside has passed for 3,758 yards with 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He, Lamb and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield are the only FBS QBs with 25-plus touchdowns and fewer than eight interceptions.


NOTABLE


Appalachian State: Won a share of its second straight Sun Belt title with a 63-14 win Saturday over Louisiana-Lafayette. A 35-9 record over the last 44 games is the best among Group of Five teams.


Toledo: Won MAC championship game 45-28 over Akron. Ranks 11th in scoring offense (39.2 points per game) and eighth in total offense (509.9 yards per game).


LAST TIME


Appalachian State won 31-28 in last year's Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. Michael Rubino's 39-yard field goal with 5:14 left proved the game-winner.


BOWL HISTORY


Appalachian State: Second team to make three straight bowl appearances following a move up to FBS, joining Marshall (1997-2002). Only team to win bowls in each of its first two years after moving up from FCS. Both wins came in the Camellia Bowl by a combined five points, including a 31-29 win over Ohio in 2015.


Toledo: 11-5 in bowl games, going to bowls in seven of the last eight years.


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Birmingham Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017

No. 23 South Florida (9-2, 6-2 AAC) vs. Texas Tech (6-6, 3-6 Big 12), Dec. 23, 12 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: Birmingham, Alabama.


TOP PLAYERS


South Florida: QB Quinton Flowers set school records with 605 total yards and 503 passing yards in a 49-42 loss to No. 10 UCF in the regular-season finale. Flowers' 11,395 total yards is 46 yards shy of the league's career mark set by Temple's Philip Walker from 2013-16.


Texas Tech: QB Nic Shimonek has passed for 3,547 yards with 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions.


NOTABLE


South Florida: 1-3 against Big 12 teams, all during the regular season. Ranks eighth nationally in total offense, averaging 508.6 yards per game. First-year coach Charlie Strong trying to lead team to its second straight season with double-digit wins.


Texas Tech: Last played at Legion Field in 1989, beating No. 20 Duke 49-21 in the 1989 All-American Bowl. Finished regular season with a come-from-behind win over in-state rival Texas, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns to win 27-23.


LAST TIME


First meeting.

BOWL HISTORY


South Florida: Third straight postseason appearance; 5-3 overall in bowl games. Beat South Carolina 46-39 in overtime in last year's Birmingham Bowl.


Texas Tech: 38th bowl appearance and has won four of its last five. That's the 20th-most bowl games in the FBS.


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Armed Forces Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017

Army (8-4, Independent) vs. San Diego State (10-2, Mountain West), Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)

LOCATION: Fort Worth, Texas.

TOP PLAYERS


Army: QB Ahmad Bradshaw, 1,472 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns; LB Alex Auckerman, 14.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks.


San Diego State: RB Rashaad Penny, leads nation with both 168.9 yards per game rushing and 224.8 yards per game all-purpose.

NOTABLE


Army: The Black Knights earned their way into the Armed Forces Bowl with their win over Temple on Oct. 21. They're playing in back-to-back bowl games for the first time since the 1984-85 seasons.


San Diego State: The Aztecs finished on a four-game win streak and beat Pac-12 runner-up Stanford earlier in the season.

LAST TIME


San Diego State 42, Army 7 (Sept. 8, 2012)


BOWL HISTORY


Army: The Black Knights are 4-2 in bowls and making a second appearance in the Armed Forces.


San Diego State: The Aztecs will be playing in this bowl for the first time and are 5-6 all-time in bowls.

Hawaii Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Fresno State (9-4, Mountain West) vs. Houston (7-4, American Athletic), Dec. 24, 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)


LOCATION: Honolulu.

TOP PLAYERS


Fresno State: LB Jeffrey Allison, first-team All-MWC with 113 tackles.


Houston: DT Ed Oliver, American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks.

NOTABLE


Fresno State: The Bulldogs have the nation's best win improvement, going from one win in 2016 to nine this season.


Houston: Houston is second among FBS schools in Texas with 37 wins since the start of 2014. TCU leads the way with 38 wins in that span.

LAST TIME


This will be the first meeting.

BOWL HISTORY


Fresno State: The Bulldogs are 10-13 in bowls and playing in one for the first time since 2014, when they lost to Rice in the Hawaii Bowl.


Houston: The Cougars are 11-13 in bowls and playing in one for the fifth straight year.

Catcus Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Kansas State (7-5, Big 12) vs. UCLA (6-6, Pac-12), Dec. 26, 9 p.m. EST (ESPN)


LOCATION: Phoenix.


TOP PLAYERS


Kansas State: CB D.J. Reed has four interceptions and ranks second nationally in kick returns with a 35.3-yard average.


UCLA: QB Josh Rosen's passing average of 337.9 yards per game ranks third in the nation, and he's thrown 26 touchdowns.


NOTABLE


Kansas State: The Wildcats are one of the hottest teams in the Big 12 after knocking off then-No. 10 Oklahoma State and Iowa State in its last two games.


UCLA: Interim coach Jedd Fisch will lead the Bruins in the bowl, after which Chip Kelly takes over.


LAST TIME


UCLA 40, Kansas State 30 (2015 Alamo Bowl)


BOWL HISTORY


Kansas State: Following 11 straight bowls from 1993-2003 under Bill Snyder, the Wildcats have gone to a bowl eight straight years. The Wildcats are 8-12 in bowls.


UCLA: The Bruins are 16-18-1 in bowls, last playing in one in the 2015 Foster Farms.


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Quick Lane Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Duke (6-6, ACC) vs. Northern Illinois (8-4, Mid-American), Dec. 26, 5:15 p.m. EST (ESPN).


LOCATION: Detroit


TOP PLAYERS


Duke: Sophomore QB Daniel Jones has thrown for 2,439 yards and 12 TDs and rushed for an additional six scores.


Northern Illinois: DE Sutton Smith has been named one of five finalists for the 2017 Ted Hendricks Award. Smith leads the FBS in sacks with 14 and tackles for loss with 28.5.


NOTABLE


Duke: The Blue Devils became bowl-eligible by beating Georgia Tech and Wake Forest in the final two weeks of the regular season, overcoming double-digit deficits in both games. RBs Brittain Brown and Shaun Wilson have combined for 1,403 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns.


Northern Illinois: The Huskies posted a three-game improvement from a year ago and will play in a bowl game for the ninth time in 10 seasons.


LAST TIME


It will be the first meeting between the teams.


BOWL HISTORY


Duke: Blue Devils will be playing in their fifth bowl game in six seasons and have an all-time record of 4-8 in the postseason.


Northern Illinois: The Huskies are 4-7 all-time in bowl games but have lost four straight since 2011.


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Heart Of Dallas Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Utah (6-6, Pac-12) vs. West Virginia (7-5, Big 12), Dec. 26, 1:30 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Dallas


TOP PLAYERS


Utah: RB Zack Moss, 1,023 yards rushing, nine rushing touchdowns.


West Virginia: WR David Sills V, 60 catches for 980 yards and 18 touchdowns.


NOTABLE


Utah: The Utes lost six of their final eight games but beat Colorado 34-13 in their regular-season finale to become bowl eligible. QB Tyler Huntley missed that game with an injury.


West Virginia: The Mountaineers could end up with three 1,000-yard receivers this season. Gary Jennings has 1,030, and Sills (980) and Ka'raun White (978) are close to the mark as well.

LAST TIME


Utah 32, West Virginia 6. (Dec. 19, 1964)


BOWL HISTORY


Utah: First appearance in Heart of Dallas Bowl, coach Kyle Whittingham is 10-1 in bowls.


West Virginia: First appearance in Heart of Dallas Bowl, first appearance in a bowl in Texas since Sun Bowl 30 years ago.

Pinstripe Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Boston College (7-5, ACC) vs. Iowa (7-5, Big Ten), Dec. 27, 5:15 p.m. EST (ESPN).


LOCATION: New York


TOP PLAYERS


Boston College: RB AJ Dillon rushed for 1,432 yards, the second-highest total by any freshman in ACC history, and was named the conference rookie of the year. He twice topped the 200-yard rushing mark in a game this season, only the second freshman in ACC history to do so.


Iowa: RB Akrum Wadley rushed for 1,021 yards and nine TDs and caught 26 passes for 329 yards and three TDs.

NOTABLE


Boston College: The Eagles closed the season with five wins in their final six games.


Iowa: The Hawkeyes' signature victory this season was 55-24 over Ohio State, which beat Wisconsin for the Big Ten title. Iowa also lost to Penn State on a last-second touchdown.


LAST TIME


This is the first meeting between the schools.


BOWL HISTORY

Boston College: It's the 26th bowl appearance in school history for BC and the 16th bowl in the last 19 years for the Eagles. It will be BC's second appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl. They lost 31-30 in overtime to Penn State in 2014.


Iowa: The Hawkeyes have played in a bowl game in all but two seasons since 2001.


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Independence Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Southern Mississippi (8-4, 6-2 C-USA) vs. Florida State (6-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), Dec. 27, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: Shreveport, Louisiana

TOP PLAYERS


Southern Miss: RB Ito Smith. The senior has run for 1,323 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He's also caught 36 passes for 370 yards and two TDs.


Florida State: RB Cam Akers. The freshman leads Florida State with 930 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. He's averaging a little more than 5 yards per carry.

NOTABLE


Southern Miss: The Golden Eagles closed the regular season on a three-game winning streak. Two of their losses came to SEC opponents (Tennessee and Kentucky).


Florida State: The Seminoles are being led by interim coach Odell Haggins after head coach Jimbo Fisher left for the Texas A&M job.


LAST TIME


Florida State 54, Southern Miss 14, Nov. 16, 1996. The Seminoles have a 13-8-1 advantage in the series.


BOWL HISTORY


Southern Miss is making its third straight bowl appearance and 26th overall.


Florida State is making its 36th straight bowl appearance.


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Foster Farms Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Arizona (7-5, Pac-12) vs. Purdue (6-6, Big Ten), Dec. 27, 8:30 p.m. EST (FOX).

LOCATION: Santa Clara, California


TOP PLAYERS


Arizona: Sophomore QB Khalil Tate rushed for 1,353 yards and 12 TDs and passed for 1,289 yards and nine TDs with eight picks.


Purdue: QB Elijah Sindelar threw for 1,703 yards and 14 TDs with six interceptions.


NOTABLE


Arizona: Tate rushed for 327 yards against Colorado in October, establishing an FBS single-game rushing record for a quarterback. He also rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns against UCLA and finished with 378 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.


Purdue: The Boilermakers under first-year head coach Jeff Brohm won their most games since 2012 and finished tied for third place in the Big Ten West Division, their best showing since division play began in 2011. Purdue's six losses were by an average of 7.7 points and four of the Boilermakers' setbacks were to ranked teams.


LAST TIME


Purdue 31, Arizona 24, Sept. 18, 2005.


BOWL HISTORY


Arizona: This will be the 21st bowl game for the Wildcats and eighth since 2008.


Purdue: The Boilermakers will be playing in their 18th bowl game all-time (9-8) and first since 2012.


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Texas Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017

Missouri (7-5, Southeastern Conference) vs. Texas (6-6, Big 12), Dec. 27, 9 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Houston


TOP PLAYERS


Missouri: QB Drew Lock, 3,695 yards passing, national-best 43 passing touchdowns.


Texas: LB Malik Jefferson, team-high 110 tackles, including six games with double-digit tackles this season.


NOTABLE


Missouri: After starting the season 1-5, the Tigers closed by winning their final six games - averaging 51.3 points per game in those wins. Missouri's margin of victory was 30 points during its winning streak, and the school is trying to become the second in history (Rutgers, 2008) to win eight games after starting the season 1-5.


Texas: The Longhorns are led by first-year coach Tom Herman, who will make his return to Houston after leaving the Cougars after last season for Austin. Texas clinched a bowl berth with a 28-14 win at West Virginia on Nov. 18 before closing the regular season with a home loss to Texas Tech.


LAST TIME


Missouri 17, Texas 5 (Nov. 12, 2011)


BOWL HISTORY

Missouri: The Tigers are playing in their first bowl since the 2015 Citrus Bowl, and it's their second appearance in the Texas Bowl following a 35-13 loss to Navy in 2009.


Texas: The Longhorns are making their first bowl appearance since 2014, when they lost 31-7 to Arkansas in the Texas Bowl.

Alamo Bowl Capsule
December 3, 2017


Stanford (9-4, Pac-12) vs TCU (10-3, Big 12), Dec. 28, 6 p.m. EST


LOCATION: San Antonio

TOP PLAYERS


Stanford: RB Bryce Love, 1,973 yards rushing, 17 TDs.


TCU: QB Kenny Hill, 2,838 yards passing, 21 TDs


NOTABLE


Stanford: The Cardinal lost to USC in the Pac-12 title game 31-28, missing out on a New Year's Six bowl invite. But Stanford won its previous three games, including a 38-20 thrashing of Notre Dame.


TCU: The Horned Frogs lost twice to CFP participant Oklahoma and at Iowa State. TCU went 3-3 after starting 7-0.

LAST TIME


TCU 31, Stanford 14. (Sept. 8, 2008)

BOWL HISTORY


Stanford: First appearance in the Alamo Bowl, 29th bowl appearance in school history.


TCU: Second appearance in the Alamo Bowl in three seasons, 33rd bowl appearance in school history.


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Camping World Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


No. 17 Oklahoma State (9-3, No. 19 College Football Playoff, Big 12) vs. No. 22 Virginia Tech (9-3, No. 22 CFP, Atlantic Coast Conference), Dec. 28, 5:15 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: Orlando, Florida


TOP PLAYERS


Oklahoma State: QB Mason Rudolph, 4,553 yards passing, 35 touchdowns. The Cowboys also have two 1,000-yard receivers in James Washington (69 catches, 1,423 yards, 12 touchdowns) and Marcell Ateman (54-1,049-8).


Virginia Tech: LB Tremaine Edmunds, 102 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 + sacks, 3 forced fumbles.

NOTABLE


Oklahoma State: The Cowboys average 392.3 yards passing per game to lead all Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Oklahoma State ranks second nationally in total offense (575.7) and third in scoring (46.3).


Virginia Tech: The Hokies allow just 13.5 points per game to rank fifth nationally in scoring defense.


LAST TIME


Virginia Tech beat Oklahoma State 34-32 on Oct. 14, 1972.


BOWL HISTORY


Oklahoma State: First Camping World Bowl appearance and 12th straight bowl berth overall. In its only previous appearance in an Orlando bowl, Oklahoma State beat BYU 49-21 in the 1976 Tangerine Bowl.


Virginia Tech: Second Camping World Bowl berth and 25th consecutive bowl appearance overall. The Hokies beat Rutgers 13-10 in overtime in the 2012 Camping World Bowl, then known as the Russell Athletic Bowl.


*******************


Military Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Virginia (6-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) vs. Navy (6-5, 4-4 American Athletic Conference), Dec. 28, 1:30 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Annapolis, Maryland


TOP PLAYERS


Virginia: QB Kurt Benkert set a school single-season passing record with 3,062 yards and tied for the ACC lead in touchdown passes with 25. The senior is the first player in school history to throw 20 TD passes or more in consecutive seasons.


Navy: QB Zach Abey is the AAC's leading rusher, averaging 132.2 yards per game. The Midshipmen are second in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 347.5 yards per game.


NOTABLE


Virginia: LB Micah Kiser and FS Quin Blanding are the only pair of teammates from a Power Five school to rank in the top 15 nationally in tackles. Kiser leads the ACC and is tied for fourth nationally with 134 while Blanding is 15th with 121.


Navy: Going into Saturday's annual matchup against Army, the Midshipmen have dropped five of their last six games after starting the season 5-0.


LAST TIME


This will be the 40th meeting, but the first since 1994. Virginia has won the last five, including a 47-10 victory in the last meeting.


BOWL HISTORY


Virginia is 7-11 in bowl games and has dropped its last two. This is the Cavaliers' first bowl trip since 2011.


Navy is 10-11-1 in bowl games but has won three of its last four. This is the third time it has appeared in the Military Bowl and the second time it has happened on the Midshipmen's home field.


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Holiday Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Michigan State (9-3, Big Ten) vs. Washington State (9-3, Pac-12), Dec. 28, 9 p.m. EST

LOCATION: San Diego


TOP PLAYERS


Michigan State: C Brian Allen, named second-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media.


Washington State: RB Jamal Morrow, 522 yards rushing, 479 receiving.


NOTABLE


Michigan State: The Spartans completely reversed last season's 3-9 record with a young team that wasn't expected to do much. WR Felton Davis has 51 catches for 658 yards and eight TDs.


Washington State: The Cougars were the only Pac-12 team to beat conference champ Southern California this year. Washington State has scored at least 30 points eight times.


LAST TIME


Washington State 23, Michigan State 21. (Sept. 17, 1977)


BOWL HISTORY


Michigan State: First appearance in Holiday Bowl, 10th bowl in 11 seasons under coach Mark Dantonio.


Washington State: Fourth appearance in Holiday Bowl and second in a row, fourth bowl appearance in six years under coach Mike Leach.

Sun Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


North Carolina State (8-4, ACC) vs. Arizona State (7-5, Pac-12) Dec. 29, 3 p.m. EST (CBS)


LOCATION: El Paso, Texas


TOP PLAYERS


North Carolina State: DE Bradley Chubb, ACC defensive player of the year and one of five finalists for the 2017 Hendricks Award, is second in the FBS with 25 tackles for loss, fourth among defensive linemen with 73 tackles, and eighth in sacks (10).


Arizona State: QB Manny Wilkins has thrown for 2,918 yards and 17 TDs with five interceptions.


NOTABLE


North Carolina State: Nyheim Hines rushed for 1,040 yards to become one of only nine running backs in school history to surpass that mark.


Arizona State: Head coach Todd Graham was fired in late November after six seasons, but Graham and his staff will remain with the program through their bowl appearance.


LAST TIME

North Carolina State defeated Arizona State 34-17 in 1974 under Lou Holtz. The series is tied 1-1.


BOWL HISTORY


North Carolina State: The Wolfpack are making their first Sun Bowl appearance and are 16-13-1 in bowl games. N.C. State has not faced a Pac-12 team since a 17-10 loss to Arizona in the 1989 Copper Bowl.


Arizona State: The Sun Devils are making their 30th bowl appearance and sixth in the Sun Bowl. They are a 14-14-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the Sun Bowl.


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Music City Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Kentucky (7-5, Southeastern Conference) vs. No. 20 Northwestern (9-3, No. 21 College Football Playoff, Big Ten), Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

LOCATION: Nashville, Tennessee


TOP PLAYERS


Kentucky: RB Benny Snell Jr., 1,318 yards rushing, 18 touchdowns, 5.1 yards per carry


Northwestern: RB Justin Jackson, 1,154 yards rushing, nine touchdowns, 4.5 yards per carry

NOTABLE


Northwestern has a seven-game winning streak. Jackson and 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne of Wisconsin are the only Big Ten players ever to rush for 1,000 yards in four straight seasons.


Kentucky: The Wildcats are making a second straight bowl appearance. This marks the first time Kentucky has earned bowl bids in back-to-back seasons since 2008-09.

LAST TIME


Northwestern beat Kentucky 7-0 on Oct. 20, 1928.


BOWL HISTORY


Kentucky: Fifth Music City Bowl appearance and 17th bowl berth overall. The Wildcats own a 2-2 Music City Bowl record.


Northwestern: First Music City Bowl appearance and 14th bowl berth overall.


************************


Arizona Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017

New Mexico State (6-6, Sun Belt) vs. Utah State (6-6, Mountain West), Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Tucson, Arizona

TOP PLAYERS

New Mexico State: QB Tyler Rogers, 3,825 yards passing, 33 total touchdowns.


Utah State: LB Suli Tamaivena, team-high 109 tackles - including 6 + tackles for a loss.


NOTABLE


New Mexico State: Rogers passed for 451 yards and led the late drive that earned the Aggies a 22-17 win over South Alabama on Saturday, earning the school its first bowl game in 57 years in the process. New Mexico State won its final two games of the season to end its bowl drought.


Utah State: The Aggies were a football-only member of the Sun Belt Conference from 2003-04, and they played New Mexico State both seasons. The schools have been conference foes for 26 seasons while each were members of the Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt and Western Athletic Conference over the years.


LAST TIME


Utah State 41, New Mexico State 7 (Oct. 20, 2012)


BOWL HISTORY


New Mexico State: The Aggies are playing in their first bowl game since the 1960 Sun Bowl, when they defeated Utah State.


Utah State: After playing in five straight bowl games from 2011-15, winning a school-record three straight from 2012-14, the Aggies return to a bowl for the first time since losing to Akron in the Potato Bowl two years ago.


************************


Belk Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Texas A&M (7-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) vs. Wake Forest (7-5, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), Dec. 29, 1 p.m. ET


LOCATION: Charlotte, N.C.


TOP PLAYERS


Texas A&M: WR Christian Kirk, 730 yards receiving, 7 touchdowns.


Wake Forest: QB John Wolford, 2,792 yards passing, 25 touchdowns; 615 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns.


NOTABLE


Texas A&M: Jimbo Fisher was recently hired by the Aggies as coach but will not coach in the Belk Bowl. Three of the Aggies' losses this season came against teams that were in the AP Top 25 at the time: Alabama (27-19), Auburn (42-27) and LSU (45-21).


Wake Forest: After big wins against Syracuse and then 19th-ranked North Carolina State, the Deacons suffered a setback with a 31-23 loss to Duke in the regular season finale.


LAST TIME


First meeting.


BOWL HISTORY


Texas A&M: The Aggies are 17-21 in bowl games. They have been to nine straight bowl games but have lost the last two, including a 33-28 defeat last year to Kansas State.


Wake Forest: The Deacons are 7-4 in bowl games. This is their second straight bowl appearance, beating Temple 23-17 last year in the Military Bowl.


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Cotton Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Ohio State (11-2, Big Ten) vs Southern California (11-2, Pac-12), Dec. 29, 8:30 p.m. EST

LOCATION: Arlington, Texas


TOP PLAYERS


Ohio State: QB J.T. Barrett, 2,939 yards passing with 35 TDs; 732 yards rushing with 10 TDs.


USC: RB Ronald Jones, 1,486 yards rushing, 18 TDs; QB Sam Darnold 3,787 yards passing, 31 TDs (26 passing, five rushing)


NOTABLE


Ohio State: The last time the Buckeyes played at AT&T Stadium it was in the national championship game on Jan. 12, 2015, when they beat Oregon 42-20 in the first title game in the four-team College Football Playoff era.


USC: The Trojans are playing Ohio State in a bowl game for the eighth time, but the first time outside the Rose Bowl. Southern Cal won the last three times they played in Pasadena, California, at the end of the 1974, 1979 and 1984 seasons.

LAST TIME


USC 18, Ohio State 15 (Sept. 12, 2009).


BOWL HISTORY


Ohio State: Second appearance in the Cotton Bowl; 49th bowl overall.


USC: Second appearance in the Cotton Bowl; 54th bowl overall.

TaxSlayer Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) vs. Louisville (8-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), Dec. 30, Noon (ESPN)


LOCATION: Jacksonville, Florida


TOP PLAYERS


Mississippi St: RB Aeris Williams. The junior leads the team with 1,019 yards rushing. He has also caught 16 passes for 142 yards.


Louisville: QB Lamar Jackson. The defending Heisman Trophy probably won't win it again this season, but is still having an awesome year. He has run for 1,443 yards and 17 touchdowns and thrown for 3,489 yards and 25 touchdowns.


NOTABLE


Mississippi State will be playing without starting QB Nick Fitzgerald, who dislocated his right ankle in the Egg Bowl. Freshman Keytaon Thompson will likely start in his place.


Louisville ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak.


LAST TIME


Mississippi State won 30-21 in 1976. The Bulldogs have a 4-0 advantage in the series that was played every year from 1973-'76.


BOWL HISTORY


Mississippi State is making its eighth straight bowl appearance and 21st overall.


Louisville is also making its eighth straight bowl appearance and 22nd overall.


*********************


Liberty Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Iowa State (7-5, Big 12) vs. No. 19 Memphis (10-2, No. 20 CFP, American Athletic Conference), Dec. 30, 12:30 p.m. (ABC)


LOCATION: Memphis, Tennessee


TOP PLAYERS


Iowa State: LB Joel Lanning has a team-high 110 tackles, including 10 for loss, plus five sacks. Lanning also occasionally plays quarterback and has 34 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown. He's 3 of 4 through the air for 47 yards and a touchdown.


Memphis: QB Riley Ferguson and WR Anthony Miller form one of the nation's top passing combinations. Ferguson has thrown for 3,971 yards and 36 touchdowns. Miller has 92 catches for 1,407 yards and 17 touchdowns.


NOTABLE


Iowa State beat Oklahoma and TCU this season when both were ranked in the top five.


This marks the first time in the Liberty Bowl's 59-year history that the hometown team will play in the game. Memphis had a shot at a New Year's Six bowl appearance until it lost the American Athletic Conference championship game to Central Florida in double overtime.

LAST TIME


This is the first meeting between Iowa State and Memphis.


BOWL HISTORY


Iowa State: Third appearance in the Liberty Bowl, 13th bowl berth overall. Iowa State is playing in a bowl game for the first time since losing 31-17 to Tulsa in the 2012 Liberty Bowl.


Memphis: First appearance in the Liberty Bowl, 10th bowl berth overall. Memphis is playing in a bowl game for a school-record fourth consecutive season.

Outback Bowl matchup
December 3, 2017


Michigan (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten Conference) vs. South Carolina (8-4, 5-3 Southeastern Conference), Jan. 1, 12 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Tampa, Florida


TOP PLAYERS


Michigan: LB Devin Bush is the team's leading tackler with 94. The sophomore's 9.5 tackles for loss include 5.0 sacks. He also has an interception.


South Carolina: QB Jake Bentley is 12-7 as a starter and has completed 63.6 percent of his career passes, which is second in school history.

NOTABLE


Michigan: Jim Harbaugh has led the Wolverines to a bowl trip to Florida in each of his three seasons at the school. Michigan beat Florida 41-7 in the Citrus Bowl in his first season and then lost to Florida State 33-32 in the Orange Bowl last year.


South Carolina: The Gamecocks closed the regular season by winning five of their last seven games. The eight wins are the most they have had since 2013.

LAST TIME


South Carolina beat Michigan 33-28 in the 2013 Outback Bowl. The game is remembered for Jadeveon Clowney becoming a household name with his huge hit on Michigan's Vincent Smith, which caused a fumble that Clowney also recovered.


BOWL HISTORY

Michigan is 21-24 in bowl games and has dropped three of its last four.


South Carolina is 8-13 in bowl games. Last year's loss in the Birmingham Bowl snapped a four-game postseason win streak.


*****************


Oklahoma, Georgia meet for 1st time at Rose Bowl
December 3, 2017


No. 2 Oklahoma (12-1, 8-1 Big 12) vs. No. 3 Georgia (12-1, 7-1 SEC)


LOCATION: Pasadena, California


TOP PLAYERS


Oklahoma: QB Baker Mayfield. The Sooners' electrifying signal-caller is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy after passing for 4,340 yards with 41 touchdowns while rushing for another 310 yards and five scores. The senior has all but mastered the college game in Lincoln Riley's offense, and he could play his way toward a first-round NFL draft spot in Pasadena.


Georgia: RB Nick Chubb. The senior became the second-leading rusher in SEC history in the conference championship game after going for 77 yards against Auburn. Although injuries have slowed him at times, he should be rested and ready for the biggest game of his career.


NOTABLE


Oklahoma: Won three straight Big 12 titles. Is appearing in the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years. They lead the nation in total offense with 583.3 yards per game, including a whopping 8.44 yards per play.


Georgia: Won first SEC title since 2005 under second-year coach Kirby Smart. Haven't won a national title since 1980. They field the nation's fourth-best defense, giving up just 270.9 yards per play.

LAST TIME


First meeting.


BOWL HISTORY


Oklahoma: The Sooners are appearing in their 19th consecutive bowl game and have gone 29-20-1 overall in bowl appearances. They've appeared in the Rose Bowl just once before, beating Washington State 34-14 on Jan. 1, 2003.


Georgia: The Bulldogs have made a bowl game in 21 straight seasons, but this is their biggest stage since the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2008. They appeared in one previous Rose Bowl, beating UCLA 9-0 on Jan. 1, 1943.


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Peach Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


ATLANTA (AP) Central Florida (12-0, American Athletic) vs. Auburn (10-3, Southeastern), Jan. 1, 12:30 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Atlanta, Georgia


TOP PLAYERS


UCF: QB McKenzie Milton, 3,795 yards passing with 35 TDs; 497 yards with seven TDs.


Auburn: RB Kerryon Johnson, 1,320 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns.


NOTABLE


UCF: The Knights were 0-12 two years ago and have gone 18-6 in the two seasons under coach Scott Frost. UCF won the American Athletic Conference title game over Memphis, 62-55 in double overtime, on Saturday.


Auburn: This is the Tigers sixth trip to the Peach Bowl and first since topping Virginia 43-24 in 2011. Auburn is 4-1 in the Peach Bowl, its lone loss coming in 2001, 16-10, to North Carolina.


LAST TIME


Auburn 28, UCF 10 (Nov. 6, 1999).


BOWL HISTORY


UCF: First appearance in Peach Bowl; ninth bowl overall.


Auburn: Sixth appearance in Peach Bowl; 42nd bowl overall.


**********************


Citrus Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


Notre Dame (9-3, Independent) vs. LSU (9-3, 6-2 Southeastern Conference), Jan. 1, 1 p.m. EST


LOCATION: Orlando, Florida


TOP PLAYERS


Notre Dame: RB Josh Adams is 13th nationally in rushing yards with 1,386 and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry. The junior has seven 100-yard games, including two where he went over 200 yards.


LSU: RB Derrius Guice is the fifth player in school history to have over 1,000 rushing yard and 10 rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons. The junior has 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns.


NOTABLE


Notre Dame: QB Brandon Wimbush has set the school's single-single record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 765, but the junior has struggled with accuracy and has completed only 49.8 percent of his passes.


LSU: After a 24-21 loss to Troy dropped the Tigers to 3-2, they have won six of their last seven. They have won their last three by an average of 22.3 points. This is the 18th straight season the Tigers have eight wins or more, which is the longest streak among Power Five programs.

LAST TIME


Notre Dame beat LSU 31-28 in the 2014 Music City Bowl.


BOWL HISTORY


Notre Dame is 17-18 and has lost the last six times they have played in a bowl game in Florida.


LSU is 25-22-1 in bowl games and is making its second consecutive appearance in the Citrus Bowl. The Tigers defeated Louisville 29-9 last year.


***********************


Sugar Bowl Matchup
December 3, 2017


No. 1 Clemson (12-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) vs. No. 4 Alabama (11-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference), Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)


LOCATION: New Orleans

TOP PLAYERS


Clemson: QB Kelly Bryant. The emergence of Bryant has helped push the Tigers back into the College Football Playoff. His numbers aren't as eye-popping as predecessor Deshaun Watson, but he's still completing more than 67 percent of his passes for 2,678 yards.


Alabama: RB Damien Harris. He leads the team with 906 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball and averages 8.2 yards per carry.


NOTABLE

Clemson: The Tigers have been playing some of their best football over the past few weeks. They went on the road to beat rival South Carolina 34-10 on Nov. 25 and then beat Miami 38-3 in the ACC championship game on Saturday.


Alabama: Alabama's had a tough time staying healthy on defense this season, especially at linebacker. But coach Nick Saban says he expects his defense to be close to full strength by the time the Crimson Tide faces the Tigers on Jan. 1.


LAST TIME


Clemson beat Alabama 35-31 in the CFP national championship game last season.


BOWL HISTORY


Clemson is 22-19 in bowl games and is appearing in the postseason for a 13th straight season.


Alabama is 38-25-3 in bowl games and is trying to win its fifth national championship in nine seasons.

Miami and Wisconsin to meet in Orange
December 3, 2017


MIAMI LAKES, Fla. (AP) Miami has thrived when playing before its home crowd all season. Wisconsin has gone onto to opponent's fields five times and posted five easy wins.


That alone means this could be a classic Orange Bowl.


A pair of teams with College Football Playoff aspirations for much of the season - and who saw those hopes end with losses in conference championship games this weekend - will meet in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 at Hard Rock Stadium, the Hurricanes' home field.


''More important than where it is, it's the opportunity,'' Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. ''It's an opportunity to play against a great Miami team. And so our kids will be excited. They know it's going to be a challenge. To play in and be part of the Orange Bowl, that's a big deal.''


No. 11 Miami (10-2, No. 10 CFP) is going to the Orange for the 10th time. It's the first Orange Bowl for No. 6 Wisconsin (12-1, No. 6 CFP).


Miami went 7-0 at home - and will stay there, since this technically is a neutral-site game. Wisconsin went 5-0 in true road games, winning by an average of 25.6 points.


''We're playing in one of the best bowl games against a great team,'' Chryst said. ''That's enough to get your kids excited.''


Miami coach Mark Richt, like Chryst, was out recruiting Sunday. The Hurricanes are getting a much-needed break for the next few days, after playing 11 straight weeks after their schedule was readjusted because of many complications statewide caused by Hurricane Irma hitting in September.


''I know for our players, it's got to be a welcome relief for them physically and mentally and maybe spiritually as well,'' Richt said. ''I know for me and the coaching staff - just like Paul's on the road right now, we're on the road as well - it does give you a little bit of a break of the gameplanning and all the things that have to be done to prepare week-by-week.''


The Hurricanes and Badgers last played in 2009 at the Champs Sports Bowl. Both have strong defenses, with Wisconsin's ranking No. 1 nationally in yards allowed in No. 2 in points allowed.


And even though the Badgers missed the CFP, players say sending the seniors out winners will remain a priority.


''They deserve to go out with a win,'' Badgers offensive lineman Michael Deiter said. ''The things they've done for this program and this football team, they deserve to go out and win a bowl game and go out the right way.''


Miami is just the third team to go to the Orange Bowl while on a two-game losing streak. The others were both LSU teams, in the 1943 and 1973 seasons.


''It's a home game,'' Miami receiver Braxton Berrios said. ''I think that will be really exciting for the team.''


---


Here's some of what to know about the Orange Bowl matchup:


HOME, SORT OF: Miami will be the designated home team for the game. But it will technically be called a neutral-site game, and the Hurricanes likely won't get to use their usual locker room. Past ''home'' teams for the Orange Bowl have used the Miami Dolphins' locker room on game night.


UNCOMMON OPPONENTS: There's no common opponent between Wisconsin and Miami this season, and it's only the fifth time that the Badgers and Hurricanes will meet. They've split four previous matchups.


BADGERS CHASING HISTORY: Wisconsin gets a second chance at recording win No. 13, which would be a single-season record at a school that started playing football in 1889. Wisconsin was 12-1 in 2006, the first year that former coach Bret Bielema was running things in Madison.


ORANGE SUCCESS: Miami is 6-3 in previous trips to the Orange Bowl, with the Hurricanes' last time in South Florida's showcase bowl game coming when they topped Florida State 16-14 on Jan. 1, 2004. Until now, that 2003 season was Miami's last 10-win campaign.


FAMILIAR GROUND: Wisconsin has nine players from the state of Florida, including five from the Miami area and one - wide receiver Paul Jackson, who hasn't recorded any stats this season - who lists Miami Gardens as his hometown. Miami Gardens is the city where Hard Rock Stadium is located. There are no Wisconsin natives on the Miami roster.

Coaches hot topics at Peach Bowl
December 3, 2017


Auburn took away some of the distractions out of the Distraction Bowl.


The Peach Bowl looked like a matchup with a pair of coaches in Central Florida's Scott Frost and Auburn's Gus Malzahn whose futures were in the spotlight. However, late Sunday, a person familiar with the situation told the AP that Malzahn has agreed to a new seven-year deal to remain at the school.


The person spoke of the deal on condition of anonymity Sunday because it hadn't been officially announced.


That should end any ongoing debate about Malzahn, who faced questions about whether he'd stay with the Tigers or move on to Arkansas where he was considered a target for that job. The questions for Frost, introduced as Nebraska's new coach Sunday, and his bowl role with the Knights will continue.


The undefeated, 10th-ranked Knights (12-0, No. 12 College Football Playoffs) will play No. 7 Auburn (10-3, No. 7 CFP), the Southeastern Conference runner-up, on Jan. 1.


Frost was hired by Nebraska shortly after UCF won a 62-55, double overtime shootout with Memphis to capture the American Athletic Conference. Frost was introduced Sunday as Cornhuskers coach and reiterated that he would coach the Knights in the bowl game. ''I don't want to leave the players down there without a coach,'' he said. ''They deserve to have the best chance they possibly can, especially in a bowl game they qualified for.''


Malzahn's team fell to playoff-bound Georgia in the SEC title game Saturday and there were plenty of postgame questions about his plans.


Malzahn was steadfast and firm that he would stay at Auburn. ''That's where I want to be,'' he reiterated Sunday.


Malzahn has done well keeping outside talk away from the Tigers, said Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson.


''If you know Gus, he doesn't even look at outside noise,'' Johnson said after Georgia's 28-7 victory. ''He's about as one-tracked minded as it gets. That man was focused on winning the SEC championship.''


Frost, the former Nebraska quarterback, couldn't hide his decision from his players, and the team tweeted a celebration photo after its AAC title win with the caption: ''Good luck back home, Coach.''


UCF interim coach Troy Walters said Saturday was an emotional day, one of great joy with the championship win and sadness after learning of Frost's departure. ''It was a whirlwind,'' Walters said.


But the players gathered Sunday to watch the selection show and were re-energized, Walters said, with the Peach Bowl selection.


''This team is resilient,'' Walters said. ''We're not going to make any excuses.''


Athletic director Danny White said Saturday night that Frost and his staff are committed to the team. ''And we'll figure out what that means later this week,'' White said during a news conference Saturday night.


---


Here's some of what to know about the Peach Bowl matchup:


TOUGH STRETCH: Including UCF, Auburn's most recent three opponents in Alabama, Georgia and the Knights have a combined mark of 35-2.


BIG TURNAROUND: The Knights have gone from bowl wannabes to part of the New Year's Six during Frost's tenure. The second-year coach took over an 0-12 program and won six games his first year. This season, UCF has been one of college football's biggest surprises.


SERIES EDGE: Auburn is 3-0 against UCF with all three wins coming between 1997 and 1999.


RETURNING TO MERCEDES: The Tigers will finish their season with a second straight game in Atlanta's new Mercedes Benz Stadium, where they lost to Georgia 28-7 in the SEC title game. Malzahn said his team will focus on playing better there against UCF then they did against the Bulldogs.


IN THE MIX: UCF interim coach Troy Walters said he hopes to be among candidates to replace Frost. Walters joined the program two seasons ago as offensive coordinator and receivers coach. He's also coached at Colorado, North Carolina State and Texas A&M. Walters, though, had faith in athletic director Danny White to make the right hire to keep the Knights moving forward.

Saban looking ahead as 'Bama gets CFP nod
December 3, 2017


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- While everyone in the college football world was glued to a television, Alabama coach Nick Saban was out doing one of his favorite things: recruiting.


It was announced Sunday that Alabama earned the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide will face No. 1 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal on Jan. 1.


During his appearance on ESPN, Saban revealed how he learned of Alabama's playoff fate.


"I hate to admit that we had recruits in for official visits this weekend," Saban said. "I was actually bringing one of those recruits to my office so I was in the car and kind of missed it. So, when I got here, everybody was waiting for me, and it was really exciting. We're very pleased and proud and happy. I'm sorry I missed you guys, but we found out another way."


Alabama, which had one loss and didn't win its conference championship, earned the nod over two-loss, Big Ten champion Ohio State. While Ohio State had better wins, the selection committee wasn't able to get past the Buckeyes' 31-point loss to Iowa this season.


Alabama and Clemson have met the last two years in the title game with both contests being decided by less than five points.


Alabama won a 45-40 thriller in 2015. Last season, Clemson defeated the Crimson Tide 35-31 on a last-second touchdown. While it won't be for the title, this is the rubber match many college football fans wanted.


"I certainly believed and trusted in the integrity of the committee that they would do their very best to put the best teams in," Saban said. "A lot of good teams. I'd like to congratulate the other teams that got in, and some of the other teams that got strong consideration. But I really do believe based on the total body of work, our team really deserved the opportunity to be in. We're very pleased and happy that they did."


The winner of the matchup between Alabama and Clemson will meet the winner of the contest matching the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners and the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs, who will play in the CFP Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1. The 2018 CFP National Championship Game is scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.


From an injury standpoint, Alabama should be healthy by game time. Saban said the Crimson Tide's linebackers -- Mack Wilson, Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis -- who have been banged up will be back for the game.


Alabama will be without starting safety Hootie Jones, whom Saban said suffered a knee injury against Auburn.


"I'm really happy and excited for my team," Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. "I think we deserved it."

Clemson-Alabama set for Sugar Bowl
December 3, 2017


The Clemson-Alabama playoff rivalry is back on college football's main stage.


The Tigers and Crimson Tide will meet in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 in the College Football Playoff's national semifinals. The previous two meetings between these powerhouse programs were for the national championship - Alabama won two years ago and Clemson won last year.


This time, the winner will earn the right to play for another title in Atlanta.


''I think it's only fitting that to have a chance to advance to Atlanta, you've got a heavyweight matchup here with Clemson and Alabama,'' Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.


Alabama edged out Ohio State for the final spot in the four-team College Football Playoff field. The Crimson Tide's reward is a playoff rematch against the defending national champion.


Clemson's inclusion as the top seed in New Orleans was expected. The Tigers (12-1) were No. 1 in the previous CFP rankings and then routed Miami 38-3 in the ACC title game on Saturday.


The inclusion of Alabama (11-1) was much more contentious. Fourth-seeded Alabama didn't play for the Southeastern Conference championship after coming short in its division after losing to Auburn in its final game of the regular season, but was impressive until that loss.


''I really do believe that based on the total body of work, that our team really deserved the opportunity to be in,'' Alabama coach Nick Saban said. ''We're very pleased and happy.''


Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick said the ''trilogy'' between the Tide and Tigers is something to savor.


''They have great athletes over there,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''Great offense, great defense, great coaching.''


Clemson beat Alabama 35-31 in the last national championship game. The Tigers have made it back to the CFP with a dominant defense and the emergence of junior quarterback Kelly Bryant.


Alabama returns with sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has had another solid season. The defense has been slowed by injuries, especially at linebacker, but expects to be much healthier by the time the Crimson Tide faces Clemson.


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Some other things to watch when Clemson faces Alabama in New Orleans:


TIGERS PLAYING WELL: Clemson has played some of its best football during the final few weeks of the season. The Tigers went on the road and easily beat improved rival South Carolina 34-10 on Nov. 25. Then on Saturday, Clemson left no doubt about who was the best team in the ACC, dominating Miami from start to finish in the 38-3 win. Clemson's defense held Miami to just 214 total yards.


ALABAMA GETTING HEALTHY: The Crimson Tide figures to be healthier on defense than it has been since the season opener. Three Alabama linebackers returned from injury against Auburn, but have more time to recover now. Mack Wilson (foot), Terrell Lewis (elbow) and Christian Miller (biceps) all got onto the field for the Tide in the Iron Bowl. Lewis and Miller hadn't played since the season opener against Florida State.


MORE OFFENSE? Alabama and Clemson take pride in their defense, but there have been a lot of points scored in the previous two meetings between these two teams. Clemson scored a touchdown in the final seconds last season to beat Alabama 35-31. The Crimson Tide won 45-40 two years ago in a game that featured 40 combined points in the fourth quarter.


TIME TO PREPARE: Alabama and Clemson should certainly be prepared by the time they play on Jan. 1. In the previous playoff meetings between the schools, they had a little more than a week to prepare after winning their semifinal games. This time, Saban and Swinney will have nearly a month to size each other up.


HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Clemson is the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, which means it gets to go to the Sugar Bowl instead of flying cross-country to play in the Rose Bowl. It's a solid locale for Tigers fans, but it's even better for the Tide. Much of Alabama's fan base is a short drive from New Orleans, and there will surely be plenty of crimson around Bourbon Street.

OU, Georgia headed to Rose Bowl
December 3, 2017

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) Oklahoma and Georgia are headed out west to play their College Football Playoff semifinal in the 104th Rose Bowl.


The Sooners (12-1) were the second seed in the four-team field announced by the selection committee on Sunday, while the Bulldogs (12-1) were third.


The Rose Bowl will be played without a team from either of its traditional Pac-12 or Big Ten conferences for the first time since Jan. 3, 2002.


Top-seeded Clemson gets the geographical advantage of playing in New Orleans, so fans of Oklahoma and Georgia will go to the West Coast and the historic Pasadena stadium to play for a spot in the national championship game.


''I think it's awesome that it's in the Rose Bowl, so that you get to go out to the Granddaddy of Them All and play in a venue that a lot of these kids in the southeast don't get an opportunity to go to,'' Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.


While the college football world argued about the committee's decision on the fourth team in the playoff, nobody doubts the credentials of the two stellar programs getting together in this matchup. The winner goes to the title game Jan. 8 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.


Georgia earned a spot with its first SEC title since 2005 under Smart, its second-year coach. The Bulldogs beat Auburn 28-7 in the conference championship game on Saturday. After claiming their 13th SEC crown, they're chasing their first national championship since 1980.


''I've been able to keep up with them a little bit throughout the year, and Coach Smart's done obviously a tremendous job with that group in such a short amount of time,'' Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said. ''Have a ton of respect for him, the coach he is, the team that they have. Know it'll be a great challenge for us.''


Oklahoma won its third consecutive Big 12 title on Saturday with a 41-17 victory over TCU, punctuating an incredible debut season for Riley, the youngest coach in the FBS at 34 years old. The Sooners have won eight consecutive games, including six straight by double digits.


The Sooners will be led by fleet-footed quarterback Baker Mayfield, the likely Heisman Trophy winner going against Georgia's physical defense.


''He's just such a good athlete,'' Smart said. ''He stretches and extends plays, extremely explosive, not afraid to make any throws. It's really almost like when you watch Brett Favre back in the day.''


Oklahoma is in the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years after losing the Orange Bowl semifinal to Clemson in 2015.


These two teams were very nearly perfect. The only blemish on the Sooners' record was a 38-31 loss to a solid Iowa State team on Oct. 7.


Auburn was responsible for Georgia's only loss, a 40-17 defeat on Nov. 11, but the Bulldogs avenged it in the SEC title game.


Either a Pac-12 or Big Ten team had appeared in every edition of the Rose Bowl for the past half-century since the formation of the then-Pacific-8 Conference - except after the 2001 season, when the Rose Bowl became the BCS national championship game for a year. Miami won the national title in that memorable edition with a 37-14 victory over Nebraska, which was in the Big 12 at the time.


''I can always remember watching it, hearing Keith Jackson call it, and it seems like it was always a great game,'' said Riley, who is from Texas. ''That was just kind of always one of those places that you kind of put on the bucket list as far as, want to go to that game one day, be involved in that game one day. Kind of seemed like a dream, kind of out there a little bit.''


Oklahoma played in the Rose Bowl once before - on Jan. 1, 2003, beating Washington State 34-14. The Sooners got into the game because Big Ten champion Ohio State earned a spot in the national title game.


Georgia also has made one previous appearance in the Rose Bowl, beating UCLA 9-0 on Jan. 1, 1943.


When Smart was an assistant at Alabama, the Crimson Tide beat Texas in the BCS championship game in January 2010. That game was at the Rose Bowl, although it wasn't the official Rose Bowl game, which was between Ohio State and Oregon that season.