TODAY’S BOWL GAMES
Pinstripe Bowl
MARYLAND (6-6) VS. VIRGINIA TECH (6-6)
WHEN 1:15 p.m. Central (ESPN)
LINE Maryland by 3
SERIES RECORD Maryland leads 16-15
WHAT’S AT STAKE
How about a winning record for both teams? Maryland and Virginia Tech each have six wins and each team became bowl eligible with season-ending victories. Just making a bowl game can be seen as a win for both programs. Virginia Tech hasn’t won a bowl game since 2016 and the Terrapins last won one in 2010. The Hokies are moving on with a new coach. Brent Pry will take over, though he will keep interim coach J.C Price on as an associate head coach and defensive coach.
KEY MATCHUP
Virginia Tech was decimated by the transfer portal and has to turn to junior Texas A&M transfer Connor Blumrick for the start. Blumrick makes his first career start and has completed only 7 of 16 passes this season for 42 yards. He did rush for 231 yards this season and he’ll try to run against a Terps defense that has held opponents to fewer than 100 yards in a game three times this season. Virginia Tech has lost so much key personnel that Maryland should be in prime position to shut down Blumrick and the Hokies offense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
VIRGINIA TECH Running back Raheem Blackshear declared for the NFL draft but will play in the Pinstripe Bowl. Blackshear started his career at Rutgers and played twice against Maryland. He led the Hokies with 711 yards rushing and six touchdowns and had 244 yards receiving.
MARYLAND Hey, aren’t you … ? Yes, QB Taulia Tagovailoa is Tua Tagovailoa’s younger brother and has, at times, played like the Miami Dolphins starter. Taulia Tagovailoa, an Alabama transfer, threw for 3,595 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, with 11 interceptions. He earned all-Big Ten honorable mention honors and finished second in the conference in passing.
FACTS & FIGURES
Maryland has not had a winning record since 2014. … The Hokies and Terps are former ACC rivals and last played in 2013. … The Hokies have been bowl eligible for 29 consecutive seasons but opted out in 2020 because of covid-19.
Cheez-It Bowl
IOWA STATE (7-5) VS. NO. 19 CLEMSON (9-3)
WHEN 4:45 p.m. Central (ESPN)
LINE Clemson by 1
SERIES RECORD First meeting
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Clemson is seeking its 11th consecutive 10-win season to join Florida State (14, 1987-2000) and Alabama (14, 2008-21) as the only schools to reach double-digit victories in at least 11 consecutive seasons. Iowa State is looking for its 11th win (10-11) against a Top-25 opponent since 2017.
KEY MATCHUP
Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei facing defensive end Will McDonald IV and the Iowa State defense. The sophomore QB has struggled at times as Trevor Lawrence’s replacement, completing 187 of 342 passes (54.7%) for 2,059 yards, 9 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. McDonald has a school-record 11 ½ sacks this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
IOWA STATE Quarterback Brock Purdy has completed 73.1% (269 of 368) of his passes for 2,984 and 18 touchdowns this year. The senior has the most wins (30-16) in school history.
CLEMSON Running back Will Shipley is looking to become the first Tigers true freshman with four 100-yard rushing games in a season since C.J. Spiller set the school record with five in 2006. He also has Clemson’s highest kickoff return average (27.1) in a season among qualified players since Spiller in 2009 (32.8).
FACTS & FIGURES
Clemson had a streak of reaching the CFB playoffs in six consecutive seasons end. The Tigers, under Coach Dabo Swinney, finished first in the AP Poll in 2016 and 2018, second in 2015 and 2019, third in 2020 and fourth in 2017. … Iowa State running back Breece Hall, the nation’s leader in scoring (138) and touchdowns (23), will not play after announcing his plans to enter the NFL Draft. He ran for 1,472 yards and 20 TDs in 2021. … The Cyclones are playing in a school-record fifth consecutive bowl game. … Clemson ended the regular season No. 9 in the nation in total defense (308.4), while Iowa State was 10th (309.2). … The Tigers won seven of eight after a 2-2 start, which included a loss to SEC East champion Georgia.
Alamo Bowl
NO. 16 OKLAHOMA (10-2) VS. NO. 14 OREGON (10-3)
WHEN 8:15 p.m. Central (ESPN)
LINE Oklahoma by 41/2
SERIES RECORD Oklahoma leads 6-1
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The Sooners and Ducks have interim coaches before new staffs arrive in 2022. The Sooners have former coach Bob Stoops on the sideline after Lincoln Riley’s departure for Southern California. Former Oklahoma assistant and Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables will lead the Sooners next season. Oregon offensive assistant Bryan McClendon will be the interim coach for the Ducks after Mario Cristobal left for Miami. Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning arrives at Oregon after the College Football Playoff.
KEY MATCHUP
Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks vs Ducks linebacker Noah Sewell. Brooks averages 113 yards rushing per game and is just the fourth Sooner to rush for 1,000 in a season three times. Sewell ranks No 2 in the Pac-12 with 106 tackles and is the first Ducks player with 100 stops in a season since 2018.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
OKLAHOMA QB Caleb Williams. The standout freshman has yet to say anything definitive about whether he will stay for 2022, but the fact that he’s in uniform and playing is the most hopeful sign yet for Sooners fans. In the seven games since taking over the offense, Williams has passed for 18 touchdowns. He also has touchdown runs of 74, 66, 41 and 40 yards.
OREGON Edge rusher Bradyn Swinson. The Ducks need an impact player up front with All-American Kayvon Thibodeaux skipping the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. Swinson had a big game in a season-opening win against Ohio State when Thibodeaux was out with an injury.
FACTS & FIGURES
Oklahoma will be missing four defensive starters who chose not to play while preparing for the NFL draft … Oregon led the Pac-12 in third-down conversions at 51.5% … The Sooners are making their Alamo Bowl debut after missing a New Year’s Six bowl for the first time since 2014 … Oregon’s last appearance in the Alamo Bowl was a triple-overtime loss to TCU in 2016 when the Ducks surrendered a 31-0 lead.