KEY BOWL MATCHUPS
National Semifinals Peach Bowl
Matchup: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma Time, TV: 4 p.m. Dec. 28, ESPN Location: Atlanta
The Buzz: LSU earned its first trip to the playoff semifinals with an impressive win over Georgia for the SEC crown. LSU and Oklahoma rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in total offense and feature two of the top QBs in the nation in the Tigers’ Joe Burrow and the Sooners’ Jalen Hurts.
Fiesta Bowl
Matchup: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3
Clemson
Time, TV: 8 p.m. Dec. 28, ESPN Location: Glendale, Ariz. The Buzz: Clemson is back in the semifinals for the fifth consecutive season after the Tigers captured a record fifth straight ACC title. This is their first meeting since the 2016 Fiesta Bowl, a 31-0 Clemson victory on its way to the national title and Ohio State’s most recent semifinal.
New Year’s Six bowls
Cotton Bowl Matchup: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 17
Memphis
Time, TV: Noon. Dec. 28, ESPN Location: Dallas
The Buzz: Penn State is making its third appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game in the past four seasons. Memphis, meanwhile, earned a spot thanks to being the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion. This is the third straight season an American Athletic Conference team has qualified for a New Year’s Six bowl berth.
Orange Bowl
Matchup: No. 9 Florida vs. No. 24 Virginia
Time, TV: 8 p.m. Dec. 30, ESPN Location: Miami
The Buzz: Florida makes it back-toback New Year’s Six bowl appearances for the first time in school history. Last season, the Gators thoroughly dominated Michigan in the Peach Bowl. This is just the second meeting between UF and Virginia and the first since 1959. This is the Cavaliers’ first trip to the Orange Bowl.
Rose Bowl
Matchup: No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 8 Wisconsin
Time, TV: 5 p.m. Jan. 1, ESPN Location: Pasadena, Calif.
The Buzz: A rematch of the 2012 Rose Bowl as Oregon, fresh off its Pac-12 title, looks to win 11 games for the first time since 2014. Wisconsin, the runner-up to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, is looking to snap a three-game losing streak in the Rose Bowl.
Sugar Bowl
Matchup: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 7 Baylor Time, TV: 8:45 p.m. Jan. 1, ESPN Location: New Orleans
The Buzz: Both were runners-up in the SEC and Big 12 title games, with Georgia losing to No. 1 LSU and Baylor getting knocked off by No. 4 Oklahoma in overtime. This is the second straight season during which the Bulldogs have played in the Sugar Bowl. Last year, Kirby Smart’s team was upset by Texas. The Bears are looking to win 12 games for the first time in school history.
Orlando bowls
Citrus Bowl Matchup: No. 13 Alabama vs. No. 14
Michigan
Time, TV: 1 p.m. Jan. 1, ABC Location: Orlando
The Buzz: Alabama is making its fourth appearance in an Orlando bowl and the first since 2010 as the Crimson Tide prepare to meet Michigan for the fifth time. The last time these elite programs met was during the 2012 season opener in Dallas. This is Michigan’s fifth bowl appearance in Orlando, with the Wolverines earning a 4-0 record in the game.
Cure Bowl
Matchup: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern Time, TV: 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21, CBSSports
Network
Location: Orlando
The Buzz: This is Liberty’s first full season since transitioning to the Football Bowl Subdivision level and the first bowl game for the Flames, who are led by former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze. Georgia Southern is undefeated during its two previous bowl games and is facing Liberty for the fifth time in program history.
Camping World Bowl
Matchup: No. 15 Notre Dame vs. Iowa
State
Time, TV: Noon. Dec. 28, ABC Location: Orlando
The Buzz: Notre Dame is making its third postseason appearance in Orlando, but the second trip to the Citrus Bowl in the past three seasons. The Fighting Irish have never previously faced Iowa State, but they are 28-6-1 against teams currently in the Big 12. This is the Cyclones’ first bowl trip to Orlando.
Florida bowls Gasparilla Bowl
Matchup: UCF vs. Marshall
Time, TV: 2:30 p.m. Dec. 23, ESPN Location: Tampa
The Buzz: UCF and Marshall were once rivals in the Mid-American Conference and Conference USA before the Knights left to join the American Athletic Conference. This is the first meeting between the two schools since 2012, with UCF owning an eight-game win streak in the series. Marshall is 12-2 all-time in bowl games, including seven straight victories,
Boca Bowl
Matchup: SMU vs. FAU
Time, TV: 3:30 p.m. Dec. 21, ABC Location: Boca Raton
The Buzz: FAU is back in the Boca Raton Bowl for the second time in the past three seasons, but this time the Owls will be without coach Lane Kiffin, who left to the take the head coaching job at Ole Miss. SMU is looking to win 11 games for the first time since 1982.
Gator Bowl
Matchup: Indiana vs. Tennessee
Time, TV: 7 p.m. Jan. 2, ESPN Location: Jacksonville
The Buzz: Indiana coach Tom Allen spent a season in Tampa as the defensive coordinator at USF in 2015. He leads a Hoosiers team to its first bowl appearance since 2016. Tennessee is also back in the postseason for the first time since 2016. The Volunteers have won four straight and seven of their past eight games against Big Ten opponents.
Outback Bowl
Matchup: No. 18 Minnesota vs. No. 12
Auburn
Time, TV: 1 p.m. Jan. 1, ESPN Location: Tampa
The Buzz: This is the first meeting between the two programs as Auburn looks to win its third bowl game in its past seven tries.
All three of the Tigers’ losses have come against top-10 teams (Florida, LSU, Georgia). Minnesota, meanwhile, has put together one of the best seasons in school history with 10 wins.
Other state of Florida teams bowls Independence Bowl
Matchup: Miami vs. Louisiana Tech Time, TV: 4 p.m. Dec. 26, ESPN Location: Shreveport, La. The Buzz: First-year Miami coach Manny Diaz spent a season at Louisiana Tech as the team’s defensive coordinator under head coach Skip Holtz in 2014. The Hurricanes have lost five of their past six bowl appearances.
Sun Bowl
Matchup: Florida State vs. Arizona
State
Time, TV: 2 p.m. Dec. 31, CBS
Location: El Paso, Texas
The Buzz: Florida State is back in the postseason for the 38th time in the past 40 seasons, with the Seminoles making their first trip to the Sun Bowl since 1966. FSU is 3-1 all-time against Arizona State, including three straight against the Sun Devils.
Camellia Bowl
Matchup: FIU vs. Arkansas State Time, TV: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21, ESPN Location: Montgomery, Ala.
The Buzz: This is the ninth meeting between these two programs, but the first since FIU made the transition from the Sun Belt to Conference USA in 2013. Arkansas State leads the overall series 6-2, with the Red Wolves making their school record ninth straight bowl appearance.