TODAY’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES
BAHAMAS BOWL
Teams: Middle Tennessee State (6-6) vs. Toledo (7-5). When/where: 11 a.m.; Nassau, Bahamas.
TV: ESPN.
Notable: It’s the opener of the 2021 college bowl season, with Middle Tennessee State and Toledo making their first trips to a bowl game since 2018. It is the second time both Middle Tennessee State (2015) and Toledo (2018) will be appearing in the Bahamas Bowl.
Key matchup: Redshirt freshman quarterback Dequan Finn and the Toledo offense against the Middle Tennessee State defense that leads the nation in turnovers (31), defensive touchdowns (six) and fumbles recovered (15). Finn is 125 of 209 passing, including 16 TDs and one interception. Toledo has the fewest turnovers (six) and interceptions thrown (two) nationally.
CURE BOWL
Teams: Northern Illinois (9-4) vs. Coastal Carolina (10-2).
When/where: 5 p.m.; Orlando, Fla.
TV: ESPN2.
Notable: Coastal Carolina is looking to match its school FBS record of 11 wins, set last year (11-1). Coastal Carolina played in its first bowl game last season, losing 37-34 in overtime to Liberty at the Cure Bowl. Northern Illinois is trying to win the MAC championship game and a bowl game in the same season for just the second time. The Huskies did it in 2011.
Key matchup: Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021, against a NIU defense that has given up 32.7 points and 447.7 yards a game this season. McCall’s efficiency rating of 207.95 is well ahead of the pace to break the FBS record of 203.06 that Alabama’s Mac Jones set last year.
STAGG BOWL
Teams: Mary Hardin-Baylor (14-0) vs. North Central (13-0).
When/where: 6 p.m.; Canton, Ohio.
TV: ESPNU.
Notable: At stake is the NCAA Division III championship, matching undefeated teams that have not played each other in football. Top-seed North Central (Ill.) is the reigning national champion, and the Cardinals have won 24 straight games. Second-seed UMHB of Belton won national titles in 2016 and 2018 and are in the Stagg Bowl for the fourth time in the past five postseasons. . The Crusaders, who rank third nationally in scoring (48.3), have outscored their past three foes 115-38.
Key matchup: Both teams play physical and have strong defenses. North Central allows 2.2 yards per rush attempt, while UMHB allows 2.3 yards per rush.