Some of nation’s stars return to play bowls
Other bowl games this week:
Boca Raton Bowl:
South Florida (6-6) vs. Syracuse (6-6)
Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Spread (BetMGM): Syracuse by 3
Syracuse will be led by interim coach Nunzio Campanile following the firing of Dino Babers on Nov. 20 after eight seasons. Syracuse quarterback Garrett Schrader passed for 1,686 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions in 11 games . ... South Florida improved five games from last season, its best turnaround in school history. The Bulls battled then-No. 10 Alabama before falling 17-3 in September. South Florida QB Byrum Brown passed for 3,078 yards and 23 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 745 yards with 11 scores, just behind teammate Nay’Quan Wright (757, seven TDs). Brown has announced he will return to South Florida in 2024.
Gasparilla Bowl:
Georgia Tech (6-6) vs. Central Florida (6-6)
Dec. 22, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Location: Tampa, Florida Spread:
Central Florida by 2.5
Georgia Tech QB Haynes King has passed for 2,755 yards and 26 of his 35 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 648 yards. Senior DB Jaylon King ranks 16th nationally with four interceptions along 68 tackles and eight pass breakups . ... The Knights began 3-0 in their inaugural Big 12 season before losing five consecutive league games. They regrouped to win three of their final four. UCF RB RJ Harvey ranks third in Big 12 rushing with 1,296 yards and 16 touchdowns. DE Tre’Mon Morris-Brash was second with 8.5 sacks for 71 yards, while LB Jason Johnson was second with 101 tackles. UCF will make its sixth appearance in the game previously played under differing titles.
Armed Forces Bowl:
No. 25 James Madison (11-1) vs. Air Force (8-4)
Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC Location:
Spread:
Fort Worth, Texas
OTB at press time
Damian Wroblewski will serve as JMU’s acting head coach after Curt Cignetti was hired to coach at Indiana. The Dukes lead the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 61.5 yards per game. James Madison DL Jalen Green was leading the nation with 15.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss among 50 overall stops before sustaining a season-ending knee injury last month . ... Emmanuel Michel (733 yards, TDs) leads the Falcons rushing attack. Zac Larrier (579, five TDs) and Owen Burke (431, three) follow. Air Force ranks second in FBS rushing at 275.8 yards per game and is 10th in rushing defense, yielding just 96.3 per contest.
Las Vegas Bowl:
Utah (8-4) vs. Northwestern (7-5)
Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC Location: Las Vegas
Spread (BetMGM): Utah by 6.5
Utah led the country in time of possession (34:03) and lost just one fumble during the season. The Utes also ranked second in the Pac-12 in yards rushing per game and averaged 199.8 yards on the ground over the final six games. RB Ja’Quinden Jackson had 742 yards rushing and averaged 4.8 yards per carry while RB/DB Sione Vaki had five total TDs on offense and 51 tackles, one interception on defense . ... Northwestern made the biggest one-year improvement at the FBS level after going 1-11 in 2022. Coach David Braun had the interim tag removed and was given the permanent job. The Wildcats won their final three games. Northwestern QB Ben Bryant had 1,585 yards passing and 11 TDs in eight games while RB Cam Porter had 618 yards rushing and four TDs. LB Bryce Gallagher had 110 tackles.
Hawaii Bowl:
Coastal Carolina (7-5) vs. San Jose State (7-5)
Dec. 23, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Location: Honolulu
Spread (BetMGM):
San Jose State by 10.5
The Chanticleers had won five consecutive games before dropping their final two matchups, to Army and then-No. 24 James Madison. WR Sam Pinckney has 904 yards receiving, seven TDs and an NCAA-record 57 straight games with a catch . ... The Spartans started 1-5 before rallying to win their final six games to qualify for the postseason. QB Chevan Cordeiro has 2,558 yards passing and 19 touchdowns against four interceptions.
Quick Lane Bowl:
Bowling Green (7-5) at Minnesota (5-7)
Dec. 26, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN Location: Detroit Spread (BetMGM):
Minnesota by 4
Bowling Green is making its second consecutive appearance in the Quick Lane Bowl after facing New Mexico State last season. Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin is seventh at his position nationally with 573 yards and fifth with six touchdowns. Cornerbacks Jalen Huskey and Jordan Oladokun are tied for 16th nationally with four interceptions each . ... Minnesota became bowl eligible because there were not enough teams meeting the six-win eligibility threshold. Minnesota DB Tyler Nubin tied for second in the Big Ten with five interceptions and eighth with nine passes defended.
First Responder Bowl: Texas State (7-5) vs. Rice (6-6)
Dec. 26, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Location:
Spread (BetMGM): Texas State by 4.5
Texas State ranks 10th nationally in total offense (470.8 yards per game), including 22nd in passing (280.8). The Bobcats beat Baylor 42-31 in the opener for their first win over a Power Five school. Texas State RB Ismail Mahdi ran for 1,209 yards rushing and 10 TDs, QB TJ Finley has 3,287 yards passing and 24 TDs and LB Brian Holloway has 98 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Rice is 38th nationally in passing (264.2
Dallas
yards per game) and 35th in red-zone offense (89%), converting 40 of 45 chances with 26 TDs. Rice QB JT Daniels has 2,443 yards passing yards, 21 TDs and a 63% completion rate and RB Dean Connors has 707 yards rushing, 6.7 yards per carry and five TDs. Rice safety Plae Wyatt has 77 tackles.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Kansas (8-4) vs. UNLV (9-4)
Dec. 26, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN Location: Phoenix Spread (BetMGM):
Kansas by 12.5
Kansas clinched bowl eligibility with a 38-33 upset of then-No.6 Oklahoma and is appearing in consecutive postseasons for the first time since 2007-08. The Jayhawks ranked seventh in Big 12 offense at 434 yards per contest. Kansas QB Jason Bean took over for injured Jalon Daniels and has led four wins, passing for 1,681 yards and 12 touchdowns. RB Devin Neal has rushed for 1,209 yards and 15 TDs, ranking fifth in the Big 12, while safety Kenny Logan Jr. recorded a teamhigh 86 tackles . ... UNLV led the Mountain West in scoring at 34.3 points per game. The Rebels are coming off a 44-20 loss to Boise State in the conference championship game. UNLV kicker Jose Pizano set school records with six field goals in a game and 127 points along with 19 consecutive made attempts over one stretch. Freshman QB Jayden Maiava has passed for 2,794 yards and 14 TDs with eight interceptions, ranking fourth in the Mountain West.