College Football
Week 18 – COVID cancels two, maybe three, more bowls
Relegate,
relegate, dance to the music
Relegate: Consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position.
With the NIL and transfer portal changes, among others, taking place in college football, I have another change to suggest. This change would have a major impact on college football and I think a positive one.
College football from top to bottom (FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III) should forget the conferences as we know them today and the teams (football only) should be placed in leagues. The leagues would be similar to the soccer leagues in Europe. Let’s use England as an example.
The top league would be the Premier League. The Premiere League would contain at least 32 teams, no more than 40 teams, and perhaps 36 teams. You would have an equal number of teams in each of the leagues below the Premier League. There would be enough leagues to contain all 660 or so college football teams – from FBS to Division III.
The next league below the Premier League in England is called the Championship League. Then below that you have League One, League Two and so on. In college football we can just call the next league below the Premier League – League One. Followed by League Two and League Three and so on until you cover every college football team. Again, each league would contain 32, 36 or 40 teams.
After each season of play, the top teams in each league would be promoted to the league above them for the following season. That is all teams in each league except the Premier League. You can’t go any higher than the Premier League.
“You say you want relegation
Conversely, after each season of play, the bottom teams in each league would be relegated to the league below them for the following season. Yes, we are going to consign or dismiss those teams to an inferior rank or position. That is all teams in each league except the very bottom league. You can’t go any lower than that.
I would suggest that the four, five or six top teams in each league would be promoted, and the four, five or six bottom teams in each league would be relegated. Four teams if it is a 32-team league, five teams if it is a 36- team league or six teams if it is a 40-team league.
This way, you would always have the better teams moving towards the top and the weaker teams moving towards the bottom. Some teams would probably go up and down from year to year. The yearly change would add interest in the leagues.
Each team’s schedule would consist of 12 games. Each team would play at least 9 teams in their league. Each team has the option to play 1, 2 or 3 teams from a league above or below them. This would allow schools to continue to play rivalries.
“You say you got a real solution
At the end of each season, the top 8 teams in each league would have a playoff to determine the championship of the league. To determine the position of the top eight teams, there would be a point system. Each team would get two points for a win against a team in their own league, three points if they beat a team from a higher league and one point if the beat a team from a lower league. No points for a loss.
Based on the point system, if two or more teams tie for say third place in the league, there would be tie breakers – the greatest difference between total points scored in a season and total points scored against in a season, the total number of first downs made during the season, etc.
Based on the same point system and tie breakers, the top 4, 5 or 6 teams in each league would be promoted to the league directly above them, and the bottom 4, 5 or 6 teams in each league would be relegated to the league directly below them.
“Well, you can bump and grind, it’s good for your mind
This concept would make college football more interesting. A team like North Dakota State or Deion Sanders’ Jackson State has the opportunity to promote its way up to possibly League Two or League Three. Conversely, a team like Duke or Vanderbilt might get relegated to one of the lower leagues. Heaven forbid! But since you can play teams in a different league, Duke could still play North Carolina and Vanderbilt could still play Tennessee.
You still have a playoff every year as each league would have its own eight-team playoff. And you also have the membership in each league changing somewhat from year to year, which makes the game and leagues more interesting.
Now this would only apply to college football. College basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, etc. would continue to play and compete in the conferences as we know them today – the ACC, Big 12, SEC, etc.
Let’s promote and let’s relegate! Dance to the music!
“Don’t you know
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
Note: Touchdown Tom’s annual holiday bonus “What Year Was It” will be posted later this week on Thursday morning, December 30. Be on the lookout.
Review of the Second
Week of Bowls and Other News
Week two of the bowl parade began last Monday with the Misnomer Bowl. Actually, it was the Myrtle Beach Bowl, but I call it the Misnomer Bowl because the game was played in Conway, South Carolina, 17 miles inland from Myrtle Beach.
The game matched Tulsa against Old Dominion. Tulsa had a receiver named Carlos Santana. Santana had six receptions for 75 yards, all while singing “Oye Como Va” to the Old Dominion defenders. Tulsa beat Old Dominion, 30-17.
Tuesday morning, Swamp Mama and I hit the Interstate for a drive to the panhandle to be with Princess Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. The first half of the drive was in perpetual rain. The second half was dry, but overcast. And the closer we got to our destination, the colder it got. When we left home, it was a humid 70°. When we arrived at our destination, it was a chilly 47°.
At the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise Idaho, instead of a bucket of Gatorade, the players dump a bucket of French-fried potatoes on the winning coach. With the game ending temperature at 39°, you better believe Wyoming coach Craig Bohl was thankful it was French fries and not Gatorade.
Wyoming beat Kent State in the Spud Bowl, 52-38. Wyoming quarterback Levi Williams was nothing short of sensational. Williams was 9-of-11, passing for 127 yards and one touchdown, but more impressively, he rushed for 200 yards, scoring four more touchdowns. He averaged 12.5 yards a carry. Then after the game, he entered the transfer portal.
In the second game on Tuesday, San Diego State put it all together and UTSA didn’t. The Aztecs beat the Roadrunners, 38-24, in the Frisco Bowl. Both teams had seasons to be proud of – each finished 12-2.
News broke Tuesday evening, reporting that USC quarterback Kedon Slovis announced he is transferring to Pitt. Also, Ohio State backup quarterback Jack Miller is transferring to Florida, and former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler is transferring to South Carolina. It’s been quite the season for quarterback transfers. Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak entered the transfer portal. It’s been quite the season for the transfer portal.
We woke up Wednesday morning to sunny skies and 38°.
Jimbo, Jimbo, Jimbo! Are you afraid of losing another game. Reports out of College Station, Texas, said Texas A&M was dropping out of the Gator Bowl because too many players on the team had COVID. Really? I know the Aggies don’t have a quarterback. Maybe that’s why Texas A&M dropped out of the game. Either way, this is a lack of responsibility for a man make $10 million a year. Jimbo, Jimbo, Jimbo!
Meanwhile, the Gator Bowl is frantically searching for another team to replace the Aggies. Texas A&M was scheduled to play Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl on December 31. Apparently, Illinois (5-7) volunteered to be the replacement for A&M. Also, Marshall (7-6), who has already played in one bowl game. But the favorite appears to be Rutgers (5-7). Stay tuned!
Wednesday night, we had an exciting finish in the Armed Forces Bowl. Late in the fourth quarter, Missouri was trailing Army, 21-16. The Tigers got the ball on their own 17-yard line with 2:41 to go in the game. Backup quarterback Brady Cook led Missouri down the field. With 1:11 left on the clock, the Tigers scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Cook to Keke Chism. Missouri led Army, 22-21. The Tigers went for two. But Cook overthrew a wide-open Dawson Downing on the two-point conversion attempt.
That missed two-point attempt left the door open for Army. But with only 1:11 on the clock, the door wasn’t open very wide. Still, led by third-string quarterback Jabari Laws, Army moved down the field to the Missouri 24. Cole Talley kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired. Army beat Missouri, 24-22.
More sunny skies on Thursday morning in the panhandle, with a temp of 35°.
As expected, Rutgers was chosen to replace Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl. The Scarlet Knights received approval from the NCAA’s oversight committee. Rutgers was selected because it had the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) among the football teams that finished with a 5-7 record.
Thursday afternoon, the first, and most likely the last, Frisco Football Classic was played. All but 7 of the 41 points scored in the game were scored in the first half. The second half was about as boring as you can get. Miami (Ohio) beat North Texas, 27-14. It was the first bowl win out of five for a Mid-American Conference team.
After the game, news came through that the Hawaii Bowl had been canceled. The bowl was scheduled to be played the next day – the afternoon of Christmas Eve, between Hawaii and Memphis. Turns out, the Rainbow Warriors have COVID issues, or at least they say they do. They have lots of team and personal issues too. Half of the players want the coach fired. Many of the players have transferred. Oh well, the Memphis players get a vacation in Hawaii.
For the second-straight year, Florida ended its season on a low. The Gators were about as low – physically and mentally – as you can get in the Gasparilla Bowl. Florida lost to UCF, 29-17. The Gators also had 8 penalties for 85 yards. Interim Florida coach Greg Knox acted like he could give a crap. New coach Billy Napier will be facing a challenge in Gainesville. He has his hands full. The Gators need a booster shot.
Christmas Eve morning brought more sunny skies to the panhandle and a temp of 36°.
After dinner on Christmas Eve, Swamp Mama, Princess Gator, Gator Gabe, Gator Babe and I roasted marsh mellows. The kids have a cool fire pit down the hill from their house on the edge of the lake. It’s where they keep their kayaks. With a good fire going, we sat around the pit, having a cozy time. It was a perfect evening for roasting marsh mellows – clear, starlit night, about 56°.
More sunny skies on Christmas morning with a balmy temp of 49°. Merry Christmas, college football fans!
It was another “Bad Day at Black Rock” (I loved that movie) for the Mid-American Conference. On Christmas Day, Georgia State beat Ball State, 51-20, in the Camellia Bowl. The MAC is now 1-5 in bowl games with two opportunities left. The Cardinals were done in by Georgia State quarterback Darren Grainger. Grainger was 15-of-19, passing for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 122 yards and another touchdown.
With the Camellia Bowl in the books, the first two weeks of bowl games was officially over – 15 bowls played and one canceled.
From a conference perspective, the MWC and the AAC are undefeated at 4-0 and 2-0 respectively. The Sun Belt and Independents are looking good at 3-1 and 2-1 respectively. Looking bad are the MAC at 1-5 and C-USA at 3-5. Looking really bad are the Pac-12 at 0-1 and the SEC at 0-2. The ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten play their first games this week.
There are 26 bowls remaining and 25 of those will be played this week. Action resumes today with two games on tap. Western Michigan-Nevada in the Quick Lane Bowl and Boston College-East Carolina in the Military Bowl. Both encounters have the potential to be good games.
The day after Christmas morning dawned clear and sunny in the panhandle with a balmier temp of 57°.
It was time for Swamp Mama and I to leave Florida’s panhandle and begin our trek back to the coast of east-central Florida. After a heart-warming Christmas together with family, we bid farewell to Princess Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe and made our way to the backroads of Florida.
Being the retired folks that we are, it’s not necessary for us to rush home. We can make it a leisurely trip, meandering along the way – making an extra stop or so if desired. Before Christmas, Swamp Mama and I decided we would stop in Gainesville on the way home.
Ever since we ate at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille in early November with Joe and Lynne Gannon, following our Navy group reunion in St. Augustine, we have been wanting to go back for dinner. So I had booked us reservations for Sunday night, along with booking a hotel in Gainesville.
We arrived in Gainesville Sunday afternoon. Yeah, I took the backroads.
Shortly after checking into our hotel, I learned the Military (East Carolina-Boston College) and Fenway (Maryland-Virginia) Bowls had been canceled due to COVID issues. Boston College was the irresponsible school in the Military Bowl and Virginia was the problem child in the Fenway Bowl.
So Boston College and Virginia join Hawaii and Texas A&M as the irresponsible schools who don’t follow COVID protocols. Those schools should be fined $100,000 for their lack of responsibility. It’s the second year the Fenway Bowl has been cancelled due to COVID. The Bowl, scheduled for Fenway Park, was supposed to debut last year and got called off because of COVID. I think the Fenway Bowl is jinxed. It must be the Curse of the Bambino.
Now there are 24 bowls remaining – 23 of those to be played this week. Stay tuned!
Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille was just as good last night as it was back in November.
And Miami (Florida) is out of the Sun Bowl due to COVID. Why am I not surprised. Miami has always been an irresponsible school – no leadership. Maybe only 22 bowls next week. Maybe less. The Sun Bowl says they are hopeful to find a replacement for Miami. Washington State, already in El Paso, sure hopes so.
Meanwhile, I’m still thinkin’. They need to expand the band width of the transfer portal.
A Golden day (in the Myrtle
Beach Bowl) – Tulsa 30, Old Dominion 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Tulsa 27,
Old Dominion 19). Old Dominion ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown.
Just like that, the Monarchs were up 7-0. Tulsa scored a touchdown 1:43 later.
Just like that, the game was 7-7. Tulsa scored again in the first quarter and
went up 14-7. The Golden Tornadoes never trailed again. With the score 14-10,
Tulsa proceeded to score 16 unanswered points. Midway through the fourth
quarter, Tulsa led 30-10. Tulsa quarterback Davis Brin was 22-of-34,
passing for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Old Dominion had no offense – 10
first downs to 35 for Tulsa. The Monarchs only had 71 yards rushing. Tulsa had
529 total yards. Tulsa also possessed the ball for 39:33. Attendance in Conway:
6,557
Twice baked (in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) – Wyoming 52, Kent State 38 (Touchdown Tom said: Kent State 33, Wyoming 32). Kent State scored 24 of its 38 points in the first half. Wyoming scored 31 of its 52 points in the second half. The Golden Flashes led at the break, 24-21. The Cowboys came out in the second half and scored 21 unanswered points. Early in the fourth quarter, Wyoming led 42-24. Kent State quarterback Dustin Crum passed for 316 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed for 70 yards and another touchdown. Kent State running back Marquez Cooper rushed for 125 yards. The Golden Flashes had 636 total yards. But Wyoming and quarterback Levi Williams won the game. Together, the teams combined for 1,187 yards, of which 723 were rushing yards. Neither team had a turnover. Attendance in Boise: 10,217
The Aztecs were frisky (in the Frisco Bowl) – San Diego State 38, UTSA 24 (Touchdown Tom said: San Diego State 23, UTSA 22). This was anybody’s game for three quarters. San Diego State led 17-14 at halftime and 31-24 as the fourth quarter began. But the Aztecs put the icing on the cake in the fourth quarter and the Roadrunners couldn’t respond. San Diego State quarterback Lucas Johnson was 24-of-36, passing for 333 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson scored a fourth touchdown rushing. Aztec receiver Jesse Matthews had 11 receptions for 175 yards. Two of his catches were touchdown passes of 11 and 20 yards. San Diego State totally dominated the stats in first downs, total yards, passing yards, rushing yards and time of possession. Attendance in Frisco: 15,801
Kicked by a Mule (in the Armed Forces Bowl) – Army 24, Missouri 22 (Touchdown Tom said: Missouri 24, Army 20). Missouri dominated the first half. The Tigers led Army 16-7 at the break. But Army dominated the second half, outscoring Missouri, 17-6. The Cadets won on a 41-yard field goal as time expired. Missouri had 433 total yards to 306 for Army. And the Tigers led in first downs, 28-21. Attendance in Fort Worth: 34,888
The Green becomes Red (in the Frisco Football Classic) – Miami (Ohio) 27, North Texas 14 (Touchdown Tom said: North Texas 28, Miami 26). They like to call bowl games classics in Texas – the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Frisco Classic. Miami dominated the stats – first downs, total yards, rushing yards and time of possession (38:21 to 21:39). Although, ironically, both teams passed for 228 yards. But North Texas only had 89 yards rushing. And the Mean Green had two turnovers to none for the Red Hawks. Attendance in Frisco: 11,721
Knights feast on Gator tail (in the Gasparilla Bowl) – UCF 29, Florida 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Florida 31, UCF 26). It was a Sha Na Na night for the Knights. Running back Isaiah Bowser (I know the other one spelled his with a Z) almost single-handedly destroyed the Gators. Bowser, a Northwestern transfer, rushed for 155 yards and scored two touchdowns. And to add insult to injury, Ryan O’Keefe rushed for an additional 110 yards. Florida led 10-9 at halftime. But the Gators were outscored 20-7 in the second half. Florida quarterback Emory Jones only completed 38% of his passes. After the game, Jones entered the transfer portal. Don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out of Gainesville, Emory. Attendance in Tampa: 63,669
Canceled (in the Hawaii Bowl) – COVID won (Touchdown Tom said: Memphis 30, Hawaii 24). The Hawaii Bowl was called off.
Bird bath (in the Camellia Bowl) – Georgia State 51, Ball State 20 (Touchdown Tom said: Georgia State 30, Ball State 28). This was a good game in the first half. Ball State scored first and took a 7-0 lead. Then Georgia State scored 17 unanswered points to take a 17-7 lead, early in the second quarter. Ball State closed the gap to 7 points twice, trailing 17-10 with 9:20 to go in the second quarter, and 20-13 at halftime. That was all she wrote for the Cardinals. Georgia State came out in the second half and scored 31 unanswered points. The Panthers led 51-13 with 9:03 to go in the game. Georgia State tight end Aubry Payne had 8 receptions for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns. Georgia State was well balanced on offense with 259 yards rushing and 205 yards passing. Ball State only had 74 yards rushing. Attendance in Montgomery: N/A
Last Week’s Bowl Game Picks: 3 winners, 4 fumbles (42.9 percent)
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
San Diego State’s Lucas Johnson – 24-36-0 for 333 yards (3TDs), and Kent State’s Dustin Crum – 17-27-0-316 (4TDs).
Impressive Rushers:
Wyoming’s Levi Williams – 200 yards (4TDs); UCF’s Isaiah Bowser – 155 yards (2TDs), and Georgia State’s Darren Grainger – 122 yards (1TD).
Quotes of the Week
“The best is yet to come. We’re fighting against the three big in-state schools. I really believe we’re the program of the future,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn, after UCF’s Gasparilla Bowl win over Florida.
Touchdown Tom’s
Predictions for This Week’s Bowl Games
Western Michigan (7-5) vs. Nevada (8-4) – (MAC vs. MWC) – (Quick Lane Bowl – Detroit, Michigan) – 11 am ET, Monday, ESPN – Western Michigan has an above average offense with a below average defense. The Broncos do have a good quarterback in Kaleb Eleby. Eleby passed for 3,115 yards, completing 63.6% of his passes. He threw 21 touchdown passes and only had five interceptions. WMU has a decent running back in Sean Tyler. Tyler rushed for 1,004 yards. WMU was one of only two teams to beat Pitt. The Broncos downed the Panthers 44-41. They average 30.8 points a game on offense and give up 28.6 points on defense. Nevada has a potent offense, especially through the air. Wolf Pack quarterback Carson Strong is the 6th leading passer in the country. He passed for 4,186 yards, completing 70.2% of his passes. Strong threw 36 touchdown passes and only had eight interceptions. Nevada is very diverse on offense. The wolf Pack are 4th in the country in passing yards per game and 129th in rushing yards per game. They average 36.7 points a game on offense. The defense gives up 24.4 points a game. Three of Nevada’s four losses were by 2 points each. They began the season 5-1 and finished it 3-3. The Wolf Pack pin the tail on the Bronco – Nevada 32, Western Michigan 30.
CANCELED due to COVID – East Carolina (7-5) vs. Boston College (6-6) – (AAC vs. ACC) – (Military Bowl – Annapolis, Maryland) – 2:30 pm ET, Monday, ESPN – By expectations, East Carolina had a good year. The Pirates were forecast to finish near the bottom of the AAC. Instead, they finished in a tie for third place. East Carolina was 4-1 in its final five games. The Pirates definitely improved as the season progressed. Their offense is good. But their defense is equally as bad as the offense is good. East Carolina averages 29.7 points a game and gives up 26.2 points a game. The Pirates have a very capable quarterback in Holton Ahlers. He passed for 3,129 yards. They also have an adequate running back in Keaton Mitchell. He rushed for 1,132 yards. East Carolina coach Mike Huston appears to be getting the ECU program turned around. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes the coach of a bigger program in a few years. Pirates bake the Beans – East Carolina 30, Boston College 26.
Houston (11-2) vs. Auburn (6-6) – (AAC vs. SEC) – (Birmingham Bowl – Birmingham, Alabama) – 12 noon ET, Tuesday, ESPN – Houston lost its opening game to Texas Tech. Then the Cougars won 11-straight games, before they ran into Cincinnati in the AAC championship game. On offense, Houston has a good passing game and a weak running game. Quarterback Clayton Tune passed for 3,263 yards, completing 68.5% of his passes. He threw 28 touchdown passes. On offense the Cougars averaged 37.3 points a game. Houston actually played good defense. Opponents averaged 21 points a game against the Cougars. Auburn had a disappointing season. Auburn began 6-2 and then lost its final four games. The Tigers almost salvaged their season by nearly beating Alabama in the last game. They shouldn’t have lost to the Tide, but they did – 24-22 (4OT). Auburn was just an average team on offense and defense. The Tigers averaged 29.6 points a game on offense and gave up 22.2 points a game on defense. Houston has a problem – Auburn 33, Houston 25.
Air Force (9-3) vs. Louisville (6-6) – (MWC vs. ACC) – (First Responder Bowl – University Park, Texas) – 3:15 pm ET, Tuesday, ESPN – Air Force is 1st in the country in rushing yards, averaging 341.5 yards a game. The team’s leading rusher is Brad Roberts. Roberts rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns. On offense, Air Force averages 31 points a game. The Falcons are strong on defense too. They are particularly strong against the rush. They held opponents to 19.1 points a game. Air Force’s three losses were all by a touchdown or less. The Falcons come into the bowl game on a three-game winning streak. Louisville has a pretty good offense, coupled with a pretty bad defense. The Cardinals’ offense centers around quarterback Malik Cunningham. He passed for 2,734, completing 62% of his throws. Cunningham was also the leading rusher with 968 yards. Louisville averages 31.9 points a game on offense, but gives up 27 points a game on defense. Bird strike – Air Force 29, Louisville 27.
Mississippi State (7-5) vs. Texas Tech (6-6) – (SEC vs. Big 12) – (Liberty Bowl – Memphis, Tennessee) – 6:45 pm ET, Tuesday, ESPN – The Liberty Bowl matches Mike Leach against his old team – Texas Tech. Mississippi State was one of the strongest passing teams in the country – 3rd averaging, 385.7 yards a game. Conversely, the Bulldogs were the worst rushing team in the country – 130th, averaging 63.9 yards a game. Miss State quarterback Will Rogers passed for 4,449 yards, completing 75.1% of his passes. He threw 35 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions. Rogers was the 2nd leading passer in the country. The Bulldogs averaged 30.9 points a game on offense. Miss State’s defense was average. They could be good when they wanted too. They could be bad when they wanted too. They gave up 25.2 points a game. Three of Miss State’s five losses were by 3 points or less. A few games into the season, Texas Tech fired its football coach. The Red Raiders were average on offense and bad on defense. They averaged 30 points a game, while giving up 32.1 points a game. Leach gets his revenge – Mississippi State 35, Texas Tech 31.
UCLA (8-4) vs. NC State (9-3) – (Pac-12 vs. ACC) – (Holiday Bowl – San Diego, California) – 8 pm ET, Tuesday, FOX – UCLA had a pretty good offense and a pretty bad defense. The Bruins averaged 36.5 points a game on offense, while giving up 26.8 points a game on defense. On offense, UCLA is led by quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He passed for 2,409 yards, completing 62% of his passes. Thompson-Robinson only threw six interceptions. The Bruins also have a strong running back in Zach Charbonnet, who rushed for 1,137 yards. Two of UCLA’s four losses were by three points. The Bruins come into the bowl game on a three-game winning streak. NC State is one of the best passing teams in the country, while being one of the worst rushing teams – 19th passing, 99th rushing. The passing attack is led by quarterback Devin Leary, Leary passed for 3,433 yards, completing 65.7% of his throws. He threw 35 touchdown passes and only had five interceptions. The Wolfpack averaged 33.1 points a game on offense. NC State has a good defense. They ranked high in all the defensive categories and held opponents to 19.7 points a game. Two of NC State’s three losses were by three points or less. The Bruins can’t hack the Pack – NC State 28, UCLA 24.
West Virginia (6-6) vs. Minnesota (8-4) – (Big 12 vs. Big Ten) – (Guaranteed Rate Bowl – Phoenix, Arizona) – 10:15 pm ET, Tuesday, ESPN – This is the first meeting between these two schools. West Virginia was an up-and-down team in 2021. WVU’s offense was one of the worst in the country. The defense was a little better than average. Quarterback Jarred Doege passed for 2,908 yards, completing 65.8% of his passes. Running back Leddie Brown rushed for 1,065 yards. Brown announced he is opting out of the bowl game. Three of WVU’s six losses were by 6 points or less. The Mountaineers averaged 26.8 points a game on offense and gave up 24.3 points a game on defense. Minnesota was bad on offense but very good on defense. On offense, the Gophers only strength was in their running game. On defense, Minnesota ranked between 4th and 11th in all the defensive categories. The Gophers were 4th in total yards allowed, 8th in rushing yards allowed and 9th in points allowed. Minnesota averaged 26.1 points a game on offense. On defense, the Gophers gave up 18.2 points a game. Three of Minnesota’s four losses were by 8 points or less. The Mountaineers find a way – West Virginia 24, Minnesota 23.
CANCELED due to COVID – SMU (8-4) vs. Virginia (6-6) – (AAC vs. ACC) – (Fenway Bowl) – Boston, Massachusetts) – 11 am ET, Wednesday, ESPN – This is the first year for the Fenway Bowl to be played in Fenway Stadium, home of the Boston Red Sox. SMU is good on offense, except for rushing. The Mustangs have no running game. Quarterback Tanner Mordecai passed for 3,628 yards, completing 67.8% of his throws. He threw 39 touchdown passes. SMU averages 38.4 points a game on offense, but gives up 28.4 points a game on defense. The Mustangs began the season at 7-0. Then they lost four of their final five games. Three of their four losses were by 7 points or less. Except for rushing, Virginia was very strong on offense. The Cavaliers were the 2nd best passing team in the country – 392.2 passing yards a game. But they were one of the worst rushing teams – 106th. The Cavs averaged 34.6 points a game on offense. The passing was led by quarterback Brennan Armstrong who passed for 4,444 yards, completing 65.3% of his passes. Armstrong was the 3rd leading passer in the country. He threw 31 touchdown passes. On defense, Virginia is one of the worst teams in the country. They gave up 31.8 points a game. Starting the season at 6-2, Virginia comes into the bowl on a four-game losing streak. Brennan strong arms the Mustangs – Virginia 42, SMU 38.
Maryland (6-6) vs.
Virginia Tech (6-6)
– (Big Ten vs. ACC) – (Pinstripe Bowl – New York City, New York) – 2:15 pm
ET, Wednesday, EPSN – And, of course, the Pinstripe Bowl is played in
Yankee Stadium. Maryland was strong on passing and weak on running. Quarterback
Taulia Tagovailoa, brother of Tua, passed for 3,595 yards,
completing 68.4% of his passes. Maryland averaged 27.2 points a game. On
defense, the Terps terrible. One of the worst in the country. They gave up 32.4
points a game. Maryland began the season 4-0. Then the Terps lost 6 of their
final 8 games. Virginia Tech had a disappointing season. Except for rushing,
the Hokies had a terrible offense. They averaged 24.8 points a game. Tech’s
defense was just average. The Hokies gave up 22.9 points a game. Tech fired its
coach. The Hokies feast on soup – Virginia Tech 25, Maryland 24.
Clemson (10-3) vs. Iowa State (7-5) – (ACC vs. Big 12) – (Cheez-It Bowl – Orlando, Florida) – 5:45 pm ET, Wednesday, ESPN – Clemson had a strange season. The Tigers started off rocky. But they finished up pretty good. Clemson currently is riding a five-game winning streak. The offense never came through for the Tigers. They averaged 26.8 points a game. Clemson was one of the worst passing teams in the country. In spite of the rough start, the defense played tough all year. They only gave up 15 points a game – 2nd best in the country. Clemson was 9th in both rushing yards and total yards allowed. Clemson’s three losses were by 10 points or less. Iowa State had a disappointing season. The Cyclones were a Top 10 team at preseason. The offense was better than average. Quarterback Brock Purdy passed for 2,984 yards, completing 73.1% of his passes. Running back Breece Hall rushed for 1,472 yards, scoring 20 touchdowns. Hall announced he is opting out of the game. The Cyclones averaged 32.8 points a game. On defense Iowa State was good. They held opponents to 20.6 points a game. All five of Iowa State’s losses were by 10 points or less. Cy makes the Tigers go sigh – Iowa State 17, Clemson 16.
Oregon (10-3) vs. Oklahoma (10-2) – (Pac-12 vs. Big 12) – (Alamo Bowl – San Antonio, Texas) – 9:15 pm ET, Wednesday, ESPN – This has the potential of being one of the better bowl games. Both teams were playoff contenders until late in the season. Oregon was a good team with just an average offense and defense. Obviously, they weren’t that good. Quarterback Anthony Brown passed for 2,692 yards, completing 63.8% of his passes. Running back Travis Dye rushed for 1,118 yards. In early October, Oregon lost running back C.J. Verdell to a season-ending leg injury. That definitely hurt the Ducks. Oregon averaged 31.4 points a game on offense and gave up 25.5 points a game on defense. Two of Oregon’s three losses were to Utah, within two weeks of each other and by similar scores – 38-7 and 38-10. Oklahoma was favored to win the Big 12 and the Sooners didn’t even make the championship game. OU changed quarterbacks at mid-season, going from Spencer Rattler to Caleb Williams. Running back Kennedy Brooks rushed for 1,107 yards. OU had an explosive offense and an average defense. On offense, the Sooners averaged 38.4 points a game. On defense, OU held opponents to 25.2 points a game. Both of Oklahoma’s losses came within the last three weeks of the season. The Sooners were 9-0 before they suffered their first loss. Boomer takes the quack out of the attack – Oklahoma 31, Oregon 27.
North Carolina (6-6) vs. South Carolina (6-6) – (ACC vs. SEC) – (Duke’s Mayo Bowl – Charlotte, North Carolina) – 11:30 am ET, Thursday, ESPN – North Carolina is another team that had a disappointing season. The Tar Heels were a Top 12 team at preseason. The problem was the defense. There was none. North Carolina had a potent offense, although quarterback Sam Howell wasn’t a Heisman contender as predicted. Still, Howell passed for 2,851 yards, completing 62.7% of his passes. Running back Ty Chandler rushed for 1,063 yards. The offense averaged 36.4 points a game. Five of the Tar Heels’ six losses were by 10 points or less. North Carolina’s defense was pathetic – giving up 31.6 points a game. Conversely, South Carolina performed better than expected under first-year coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks’ better side was its defense. South Carolina’s offense didn’t exist. It was one of the worst in the country in all categories. The Gamecocks averaged 21.3 points a game on offense. On defense they held opponents to 24.2 points a game. Tar Heels celebrate on Chicken cacciatore – North Carolina 34, South Carolina 26.
Tennessee (7-5) vs. Purdue (8-4) – (SEC vs. Big Ten) – (Music City Bowl – Nashville, Tennessee) – 3 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – Thanks to a good job of bringing in transfer portal players, Tennessee had a decent season. Better than expected. The Vols had a good offense, but a bad defense. On offense, quarterback Hendon Hooker passed for 2,567 yards, completing 69% of his passes. He threw 26 touchdown passes. The Vols were 9th in the country in points scored – 38.8. The defense was a different story. They gave up 27.5 points a game. The last, and only, time Purdue played in the Music City Bowl it was a disaster for the Boilermakers. And they were playing an SEC team then too. In 2018, Auburn beat Purdue 63-14 in the Music City Bowl. I’m sure Purdue is hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself. Purdue has a much better season than expected. The offense was great at passing and terrible at running. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell passed for 3,178 yards, completing 73.5% of his passes. The Boilers were 9th in the country in passing yards per game. But they were 127th in the country in rushing yards per game. The Boilers averaged 27.5 points a game. Purdue was fair to good on defense. They gave up 20.5 points a game. Davy Crockett killed him a Boiler when he was only three – Tennessee 33, Purdue 27.
Michigan State (10-2) vs. Pitt (11-2) – (Big Ten vs. ACC) – (Peach Bowl – Atlanta, Georgia) – 7 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – Michigan State had a great season – much better than expected. Like Tennessee, Michigan State coach Mel Tucker took advantage of the transfer portal. Tucker brought in about 40 transfer portal players who turned the Spartans’ season into a success. Michigan State and Pitt were both playoff contenders until late into the season. The Spartans had a great season in spite of little better than average offense and a so-so defense. The best thing about State’s offense was running back Kenneth Walker. Walker rushed for 1,642 yards, averaging 6.2 yards a carry. He scored 18 touchdowns. Walker has announced he is opting out of the bowl game. State also had a good quarterback in Payton Thorne. Thorne passed for 2,886 yards, completing 60.8% of his passes. The Spartans averaged 31.9 points a game. On defense, State was the worst in the country in pass defense – 130th. But they were strong in rushing defense. State held opponents to 25.7 points a game. State was 8-0 before losing its first game. Pitt had an amazing season. The Panthers won the ACC championship. But how did they ever lose to Western Michigan? Pitt had a strong offense, except they were a weak rushing team. Quarterback Kenny Pickett passed for 4,319 yards, completing 67.2% of his passes. He threw 42 touchdown passes, and was the 5th leading passer in the country. Pickett announced he is opting out of the bowl game. The Panthers averaged 43 points a game on offense – 3rd best in the country. Except for passing yards allowed, Pitt was a good defensive team. They were 6th in the country in rushing yards allowed. The Panthers gave up 23.1 points a game on defense. Pitt comes into the bowl on a 5-game winning streak. The Spartans piss on the Panthers – Michigan State 34, Pitt 21.
Wisconsin (8-4) vs. Arizona State (8-4) – (Big Ten vs. Pac-12) – (Las Vegas Bowl – Las Vegas, Nevada) – 10:30 pm ET, Thursday, ESPN – Wisconsin started off on the wrong foot. The Badgers began the season 1-3. Then they won 7 of their final eight games. As usual, the Badgers were a strong running team and a weak passing team. Leading the rushers was running back Braelon Allen. He rushed for 1,109 yards. Wisconsin averaged 25.8 points a game. On defense, Wisconsin was one of the best teams in the country. First in rushing yards allowed and 1st in total yards allowed. The Badgers held opponents to 16.4 points a game. That was 6th best in the country. Arizona State began the season at 5-1. Then the Sun Devils split their final six games – 3 wins and 3 losses. ASU was average on offense – nothing spectacular. They averaged 29.7 points a game. The Sun Devils were better on defense, holding opponents to 20.9 points a game. Badgers conquer the heat – Wisconsin 28, Arizona State 23.
Wake Forest (10-3) vs. Rutgers (5-7) – (ACC vs. SEC) – (Gator Bowl – Jacksonville, Florida) – 11 am ET, Friday, ESPN – Wake Forest was a wild team in 2021. The offense was just as wildly good as the defense was wildly bad. The Deacons were wildly good, winning their first eight games. Then they were wildly bad, losing three of their final five games. Two of the three losses were by a combined 45 points. On offense the Deacons were a strong passing team and a weak running team. Quarterback Sam Hartman passed for 3,924 yards, throwing 36 touchdown passes. But he also threw 14 interceptions. Wake Forest averaged 41.2 points a game. On defense, the Deacons gave up 30.3 points a game. Texas A&M was originally scheduled to play Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl, but the Aggies dropped out due to COVID issues. Rutgers became the replacement team for Texas A&M. Rutgers began the season at 3-0, but then lost 7 or their last 9 games. The Scarlet Knights are better on defense than they are on offense. The offense was one of the worst in the country. The defense was average. On offense, Rutgers averaged 20-5 points a game. On defense, the Knights gave up 24.6 points a game. Gone with the Knights – Wake Forest 33, Rutgers 18.
Washington State (7-5) vs. Stay Tuned – (Pac-12 vs. ACC) – (Sun Bowl – El Paso, Texas) – 12 noon ET, Friday, CBS – Washington State did remarkably well to finish the season at 7-5 under two different coaches. The Cougars began the season under Nick Rolovich. Halfway through the season, he was fired for refusing to get his vaccine shots. The Cougars finished the season under Jake Dickert. Washington State also did remarkably well to finish the season at 7-5 when they basically had a bad offense and a bad defense. On offense, quarterback Jayden De Laura passed for 2,757 yards. The Cougars averaged 28.4 points a game. On defense, the Cougars gave up 24.2 points a game.
Central Michigan (8-4) vs. Boise State (7-5) – (MAC vs. MWC) – (Arizona Bowl – Tucson, Arizona) – 2 pm ET, Friday – This is the only one of 42 bowls that is not televised on a national network. For some reason, nobody wants to broadcast the Arizona Bowl. Central Michigan has a good offense and a pretty weak defense. On offense, quarterback Daniel Richardson passed for 2,392 yards, completing 61.2% of his passes. The rushing game was led by Lew Nichols. He rushed for 1,708 yards. CMU averaged 33 points a game on offense. The defense gave up 26.2 points a game. The Chippewas come into the bowl on a four-game winning streak. With five losses, this was a disappointing Boise State team by Boise State standards. The Broncos lost all five of those games by 11 points or less. Boise State had a weak offense and a pretty good defense. The only bright spot on the offense was the passing of quarterback Hank Bachmeier. He passed for 3,080 yards, completing 62.7% of his passes. The Broncos had no running game. The offense averaged 29.2 points a game. The defense held opponents to 19 points a game – 12th best in the country. The Broncos toss the Chipps – Boise State 27, Central Michigan 26.
Cincinnati (13-0) vs. Alabama (12-1) (AAC vs. SEC) (Cotton Bowl – Arlington, Texas) – 3:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – This is the first of the two CFP semifinal playoff games. Cincinnati was the only FBS team in the country to make it through the season and its conference championship game undefeated. The Bearcats aren’t great, but they are good on offense. Quarterback Desmond Ridder passed for 3,190 yards, completing 65.9% of his passes. He also threw 30 touchdown passes. Running back Jerome Ford rushed for 1,238 yards. The Bearcats averaged 39.2 points a game on offense – 8th best in the country. Cincinnati’s defense is better. The Bearcats held opponents to 16.1 points a game – 4th best in the country. Cincinnati is the first Group of Five team to make the playoff. After beating Georgia in the SEC championship game, Alabama became the No. 1 team in the country. The Tide is strong on offense. Quarterback Bryce Young passed for 4,322 yards, completing 68% of his throws. He threw 43 touchdown passes and only had four interceptions. Running back Brian Robinson rushed for 1,064 yards. But rushing was Alabama’s only weakness on offense – 81st in the country. Alabama averaged 42.5 point a game. Led by linebacker Will Anderson, the Tide was also strong on defense. The only weakness on defense being passing yards allowed – 62nd in the country. Alabama’s opponents averaged 20.2 points a game. Alabama’s one loss was by three points to Texas A&M. The Bearcats are given a bath – Alabama 28, Cincinnati 18.
Georgia (12-1) vs. Michigan (12-1) (SEC vs. Big Ten) (Orange Bowl – Miami Gardens, Florida) – 7:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN –This is the second of the two CFP semifinal games. Michigan’s strength is its running game. Georgia’s strength is its defense against the run. Something has to give. It will be interesting. Georgia is good on offense but not great. The Dawgs are best in points scored: 39.4 – 7th in the country. Quarterback Stetson Bennett passed for 2,325 yards, completing 64.1% of his passes. But the Dawgs do have a quarterback controversy. Will J.T. Daniels see action against the Wolverines? Georgia’s only loss was at the end of the season against Alabama in the SEC title game. Michigan may have a better offense than Georgia. And, although it’s defense isn’t as good as Georgia’s, the Wolverines have a good defense – very good. On offense, quarterback Cade McNamara passed for 2,470 yards, completing 64.6% of his passes. He only threw four interceptions. Running back Hassan Haskins rushed for 1,288 yards. Michigan averaged 37.7 points a game. Led by defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan’s defense was 5th in points allowed – 16.1 points a game. Michigan’s only loss was by four points to Michigan State. The Spartans rallied from a 30-14 deficit in the final 19 minutes to win the game. When the Dawg bites – Georgia 26, Michigan 24.
Penn State (7-5) vs. Arkansas (8-4) – (Big Ten vs. SEC) – (Outback Bowl – Tampa, Florida) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN2 – At 7-5, it was a disappointing year for Penn State, especially when the Nittany Lions started at 5-0 and finished 2-5. The five losses were by 9 points or less. One was a 2-point loss in 9 overtimes. Like a number of bowl teams, Penn State was good at passing and bad at running on offense. Quarterback Sean Clifford passed for 2,912 yards, completing 62.4% of his passes. He only threw 6 interceptions. Penn State averaged 26.2 points a game. Overall, the Nitts were bad on offense. Penn State was a better team on defense. They were 7th in the country in points allowed per game – 16.8. At 8-4, Arkansas had a great season – better than expected. Arkansas was average on offense and defense. On offense, quarterback K.J. Jefferson passed for 2,578 yards, completing 66.9% of his passes. He only threw 3 interceptions. The Razorbacks averaged 31.5 points a game. On defense, the Hogs gave up 24 points a game. Pigs rule – Arkansas 20, Penn State 19.
Iowa (10-3) vs. Kentucky (9-3) – (Big Ten vs. SEC) – (Citrus Bowl – Orlando, Florida) – 1 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – Iowa won the Big Ten West Division and then lost to Michigan in the Big Ten title game. Amazingly, Iowa won 10 games with one of the worst offenses in the country. The best that could be said is that running back Tyler Goodson rushed for 1,151 yards. But the Hawkeyes only averaged 23.9 points a game. On the other side of the ball, Iowa’s defense was one of the best in the country. The only weakness was pass defense and it wasn’t that bad. The Hawkeyes gave up 19.2 points a game. Kentucky finished second in the SEC East Division. The Wildcats were good on offense and decent on defense. On offense, quarterback Will Levis passed for 2,593 yards, completing 66.5% of his passes. Unfortunately, Levis had a bit of an interception problem. Running back Christopher Rodriguez rushed for 1,271 yards, averaging 6.2 yards a run. The Wildcats averaged 33.3 points a game. Kentucky wasn’t great but the Wildcats played good solid defense. They held opponents to 22.1 points a game. Kentucky began the season at 6-0. Then they lost 3-straight games, before winning 3-straight games to close out. Hawkeyes are Cat food – Kentucky 19, Iowa 17.
Notre Dame (11-1) vs. Oklahoma State (11-2) – (Ind. vs. Big 12) – (Fiesta Bowl – Glendale, Arizona) – 1 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – This should be a good game. Both teams were playoff contenders until very late in the season. Notre Dame’s lone loss was to undefeated Cincinnati. The Irish were better than average on offense and good on defense. Quarterback Jack Coan passed for 2,641 yards, completing 67.6% of his passes. He only threw five interceptions. ND averaged 35.2 points a game on offense. The defense gave up 18.2 points a game. The Irish come into the bowl on a 7-game winning streak. Oklahoma State began the season at 6-0. The Cowboys lost their two games by a combined 8 points. The Cowboys were below average on offense – nothing spectacular. Quarterback Spencer Sanders passed for 2,468 yards, completing 61.3% of his passes. Running back Jaylen Warren rushed for 1,134 yards. They averaged 30.6 points a game. On defense, Oklahoma State was outstanding – one of the best in the country. They were 3rd in total yards allowed and 5th in rushing yards allowed. They gave up 16.8 points a game. Irish get Poked – Oklahoma State 25, Notre Dame 23.
Utah (10-3) vs. Ohio State (10-2) – (Pac-12 vs. Big Ten) – (Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California) – 5 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Utah is playing in its first ever Rose Bowl. The Utes strength is their defense. They have one of the best defenses on the country – giving up 20.6 points a game. The Utah offense isn’t bad. Scoring, the Utes average 35.5 points a game. They are strong on rushing. Running back Tavion Thomas rushed for 1,041 yards, averaging 5.6 yards a carry. Utah has a good quarterback too in Cameron Rising. Rising threw for 2,279 yards, completing 62.8 percent of his passes. Utah enters the Rose Bowl on a six-game winning streak. Ohio State has one of the most potent offenses in the country – 1st in total yards per game and 1st in points scored per game: 45.5. The offense is led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, who came in 4th in the Heisman Trophy voting. Stroud passed for 3,862 yards, completing 70.9% of his passes. He threw 38 touchdown passes and only had 5 interceptions. TreVeyon Henderson led the rushing attack with 1,172 yards. Ohio State has three of the best receivers in the country in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. The Buckeyes are so-so on defense. They gave up 20.9 points a game. Brutus can’t Ute it – Utah 30, Ohio State 28.
Ole Miss (10-2) vs. Baylor (11-2) – (SEC vs. Big 12) – (Sugar Bowl – New Orleans, Louisiana) – 8:45 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Ole Miss and coach Lane Kiffin had an amazing season. The Magnolias finished second in the SEC West Division. They exceeded expectations. On offense, quarterback Matt Corral passed for 3,333 yards, completing 68.3% of his passes. He only threw four interceptions. Ole Miss was one of the better teams in the country on offense. They ranked high in all categories – 4th in total yards per game. The Sharks averaged 35.9 points a game. The problem for Ole Miss was defense. There was none. Ole Miss ranked among the worst teams in the country in all defensive categories. They gave up 25 points a game. Baylor and coach Dave Aranda also had an amazing season. The Bears won the Big 12 championship. They exceeded expectations. Baylor is a running team, not a passing team. Running back Abram Smith rushed for 1,429 yards. The Bears averaged 32.5 points a game on offense. The Bears play good defense, except for defending the pass. That’s the weakness on defense. Baylor gave up 19.2 points a game. The Bears coral Matt – Baylor 27, Ole Miss 24.
Touchdown Tom
