College Football: 5 most interesting bowl games
By Zach Bigalke
The College Football Playoff will always draw the most attention. Out of the other 37 bowl games, which five offer the most interesting pairings this year?
More: Complete 2017-2018 Bowl Game Schedule
The greatest spotlight is always on the College Football Playoff semifinal games that offer a chance at a national championship. But, despite fears that a playoff would devalue the rest of the December and January calendar, the beautiful part of the postseason is that all bowl games carry some significance.
Teams like New Mexico State, who are playing in a bowl for the first time since the 1960 Sun Bowl, have plenty of reason to celebrate a trip to the postseason. The 78 teams headed to bowl games all have the motivation to end the season on a high note.
Some games, though, instantly pop off the calendar to grab fans’ attention. The two College Football Playoff semifinals offer plenty of interest, no matter who is playing. But they are especially interesting this year.
One is a game we’ve seen regularly and one is an absolute novelty
We get a chance to witness Clemson-Alabama III at the Sugar Bowl. The two teams have played for the national title in each of the past two seasons, with instant classics both times. Thanks to the Crimson Tide’s selection over Big Ten champion Ohio State by the College Football Playoff selection committee, we get a rubber match between the Tide and the Tigers to play into the title game.
In the other semifinal, blueblood programs Georgia and Oklahoma will meet for the first time on a football field. The SEC and Big 12 champions will square off in the idyllic setting of the Rose Bowl, facing one another in the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains at the Granddaddy of ’em All in Pasadena.
Beyond the playoff semifinals, though, there are plenty of other fascinating contests that instantly draw attention. Outside of the College Football Playoff, here are the five most intriguing bowl games of 2017.