December 23
Gasparilla Bowl: Tulane vs. Western Kentucky
2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN – Tampa, Fla.
December 24
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. Temple
8 p.m. ET, ESPN – Honolulu, Hawaii
December 26
Independence Bowl: Miami (FL) vs. Marshall*
4 p.m. ET, ESPN – Shreveport, La.
Quick Lane Bowl: NC State vs. Indiana
8 p.m. ET, ESPN – Detroit, Mich.
December 27
Military Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Louisville
12 p.m. ET, ESPN – Annapolis, Md.
Pinstripe Bowl: Florida State vs. Nebraska
3:20 p.m. ET, ESPN – Bronx, N.Y.
Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Washington State*
6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN – Houston, Texas
Cheez-It Bowl: USC vs. Texas Tech
10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN – Phoenix, Ariz.
Holiday Bowl: Michigan vs. Washington
Time TBA – San Diego, Calif.
The Skinny
The SEC has a lot of bowl tie-ins, and the conference is likely going to be unable to fill several of those slots. Missouri is still waiting on the ruling of its bowl ban appeal, but I’m still operating under the assumption that the Tigers will not be eligible to play in the postseason. Mississippi State has also dropped out of the projected bowl field after a lifeless 20-10 loss to Tennessee on Saturday. There’s going to be some disappointed bowl sponsors looking to find worthwhile at-large participants to take those vacant spots.
It’s been a disappointing overall year for Miami in Manny Diaz’s first season as the head coach, but the Hurricanes pulled off a massive Friday night win over Virginia to get the ship righted. The ‘Canes still aren’t likely to be a factor in the ACC race, and while Shreveport would be a disappointing destination in a year that started with so much promise, it sure beats sitting at home. I think.