December 23
Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs. UAB
2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN – Tampa, Fla.
December 24
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. BYU
8 p.m. ET, ESPN – Honolulu, Hawaii
December 26
Independence Bowl: Miami (FL) vs. Western Kentucky*
4 p.m. ET, ESPN – Shreveport, La.
Quick Lane Bowl: Florida State vs. Illinois
8 p.m. ET, ESPN – Detroit, Mich.
December 27
Military Bowl: Navy vs. North Carolina
12 p.m. ET, ESPN – Annapolis, Md.
Pinstripe Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Michigan State
3:20 p.m. ET, ESPN – Bronx, NY
Texas Bowl: TCU vs. Boston College
6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN – Houston, Texas
Cheez-It Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. UCLA
10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN – Phoenix, Ariz.
Holiday Bowl: Michigan vs. USC
Time TBA – San Diego, Calif.
The Skinny
It will still be a bit of an uphill battle for UCLA to make a bowl as the Bruins will need to win two of their final three games of the regular season to reach the six-win plateau. It does appear, however, that Chip Kelly has finally got the ball running in Westwood.
UCLA has won its last three games, positioning itself for a potential bowl berth after a 1-5 start to the season made that look nearly impossible. Assuming it can win the season finale at home against a depleted Cal, it will take a road upset over Utah or USC to get bowl eligible. Wit how things went for the Trojans against Oregon this week, that could be a team getting ready to quit with a lame duck head coach.
Florida State’s 17-point home loss to Miami puts its bowl hopes in doubt, and served as the final nail in Willie Taggart’s coffin in Tallahassee after less than two years on the job. Taggart is now out, and the Seminoles will begin a coaching search. In the interim, if the ‘Noles want to avoid a second straight season without a bowl berth, they will have to win two of their final three regular season games — meaning a road win over Boston College or Florida will be necessary.