2025-12-28 10:50

Bowl season is rolling and we close in the end if the whole thing.
We got a lot of bowls after Christmas, so let’s have a look on those.

But prior to that, a quick look at the coaches situation.

more coaching changes
Only 2 spots were left to fill, Ohio and Michigan.
Both did get their man.
Ohio decided to promote their interims HC to permanent HC. That means, John Hauser, the DC of Ohio, got the job. It’s his 1st HC gig, but did deliver as interims HC already a win in the bowl.
And Michigan did somehow got Kyle Whittingham, the now former HC of Utah. And they didn’t even have to make him one of the highest paid HC on top. Wow. Whittingham did coach Utah for 21 seasons and was expected to send the team off in the upcoming bowl game but will now instead not coach the bowl and will be Michigans next HC.

Fine, let’s go to the bowls.

The THIRD SET OF BOWLs from Friday, 26th to Sunday, 28th of December.

Fri., Dec 26
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Central Michigan vs Northwestern
I make this fast, since there was not much of a game.
Northwestern had CMU very good under control for 3 quarters, held them to zero points in that period, and did capitalize in the 2nd quarter from 3 CMU turnovers in a row with 3 touchdowns in a row.
After the break did then CMU fumble again, this time already returned for a TD and Northwestern did finally have a long drive to cap it with another TD to lead 34:0.
Now, already in garbage time, did Central Michigan finally score and Northwestern did play worse, so they won at the end 34:7.
Jacks BOWL Score: 11-6

Rate Bowl
New Mexico vs Minnesota
This game went into OT and I did pick in my ESPN pick sheet the wrong team (to have it in sync with my blog picking) however that happened.
So here I picked Lobos and there I pick the Gophers.
Lobos did score 1st, a field goal and won the 1st quarter, the Gophers did win the 2nd quarter 7:3.
Then nothing happened in the 3rd quarter and in the 4th the Gophers did cap a drive with a rushing TD.
But the Lobos were not done, on the ensuing kickoff the returner ran the ball back for 100 yards, untouched for a touchdown and the 2-pointer went good.
So, tied at 14 the game went in OT.
The Lobos were held for a field goal, and the Gophers did throw on 3rd down into the endzone and the receiver made a tremendous catch to win the game, 20:17.
Great win for the Gophers, a bitter end for the Lobos.
So here I picked wrong, on ESPN I got a good one by error.
Jacks BOWL Score: 11-7

Servpro First Responder Bowl
FIU vs UTSA
Oh man, UTSA did lighten up the scoreboard in buckets.
The 1st quarter was all equal, 14:14, but in the 2nd it was 17:0 UTSA, in the 3rd it was only 9:6 Roadrunners and in the 4th came another 17:0 UTSA quarter to win 57:20.
Man, that is a brutal win for the Roadrunners and a brutal loss for the Panthers.
Jacks BOWL Score: 12-7

Sat., Dec 27
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Pittsburgh vs East Carolina
This game did turn out, mostly, as expected.
Lots of defense, with several errors.
East Carolina made the 1st error, by missing a field goal in the 1st quarter and the 3rd by playing for 4th down close the Pitt endzone and failing to convert.
Pitt made the 2nd, by fumbling the ball in their own half.
But the quarter went scoreless.
In the 2nd did then East Carolina kick a field goal, recovered a fumble on a punt return a bit later and made nothing out of it, and allowed close to the break a long Pittsburgh drive to take the lead with a TD, 7:3 at the half.
Pittsburgh fumbled the ball beginning of the 3rd quarter, which led to a ECU TD, and returned a fumble for a TD a bit later, allowed an ECU big play on the next drive to score a TD and fumbled the ball, when they got the ball back.
So, the teams went into the 4th quarter with ECU leading 17:14.
And the bad performance did continue with ECU kicking another field goal, Pitt then having a long drive, capped by an INT and ECU kicking another field goal.
Down by 9 points now, what do you do after another long Panthers drive?
On 4th and goal with less than 2 minutes to play they kicked a field goal.
Sure, the result might be the same, kicking a field goal and then having the pressure to score a TD afterwards, but what does it do in the players head?
Well, the onside kick was a failure, so ECU did run down the clock and won 23:17.
Great win by the Pirates over a very sloppy Panthers team.
Jacks BOWL Score: 12-8

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Penn State vs Clemson
Well, some might say, the game was over after the 1st Clemson drive.
The Tigers had the ball 1st and did accomplish nothing.
On the 4th play, 4th down, on their own 32 with 3 to go, did the cocky Clemson HC decide to go for it and the pass was incomplete.
The Tigers were lucky the did held Penn State only to a field goal afterwards.
Then came a lot of nothing-drives on both sides, until Clemson did miss a field goal try and only on the next possession did they finally score a field goal, which was answered by Penn State with a walk-off field goal to the break for a 6:3 lead.
The 3rd quarter was dominated by 2 long drives, one Penn State drive, with nothing, since they decide to go for it on 4th and 4 deep in Clemson territory and accomplished nothing, and one by Clemson which ended with a punt.
Then the luck of Clemson did end, Penn State made a field goal, and a TD on their next drive, while Clemsons offense was still ineffective.
Finally, after the Lions TD did Clemson score a TD, then down 15:10.
Not all lost, right?
Except they allowed another long Penn State drive, capped by a TD.
With 5 minutes to play, still room for a comeback, if only they had a future NFL QB. Oh, they had one, and they went over the field, only to be stopped on 4th and 11 in field goal range, a bit over 2 minutes to go.
Penn State did run down the clock and won, 22:10.
What a bad season for Clemson and a good game for the interims coached Lions.
Jacks BOWL Score: 12-9

Wasabi Fenway Bowl
UConn vs Army
At least this did turn out as I expected it.
Until halftime it was an open game and Army had some problems on offense and defense. They led 14:10 at the half.
Then the 3rd quarter did turn out to have a sharper Army defense and Army did score 2 TDs to lead 27:10.
With UConn being stopped in the Army red zone did Army then march over the field and score another TD in the 4th, which then started garbage time, in which UConn final scored a TD on their own.
At the end did Army win 41:16.
UConn can start new with their new HC now, while Army has to can dream of
a good next season with the QB returning.
Jacks BOWL Score: 13-9

Pop-Tarts Bowl
#22 Georgia Tech vs #12 BYU
Motivation and errors, I did say, would be the key here.
Well, for 2 quarters were Georgia Tech motivated and flawless.
They led 21:10 at the half.
Then came the errors, which did at first not cost much.
A fumble after a long drive in the BYU redzone? Bad, but they were leading by 11, right?
And BYU did throw an INT, so no harm.
A blocked field goal a bit later? Hmmmm.
BYU did score a TD afterwards, but GT was still leading.
Their offense did stuck, but they held also BYU.
Then, again nothing on the next drive and BYU?
They scored a TD.
Still, 2 minutes left, GT can roll!
But the Jackets did throw and INT at the endzone of the Cougars and lose the game, 21:25.
Great comeback by the Cougars, really disappointing performance by the Yellow Jackets.
Jacks BOWL Score: 13-10

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop
Miami (OH) vs Fresno State
Welcome to the field goal bowl.
Miami did kick the first field goal and took the lead, but from there onwards their offense did just suck and was held scoreless.
Fresno State on the other side did kick field goals after field goals.
At the half it was 9:3 Bulldogs, then came a score less quarter, because they missed a field goal and finally in the 4th did the Bulldogs then score the lone TD of the game, followed by another field goal.
Likely one of the most boring games of the season, with a Bulldogs win at 18:3.
Jacks BOWL Score: 14-10

Isleta New Mexico Bowl
#25 North Texas vs San Diego State
A nailbiter and a high scoring one.
North Texas did start big winning the 1st quarter 21:6.
Then came an error prone 2nd quarter with lots of missed field goals, and turnovers. At the end did SDSU win the quarter 14:7, but North Texas was still leading 28:20.
Then came the 3rd and it did look like SDSU would just lose the game, even with UNT having more turnovers than the Aztecs.
But the Aztecs offense was held in check and the Green did score 2 TDs, now leading 42:20.
But not so fast.
In the 4th did San Diego score a TD, stopped Texas and returned the punt for another TD.
The Green did then score a TD and the Aztecs were in big need to score.
They did and stopped UNT on downs.
But then did the whole comeback try a bit in trouble, they did throw and INT and allowed North Texas to eat a bit the clock away.
On the next drive did San Diego score again, but with only 1 tick left on the clock the options were limited.
North Texas won 49:47.
An entertaining game, for sure.
If I would be a fan, any side, likely I would have collapsed on those many errors and points.
Jacks BOWL Score: 15-10

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
#19 Virginia vs Missouri
And then comes this.
I (and many others) did expect a high scoring game and we got?
Mizzou did score on their 1st drive a TD, great.
Then nothing for the rest of the game.
Virginia did score a field goal in the 2nd quarter and a TD after a very long drive in the 3rd. After a Tigers INT they did score another field goal and then came the scoreless 4th quarter effort on both sides to finally ending the game 13:7 for Virginia.
I think a) Virginia did profit from many Missouri errors, and b) that was one of the worst, if not THE worst game by Missouri on offense for the whole season.
Jacks BOWL Score: 15-11

Kinder's Texas Bowl
LSU vs #21 Houston
And another entertaining bowl.
LSU started strong with a 99-yard-Return-TD on the kickoff.
That’s how you like it.
A bit later a TD drive and the Tigers led 14:0.
But the Cougars were not down, they scored a TD also in the 1st quarter and at the start of the 2nd quarter again, after LSU did miss a field goal.
Late in the 2nd then the lead of Houston for the break, 21:14.
But both teams were still in the game, LSU did score, Houston did and LSU again starting the 4th quarter.
Tied at 28 did then Houston had to kick a field goal, stopped LSU and had then a great TD drive afterwards. Now leading by 10.
LSU did answer, scored a TD and with a minutes left to play, tried an onside kick. Houston got it, ran down the clock and won 38:35.
Not the way I thought it would go in total, but a win is a win.
Jacks BOWL Score: 16-11

That were the set of bowls I had previewed the last time.
Now the next set for the next 3 days!

The FOURTH SET OF BOWLs from Monday, 29th to Wednesday, 31st of December.

Mon., Dec 29
JLab Birmingham Bowl
Georgia Southern vs Appalachian State
@Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama
This bowl exists since 2006.
The bowl has an AAC vs SEC affiliation, but if a conference is not able to send a team, it tickles down to CUSA or MAC or Sun Belt.
The stadium is the home field of the UAB Blazers.
The American did send very often a team here, 16 times, and won 10 games. The Sun Belt was only 2 times here but lost both.
Compared to the matchup last year, this season the matchup is rather boring, featuring TWO Sun Belt teams, which do even play in the same division.
Man, that is a bummer. Bowls are meant to feature matchups you don’t see too often, and here we have a rematch.
Georgia Southern is 6-6, while Appalachian State is 5-7 and got only here, because 3 eligible teams decided to not play in any bowl.
During the season did Georgia Southern win the game against App State, which was very close.
In the bowl is Georgia Southern again the favorite, by 8.5 points.
Not sure that is OK, but likely the bad streak of Appalachian State (lost 5 out of 6 last games) did not go well with Vegas.
Not sure, how much the location will have an influence here. If so, likely Georgia Southern has a small boost.
For me, this is an open matchup, in which likely the Eagles would win 6 or 7 out of 10, with App State for sure having a chance.
What will happen is open.
I can only pick a winner and s e l e c t of course ...
Eagles win.

Tue., Dec 30
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana Tech
@Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana
Played since 1976 and current tie-ins are Big 12 vs PAC-12, including the legacy teams.
The alignment does change from time to time and honestly, I think they grab what's available, leaning maybe towards some teams more than some others.
The stadium is usually only used for this bowl on sports, beside some event games.
Record holder on this is the SEC, but their last game here was 2016.
This season we have a Sun Belt teams vs Conference USA.
And we have with Louisiana Tech the same team as last year (who lost last year) and this season they are 7-5. In this bowl they are 3-2-1 and holding the record regarding appearance.
Coastal Carolina is 6-6 and lost their HC and will be handled by an interims HC.
Interesting is, that Louisiana Tech is favored here by 9.5 points.
Likely the main driver here are the 3-game losing streak of CCU and the win by LT against Southern Miss, which has a quite similar record inside the Sun Belt as CCU.
What I learned on bowl games is, that all can be a factor, but don’t have to be, because the team playing then is not always comparable with the team in the regular season. Rosters do change, motivation does change and also the coaches do change.
This can have positive or negative consequences and you never know.
But such surprises are hard to predict, so I go with my gut feeling and that says, the Bulldogs are likely a bit better.
Bulldogs win.

TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Tennessee vs Illinois
@Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
This is played in the Tennessee Titans home stadium.
The bowl itself exists since 1998.
It's an ACC vs BIG10 vs SEC game bowl.
The SEC had the most teams send to the bowl so far, with a 10-15 record, including last seasons win.
The BIG10 lost last year and is now 6-5.
And we have again a BIG10 team against an SEC team.
Tennessee did start great but lost some steam during the season and ended with an 8-4 record.
Illinois did also start great, had a slump in the middle of the season and finished also 8-4.
My gut feeling was, when I read the matchup, that Tennessee is the favorite. Vegas has the same setup, but quite close with the Vols being a 2.5-point favorite.
Illinois had problems with pass happy teams, so maybe Tennessee will rip them apart, but also did Illinois play some good defense against strong teams, so it’s open, how they will do.
My feeling is, we will see a quite open game, maybe with a lot of points, but with Tennessee grinding towards a win with a tougher defense and a stronger offense.
Volunteers win.

Valero Alamo Bowl
#16 USC vs TCU
@Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
The dome in San Antonio is the home of the San Antonio Spurs, the Basketball team, and they play in only half of the dome as far as I know.
Initially the dome was built to get an NFL team to San Antonio, but they still wait for that and with new build domes are now way fancier, I guess they will never see an NFL team playing there regularly. It's right now also the home field of the UTSA Roadrunners and the UFL team San Antonio Brahmas.
The Alamo bowl is played since 1993 and does feature BIG 12 vs PAC-12, including the ‘legacy teams’.
The BIG 12 did send so far, the most teams, 30 and has a record of 16-14, including last years win AND loss since it was a game featuring 2 BIG-12 teams.
The PAC-12 did play 16 games so far and has a 7-9 record, including last years win.
This season we have again a former PAC-12 teams, now playing in the BIG10 with USC, who did finish 9-3. That is a solid result, but is still apart from the results USC expects to get.
And we have TCU, 8-4 overall, who had a good season, but did again not get into the region it had 4 seasons ago, when they lost in the national championship game.
Vegas has USC ahead by 6.5 points and if USC can bring their offense intact and willing to play, they should be able to beat TCU.
The key to the game will be the USC defense, which did lack the punch in some games. TCU can score and did score, so if that USC defense does not hold the line, TCU will win the time control and the game.
Played in Texas, this could be a factor.
But San Antonio is quite far away from the TCU campus, so if not for local patriotism, there should be not big impact.
I expect both teams to come prepared and USC to have chance here.
They can score quickly, so if they keep that game open and get the ball last, they will win.
Trojans win.

Wed., Dec 31
ReliaQuest Bowl
#23 Iowa vs #14 Vanderbilt
@Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Played in the home stadium of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this bowl exists since 1986. Until 2021 this was known as the Outback Bowl.
It's another BIG10 vs SEC bowl.
The SEC did participate 35 times, and won 20 of those games, including last years loss), and vacated 1 win (LSU 2013).
The BIG10 had 36 games and won only 14 times, including last season.
Iowa did play a great season so far (8-4), much better than I did anticipate, but did not play good against contenders and did therefore not get into the top spots inside the BIG10.
Vanderbilt did also play a great season (10-2), but lost 2 crucial games, which did not only hold the team out of the SEC championship game, but also out of the playoffs.
The team is led by a Heisman Trophy finalist, and he is very serious in playing football.
Vanderbilt is under his watch very dangerous and does not quit.
Iowa on the other hand did play a very tough defense and was surprisingly effective on offense, so hopefully we will see an open game.
Vandy is favored by 4.5 points, which seems reasonable.
Played in Florida, this might help the team from Tennessee more than the team from Iowa, regarding the weather.
I like Vanderbilt in this matchup, still would not be surprised to see Iowa at the end winning.
My expectation is a close, quite low-scoring game to come, in which Vanderbilt wins by an inch.
Commodores win.

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Arizona State vs Duke
@Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
This bowl is established since 1935.
It's an ACC vs PAC-12 game planned, played on the home field of the UTEP Miners. The PAC-12 teams do also include the ‘legacy teams’, which departed to other conferences.
The PAC-12 did send so far the most teams here with 34 and has a record of 19-14-1 (in the old days even in bowls tied games were OK).
Since it is so old, Indy teams did play 31 times here and have a 18-11-2 record.
The ACC won only 6 games out of 17 so far.
The BIG-12 had only 2 teams here so far, and is 1-1.
Arizona State had a good season (8-4), but after last years great season, this was a step backwards.
Duke on the other hand made a step forward, finished 8-5 and won the ACC for the 1st time since 1962!
Not sure what we can expect here.
Duke did win against the odds in the championship game and here they are a 3.0-point favorite.
Arizona State had good wins and bad losses, so it’s open, what we will get here.
My gut feeling is, Duke is motivated to play, but in the desert against the Sun Devils, I’m not sure they will have lady luck on their side.
I pick the Sun Devils in a close game, likely low scoring.
Sun Devils win.

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
#18 Michigan vs #13 Texas
@Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
The Citrus bowl was established in 1947 and does feature a SEC team vs a BIG10 team.
The stadium is only used for Citrus Bowl and this you-name-it-bowl (Pop-Tarts Bowl).
Though the years did the SEC play 41 matches here and won 25, lost last year.
The BIG10 did play 33 games and won 14, including last year.
This season we have (at least for me) no great matchup.
On paper it sounds great, but Michigan did not really play well this season, went only 9-3 (which is a fail in Michigan books) and now they have on top that drama regarding the fired HC and his threat on suicide and the affair with a staff member.
That will not help, if you face a team, which did almost play for the SEC championship and just got the message they will have their starting QB back for next year.
Texas is also 9-3, and I do think they are a bit stronger than Michigan.
Granted, both teams did have stupid losses, which did cost them at least playoff spots, if not spots in the championship games, but Texas had at least also some great wins, especially at the end of the season, while Michigan had nothing like that.
So, no wonder does Vegas have them as 7.5-point favorite and I back that up.
I don’t see Michigan holding off that offense often enough and also don’t see them scoring often enough against Texas.
Longhorns win.

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Nebraska vs #15 Utah
@Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
This bowl is operated since 1992 and is now played inside the home dome of the Las Vegas Raiders and UNLV.
It's a PAC-12 vs BIG10 planned, including the ‘legacy teams’ of the PAC-12.
The PAC-12 got the lead in games in this bowl, but 10-11.
The MWC is right behind them in participations and has a record of 12-8.
The BIG10 is 3-0 in this bowl, with last seasons win.
Nebraska is not really a great matchup against Utah.
The Huskers have a record of 7-5 and for sure they are quite happy with the current status of the program, compared to the results of the past 10 years. But playing against Utah, who made 10-2, and who also made the playoffs, almost.
The Utes did lose their HC to Michigan, not sure how that will turn out.
I expected the team to give their last for the HC, but now I’m not sure, how the motivation will be.
Utah is favored by 14.0 points and even I like the Huskers coach, Utah will likely play very tough.
Utes win.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS QUARTERFINAL

Wed., Dec 31
2025 CFP Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
#10 Miami vs #2 Ohio State
@AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Last year this bowl had a semifinal, but since the series rotate the bowls, it gets a quarterfinal this season.
Played since 1937 this was a long time already an at-large-bowl, but of course now it has to take, what comes up in the playoffs.
It's played in the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
After all those seasons since the conference did die in 1996 the Southwest Conference, out of which a lot of teams went on to build the BIG 12, has still the record for most games, 57, but their win total is at 24, while the still active SEC is now 25-17-1.
The BIG10 is 6-2 and the ACC is 2-1.
We have here Miami, now 11-2, which did beat a sloppy Texas A&M team in the 1st round in a defense battle against a rested Ohio State team, which is 12-1, and lost the BIG10 championship game.
Ohio State got here as 1st round bye team as the single non-conference champion.
Vegas favors Ohio State by 9.5 points, which is quite a lot.
The thing is, every inch of my body feels, that Miami shouldn’t be here, but they did win and deserve to play here.
Last season I did underestimate the Buckeyes, which will not happen this year.
I think Ohio State can be beaten, but I doubt Miami will do this.
They would need another bad game by their opponent, which is of course possible, but unlikely.
The team as something to prove after the loss to Indiana and will likely play tough ball.
I expect a low scoring game, in which Miami will just not get the scoring chances they need to win against that Buckeyes team.
Buckeyes win.

'Til next time
Jack6 on BLOCK OF GRANITE

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