I've been thinking of this post for a while. Too much talk about how bowl games "don't matter". Well, in one area it does, and that's the final rankings. I'd like to be top 25 and I think it looks and sounds great.
We are 33rd in votes in AP. This bowl list is pulled from SI that I believe is using a different poll.
It looks like we have perhaps 11 spots we could pick up if all goes perfect. However, it's not certain that we'd pass a few losers like ND/SC, Texas, or UCLA if they lost. And there are a few teams behind us that perhaps could overtake us, especially if our win is tight and theirs is convincing or even overwhelming. So we probably need everything to break about perfect to end up ranked.
Friday, Dec. 16:
Bahamas Bowl: UAB (6–6) vs. Miami (Ohio) (6–6), 11:30 a.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Cure Bowl: No. 24 Troy (11–2) vs. No. 25 UTSA (11–2), 3 p.m., ESPN
We pass the loser, UTSA.
Saturday, Dec. 17:
Fenway Bowl: Louisville (7–5) vs. Cincinnati (9–3), 11 a.m., ESPN
Root for Louisville and we pass Cinncinnati who is at 28.
Celebration Bowl: Jackson State (12–0) vs. North Carolina Central (9–2), 12 p.m., ABC
Doesn't Matter
Las Vegas Bowl: No. 14 Oregon State (9–3) vs. Florida (6–6), 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Fresno State (9–4) vs. Washington State (7–5), 3:30 p.m., ABC
Root for Washington State and we pass Fresno State who is 30
LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss (6–6) vs. Rice (5–7), 5:45 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
New Mexico Bowl: BYU (7–5) vs. SMU (7–5), 7:30 p.m., ABC
Doesn't Matter
Frisco Bowl: Boise State (9–4) vs. North Texas (7–6), 9:15 p.m., ESPN
Root for North Texas and we definitely stay ahead of Boise State who is 34
Monday, Dec. 19:
Myrtle Beach Bowl: UConn (6–6) vs. Marshall (8–4), 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Tuesday, Dec. 20:
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: San José State (7–4) vs. Eastern Michigan (8–4), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo (8–5) vs. Liberty (8–4), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Wednesday, Dec. 21:
New Orleans Bowl: South Alabama (10–2) vs. Western Kentucky (8–5), 9 p.m., ESPN
Root for Western Kentucky and we pass South Alabama who is 32
Thursday, Dec. 22:
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force (9–3) vs. Baylor (6–6), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Root for Baylor. Air Force is getting no votes, but if their 10th win is very convincing, who knows.
Friday, Dec. 23:
Independence Bowl: Houston (7–5) vs. Louisiana (6–6), 3 p.m. ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (7–5), 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter, so root for Wake Forest on General Principles
Saturday, Dec. 24:
Hawai’i Bowl: San Diego State (7–5) vs. Middle Tennessee State (7–5), 8 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Monday, Dec. 26:
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green (6–6) vs. New Mexico State (6–6), 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Tuesday, Dec. 27:
Camellia Bowl: Buffalo (6–6) vs. Georgia Southern (6–6), 12 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
First Responder Bowl: Utah State (6–6) vs. Memphis (6–6), 3:15 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina (7–5) vs. Coastal Carolina (9–3), 6:45 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Oklahoma State (7–5) vs. Wisconsin (6–6), 10:15 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't directly matter, but a Wisconsin win would make us look stronger.
Wednesday, Dec. 28:
Military Bowl: Duke (8–4) vs. UCF (9–4), 2 p.m., ESPN
Root for Duke as we'd pass UCF who is 27.
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas (6–6) vs. Kansas (6–6), 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Holiday Bowl: North Carolina (9–4) vs. No. 15 Oregon (9–3), 8 p.m., Fox
Root for Oregon as we would pass NC who is 26.
Texas Bowl: Ole Miss (8–4) vs. Texas Tech (7–5), 9 p.m., ESPN
Root for Texas Tech as we would pass Ole Miss who is 29
Thursday, Dec. 29:
Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota (8–4) vs. Syracuse (7–5), 2 p.m., ESPN
Probably root for Syracuse as a strong Minnesota showing (with a big game by Ibrahim, let's say) might move them ahead of us.
Cheez-It Bowl: No. 13 Florida State (9–3) vs. Oklahoma (6–6), 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Washington (10–2) vs. No. 20 Texas (8–4), 9 p.m., ESPN
Root for Washington. Still not certain that Texas would drop below us.
Friday, Dec. 30:
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: No. 23 NC State (8–4) vs. Maryland (7–5), 12 p.m., ESPN
Root for Maryland as we would likely pass NC State
Sun Bowl: No. 18 UCLA (9–3) vs. Pittsburgh (8–4), 2 p.m., CBS
Tough call. Pittsburgh is just behind us at 35. A convincing win by them over 18 while we win a close one against 24 might give Pitt the edge.
Gator Bowl: No. 19 South Carolina (8–4) vs. No. 21 Notre Dame (8–4), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Hope the winner wins big and embarrasses the loser who falls behind us. Ideally ND.
Arizona Bowl: Wyoming (7–5) vs. Ohio (9–4), 4:30 p.m., Barstool
Doesn't Matter
Orange Bowl: No. 7 Clemson (11–2) vs. No. 6 Tennessee (10–2), 8 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Saturday, Dec. 31:
Sugar Bowl: No. 9 Kansas State (10–3) vs. No. 5 Alabama (10–2), 12 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Music City Bowl: Kentucky (7–5) vs. Iowa (7–5), 12 p.m., ABC
Doesn't matter so root for Kentucky on General Principles
Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal): No. 2 Michigan (13–0) vs. No. 3 TCU (12–1), 4 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal): No. 1 Georgia (13–0) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (11–1), 8 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Monday, Jan. 2:
ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois (8–4) vs. No. 22 Mississippi State (8–4), 12 p.m., ESPN2
Illinois
Cotton Bowl: No. 10 USC (11–2) vs. No. 16 Tulane (11–2), 1 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Citrus Bowl: Purdue (8–5) vs. No. 17 LSU (9–4), 1 p.m., ABC
Root for LSU so we pass Purdue who is 31
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Utah (10–3) vs. No. 11 Penn State (10–2), 5 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
We are 33rd in votes in AP. This bowl list is pulled from SI that I believe is using a different poll.
It looks like we have perhaps 11 spots we could pick up if all goes perfect. However, it's not certain that we'd pass a few losers like ND/SC, Texas, or UCLA if they lost. And there are a few teams behind us that perhaps could overtake us, especially if our win is tight and theirs is convincing or even overwhelming. So we probably need everything to break about perfect to end up ranked.
Friday, Dec. 16:
Bahamas Bowl: UAB (6–6) vs. Miami (Ohio) (6–6), 11:30 a.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Cure Bowl: No. 24 Troy (11–2) vs. No. 25 UTSA (11–2), 3 p.m., ESPN
We pass the loser, UTSA.
Saturday, Dec. 17:
Fenway Bowl: Louisville (7–5) vs. Cincinnati (9–3), 11 a.m., ESPN
Root for Louisville and we pass Cinncinnati who is at 28.
Celebration Bowl: Jackson State (12–0) vs. North Carolina Central (9–2), 12 p.m., ABC
Doesn't Matter
Las Vegas Bowl: No. 14 Oregon State (9–3) vs. Florida (6–6), 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Fresno State (9–4) vs. Washington State (7–5), 3:30 p.m., ABC
Root for Washington State and we pass Fresno State who is 30
LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss (6–6) vs. Rice (5–7), 5:45 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
New Mexico Bowl: BYU (7–5) vs. SMU (7–5), 7:30 p.m., ABC
Doesn't Matter
Frisco Bowl: Boise State (9–4) vs. North Texas (7–6), 9:15 p.m., ESPN
Root for North Texas and we definitely stay ahead of Boise State who is 34
Monday, Dec. 19:
Myrtle Beach Bowl: UConn (6–6) vs. Marshall (8–4), 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Tuesday, Dec. 20:
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: San José State (7–4) vs. Eastern Michigan (8–4), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo (8–5) vs. Liberty (8–4), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Wednesday, Dec. 21:
New Orleans Bowl: South Alabama (10–2) vs. Western Kentucky (8–5), 9 p.m., ESPN
Root for Western Kentucky and we pass South Alabama who is 32
Thursday, Dec. 22:
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force (9–3) vs. Baylor (6–6), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Root for Baylor. Air Force is getting no votes, but if their 10th win is very convincing, who knows.
Friday, Dec. 23:
Independence Bowl: Houston (7–5) vs. Louisiana (6–6), 3 p.m. ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (7–5), 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter, so root for Wake Forest on General Principles
Saturday, Dec. 24:
Hawai’i Bowl: San Diego State (7–5) vs. Middle Tennessee State (7–5), 8 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Monday, Dec. 26:
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green (6–6) vs. New Mexico State (6–6), 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Tuesday, Dec. 27:
Camellia Bowl: Buffalo (6–6) vs. Georgia Southern (6–6), 12 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
First Responder Bowl: Utah State (6–6) vs. Memphis (6–6), 3:15 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina (7–5) vs. Coastal Carolina (9–3), 6:45 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Oklahoma State (7–5) vs. Wisconsin (6–6), 10:15 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't directly matter, but a Wisconsin win would make us look stronger.
Wednesday, Dec. 28:
Military Bowl: Duke (8–4) vs. UCF (9–4), 2 p.m., ESPN
Root for Duke as we'd pass UCF who is 27.
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas (6–6) vs. Kansas (6–6), 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Holiday Bowl: North Carolina (9–4) vs. No. 15 Oregon (9–3), 8 p.m., Fox
Root for Oregon as we would pass NC who is 26.
Texas Bowl: Ole Miss (8–4) vs. Texas Tech (7–5), 9 p.m., ESPN
Root for Texas Tech as we would pass Ole Miss who is 29
Thursday, Dec. 29:
Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota (8–4) vs. Syracuse (7–5), 2 p.m., ESPN
Probably root for Syracuse as a strong Minnesota showing (with a big game by Ibrahim, let's say) might move them ahead of us.
Cheez-It Bowl: No. 13 Florida State (9–3) vs. Oklahoma (6–6), 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Washington (10–2) vs. No. 20 Texas (8–4), 9 p.m., ESPN
Root for Washington. Still not certain that Texas would drop below us.
Friday, Dec. 30:
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: No. 23 NC State (8–4) vs. Maryland (7–5), 12 p.m., ESPN
Root for Maryland as we would likely pass NC State
Sun Bowl: No. 18 UCLA (9–3) vs. Pittsburgh (8–4), 2 p.m., CBS
Tough call. Pittsburgh is just behind us at 35. A convincing win by them over 18 while we win a close one against 24 might give Pitt the edge.
Gator Bowl: No. 19 South Carolina (8–4) vs. No. 21 Notre Dame (8–4), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Hope the winner wins big and embarrasses the loser who falls behind us. Ideally ND.
Arizona Bowl: Wyoming (7–5) vs. Ohio (9–4), 4:30 p.m., Barstool
Doesn't Matter
Orange Bowl: No. 7 Clemson (11–2) vs. No. 6 Tennessee (10–2), 8 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Saturday, Dec. 31:
Sugar Bowl: No. 9 Kansas State (10–3) vs. No. 5 Alabama (10–2), 12 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Music City Bowl: Kentucky (7–5) vs. Iowa (7–5), 12 p.m., ABC
Doesn't matter so root for Kentucky on General Principles
Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal): No. 2 Michigan (13–0) vs. No. 3 TCU (12–1), 4 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal): No. 1 Georgia (13–0) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (11–1), 8 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Monday, Jan. 2:
ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois (8–4) vs. No. 22 Mississippi State (8–4), 12 p.m., ESPN2
Illinois
Cotton Bowl: No. 10 USC (11–2) vs. No. 16 Tulane (11–2), 1 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
Citrus Bowl: Purdue (8–5) vs. No. 17 LSU (9–4), 1 p.m., ABC
Root for LSU so we pass Purdue who is 31
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Utah (10–3) vs. No. 11 Penn State (10–2), 5 p.m., ESPN
Doesn't Matter
