The 10 biggest non-BCS games of the 2013-2014 college football bowl season
We’ll all be watching the BCS bowls, but you won’t want to miss these games, either.
We’ll all be watching about 34.5 bowl games, actually. (No one will hold it against you if you miss the Christmas Eve one or the Tropicana Field one. But otherwise, please try to remain on schedule.)
But here are the 10 non-BCS games most likely to go down as memorable games, each pairing really good teams with big fanbases in decent locales. And lots of memorable players to say goodbye to at the college level.
SB Nation’s Dan Rubenstein explains why each one is one to circle on your calendar, other than the obvious reason: each one means we’re one game closer to the offseason.
Disagree on the 10 best? Leave us a comment below!
Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami vs. Louisville
Dec. 28, 6:45 p.m., ESPN
The Russell matches up a pair of talented offenses, and that definitely could lead to an entertaining game. Teddy Bridgewater is most likely concluding his college career against his hometown team, and while Louisville fell off the national radar after losing to UCF, he's always worth watching.
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: Michigan vs. Kansas State
Dec. 28, 10:15 p.m., ESPN
These two teams went in different directions over the last half of the year -- the Wolverines lost four of their last five, while the Wildcats finished 5-1 after a 2-4 start. Both tend to play wild games.
Alamo Bowl: Texas vs. Oregon
Dec. 30, 6:45 p.m., ESPN
Turmoil! Disappointment! Points! Mack Brown is finished at Texas, and Oregon didn’t even make it to the Pac-12 Championship Game after being in position to play for a national title for much of the year. When you put those volatile factors together, there’s no telling what might happen.
Holiday Bowl: Arizona State vs. Texas Tech
Dec. 30, 10:15 p.m., ESPN
Texas Tech hasn’t won since mid-October, while Arizona State is coming off the disappointment of a Pac-12 title game defeat. The Red Raiders want to rid themselves of a five-game losing streak, while the Sun Devils can win 11 games for the first time since Jake Plummer was under center.
Sun Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. UCLA
Dec. 31, 2 p.m., CBS
It might not be the prettiest game of the bowl season, but Brett Hundley and the UCLA offense up against an excellent Virginia Tech defense? That's a compelling matchup.
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Duke
Dec. 31, 8 p.m., ESPN
It’s Johnny Manziel’s last college football game (probably), and that’s reason enough to tune in. Duke is a two-score underdog, but the Blue Devils are capable of exploiting an A&M defense that has generally been a liability this year.
Gator Bowl: Nebraska vs. Georgia
Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN2
Bo Pelini will be yelling at things and/or people throughout this game, which, jokes aside, should be a compelling one. Georgia got killed by injuries this year, and that includes the loss of Aaron Murray to an ACL tear. Nebraska is a loose cannon that could propel this contest in any direction.
Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. LSUJan. 1, 1 p.m., ESPN
Iowa doubled its 2012 win total in 2013, and LSU established itself as a team with one of the most potent offenses in the country. The Tigers lost Zach Mettenberger to injury, though, and that adds uncertainty to a matchup that might otherwise have been more concretely in LSU’s advantage.
Capital One Bowl: Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ABC
The last time Jadeveon Clowney played in a Florida-based bowl game, he was making the hit of the year. Which is not to say we're going to see something similar this time around, but then again, it's best to keep an eye on the Capital One Bowl, just to be sure.
Cotton Bowl: Missouri vs. Oklahoma StateJan. 3, 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox
Of all the non-BCS games, this one might be the best. Missouri and Oklahoma State were both positioned to reach BCS games but for season-ending losses.
