After another roller coaster season of college football, we find ourselves heading into bowl season. Once again, we’ve had our fair share of controversy regarding bowl games. I believe during all the college football playoff talk, we mainly forget that the semi-final games are still meaningful bowl games. Important, historic, landmarks of bowl games at that. Additionally, we’ve had our run-ins with drama regarding bowl eligibility with the newly minted FBS programs transitioning from the FCS like James Madison & Jacksonville State. 

Despite the playoff talk, governing body disarray, & some fans feeling like the bowl games have lost meaning, the probability of this bowl cycle being one of the most viewed and streamed bowl seasons ever is very high. It still means so much to players, coaches, & fanbases alike to earn the reward of playing in these games. For seniors, it’s one more opportunity to strap up the pads and buckle the helmets. There’s one more chance to create history. Tulane reminded us last year when they defeated USC in the Cotton Bowl. These games will always be meaningful. 

With that said – let’s take a look at the five most exciting bowl matchups this cycle. 

#12 Oklahoma vs #14 Arizona (Valero Alamo Bowl – Dec 28th):

As soon as I saw this matchup announced, the first thing that came to my mind was POINTS. When the 10-2 Oklahoma Sooners take on the 9-3 Arizona Wildcats, we can expect to see two of the most prolific scoring teams in the country. Oklahoma comes into the contest ranked 3rd in the nation in scoring at 43.2 points per game & Arizona enters 22nd in scoring at 34.3 points per game. 

While Arizona comes into the game at presumed maximum capacity, Oklahoma has undergone a facelift since we’ve last seen them play. Standout QB Dillion Gabriel entered the transfer portal and transferred to Oregon. Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby left and accepted the head coach position at Mississippi State. While that is a major blow to the Sooners, we get our first look at 5 star freshman QB Jackson Arnold before Oklahoma heads to the SEC next season. One of these teams will jumpstart their 2024 campaign with a bang.

#15 Louisville vs USC (DirectTV Holiday Bowl Dec – 27th):

I’ll be honest, this one may be extremely unpopular. It’s totally understandable to be fair. However, this game is as intriguing as any bowl matchup to me simply due to USC. Coming into the season with National Championship hopes and arguably the best player in the sport, 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams, the Trojans fell flat on their faces finishing the regular season at 7-5. Since then, Caleb Williams has announced he wouldn’t be playing in the bowl game setting the stage for backup QB Miller Moss to get the start. 

Beyond Moss, 5 star QB Malachi Nelson is a player that has intrigued hardcore college football fans for his lack of grip on on the backup spot as many viewed him as the heir apparent to Williams. Star WR Brenden Rice & RB Marshawn Lloyd have joined Williams in sitting out the bowl game and preparing for the draft. The offense has also lost WR Michael Jackson III to the transfer portal. Furthermore, we’ve seen massive upheaval on the defensive side of the ball. 

Longtime Lincoln Riley cohort and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was fired. Shortly after the regular season, UCLA defensive coordinator (& son of long NFL coach Anthony Lynn) D’Anton Lynn was hired for the same position. Considered to be one of the premiere young talents in the sport, Lynn is tasked with revamping the defense and we’ll get our first glimpse in this game. Questions for the Trojans will be quelled or the burning issues will be fanned. Either way, I cant look away.

#7 Ohio State vs #9 Missouri (Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic – Dec 29th):

When this game was announced, we saw polar opposite reactions from both fanbases via social media. Ohio State fans have adopted the national title or bust mindset and while the Buckeyes sit at 11-1 with a chance to win a major bowl game, they seemingly revel in a state of disappointment and anger. On the other hand, you have a Missouri fanbase that couldn’t be more excited to be on this stage after a 10-2 showing & their highest ranked regular season finish in a decade. It’s not hyperbolic to say that this game means infinitely more to the Tigers. 

For Ohio State, the team will look much different in the Cotton Bowl. Starting QB Kyle McCord has entered the transfer portal along with a slew of other players like former 5 star WR Julian Fleming. This one is interesting because it features a team clearly on the rise that will return key members versus a team clearly trying to reload the roster to not only maintain the 11-1 level but ascend to the mountain top. Will the 3rd ranked total defense in the country rise to the occasion for the Buckeyes or will the 25th ranked total offense (the highest ranked Ohio State has faced this year by far) answer the call? We’ll see soon enough. 

#8 Oregon vs #23 Liberty (Vrbo Fiesta Bowl – Jan 1st): 

Oregon faithful are coming into this game feeling a bit disrespected. That’s not entirely fair, but the truth remains. The fact of the matter is Oregon is a few points away from being undefeated and being PAC12 champions. However, after two close losses to the PAC12 king Washington, the Ducks find themselves in a similar situation as the USC Trojans did last year going into the Cotton Bowl against Tulane. Feeling a bit shafted and uninterested, the Trojans had an epic collapse and suffered and embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Green Wave.

If Oregon isn’t careful, they could find themselves swallowing the same bitter pill. Liberty is no regular G5 program. The CUSA champions are undefeated at 13-0 & ranked in the top 50 in both total offense and defense. While the defense is stout and thrives on taking the ball away as they are tied for the nations lead in interceptions (21), they are truly one of the most prolific offenses in the country. The Flames come into the Fiesta Bowl 3rd in total offense averaging 514 yards of offense per game. Led by stud QB Kaidon Salter, dynamic WR CJ Daniels, powerful RB Quinton Cooley, & the best offensive line in G5, the Liberty Flames are formidable. If Oregon lets the sour taste in their mouth linger and isn’t focused, it will only further intensify after they find themselves in a battle.

#2 Washington vs #3 Texas (Allstate Sugar Bowl – Jan 1st):

I mean this one needs no explanation, right? Two explosive offenses, both of which are top 12 in total offense in the country averaging over 470 yards per game, are locked in battle for a spot in the National Championship game. Heisman runner up QB Michael Penix Jr leads the Huskies while projected top pick QB Quinn Ewers leads the Texas Longhorns in this matchup. Both head coaches are boasting their very best season as leading men & that’s a huge part of what makes this game so intriguing.

We have a figure like Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian who we’ve seen emerge as a star, lose it all, and build his way back to notoriety while restoring a historic program to prominence. On the other hand, we have a rock steady stalwart in Kalen DeBoer that has only quietly succeeded at every stop he’s been at. DeBoer now finds himself on the main stage with a special team of overachievers that have taken the country by storm. Will the vertical passing game prowess of Washington prove enough? Or, will the multiplicity of Sark’s offensive attack allow Texas’ premiere weapons to take over? Something must give and the winner will see themselves in the biggest stage of all.