2024 has brought a lot of good and unfortunately its opposite to college football, but through it all, Bowl Season is back! This is my favorite time of year because I get to hyper-fixate on my favorite part of college football.
The final and official College Football Playoff bracket is set, Travis Hunter won the Heisman, so let the Bowl festivities begin!
Salute to Veterans Bowl: South Alabama def. Western Michigan
Cramton Bowl | Montgomery, AL
South Alabama def. Western Michigan 30-23
Spread: South Alabama -11.5
Our Prediction: South Alabama def. Western Michigan 31-21 (1-0)
Montgomery, AL — Shortly after Travis Hunter was announced as the Heisman Trophy winner, the first bowl game got underway as the Jaguars of South Alabama took on the Broncos of Western Michigan. Western Michigan jumped out to an early lead, scoring the only points of the first quarter as Travis Buckley scored from a yard out. A missed field goal from South Alabama led to a WMU field goal, and that six point swing led to an early two possession lead for the Broncos. From there, however, it was all Jags. The South Alabama passing attack came alive in the second quarter as Jeremiah Webb hauled in two long touchdown passes of 52 and 45 yards from Bishop Davenport, turning the game completely heading into half.
Out of half, South Alabama kept the offense coming as Davenport scurried for a 50 yard touchdown, extending the Jaguar lead to 23-13. WMU scored a touchdown with 5 minutes to go, cutting South Alabama’s lead down to 23-20, but the Jaguars answered right back, extending the lead back to 10, effectively ending this one.
Player of the Game: WR Jeremiah Webb: 6 rec, 182 yards, 2 TD
Frisco Bowl: West Virginia vs. Memphis
Toyota Stadium | Frisco, TX
West Virginia Mountaineers: 6-6 (5-4 Big XII) | HC: Chad Scott (i) | Team Rank: 64th
Memphis Tigers: 10-2 (6-2 AAC) | HC: Ryan Silverfield | Team Rank: 41st
Spread: West Virginia -3.5
Names to Watch:
West Virginia
↳ RB Jahiem White: 142 carries, 817 yards, 7 TD, 5.8 YPC
↳ OT Wyatt Milum: 1st-Team All-Big XII
Memphis
↳ RB Mario Anderson: 219 carries, 1,292 yards, 17 TD, 5.9 YPC
↳ QB Seth Henigan: 3,208 yards, 23 TD, 6 INT, 64.5 comp%, 57.0 QBR
↳ LB Chandler Martin: 94 tackles, 15 TFL, 7.0 sacks, 1 INT
Breakdown: I was admittedly a little stunned when I saw this line break in favor of West Virginia. While I’ve never been a gambling person, the lines of a game always fascinate me, and sometimes a surprising line shows that Vegas is on to something, but sometimes Vegas is wrong. Vegas is wrong here.
West Virginia has allowed 209, 176, 183, and 157 yards rushing over their last four games respectively. On the season as a whole, they get trampled over. Memphis boasts a formidable ground game with First Team All-AAC running back, Mario Anderson, and a very good offensive line anchored by another First Team selection in tackle Xavier Hill. From there, quarterback Seth Henigan plays off of it with myriad weapons around him, including two more First Team receivers in wideout Roc Taylor and tight end Anthony Landphere.
West Virginia’s defense overall is rough, but their defense against the pass is as bad as anyone’s among power conference teams. The Mountaineers rank 125th in passer rating against and have allowed the 14th most passing touchdowns in the nation at 24.
The flip side of this is that West Virginia’s offense on the ground has been equally as dominant as their defense has been dominated. The catch here is Memphis’s defense is top 15 in the nation in rushing yards per game allowed and allow a sub-40% success rate on rushing plays. They’re led by breakout ETSU transfer Chandler Martin who, alongside Elijah Herring and William Whitlow Jr., have combined to boast one of the nation’s best ground defenses in a conference with plenty of potent rushing attacks.
I don’t get this one. I understand the group-of-five tax here, but Memphis is the better team. I could look very stupid though, so who’s to tell, I guess.
Prediction: Memphis def. WVU 30-17
Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. James Madison
FAU Stadium | Boca Raton, FL
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: 8-5 (6-2 CUSA) | HC: Tyson Helton | Team Rank: 69th
James Madison Dukes: 8-4 (4-4 SBC) | HC: Bob Chesney | Team Rank: 45th
Spread: James Madison -6.5
Names to Watch:
Western Kentucky
↳ DB Upton Stout: 52 tackles, 8 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 1 INT
↳ QB Caden Veltkamp: 2,806 yards, 23 TD, 10 INT, 59.6 QBR
James Madison
↳ QB Alonza Barnett III: 2,598 yards, 26 TD, 4 INT, 45.5 QBR, 442 rush yds, 7 TD
↳ EDGE Eric O’Neill: 49 tackles, 18 TFL, 12.0 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD
Breakdown: Western Kentucky is coming off a horrible loss at Jacksonville State in the C-USA Title Game despite beating them the week prior, but it’s overall been a very positive season for the Hilltoppers despite what was supposed to be their starting quarterback, TJ Finley, getting injured in week three and missing the rest of the season. WKU has lost three of their last four games, with just one being within one possession and the other two coming by three scores to Liberty and the aforementioned Jacksonville State.
James Madison took an expected step back after losing quarterback Jordan McCloud and more notably, the coach that brought them to the FBS, Curt Cignetti, to Indiana. Need you look no further than Indiana to see his importance to this JMU program. Regardless, another 8-win season for one of the FBS level’s youngest members has them bowl bound once again. Replacing McCloud was never easy, but Alonza Barnett III has done a more than serviceable job in doing so.
The ground attacks of these two teams may be the tipping point. WKU posted a 40.6% success rate on the ground this season, a bottom 30 mark in the country. James Madison’s mark of 47.6% ranked in the top 30. The difference is there (barring transfers and opt outs, but that may go without saying anymore).
Prediction: James Madison def. Western Kentucky 24-14
LA Bowl: UNLV vs. California
SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA
UNLV Rebels: 10-3 (6-1 MWC) | HC: Barry Odom | Team Rank: 26th
Cal Golden Bears: 6-6 (2-6 ACC) | HC: Justin Wilcox | Team Rank: 44th
Spread: California -3.0
Names to Watch:
UNLV
↳ WR Ricky White: 79 rec, 1,041 yards, 11 TD, 13.2 YPR
↳ QB Hajj-Malik Williams: 1,845 yards, 17 TD, 5 INT, 824 rush yds, 9 TD, 65.9 QBR
↳ LB Jackson Woodard: 124 tackles, 17 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 4 INT, MWC DPOY
California
↳ LB Teddye Buchanan: 112 tackles, 11 TFL, 5.0 sacks
↳ CB Nohl Williams: 7 INT (led nation), 1 TD, 9 PD
Breakdown: With Barry Odom taking the Purdue job, the expectation is that dominoes are going to fall throughout the UNLV roster, it’s just a matter of when. For Ricky White, it may be due to the NFL Draft. For others, it’s because they’re on the way out the door along with their coach. Cal (-3.0) is a line that may increase as we approach this game.
Prediction: California def. UNLV 27-17
New Orleans Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston
Caesars Superdome | New Orleans, LA
Georgia Southern Eagles: 8-4 (6-2 SBC) | HC: Clay Helton | Team Rank: 77th
Sam Houston Bearkats: 9-3 (6-2 CUSA) | HC: K.C. Keeler | Team Rank: 79th
Spread: Georgia Southern -1.5
Names to Watch:
Georgia Southern
↳ LB Marques Watson-Trent: 110 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 FF, 1.5 sacks, Sun Belt DPOY
↳ CB Marc Stampley II: 3 INT, 7 PD
Sam Houston
↳ DL Chris Murray: 34 tackles, 12 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 FF
↳ DB Caleb Weaver: 86 tackles, 4 INT, 6 PD
Breakdown: This has all the makings of a low scoring game.
Head coach K.C. Keeler has Sam Houston at 9 wins after just 3 wins in the Bearkats’ inaugural season in FBS football in what’s been a tremendous year two for a very good coach and upwards climbing program. Their season was highlighted with two big upset wins over Texas State and Liberty, and it’s been the ground game by committee that’s led the way offensively all season. Sam Houston’s backfield is led by Jevyon Ducker and Hunter Watson combining for 300 carries for over 1,300 yards with DJ McKinney tagging along with 95 carries and 479 yards of his own as well.
As for Georgia Southern, their path forward has been through the air this season in part because they have a handful of talented receivers, but also because their ground attack has been hit or miss all season. For instance, in their most recent win over App State, they ran the ball 41 times for 191 yards and three touchdowns. They two games before that? They rushed for a combined 165 yards on 59 attempts, good for 2.8 yards per carry. The big thing is they’re going to have to win on the ground to win this game.
Sam Houston’s pass defense and pass rush are very good, but they’ve been run on pretty heavily in conference play, allowing a rushing success rate of nearly 45%. It’s an aggressive defense that creates a ton of tackles for loss and turnovers, but they’ve had their over aggressiveness used against them.
Prediction: Sam Houston def. Georgia Southern 16-10
Cure Bowl: Ohio vs. Jacksonville State
Camping World Stadium | Orlando, FL
Ohio Bobcats: 10-3 (MAC Champions) | HC: Tim Albin | Team Rank: 60th
Jax State Gamecocks: 9-4 (CUSA Champions) | HC: Rich Rodriguez | Team Rank: 66th
Spread: Ohio -2.5
Names to Watch:
Ohio
↳ RB Anthony Tyus: 211 carries, 1,111 yards, 9 TD, 5.3 YPC
↳ QB Parker Navarro: 2,169 yds, 12 TD, 10 INT, 935 rush yds, 15 TD, 68.5 QBR
↳ EDGE Bradley Weaver: 39 tackles, 14 TFL, 8.0 sacks, 3 FF
Jacksonville State
↳ RB Tre Stewart: 264 carries, 1,604 yards, 23 TD, 6.1 YPC
↳ QB Tyler Huff: 2,179 yds, 13 TD, 6 INT, 1,343 rush yds, 14 TD, 6.2 YPC, 68.3 QBR
Breakdown: Despite Tim Albin leaving Ohio for Charlotte after they beat Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship, barring a mass exodus from Ohio, this is the premier Group-of-Five bowl game in 2024. Rich Rodriguez and his always potent read-option offense against Timotee Chalamet-approved Parker Navarro and a very good Ohio Bobcat defense.
This is a battle of dual threat quarterbacks. Navarro and Tyler Huff are as entertaining a pair of quarterbacks that you’ll find in any game in the country this bowl season. Huff was a transcendent force in RichRod’s offense, totaling 27 touchdowns with over 2,000 passing yards and 1,300 rushing yards. A truly marvelous season. Navarro also posted 27 total touchdowns, and he nearly cracked that 1,000 yard rushing barrier himself. Jacksonville State’s 49.5% success rate on the ground was good for 16th best in the nation this season; Ohio’s 34.2% rushing success rate against was 5th best in the nation. A battle of strengths by any measure.
Prediction: Jacksonville State def. Ohio 23-21
Gasparilla Bowl: Tulane vs. Florida
Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, FL
Tulane Green Wave: 9-4 (7-1 AAC) | HC: Jon Sumrall | Team Rank: 22nd
Florida Gators: 7-5 (4-4 SEC) | HC: Billy Napier | Team Rank: 28th
Spread: Florida -9.5
Names to Watch:
Tulane
↳ RB Makhi Hughes: 257 carries, 1,372 yards, 15 TD, 5.3 YPC
↳ DL Patrick Jennings: 30 tackles, 7 TFL, 4.5 sacks
Florida
↳ QB DJ Lagway: 92/157, 1,610 yards, 11 TD, 7 INT, 59.6 QBR
↳ DL Tyreak Sapp: 44 tackles, 13 TFL, 7.0 sacks, 2 FF
Breakdown: Had Tulane QB Darian Mensah not hit the portal this week, this had the potential to be a really fun quarterback game between Mensah and Lagway. Lagway came on late in the starting role for Florida, but the Gators were a much different team with him under center. Once Lagway got the keys to the offense after the Georgia game, Florida finished the season 3-0 with wins over LSU, Ole Miss, and a demolition of a bad Florida State team. Lagway threw 5 touchdowns to 2 interceptions across these games.
While I do think Florida wins comfortably, it’s not just a set and forget type of deal. Tulane is an elite run defense with a very good rushing offense. The Green Wave’s rushing success rate mark offensively ranked top-15 in the nation at a 50.2% clip. Defensively, there was nobody better as their 31.8% rate against was the best in all of the FBS. Tulane had two offensive linemen finish First Team All-AAC (Derrick Graham, Shadre Hurst) with two others finishing on the Second Team (Josh Remetich, Vincent Murphy). They are going to be the keys in this game to get Makhi Hughes going against a Florida defense that ranked bottom 10 in the nation with a 50% rushing success rate against this season. If Tulane can keep the ball out of Lagway’s hands while effectively running the ball, they can keep this close.
Prediction: Florida def. Tulane 24-16
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Albertsons Stadium | Boise, ID
Northern Illinois Huskies: 7-5 (4-4 MAC) | HC: Thomas Hammock | Team Rank: 84th
Fresno State Bulldogs: 6-6 (4-3 MWC) | HC: Tim Skipper | Team Rank: 81st
Spread: Northern Illinois -1.5
Names to Watch:
Northern Illinois
↳ DL Devonte O’Malley: 37 tackles, 12 TFL, 8.0 sacks, 1 FF
↳ CB Nate Valcarel: 50 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 INT, 8 PD
Fresno State
↳ WR Mac Dalena: 58 receptions, 947 yards, 8 TD, 16.3 YPR
↳ LB Tuasivi Nomura: 97 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 PD
Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame this season. They then lost four of their next six games. Then they won three of their final four. To say this has been a bipolar team would be an understatement. For NIU, a lot of their chances in this game surround their ground attack. It’s been a potent attack all season as the Huskies have rushed for 2,488 yards as a team at 4.8 yards per carry and a 45.5% success rate. Fresno State’s run defense has been very good, allowing just 3.9 yards per carry, and though they’ve struggled with ground-heavy attacks (UNLV, Air Force), those are the only games in which this defense allowed over 150 yards rushing from an opponent, and they’ve held their last two opponents to under 100 rushing yards as well, one being UCLA.
Prediction: Fresno State def. Northern Illinois 23-20
Myrtle Beach Bowl: UTSA vs. Coastal Carolina
Brooks Stadium | Conway, SC
UTSA Roadrunners: 6-6 (4-4 AAC) | HC: Jeff Traylor | Team Rank: 89th
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: 6-6 (3-5 SBC) | HC: Tim Beck | Team Rank: 93rd
Spread: UTSA -6.5
Names to Watch:
UTSA
↳ QB Owen McCown: 3,170 yds, 62% comp%, 24 TD, 9 INT, 61.6 QBR
↳ EDGE Jimmori Robinson: 43 tackles, 17 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 2 FF
Coastal Carolina
↳ EDGE Clev Lubin: 44 tackles, 12 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 3 FF
↳ CB Matthew McDoom: 36 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 INT, 11 PD, 1 TD
Breakdown: Despite being a home game for Coastal Carolina, they enter as a touchdown underdog to a UTSA team coming off a down year by Jeff Traylor’s standards, but winners of three of their final four games. For Coastal Carolina, they enter having lost five of their final seven games despite a 4-1 start with all five losses coming by double digits. This program under Tim Beck is a far cry from what they were under Jamey Chadwell, and 6 wins was a minor miracle considering how poorly things went this season.
This defense, despite the team’s best two players being on that side of the ball, was brutal. On average, they gave up 405.6 yards and 30.6 points per game, and in conference play, those numbers ticked up to 419 and 32 respectively. A benefit for them is that UTSA’s defense hemorrhages points in a similar way, giving up 31.3 per game. This has a chance to be a high scoring affair just based on that, and I expect it to follow through.
Prediction: UTSA def. Coastal Carolina 37-27
Hawai’i Bowl: South Florida vs. San José State
Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex | Honolulu, HI
South Florida Bulls: 6-6 (4-4 AAC) | HC: Alex Golesh | Team Rank: 87th
San José State Spartans: 7-5 (3-4 MWC) | HC: Ken Niumatalolo | Team Rank: 80th
Spread: San José State -2.5
Names to Watch:
South Florida
↳ RB Kelley Joiner Jr.: 110 carries, 766 yards, 11 TD, 7.0 YPC
↳ DT Decarius Hawthorne: 38 tackles, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR
San José State
↳ WR Nick Nash: 104 rec, 1,382 yards, 16 TD, 2 pass TD
↳ LB Jordan Pollard: 110 tackles, 12 TFL, 2.0 sacks
Breakdown: Former Tennessee OC Alex Golesh has UCF back in a bowl game, their first consecutive appearances since they went to four straight under Charlie Strong from 2015-2018. San José State are seeking their first win in a bowl game since 2015. San José State’s strength is their passing game. In fact, it’s about all the offense has going for it. The Spartans failed to rush for 1,000 yards as a team in 2024. South Florida’s strengths are their rushing offense and rushing defense. Overall, these are two teams susceptible to explosives in the passing game, resulting in high 20s points per game allowed averages.
Prediction: South Florida def. San José State 33-29
68 Ventures Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green
Hancock Whitney Stadium | Mobile, AL
Arkansas State Red Wolves: 7-5 (5-3 SBC) | HC: Butch Jones | Team Rank: 100
Bowling Green Falcons: 7-5 (6-2 MAC) | HC: Scot Loeffler | Team Rank: 70th
Spread: Bowling Green -7
Names to Watch:
Arkansas State
↳ S Trevian Thomas: 73 tackles, 5 INT, 3 PD, 1 FR
↳ LB Marvin Ham II: 90 tackles, 10 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF, 2 FR
Bowling Green
↳ TE Harold Fannin Jr.: 100 rec, 1,342 yards, 9 TD
↳ CB Jordan Oladokun: 35 tackles, 4 INT, 1 INT TD, 7 PD
Breakdown: This game is essentially about one thing: Harold Fannin Jr. Despite being grossly snubbed out of the Mackey Award for the nation’s best tight end, Fannin Jr. is about to put the final touches on what just might be the best single season ever from a tight end, and he needs 11 yards to cement his case. Fannin Jr. needs just 7 catches and 11 yards to break Jace Amaro’s record for single season receiving yards and receptions by a tight end, and despite his draft buzz as a high pick, he’s confirmed he’s playing in Bowling Green’s bowl game against Arkansas State.
As a fan, everything else is secondary here, but Butch Jones is also coaching in this game, so there’s that.
Expect a big game from BGSU’s running back, Terion Stewart. He’s struggled in his last two games, but the season on the whole for the redshirt junior has been a positive one, and against a poor run defense in Arkansas State, expect a potentially big day from him.
Prediction: Bowling Green def. Arkansas State 30-17
GameAbove Sports Bowl: Toledo vs. Pittsburgh
Ford Field | Detroit, MI
Toledo Rockets: 7-5 (4-4 MAC) | HC: Jason Candle | Team Rank: 83rd
Pittsburgh Panthers: 7-5 (3-5 ACC) | HC: Pat Narduzzi | Team Rank: 47th
Spread: Pittsburgh -7.5
Names to Watch:
Toledo
↳ QB Tucker Gleason: 2,457 yards, 22 TD, 7 INT, 6 rush TD, 53.3 QBR
↳ WR Jerjuan Newton: 64 rec, 949 yards, 11 TD, 14.8 YPR
Pittsburgh
↳ WR Kenota Mumpfield: 52 rec, 813 yards, 5 TD, 15.6 YPR
↳ LB Kyle Louis: 97 tackles, 16 TFL, 7.0 TFL, 4 INT, 1 INT TD, 1 FF