The ramifications of a rather tumultuous Week 2 of the college football season were felt far and wide, including in our bowl projections.
In addition to predicting the matchups for every single bowl game, Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura provide key analysis on their playoff picks, most intriguing bowl matchup, coaches under pressure to make a bowl, fast-rising teams that could make a New Year's Six push and more.
All times Eastern
College Football Playoff
CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
Jan. 10, 8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Alabama vs. Georgia
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Georgia
CFP Semifinal at Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Alabama vs. Oregon
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
CFP Semifinal at Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Dec. 31, 3:30 or 7:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia vs. Oklahoma
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Oregon
Playoff breakdown
Bonagura: The top two spots went unchanged, as Alabama and Georgia both won easily. And from what we've seen so far, there are three candidates from the rest that have logical cases to be in the top four: Oklahoma, Oregon and Iowa. The Sooners are still primarily riding their preseason expectations, while the other two contenders turned in signature wins on Saturday (Oregon over Ohio State; Iowa over Iowa State). For now, Iowa is the odd team out, because the Ducks' win at the Horseshoe made a stronger impression.
Schlabach: Alabama and Georgia have been the two most impressive teams to me so far, maybe even more so than the Bulldogs on Saturday. They limited UAB to 174 yards of total offense, including 47 passing, in a 56-7 rout at Sanford Stadium. Georgia's defense hasn't surrendered a touchdown in two games; the Blazers scored on a pick-six and Clemson managed just a field goal in a 10-3 loss. You can't take much away from the Tide's 48-14 win against FCS program Mercer. But the defending national champions remain my No. 1 seed based on their dominant Week 1 victory over Miami. Oklahoma bounced back in a big way after looking rather ordinary against Tulane in its opener. The Sooners routed FCS foe Western Carolina 76-0, with Spencer Rattler throwing for five touchdowns. Oregon's 35-28 upset of No. 3 Ohio State on the road is the biggest victory of the season so far, so the Ducks are my No. 4 seed.
New Year's Six
Dec. 30
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
7 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Clemson vs. Ohio State
Schlabach: Clemson vs. Notre Dame
Schlabach's take: Ohio State's loss might have opened the door for Clemson to sneak back into the CFP discussion, but the Tigers still face a long road in getting back to the top four. For now, I've got Clemson playing Notre Dame in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The teams played twice last season, with the Irish upsetting Clemson 47-40 in two overtimes during the regular season (with Trevor Lawrence sidelined), and the Tigers winning 34-10 in the ACC championship game.
Jan. 1
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
1 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Penn State vs. Cincinnati
Schlabach: Ohio State vs. Cincinnati
Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
5 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Iowa vs. UCLA
Schlabach: Iowa vs. UCLA
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans)
8:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Florida vs. Iowa State
Schlabach: Florida vs. Iowa State
Team knocking on the door of the NY6
Bonagura: Both Notre Dame and Texas A&M dropped out of New Year's Six slots this week (in favor of Oregon and Iowa). Neither team lost, so they'll remain within striking distance, but they both failed to make a positive impression this week, needing late scores to win ugly against Toledo and Colorado, respectively. The winning part is the key. By the time the playoff rankings are released, style points in nonconference wins won't carry much weight.
Schlabach: With Texas A&M struggling to win 10-7 on the road at Colorado on Saturday, might the Florida Gators be the third-best team in the SEC? The defending East Division champions weren't tested much in season-opening wins over Florida Atlantic and South Florida, but that won't be an issue in Saturday's home game against Alabama. Quarterback Emory Jones continues to be the starter, but backup Anthony Richardson might be more talented. Against USF, he went 3-for-3 for 152 yards with two scores and ran for another 115 yards with one touchdown, becoming the first Gator to have at least 100 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in a game since Tim Tebow in 2009.
Bowl season
Dec. 17
Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
Noon on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Buffalo vs. UAB
Schlabach: Ball State vs. FAU
Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
6 p.m. on ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Appalachian State vs. Liberty
Schlabach: Army vs. Charlotte
Dec. 18
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
11 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Northern Illinois vs. Houston
Schlabach: Appalachian State vs. Memphis
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon on ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Jackson State vs. North Carolina Central
Schlabach: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State
New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
2:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Nevada vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: Oregon State vs. Kent State
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
3:30 p.m. on ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: BYU vs. Marshall
Schlabach: BYU vs. Louisiana Tech
LendingTree Bowl
Ladd-Peebles Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
5:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Troy vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Arkansas State vs. Western Michigan
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m. on ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Colorado vs. San Diego State
Schlabach: Stanford vs. Nevada
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans)
9:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Louisiana vs. UTSA
Schlabach: Louisiana vs. Marshall
Coach under pressure to make a bowl game
Bonagura: Clay Helton, USC. And just making a bowl game won't be enough for Helton this time around. He probably needed to win the Pac-12 title for his job to be safe, and after a lethargic performance in a 42-28 loss to Stanford, that seems off the table. All eyes in Los Angeles are on USC athletic director Mike Bohn, who is USC's third AD since Helton took over.
Schlabach: Although it's his first full season as Washington's coach, there are already concerns about Chris Petersen's hand-picked successor, Jimmy Lake. After losing to FCS program Montana 13-7 in the opener and 31-10 on the road at Michigan on Saturday, the Huskies are 0-2 for the first time since 2008, when they finished 0-12. At least Washington plays UCLA, Oregon and Arizona State at home.
Dec. 20
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Arkansas State vs. Middle Tennessee
Schlabach: SMU vs. Coastal Carolina
Dec. 21
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Toledo vs. Fresno State
Schlabach: Toledo vs. Boise State
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
7:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: North Texas vs. Tulsa
Schlabach: UTSA vs. Wyoming
Dec. 22
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
8 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. SMU
Schlabach: Baylor vs. Indiana
Dec. 23
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
7 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wake Forest vs. Tennessee
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Tennessee
Dec. 24
EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: San Jose State vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Fresno State vs. Washington State
Dec. 25
Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
2:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Ball State vs. FAU
Schlabach: Troy vs. Western Kentucky
Dec. 27
Quick Lane Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
11 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Purdue vs. Central Michigan
Schlabach: Northwestern vs. Buffalo
Military Bowl presented by Peraton
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Virginia vs. UCF
Schlabach: Wake Forest vs. Tulane
Dec. 28
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl
Protective Life Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: South Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: Mississippi State vs. UAB
Bonagura's take: Coastal didn't start playing football until 2003 and didn't make the jump to FBS until 2017. Playing South Carolina in a bowl game would be a massive opportunity for the Chanticleers to make a statement within the state about what they've been building. When they first met, in 2018, Coastal Carolina wasn't quite ready to compete. That has changed.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
3:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Oklahoma State vs. Louisville
Schlabach: Houston vs. Air Force
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
6:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Mississippi State
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. Missouri
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m. on Fox
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Stanford
Schlabach: Utah vs. Miami
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
10:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Rutgers vs. Texas
Schlabach: West Virginia vs. Michigan State
Notable team in danger of missing a bowl
Bonagura: Florida State. Any optimism drummed up by the Seminoles taking Notre Dame to the wire in the opener was vaporized this week after they lost 20-17 to FCS Jacksonville State. It was FSU's first loss to an FCS opponent since the FBS/FCS split in 1978. Losing to Jacksonville State makes it hard to find six wins on Florida State's schedule.
Schlabach: It's Florida State. The Seminoles going to a bowl game was as much of a holiday tradition as turkey and cranberry sauce. They went to 36 consecutive bowls from 1982 to 2017, but now they're in danger of missing the postseason for the third time in four years.
Dec. 29
Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Boston College vs. Memphis
Schlabach: NC State vs. UCF
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York)
2:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Minnesota vs. Miami
Schlabach: Maryland vs. Boston College
Cheez-It Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame
Schlabach: Virginia Tech vs. Texas
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: TCU vs. Arizona State
Schlabach: TCU vs. Arizona State
Dec. 30
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
11:30 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Ole Miss vs. Pittsburgh
Schlabach: Auburn vs. Virginia
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
3 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Arkansas vs. Michigan
Schlabach: Ole Miss vs. Minnesota
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
10:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Utah vs. Indiana
Schlabach: USC vs. Wisconsin
Dec. 31
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
11 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech
Schlabach: Arkansas vs. North Carolina
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
12:30 p.m. on CBS
Bonagura: USC vs. NC State
Schlabach: Colorado vs. Pitt
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
5:30 p.m.
Bonagura: Eastern Michigan vs. Utah State
Schlabach: Liberty vs. San Diego State
Jan. 1
Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon on ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Auburn vs. Michigan State
Schlabach: Kentucky vs. Michigan
Vrbo Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m. on ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas A&M vs. Wisconsin
Schlabach: Texas A&M vs. Penn State
Jan. 4
Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Time TBD on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Baylor vs. LSU
Schlabach: Oklahoma State vs. LSU