Week 7 didn't see the number of upsets we've come to expect this season, but it did have one biggie -- unranked Purdue knocking off No. 2 Iowa. Plus six ranked teams went down to defeat, so there was plenty of room for shuffling the bowl picture.
In addition to predicting the matchups for every bowl game, Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura provide analysis on their playoff picks, most intriguing bowl matchup, fast-rising teams that could make a New Year's Six push and teams that helped or hurt their cause the most.
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: Georgia vs. Alabama
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Ohio State
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: Georgia vs. Michigan
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Cincinnati
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: Cincinnati vs. Alabama
Schlabach: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma
Schlabach's most intriguing matchup: They might have to add a third digit to the scoreboard in Jerry World if the Buckeyes and Sooners meet up in a CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma freshman quarterback Caleb Williams' first start went about as well as it could have, with him completing 18 of 23 passes for 295 yards with four touchdowns and running for 66 yards with one more score in a 52-31 win against TCU. The concern, once again, is that OU's defense surrendered 529 yards and 31 points against the Horned Frogs. In the last two games alone, the Sooners have been gashed for 1,045 yards of offense and 79 points by Texas and TCU. Ohio State's offense, with quarterback C.J. Stroud and one of the better receiver corps in the country, is even better than the Sooners'.
Playoff breakdown
Bonagura: The way this season is going, by the time the playoff selection committee is hunkered down to select the four teams, there might not be any undefeated teams remaining. Georgia looks as close to an unstoppable machine as there is, but so did Alabama until, well, it was no longer. At this point, the Bulldogs are the only team that cannot be excluded from a hypothetical playoff, while the jury remains out on the rest of the pack. Cincinnati remains on track to become the first Group of 5 team to reach the playoff but would almost assuredly be passed by any Power 5 team that finishes unbeaten. That group could include Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Wake Forest. Among those teams and some of the one-loss teams, you have to figure the combination of the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 will get at least one team in -- and likely two. Nick Saban has earned the benefit of the doubt, so I'll include the Crimson Tide this week but only because the waters are murky.
Schlabach: I still believe Georgia and Alabama are the top two teams in the country, even after the Crimson Tide's stunning loss at Texas A&M a week ago. That said, I'm going with the Bulldogs to knock off the Tide in the SEC championship game. I'm not sure Alabama can get back into the CFP with two losses, especially when you consider that its victories against Miami and Florida might not carry much weight by season's end. I'm making my predictions on where I think the teams will be ranked at the end of the regular season, so Ohio State is my No. 2 team, followed by Oklahoma and Cincinnati. I think the fast-improving Buckeyes will come out of the mix in the Big Ten, and Oklahoma will somehow rise to the top of the Big 12 in spite of its defense. I'll go with Cincinnati as the No. 4 team for now, but I still think the Bearcats are going to need a lot of help to get there.
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: Wake Forest vs. Michigan State
Schlabach: Kentucky vs. Iowa
Jan. 1
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
1 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Coastal Carolina vs. Oklahoma State
Schlabach: Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame
Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
5 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Ohio State vs. Utah
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Oregon
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans)
8:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Oklahoma State
Team knocking on the door of the NY6
Bonagura: Pittsburgh. I'm giving Wake Forest the benefit of the doubt because it is undefeated, but there are many reasons to believe Pittsburgh is actually the best team in the ACC and will wind up in a New Year's Six bowl. ESPN Football Power Index loves the Panthers: That formula says they are the No. 7 team in the country. Pitt has a big opportunity this week against Clemson.
Schlabach: Kentucky. Even though the Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season, 30-13 at No. 1 Georgia on Saturday, they're still in great shape because every other team in the SEC East (besides Georgia and Kentucky) has lost at least two games in conference play. Florida already has lost three. So as long as the Wildcats handle business in their next two games, at Mississippi State on Oct. 30 and home against Tennessee the next week, they'll be in great shape to possibly get to 11-1, which will be more than enough to play in potentially the Allstate Sugar Bowl or another New Year's Six game.
Bowl season
Dec. 17
Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
Noon on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Toledo vs. Marshall
Schlabach: Kent State vs. Florida Atlantic
Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
6 p.m. on ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Appalachian State vs. Liberty
Schlabach: Army vs. UAB
Team that helped its cause the most
Bonagura: Utah. After starting the season 1-2 in nonconference play, external expectations for the Utes dropped considerably. Now, after a 35-21 win against Arizona State, they are the only remaining undefeated team in Pac-12 play. That, coupled with Oregon's unimpressive performances over the past month, has created a clear path for Utah to reach the Rose Bowl.
Schlabach: Oklahoma State. This is exactly what you would expect from a Mike Gundy-coached team that wasn't expected to do much in the preseason. After losing star tailback Chuba Hubbard and receiver Ty Wallace, the Pokes were picked to finish fourth in the league in preseason voting by the media. Instead, the Cowboys are 6-0 after beating Texas 32-24 on the road on Saturday. It was OSU's third straight victory over a ranked foe, after previously taking down then-No. 25 Kansas State and then-No. 21 Baylor. The Pokes are winning close games -- they've outscored opponents by only 42 points this season, the third-lowest differential by a team that won its first six games in the AP poll era (since 1936). Even if Oklahoma State loses to Oklahoma in the Bedlam Game, it might be in good shape to grab a New Year's Six spot in the Sugar Bowl.
Dec. 18
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
11 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Eastern Carolina vs. Florida Atlantic
Schlabach: Appalachian State vs. Eastern Michigan
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon on ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Jackson State vs. Norfolk State
Schlabach: Jackson State vs. Norfolk State
New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
2:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wyoming vs. Buffalo
Schlabach: Wyoming vs. Miami (Ohio)
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
3:30 p.m. on ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: BYU vs. Texas-San Antonio
Schlabach: BYU vs. Texas-San Antonio
Bonagura's most intriguing matchup: This really isn't about the matchup, per se, but UTSA has quickly become one of the best stories in college football. The Roadrunners' 7-0 start has them on pace for their third bowl game since their debut season in 2011 and they're a win away from tying their highest win total. (They went 8-3 as a member of the WAC in 2012.) Running back Sincere McCormick is one of the more exciting players in the country and a bowl game against BYU would be a massive stage.
LendingTree Bowl
Ladd-Peebles Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
5:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: South Alabama vs. Charlotte
Schlabach: Troy vs. Western Michigan
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m. on ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: USC vs. San Diego State
Schlabach: USC vs. San Diego State
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans)
9:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Louisiana vs. UAB
Schlabach: Louisiana vs. Marshall
Dec. 20
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Ball State vs. Western Kentucky
Schlabach: Charlotte vs. Coastal Carolina
Dec. 21
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Western Michigan vs. Nevada
Schlabach: Central Michigan vs. Colorado State
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
7:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Air Force vs. UTEP
Schlabach: Utah State vs. UTEP
Dec. 22
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
8 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. SMU
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. Air Force
Team that hurt its cause the most
Bonagura: Iowa. The Hawkeyes are really the only option. To go from No. 2 in the country to outside of the New Year's Six is a swift but deserved fall for Iowa after it was soundly outplayed by Purdue. The only other ranked team to lose to an unranked opponent this week was No. 18 Arizona State, which fell to Utah, but the stakes were different for the Sun Devils.
Schlabach: It's going to be difficult for the Hawkeyes to recover from Saturday's stunning 24-7 loss to Purdue at home. Iowa had already been playing with fire because of its woeful offense. It imploded against the Boilermakers, as quarterback Spencer Petras was picked off four times and running back Tyler Goodson got only 12 carries. Through seven games, Iowa ranks 48th in scoring (31.5 points), 99th in rushing (123.3 yards), 100th in passing (194.2 yards) and 120th in total offense (317.5 yards). The best defense in the world can't overcome that ineptitude each and every week. The Hawkeyes' only hope to reach the CFP would require them to win out and beat a highly ranked opponent in the Big Ten championship. That's a tall order because of their offense.
Dec. 23
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
7 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: LSU vs. Louisville
Schlabach: Liberty vs. Memphis
Dec. 24
EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Fresno State vs. Washington State
Schlabach: Nevada vs. SMU
Dec. 25
Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
2:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Central Michigan vs. Troy
Schlabach: Ball State vs. South Alabama
Dec. 27
Quick Lane Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
11 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Rutgers vs. Eastern Michigan
Schlabach: Temple vs. Northern Illinois
Military Bowl presented by Peraton
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Virginia Tech vs. Central Florida
Schlabach: Louisville vs. East Carolina
Dec. 28
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl
Protective Life Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: South Carolina vs. Memphis
Schlabach: Mississippi State vs. Central Florida
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
3:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Utah State vs. Army
Schlabach: Houston vs. Washington State
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
6:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. Mississippi State
Schlabach: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m. on Fox
Bonagura: NC State vs. UCLA
Schlabach: NC State vs. UCLA
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
10:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Maryland vs. TCU
Schlabach: Maryland vs. TCU
Dec. 29
Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Houston
Schlabach: Virginia Tech vs. Tulsa
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York)
2:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Purdue vs. Clemson
Schlabach: Wisconsin vs. Boston College
Cheez-It Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Pittsburgh vs. Iowa State
Schlabach: Pittsburgh vs. Iowa State
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Baylor vs. Arizona State
Schlabach: Baylor vs. Utah
Dec. 30
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
11:30 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Tennessee vs. Boston College
Schlabach: Tennessee vs. North Carolina
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
3 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Arkansas vs. Minnesota
Schlabach: Auburn vs. Minnesota
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
10:30 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wisconsin vs. Oregon
Schlabach: Purdue vs. Arizona State
Dec. 31
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
11 a.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Auburn vs. Notre Dame
Schlabach: Texas A&M vs. Clemson
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
12:30 p.m. on CBS
Bonagura: Virginia vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Virginia vs. Oregon State
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
5:30 p.m.
Bonagura: Boise State vs. Northern Illinois
Schlabach: Stanford vs. Fresno State
Jan. 1
Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon on ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Penn State vs. Florida
Schlabach: Michigan State vs. Florida
Vrbo Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m. on ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Kentucky vs. Iowa
Schlabach: Ole Miss vs. Penn State
Jan. 4
Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Time TBD on ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: Texas vs. LSU