The first week of the college football season is in the books, with several teams coming out of the gate with impressive statements (hello, Florida State and Colorado) and others leaving us wanting to see better (LSU, Clemson).
Can any meaningful lessons or conclusions be drawn from the opening game? Maybe not. But we do have our first pieces of evidence in trying to determine who might make the College Football Playoff, who might be knocking on the door of a New Year's Six game and who might end up where when the most wonderful time of the year -- bowl season -- rolls along.
ESPN college football reporters Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach use their first impressions to project the matchups for all 43 bowl games, offer their insights on the CFP contenders, look at the NY6 field and more.
All times Eastern
College Football Playoff
CFP National Championship presented by AT&T
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Monday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia vs. Alabama
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Michigan
CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Monday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Florida State vs. Alabama
Schlabach: Michigan vs. USC
CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Monday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia vs. Michigan
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Florida State
CFP breakdown
Bonagura: Same four, slightly different order from my preseason projections. The only change here for me was to swap Florida State and Michigan. FSU's win against LSU was the most impressive performance this week, so the Seminoles get to avoid No. 1 Georgia, for now. Michigan drops behind Alabama because the Crimson Tide and Georgia won't play in the semifinal. There's still not a clear Pac-12 favorite or a worthy Big 12 candidate that makes sense to include in the top four.
Schlabach: Florida State's 45-24 victory over LSU in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday night was indeed the best performance of Week 1. As a result, I've moved the Seminoles into my top four. Ohio State moves out, for now, after its 23-3 victory against Indiana. It's not as much about what the Buckeyes didn't do -- although the offense started slowly with Kyle McCord at quarterback -- as much as what the Seminoles did do. FSU quarterback Jordan Travis looks like a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender, and the Noles pushed the Tigers around at the line of scrimmage. Two-time defending national champion Georgia also started slowly against FCS program UT-Martin before pulling away for a 48-7 win. The Bulldogs probably won't be tested in their next three games -- against Ball State, South Carolina and UAB -- either. Michigan and USC were dominant in wins over East Carolina and Nevada, respectively. Ohio State, Alabama and Penn State would be my first three teams out of the playoff.
New Year's Six
Friday, Dec. 29
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: USC vs. Kansas State
Schlabach: Texas vs. Ohio State
Saturday, Dec. 30
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Tennessee vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Notre Dame vs. Alabama
Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
4 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Schlabach: North Carolina vs. Penn State
Monday, Jan. 1
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
1 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Utah vs. Penn State
Schlabach: Washington vs. Tulane
Team ready to crash the New Year's Six party
Bonagura: Most of the top 15 teams are the usual suspects, so let's take a second to consider Oregon State. The Beavers are coming off a 10-win season and have one of the most underappreciated defenses in the country, and they got off to an impressive start offensively with DJ Uiagalelei at quarterback. OSU has a favorable schedule (it misses USC and has Utah and Washington at home) and has improved every year under coach Jonathan Smith. It would make for an incredible story if the Beavers were to win the league championship in the final year of the Pac-12 after 10 of its conference peers up and left -- and that outcome is certainly in play.
Schlabach: It's probably too early to get very excited about Notre Dame, but it has looked incredibly efficient on offense and stout on defense in victories against Navy and FCS program Tennessee State in its first two games. Quarterback Sam Hartman, a graduate transfer from Wake Forest, has completed 82.6% of his passes for 445 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. The defense didn't surrender a touchdown in its first two games. The Fighting Irish will get a better test at NC State on Saturday (noon ET, ABC). After that, Notre Dame will play two of its most difficult games at home, against Ohio State on Sept. 23 and USC on Oct. 14. A trip to Clemson on Nov. 4 also might be big.
Bowl season
Saturday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Miami (Ohio) vs. Liberty
Schlabach: Eastern Michigan vs. Middle Tennessee State
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central
Schlabach: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Western Kentucky vs. Marshall
Schlabach: Louisiana Tech vs. Troy
Cure Bowl
Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia Southern vs. Rice
Schlabach: Appalachian State vs. UAB
New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Troy vs. San Jose State
Schlabach: New Mexico State vs. San Diego State
LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Colorado vs. Fresno State
Schlabach: UCLA vs. Boise State
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: BYU vs. UCLA
Schlabach: Iowa State vs. California
Monday, Dec. 18
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Middle Tennessee State vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: Tulsa vs. Georgia Southern
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Appalachian State vs. UNLV
Schlabach: Kansas vs. Air Force
Thursday, Dec. 21
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: East Carolina vs. Ohio
Schlabach: East Carolina vs. South Alabama
Friday, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: SMU vs. Missouri
Schlabach: Army vs. Auburn
Saturday, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Auburn vs. UAB
Schlabach: South Carolina vs. Florida Atlantic
Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: New Mexico State vs. Texas State
Schlabach: Marshall vs. Northern Illinois
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Iowa State vs. Duke
Schlabach: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Northern Illinois vs. Wyoming
Schlabach: Buffalo vs. Wyoming
68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
7 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Louisiana vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: Coastal Carolina vs. Toledo
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Illinois vs. Oregon
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Oregon
EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
10:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UTSA vs. San Diego State
Schlabach: Houston vs. Fresno State
Tuesday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Rutgers vs. Toledo
Schlabach: Nebraska vs. Ohio
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: TCU vs. Washington State
Schlabach: Oklahoma State vs. Washington State
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Minnesota vs. Oklahoma State
Schlabach: Minnesota vs. UCF
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Louisville vs. Florida Atlantic
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Memphis
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Syracuse vs. Mississippi State
Schlabach: Duke vs. Kentucky
Holiday Bowl
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
Bonagura: Clemson vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Pitt vs. Oregon State
TaxAct Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UCF vs. Kentucky
Schlabach: TCU vs. LSU
Team that suffered the most damaging loss
Bonagura: TCU. The Horned Frogs played for the national title last year, so even though they had several key losses and expectations to return to the playoff weren't there, they earned the benefit of the doubt going into Year 2 of the Sonny Dykes era. This was still a preseason-ranked team that had Big 12 title aspirations. Instead, TCU opened with a high-profile loss to Colorado in a game that felt reminiscent of Dykes' Cal Bears teams: great offense, no defense.
Schlabach: LSU's second-half collapse against Florida State was pretty deflating for a team that hoped to challenge Alabama in the SEC West. But TCU's 45-42 defeat against Colorado at home was perhaps even more damaging. The Horned Frogs lost a plethora of stars who helped them reach the national championship game last season, including quarterback Max Duggan, so Dykes' team was going to have a very difficult time coming anywhere close to what it accomplished in 2022. But there are some serious concerns about TCU's defense after the Buffaloes piled up 565 yards of offense, including 510 passing. In the past three games dating back to 2022, TCU has surrendered 155 points. That has to change if TCU is going to recapture its momentum.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wake Forest vs. Memphis
Schlabach: Georgia Tech vs. SMU
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: NC State vs. Michigan State
Schlabach: Wake Forest vs. Illinois
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Texas
Schlabach: Miami vs. Kansas State
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Oklahoma vs. Washington
Schlabach: Oklahoma vs. Utah
Friday, Dec. 29
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Miami vs. Florida
Schlabach: NC State vs. Arkansas
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Pitt vs. Cal
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Colorado
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Cincinnati vs. Arkansas
Schlabach: Texas Tech vs. Mississippi State
Saturday, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Maryland vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: Maryland vs. Ole Miss
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m.
Bonagura: Buffalo vs. Boise State
Schlabach: Miami (Ohio) vs. San Jose State
Monday, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Iowa vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach: Clemson vs. Tennessee
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wisconsin vs. LSU
Schlabach: Wisconsin vs. Texas A&M