The teams at the top of the college football hierarchy held serve this weekend, although the final scores in wins by Georgia, Washington and USC were a little closer than expected.
Five Top 25 teams took it on the chin, with Utah and LSU both losing tough road matchups, and upstart Duke dropping a heartbreaker to Notre Dame.
How did those games and the rest of the results from Week 5 impact the bowl picture? Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are here to sort it all out, with projections for all 43 matchups, plus their takes on the College Football Playoff picture, teams in danger of slipping out of the bowl picture altogether and the game they'd be most excited to see.
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. Washington
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Texas
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: Michigan vs. Washington
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Washington
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. Texas
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Texas
CFP breakdown
Bonagura: There was no major shakeup to the playoff picture this week as all the contenders added a tally to the win column. As has been the case for several weeks, there's not much to differentiate the teams in the mix. With that understood, Georgia defaults to No. 1 because, despite close wins in both of its SEC games, there isn't a team with a compelling enough résumé to justify dropping the Bulldogs.
Washington was finally held under 40 points in a 31-24 win against Arizona, but the Huskies led by double digits through most of the game, and the outcome was never in doubt. They've been the most consistent performer throughout the season with Michael Penix Jr. leading the nation in passing yards. Oregon, USC and Washington State are also undefeated from the Pac-12, which has six top-20 teams.
Among Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, the Big Ten has three justifiable options that all have a case to be considered at No. 1. We'll stick with the Wolverines -- who still haven't allowed more than seven points in a game -- for at least another week.
The last spot goes to Texas, which edges Florida State and Oklahoma, primarily on the strength of the win over Alabama in Week 2. But with the Red River Rivalry against the Sooners this week, count on the winner locking in a spot in this space next week.
Schlabach: I'm staying with the same four teams for now, although Georgia and Washington had closer-than-expected outcomes on the road this weekend. The Bulldogs won their 22nd straight game, but they were pushed until the end in a 27-20 victory at Auburn. Georgia's offense continues to sputter with a banged-up line and running back corps, although tight end Brock Bowers once again showed why he might be the best non-quarterback in the sport. The Bulldogs have scored a total of 17 points in the first quarter in five games. That has to change with undefeated Kentucky coming to Sanford Stadium on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Michigan's schedule has been nearly as soft as Georgia's to start the season, but at least the Wolverines are taking care of business for the most part. They routed Nebraska 45-7 on the road this week. If Michigan can get past a potentially tricky game at Minnesota on Saturday, it probably won't face another challenge until playing at Penn State on Nov. 11.
Washington beat better-than-you-think Arizona 31-24 on the road. Texas blasted Kansas 40-14 at home. I also considered Florida State, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon and USC for the final two spots.
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: Oklahoma vs. Oregon
Schlabach: Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame
Saturday, Dec. 30
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Alabama vs. Fresno State
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Penn State
Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
4 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Florida State vs. Ohio State
Schlabach: Florida State vs. Ohio State
Monday, Jan. 1
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
1 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: USC vs. Penn State
Schlabach: Oregon vs. Fresno State
Favorite matchups
Bonagura: Give me Oregon State vs. Rutgers in Las Vegas. The Beavers, presumably, will be playing their final game as a Power 5 team this postseason, and what better way to highlight how ridiculous that is than with a game against Rutgers, the poster child for how conference realignment isn't exactly based on merit?
Schlabach: A Michigan-Washington matchup in the Rose Bowl would be a fitting end for the final season of the Pac-12 as we know it. Huskies quarterback Michael Penix leads the FBS with 399.8 yards per game. He is second with 16 passing touchdowns. The Wolverines are one of only two teams in the FBS that allowed just one touchdown pass in its first five games. The teams played in consecutive Rose Bowls at the end of the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
Bowl season
Saturday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Toledo vs. Liberty
Schlabach: Western Michigan vs. Liberty
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. Troy
Schlabach: Louisiana Tech vs. Marshall
Cure Bowl
FBC Mortgage Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UTSA vs. Central Michigan
Schlabach: Appalachian State vs. South Florida
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Army vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: Arizona vs. Wyoming
LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Colorado vs. Air Force
Schlabach: UCLA vs. Air Force
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. Arizona
Schlabach: Baylor vs. Colorado
Monday, Dec. 18
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Appalachian State vs. Utah State
Schlabach: Florida International vs. Georgia State
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: New Mexico State vs. Texas State
Schlabach: Western Kentucky vs. Tulsa
Thursday, Dec. 21
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wake Forest vs. Georgia Southern
Schlabach: Temple vs. Georgia Southern
Friday, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Auburn vs. SMU
Schlabach: Army vs. North Texas
Saturday, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: South Carolina vs. Georgia State
Schlabach: Auburn vs. Tulane
Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Tulsa vs. Cal
Schlabach: Troy vs. Central Michigan
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UCF vs. Georgia Tech
Schlabach: UCF vs. Cal
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Ohio vs. UNLV
Schlabach: Bowling Green vs. Utah State
68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
7 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Louisiana vs. South Florida
Schlabach: Louisiana vs. Toledo
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Rutgers vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Wisconsin vs. Utah
EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
10:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Rice vs. Wyoming
Schlabach: Rice vs. UNLV
Tuesday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: South Alabama vs. Miami (Ohio)
Schlabach: Nebraska vs. Ohio
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Marshall vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: Texas State vs. Texas Tech
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Purdue vs. TCU
Schlabach: Minnesota vs. TCU
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Louisville vs. Memphis
Schlabach: Wake Forest vs. Memphis
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Kentucky
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Florida
Holiday Bowl
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
Bonagura: Miami vs. Utah
Schlabach: Duke vs. Oregon State
TaxAct Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: West Virginia vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: West Virginia vs. LSU
Team in danger of missing postseason
Bonagura: The last time the Cowboys didn't go bowling came in Mike Gundy's first season as head coach in 2005. They sit at 2-2, and ESPN's Football Power Index suggests their projected win total at 4.7, which, of course, even if rounded up would leave the Cowboys home for just the second time in 22 years.
Schlabach: I'm not sure who Arkansas coach Sam Pittman ticked off in the SEC office, but the Hogs' schedule left them no room for error. They lost their third straight game, 34-22 to Texas A&M at Jerry World in Arlington, Texas. Now Arkansas gets to play at Ole Miss and at Alabama in consecutive weeks. The Aggies held the Hogs to only 174 yards of offense and had seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss. It's difficult to find four more victories on Arkansas' schedule.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: NC State vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Boston College vs. SMU
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Syracuse vs. Minnesota
Schlabach: NC State vs. Rutgers
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Notre Dame vs. Kansas
Schlabach: North Carolina vs. Kansas
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Washington State
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. USC
Friday, Dec. 29
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Duke vs. Florida
Schlabach: Clemson vs. Texas A&M
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Clemson vs. UCLA
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Washington State
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: BYU vs. Missouri
Schlabach: BYU vs. Missouri
Saturday, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Iowa vs. Tennessee
Schlabach: Maryland vs. Ole Miss
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m.
Bonagura: Bowling Green vs. Boise State
Schlabach: Miami (Ohio) vs. Boise State
Monday, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Maryland vs. LSU
Schlabach: Miami vs. Kentucky
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wisconsin vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Tennessee