The college football landscape witnessed Rivalry Week filled with drama, amazing plays, and fantastic finishes. However, the much-anticipated week didn’t bring seismic results that would shake up the bowl picture significantly. While only three top 25 teams lost, including No. 10 Louisville to unranked Kentucky, No. 16 Oregon State to No. 6 Oregon, and No. 19 Kansas State to unranked Iowa State, the bowl picture remains relatively stable.
Despite teams reaching the six-win mark for bowl eligibility, there were still slots to fill, opening the door for James Madison and Jacksonville State, who are transitioning to full FBS membership.
Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach weighed in on the Week 13 results, analyzing their implications for the entire bowl picture. They presented their projections for all 43 games and offered their insights on the CFP picture, the most exciting games to watch, and the unexpected bowl matchups that arose during the season.
The Florida State victory over Florida on Saturday also played a significant role in shaping the New Year’s Six bowl landscape. The outcome potentially impacted the chances of Oklahoma, Missouri, Ole Miss, or Penn State for a spot in these prestigious bowls. With the Rose and Sugar bowls serving as College Football Playoff semifinals this season, the Orange Bowl is the only New Year’s Six bowl with a contractual stipulation to take a team from a specific conference.
The Orange Bowl could feature the ACC champion or the highest-ranked ACC team not playing in the CFP. The recent victory by Florida State over Florida has potentially secured their spot in the CFP, especially with a win in the upcoming ACC title game. As a result, the highest-ranked ACC team, potentially Louisville at 10-3, would claim the Orange Bowl slot.
In conclusion, while Rivalry Week didn’t produce groundbreaking upsets, it proved pivotal in shaping the bowl picture and the selection of teams for the New Year’s Six bowls. The close games and unpredictable outcomes have set the stage for the upcoming bowl games, adding excitement and anticipation to the college football postseason.
