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College football bowl games: Ranking every 2019-2020 bowl team

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Ohio Bobcats quarterback Nathan Rourke (12) carries the ballduring the game against the Ohio Bobcats and the Cincinnati Bearcats on September 22 2018, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

54. Ohio Bobcats, 81.14

  • Roster Strength: 77.86 (111)
  • Team Performance: 77.93 (88)
  • Head Coach Rating: 86.13 (20)

If you’ve paid any attention to mid-week #MACtion over the last four years, you’re probably already familiar with Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke. The senior completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 2,676 yards and 20 touchdowns while throwing just five interceptions this year, and he added 780 rushing yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns on the ground. In three seasons with the Bobcats, Rourke has been involved in 108 touchdowns.

Ohio also has the benefit of head coach Frank Solich, whose track record of success doing more with less (or more specifically, posting Team Performance ratings well above his squad’s Roster Strength year after year) gives him the highest Head Coach rating in the MAC and a Top 20 rating nationally.

Ohio may be only 6-6 this season, but with Rourke and Solich, the Bobcats are more than capable of beating Nevada in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

53. UAB Blazers, 81.88

  • Roster Strength: 78.14 (107)
  • Team Performance: 81.13 (59)
  • Head Coach Rating: 85.64 (25)

UAB head coach Bill Clark has built and rebuilt the Blazers into one of the premier programs in Conference USA. Despite fielding one of the least experienced teams in the country in 2019, Clark led his squad to nine wins and a second straight Conference USA West Division title and his defense ranked in the Top 10 nationally for the second straight year. Though the Blazers were drubbed 49-6 by FAU in the title game, a win over Appalachian State in the New Orleans Bowl is within reach.

Clark’s squad has been hit hard by injuries this season. Quarterback Tyler Johnston III missed three games and hasn’t started since Nov. 2. Running back Spencer Brown was also sidelined for three games and played sparingly in three others before returning to the top of the depth chart Nov. 23. Brown’s top backup and the Blazers’ second-leading rusher Jermaine Brown, Jr. missed the North Texas game Nov. 30. Fortunately, all three should be healthy and in action against the Mountaineers.

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