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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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PALO ALTO, CA – NOVEMBER 23: California Golden Bears linebacker Evan Weaver (89) celebrates a defensive stop during the college football game between the California Golden Bears and the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – NOVEMBER 23: California Golden Bears linebacker Evan Weaver (89) celebrates a defensive stop during the college football game between the California Golden Bears and the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

52. Tulane Green Wave, 81.65

  • Roster Strength: 81.94 (67)
  • Team Performance: 81.21 (58)
  • Head Coach Rating: 81.42 (65)

Like several head coaches on this list, Tulane’s Willie Fritz was one of the first names to pop up in regard to openings in the SEC, including Missouri which Fritz reportedly called his “dream job.” However, the Tigers hired Appalachian State’s Eli Drinkwitz, and as the dominoes continue to fall, it appears the Green Wave has a good chance to keep Fritz for at least one more season.

With Fritz on the sidelines in the Armed Forces Bowl against Southern Miss, Tulane hopes to finish the season on a high note after losing three in a row at the end of the year. The Green Wave has lost five of six games in the second half of the season, but Fritz has led the program to back-to-back bowls for the first time since 1979-80 and has a chance to post a winning record in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1997-98.

51. Cal Golden Bears, 81.67

  • Roster Strength: 81.71 (70)
  • Team Performance: 83.37 (39)
  • Head Coach Rating: 82.43 (50)

Cal linebacker Evan Weaver leads the nation with 173 total tackles, including an FBS-high 95 solo stops. Weaver, who ranked second in the country with 158 tackles in 2018, is set to play his final collegiate game in the Redbox Bowl against Illinois.

Weaver won’t be the only member of Cal’s highly-rated defense to leave after the bowl game. Defensive back and explosive return man Ashtyn Davis and fellow secondary starter Jaylinn Hawkins are also set to leave Berkeley. In all, the Golden Bears are expected to lose nine senior contributors from a unit that allowed 385.5 total yards per game during the regular season.

On offense, the biggest loss could be coordinator and play-caller Beau Baldwin, who accepted the head coaching job at FCS Cal Poly.

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