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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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ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 07: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to pass the ball against the Baylor Bears in the first quarter of the Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

6. Georgia Bulldogs, 91.90

  • Roster Strength: 90.13 (4)
  • Team Performance: 90.79 (6)
  • Head Coach Rating: 88.90 (10)

The Georgia Bulldogs had a chance to play their way into the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years, but lost 37-10 to LSU in the SEC Championship Game to fall to 11-2 overall, and down to No. 5 in the playoff committee rankings. The Georgia defense, which had played at an elite level all year, was exposed for 481 total yards (148 more than its previous worst performance), and the sluggish Bulldogs offense failed to mount a consistent threat, as has been a troubling trend of late.

Injuries and suspensions also hurt. Wide receiver was an area of concern in the preseason, and though Lawrence Cager emerged as the top target for Jake Fromm, an ankle injury likely ended his Georgia career before the regular-season finale. True freshman playmaker George Perkins sat out the first half for the second straight game, and fellow freshman Dominick Blaylock suffered a torn ACL in the loss. Looking ahead to the bowl game, the Dawgs will likely be without offensive line coach Sam Pittman, who was named the head coach at Arkansas Sunday night.

It was a rough way to end an otherwise successful season – much like last year and the one before it.

5. Oklahoma Sooners, 92.94

  • Roster Strength: 89.51 (5)
  • Team Performance: 91.73 (5)
  • Head Coach Rating: 90.41 (8)

The Oklahoma defense came up huge in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game and held Baylor to just 265 total yards of offense, 4.73 yards per play, and just 1.2 yards per rushing attempt in the 30-23 overtime victory. Given the way the defense stood in the way of the Sooners’ national title hopes in recent years, the improvement the unit has shown under first-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch is an excellent sign, and a major reason why OU was able to sneak into the playoff as the No. 4 seed.

But now some talking heads have expressed concerns about the Oklahoma offense, which has slowed down statistically since the Sooners 48-41 loss to Kansas State. Over its final four regular-season games, OU averaged 6.44 yards per play, and Baylor held the Sooners to 5.85 yards per snap. Compared to the early season explosiveness Oklahoma showed by averaging 10.36 yards per play in September and 8.66 in October, it’s understandable.

However, the Sooners still lead the nation in yards per play overall (8.15), quarterback Jalen Hurts averaged 12.0 yards per pass in the Big 12 title game, and coupled with the improved defense, Oklahoma ranks fourth nationally in net yards per play (2.86) – one spot better than LSU.

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