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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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JONESBORO, AR – NOVEMBER 23: Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Layne Hatcher (3) looks for a receiver in the game between the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Georgia Southern Eagles on November 23, 2019, at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas. (Photo by John Bunch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
JONESBORO, AR – NOVEMBER 23: Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Layne Hatcher (3) looks for a receiver in the game between the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Georgia Southern Eagles on November 23, 2019, at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas. (Photo by John Bunch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

70. Arkansas State Red Wolves, 79.29

  • Roster Strength: 78.63 (104)
  • Team Performance: 78.52 (83)
  • Head Coach Rating: 79.93 (85)

College football teams all across the country had their ups and downs, but Arkansas State was forced to ride one of the most difficult roller coasters of any program. First and foremost, head coach Blake Anderson lost his wife Wendy following a long bout with cancer. Anderson missed the season opener against SMU but made a surprise return the following week as the Red Wolves blew out UNLV on the road. A-State lost 55-0 to Georgia, but the Bulldogs hosted a pink-out to support the Andersons.

On the field, the Red Wolves suffered significant injuries, including season-enders to starting quarterback Logan Bonner and several defenders. But Alabama transfer quarterback Layne Hatcher stepped in without missing a beat, and receivers Omar Bayless (who recorded an eye-popping 1,473 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 84 receptions), Kirk Merritt (who like Bayless was named to the All-Sun Belt first team) and Jonathan Adams, Jr. emerged as one of the best trios in the nation.

69. Eastern Michigan Eagles, 79.37

  • Roster Strength: 78.17 (106)
  • Team Performance: 77.80 (91)
  • Head Coach Rating: 83.72 (42)

Eastern Michigan has emerged as a perennial pain in the rear-end to Big Ten and MAC opponents, alike. The Eagles beat Illinois 34-31, which marked the third straight win over opponents from the Big Ten and proved to be the deciding victory for the 6-6 Eagles quest for bowl eligibility.

Or maybe, it was the miraculous come-from-behind win over FCS opponent Central Connecticut in the next game. Either way, Eastern Michigan finished 6-6 and edged out MAC rival Toledo (which beat the Eagles 37-34) for a spot in the Quick Lane Bowl against Pitt.

It’s the second consecutive bowl game for EMU, and third in the last four seasons, under head coach Chris Creighton.

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