Bowl game watchability: 1 reason to watch every 2019-2020 bowl game

Think there are too many bowl games? Try again. Here’s one reason why you should watch all 39 of the bowl games this year and enjoy bowl season in all its glory.

So you say college football bowl season isn’t what it used to be.

The College Football Playoff has eaten into the prestige of a bunch of the games, you point out, rendering all but a few games meaningless. There are too many bowls too, you add, rewarding 6-6 teams and — gasp — occasionally the odd 5-7 squad as well. Plenty of seats are empty at the stadiums hosting the games, suggesting that not that many people care to travel to the, say, Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.

As the great philosopher Han Solo once said, “It’s true … all of it.”

Yet there’s still something great about the time between mid-December and early January as it serves up wall-to-wall college football and lets us say goodbye in a way no other sport really does. It’s a chance to see every even half-decent team one more time (some of which you might not have had time to watch during the regular season), take mental notes on a ton of pro prospects, and close out the year with so much pigskin that you’re really ready for it to all be over when the National Championship game arrives.

Indeed, there’s a reason to watch every one of the … (checks notes) … 41 games? OK, this might be a little tricky, but challenge accepted.

Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs. Charlotte – Dec. 20

Ledarius Mack, younger brother of a guy on the Chicago Bears you might know named Khalil, plies his trade for the Buffalo Bulls, looking to add to his seven sacks on the season.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl: Utah State vs. Kent State – Dec. 20

Utah State quarterback Jordan Love is off to the NFL and could be of interest if you’re a fan of a team with an aging signal-caller.

Celebration Bowl: Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T – Dec. 21

The brother of the late former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair, Fred, coaches Alcorn State (where Steve also played in college) in this rare rematch of a 2018 bowl won by A&T.

New Mexico Bowl: Central Michigan vs. San Diego State – Dec. 21

You may have lost track of Jim McElwain, but you’ll find him here after his first season as head coach at Central Michigan led to the Chippewas winning the MAC West — after the media picked them to finish sixth.

Cure Bowl: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern – Dec. 21

And you can continue playing the “so that’s where that guy is now” game here, as former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze has helped Liberty reach a bowl game for the first time.

Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl: SMU vs. Florida Atlantic – Dec. 21

Alas, the Lane Train has left the station, but FAU interim coach Glenn Spencer can make his case for the permanent job if the Owls can get by an SMU squad that was really fun to watch this season.

Camellia Bowl: Florida International vs. Arkansas State – Dec. 21

This one is nearly guaranteed to be a tight game: Since the Camellia Bowl was revived in 2014, it has never been decided by more than five points.

Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington – Dec. 21

Arguably the best storyline in any non-playoff bowl game is here, as retiring Washington coach Chris Petersen leads his team to face the school where he first rocketed to prominence.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Appalachian State vs. UAB – Dec. 21

We’ll see if UAB fares better against Appalachian State than Middle Tennessee did in this bowl last year when the Mountaineers spanked them 45-13.

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs. Marshall – Dec. 23

Will the Knights even care about this game when they’re accustomed to playing in a New Year’s Six bowl?

SoFi Hawai’i Bowl: Hawai’i vs. BYU – Dec. 24

It kind of stinks BYU has to play on Christmas Eve, but it’s in Hawai’i so it’s hard to feel too bad for the Cougars and this game will make the perfect backdrop for listening to “Mele Kalikimaka.”

Walk-On’s Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami (Fla.) – Dec. 26

If you’re the type who enjoys seeing semi-beaten down traditional college football powers get their comeuppance from less prestigious programs, this could be your first chance to get a taste of that this bowl season.

Quick Lane Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Eastern Michigan – Dec. 26

On the other hand, it seems just to cheer on the Panthers here as they travel to Michigan to play Eastern Michigan.

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman: North Carolina vs. Temple – Dec. 27

Temple has never won the Military Bowl, going 0-2 here over the years, and will try to break through against a UNC team that had a penchant for high drama this season (albeit usually in losing efforts).

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Michigan State vs. Wake Forest – Dec. 27

Sparty was, uh, pretty bad this year by its own standards, but will have to defend the honor of the Big Ten here as the conference rep has won this bowl three straight years.

Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M – Dec. 27

It could be your last chance to see your favorite Canadian running back, Chuba Hubbard, tote the pigskin if he decides to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft, and he should pass the 2,000-yard mark here regardless.

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl: USC vs. Iowa – Dec. 27

USC will try to snap a four-game losing streak for Pac-12 teams in the Holiday Bowl in a game that presents an interesting strength vs. strength matchup between the Trojans’ aerial attack and the Hawkeyes’ stout pass defense.

Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force vs. Washington State – Dec. 27

Surely you remember last year’s turnover-plagued debacle turned social media sensation, so it’ll be fun to see what these two teams can give us as an encore.

Camping World Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Iowa State – Dec. 28

The Fighting Irish might have something like the offense they thought they’d have all year healthy for this game but will have to shake off the potential malaise that comes with playing in, you know, the Camping World Bowl.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Memphis vs. Penn State – Dec. 28

In terms of potential fireworks, this game rates pretty high with two very capable passing attacks, and there is the David vs. Goliath narrative at play as well for Memphis.

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Oklahoma vs. LSU – Dec. 28

Joe Burrow vs. Jalen Hurts in a battle of two Heisman finalists — ‘nuff said.

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State – Dec. 28

Very rarely do coaches of undefeated Power 5 conference champs get to play the disrespect card as motivation, but Dabo Swinney can here, and it should add to what already looks like the juiciest of matchups.

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan – Dec. 30

Clearly, we need to see which state’s Western region reigns supreme.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Louisville – Dec. 30

Assuming the Cardinals are still fuming about getting run over by their in-state rivals Kentucky, they have a chance to take it out on another SEC team right away.

Redbox Bowl: California vs. Illinois – Dec. 30

It’s Lovie SZN, so that’s reason enough to watch despite the temptation to boycott since Redbox stopped renting video games.

Capital One Orange Bowl: Florida vs. Virginia – Dec. 30

Virginia’s “reward” for winning its division and getting stomped by Clemson is probably getting smacked around here too, but it’s a New Year’s Six bowl so you should tune in.

Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky – Dec. 31

It’s the final Belk Bowl and so the end of an era, kind of, and Virginia Tech is aiming to finish it off with a fourth straight ACC victory.

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Florida State vs. Arizona State – Dec. 31

So many reasons to watch: The Tony the Tiger jokes you know are coming on social media, Herm Edwards being Herm Edwards, Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and Florida State making a potential first step back toward national relevance before incoming coach Mike Norvell fully takes over.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Kansas State – Dec. 31

Fans of the running game, this one’s for you — these teams combined for nearly 550 yards on the ground this season.

NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Wyoming vs. Georgia State – Dec. 31

This has low-key been one of the more exciting second tier (third-tier?) bowls of recent vintage, with the last two both going to OT.

Valero Alamo Bowl: Utah vs. Texas – Dec. 31

Despite the hope that Texas would be “back” by now, it clearly isn’t, though a victory here would be quite welcome, not to mention within reach if Utah is still bummed about throwing away its chance at the College Football Playoff.

Vrbo Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Alabama – Jan. 1

Speaking of teams that could use a bowl victory to validate a season, Michigan beating Alabama would be pretty sweet for the Wolverines and could be aided by members of the Crimson Tide headed for the draft electing not to play.

Outback Bowl: Minnesota vs. Auburn – Jan. 1

If Michigan does pull off a win and Minnesota does the same here, that’s a pretty huge day for the Big Ten, no?

Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual: Oregon vs. Wisconsin – Jan. 1

Two big-name players with definite NFL futures, Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor, are the obvious draws in this one.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Baylor – Jan. 1

This figures to be another game that could come down to who’s more motivated, as both teams could have made the College Football Playoff if they had won their conference championship games.

TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl: Boston College vs. Cincinnati – Jan. 2

AJ Dillon is arguably the most anonymous running back in recent memory to average 1,400-plus yards and 13 touchdowns a season over three years at a Power Five school, so tune in for him if nothing else.

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Indiana vs. Tennessee – Jan. 2

Both teams have good offenses when they aren’t playing elite competition, so this could be an entertaining shootout.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Nevada – Jan. 3

Have some fun with your not-in-the-know friends by turning on this game and telling them there’s something wrong with their TV as they stare at the blue turf.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs. Tulane – Jan. 4

Watch for the curiosity of no service academies in the Armed Forces Bowl (which has happened only twice in the last 12 years) and to see if either of these teams can match the 70 points Navy put up on Houston in the previous edition.

LendingTree Bowl: Louisiana vs. Miami (Ohio) – Jan. 6

I mean, you’ve made it this far, why quit when the finish line is in sight?

College Football Playoff National Championship: Teams TBD – Jan. 13

Congrats, you made it! Don’t forget to see who wins the national championship, then reward yourself by taking some time off from college football until next fall. You’ve earned it.

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