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10 college football teams riding wave of momentum into 2020 after bowl games

By Jordan Alexis

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Oregon (34) Jordon Scott (DT) celerbates after the Rose Bowl game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Oregon Ducks on January 1, 2020 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Oregon (34) Jordon Scott (DT) celerbates after the Rose Bowl game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Oregon Ducks on January 1, 2020 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 28: Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) leads his team onto the field for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl between the Memphis Tigers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 28, 2019, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Bunch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 28: Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) leads his team onto the field for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl between the Memphis Tigers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 28, 2019, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Bunch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

These 10 college football teams will have a lot of momentum heading into the 2020 season after picking up a big win in their bowl game.

As bowl season comes to an end, it is time to start looking towards the 2020 season and see who is prepared to take that next step. Whether it is going from average to good or good to great unless you’re Clemson and LSU in the national championship, you have room to improve.

And an excellent way to take the next step in 2020 is by finishing off 2019 on the right foot. Bowl game wins don’t always translate to success the following season (ask Texas), but it certainly gives your team life going into the offseason.

For example, a team like Kent State won its first bowl game in program history this past season, beating Utah State 51-41. After going 2-10 in 2018, then getting to 6-6 this year and winning a bowl has them on a trajectory to take an even more significant step in 2020.

Now, as we’ve said, that “next step” is different for every program, but here are 10 teams who could use their bowl victories as a springboard in 2020.

10. North Carolina

Mack Brown’s first year back in college football didn’t disappoint as North Carolina fans were treated to one of the most entertaining seasons in the program’s history. Nine of their thirteen games were decided by one score or less, including a nail-biter against Clemson, so this team was battle-tested.

The Tar Heels capped off their season with an impressive 55-13 beatdown of Temple in the Military Bowl, and with such a young team, they could take a big step in 2020. It starts with their quarterback Sam Howell who had an awe-inspiring freshman season that isn’t getting the national attention it deserves. Howell finished with over 3,600 passing yards and 38 touchdowns to only seven interceptions, so the thought of him improving is scary for opponents.

North Carolina could return 10 of their 11 starters on offense, which may have them second only to Clemson on that side of the ball in the ACC. And with the revolving door that is the Coastal division, there is no reason to think the Tar Heels can’t make a run the conference title game. Even though they have two very tough out of conference games to start the season at UCF and verse Auburn, they avoid Clemson in ACC play. If they progress as we think, UNC can hang and beat anyone else in the conference.

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