A reason to watch every college football bowl game

FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2017, file photo, Clemson's Deshaun Watson celebrates a last second touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow in the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama in Tampa, Fla. The Palmetto State is sitting atop the college sports landscape when it comes to yearlong success. Clemson won the national football title in January while Coastal Carolina won the College World Series last summer. Now, both the South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball teams are in the Final Four this weekend looking to bring more championships to the state. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) — I hear you, laughing dismissively through your screen. You’re saying, “there’s not a reason to watch every bowl game.” Don’t get me wrong — I wouldn’t begrudge even a big time college football fan for not wanting to sit through all of them. But there are plenty of good games in this year’s slate and compelling reasons to tune in. So come along for the ride — you might learn something. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Grambling's senior quarterback Devante Kincade (1) sets to pass during practice, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium in Grambling, La. Kincade, who played two seasons at Ole Miss, says playing football at a Historically Black College or University is an experience to savor. Playing at an HBCU is not just about entertaining halftime shows the schools are known for, it's about community. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) — Saturday, Dec. 16 Celebration Bowl Grambling vs. North Carolina A&T, noon (ABC) For fans of the less appreciated tier of college football, the lone FCS bowl game pits a pair of 11-win clubs, including a North Carolina A&T squad aiming for a perfect season. If you’re a Howard fan, you can get a good sneak preview of an Aggies squad that will stand between the Bison and a MEAC title next year. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 30: Members of the Troy Trojans react after an interception against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) — Saturday, Dec. 16 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Troy vs. North Texas, 1 p.m. (ESPN) Troy pulled one of the year’s biggest upsets, taking down LSU on the road in Death Valley. It was no fluke, either — the Trojans led the Tigers 24-7 with eight minutes to play. Keep your eye on freshman DB/kick returner Marcus Jones, who has two picks (including a pick-six) and taken three returns to the house. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Western Kentucky mascot Big Red leads the team out on the field before the Conference USA championship NCAA college football game against Louisiana Tech, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, at L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Noble Jr.) — Saturday, Dec. 16 AutoNation Cure Bowl Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State, 2:30 p.m. (CBSSN) It’s hard to make a good football case to care about a game between two 6-win teams you probably don’t follow. But don’t tell the people competing in the Cure Bowl that nobody cares. I’ll let this SB Nation story from the 2015 game speak for itself. (AP Photo/Michael Noble Jr.)

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks throws during practice prior to their game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) — Saturday, Dec. 16 Las Vegas Bowl No. 25 Boise State vs. Oregon, 3:30 p.m. (ABC) We’ve got a ranked team on opening day of the bowl season! And Boise State may not even be the best team in this game. Oregon started hot, but saw a promising season derailed when quarterback Justin Herbert went down with an injury, losing four-of-five without him. But the Ducks have won two blowouts since his return and are 6-1 overall with Herbert at the helm. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)

While guarded by Hawaii defensive backs Trayvon Henderson (39) and Daniel Lewis Jr. (4), Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup (4) tries to leap into the end zone but stepped out of bounds during the second quarter of the NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) — Saturday, Dec. 16 GILDAN New Mexico Bowl Marshall vs. Colorado State, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) Both these schools were on track for bigger bowls before stumbling down the stretch, as the Herd started 6-1 and the Rams 6-2. Just because each team stumbled doesn’t mean there isn’t talent worth keeping an eye on, particularly Colorado State wideout Michael Gallup. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Saturday, Dec. 16 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl Middle Tennessee vs. Arkansas State, 8 p.m. (ESPN) You may have missed the best college football trash-talking this season. Blake Anderson, Arkansas State’s head coach, took advantage of the fact that his Red Wolves had a much better year than their better-known in-state rivals, who fell shy of bowl eligibility. Now we’ll see if he can back it up with a bowl win. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

BOCA RATON, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Lane Kiffin of the Florida Atlantic Owls watches the players warm up prior to the game against the Florida International Golden Panthers at FAU Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) — Tuesday, Dec. 19 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl Akron vs. Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m. (ESPN) If a three-day break from college football isn’t enough to whet your appetite, can I interest you some, um, Cheribundi Tart Cherry? This year’s strangest bowl title sponsor delivers us a wonderful hate-watch opportunity, with Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic team favored by better than three touchdowns in a virtual home bowl game. Sure, FAU will probably win. But what if they don’t? (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

New SMU head football coach Sonny Dykes, center, holds up a jersey with university president Gerald Turner, left, and athletic director Rick Hart after Dykes' introduction in Dallas, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. SMU hired the former California and Louisiana Tech coach as its new coach, replacing one Texan with reputation for directing potent offenses for another. Dykes will replace Chad Morris, who left SMU last week to become Arkansas' coach.(AP Photo/LM Otero) — Wednesday, Dec. 20 DXL Frisco Bowl Louisiana Tech vs. SMU, 8 p.m. (ESPN) For those with poor geographical knowledge of the American Southwest, Frisco is not, in fact, short for San Francisco, but rather a north Dallas suburb, so the participants in this game actually make a lot of sense. With Chad Morris bolting for Arkansas, this will be a first glance at how new head coach Sonny Dykes will fare for the Mustangs. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Temple's Ryquell Armstead (7) in action against Central Florida during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Philadelphia. UCF defeated Temple 45-19. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) — Thursday, Dec. 21 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl Temple vs. Florida International, 8 p.m. (ESPN) Ten years from now, you’ll be able to ask people who won this game and literally nobody will believe anything with this name was ever played. The fact that it’s happening indoors, at The Trop, will only add to the bizarre ambiance in future highlight reels. I expect — no, I demand — a weird game. Anything else would be a letdown. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

HADLEY, MA - SEPTEMBER 30: Nathan Rourke #12 of the Ohio Bobcats celebrates with Joe Lowery #65 after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Hadley, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) — Friday, Dec. 22 Bahamas Bowl UAB vs. Ohio, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) Let’s talk about the MAC for a second. The Mid-American Conference doesn’t get a lot of shine, but it’s got some decent squads from the snowy Midwest, two of which play this same day. My question is this: How does Ohio (8-4, 5-3) get the draw to play in The Bahamas, while poor, poor Central Michigan (8-4, 6-2) below gets stuck going to Idaho? (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boise State in Boise, Idaho, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger) — Friday, Dec. 22 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Central Michigan vs. Wyoming, 4 p.m. (ESPN) If you’re an NFL Draft hound, then you already know about Josh Allen. The Wyoming signal-caller will be one of the first off the board in 2018, if he declares, especially after the breakout performance by another small school success Carson Wentz (prior to his ACL tear). He hasn’t been great on the national stage in a couple games against Power 5 schools this year, but will have another chance to shine on national TV. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)

Saturday, Dec. 23 Birmingham Bowl Texas Tech vs. South Florida, Noon (ESPN) South Florida had designs on a New Year’s Day bowl for much of the season, but had those dreams derailed by a pair of one-possession losses. Nevertheless, this is star quarterback Quinton Flowers’ chance to prove the Bulls are for real against a Power 5 foe. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

AP Photo/Chris O’Meara

Army's Ahmad Bradshaw, center, during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Navy, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) — Saturday, Dec. 23 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl San Diego State vs. Army, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) Do you wish all this forward passing would just go away and teams would go back to trying to just slam the ball down the other team’s throat? Here’s your game. San Diego State has run for better than 3,000 yards and passed for fewer than 2,000, and they look like an Air Raid offense compared to Army. The Black Knights have run the ball 698 times against just 61 passing attempts all year. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Saturday, Dec. 23 Dollar General Bowl Appalachian State vs. Toledo, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Toledo is the most exciting team you’ve never heard of. They got blown out at Miami, but still hung 30 points on the Canes, something only Clemson accomplished this year. They’ve scored 509 points, posting 37 or more eight times on their way to an 11-2 record. This should be a fun, high-scoring affair. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

AP Photo/Jose Juarez

ANNAPOLIS, MD - OCTOBER 08: Ed Oliver #10 of Houston Cougars puts a hit on Will Worth #15 of the Navy Midshipmen in the second period during a football game at Navy-Marines Memorial Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) — Sunday, Dec. 24 Hawai’i Bowl Fresno State vs. Houston, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Your Christmas Eve game pits a pair of solid mid-majors that may have flown under your radar. Fresno State has allowed more than 21 points just once in its last 10 games, while Houston has collected some impressive wins (at Arizona, at Temple, at South Florida) along with a couple near-misses (vs. Texas Tech, vs. Memphis). Tune in to see one of the best defensive players in the country, Houston DT Ed Oliver, before he’s playing on Sundays in 2019. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Texas defensive back Brandon Jones (19) tackles West Virginia quarterback Will Grier (7) short of the goal line during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Morgantown, W.Va. Grier injured his hand in during the play and left the game. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson) — Tuesday, Dec. 26 Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl Utah vs. West Virginia, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN) This matchup looked a lot better on paper a couple months ago. Utah jumped out to a 4-0 start before meteoring back to Earth, while West Virginia looked like a potential Big 12 title threat until Will Grier’s finger went rogue. Grier is expected back for this game, though, and if he’s healthy, he alone is worth tuning in to watch. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)

Northern Illinois quarterback Marcus Childers scores a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against San Diego State Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) — Tuesday, Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl Duke vs. Northern Illinois, 5:15 p.m. (ESPN) Detroit’s a tough place to travel to for a late-December bowl game, but thankfully this one will be played indoors, both for the players’ sake and the over-under. While the Blue Devils had to shake a six-game losing streak to sneak into bowl eligibility, Northern Illinois is the intriguing team here, the only ones in conference to beat MAC champ Toledo, who also won in Lincoln and had hard-fought losses to Boston College and San Diego State. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins passes the ball during the second half of a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) — Tuesday, Dec. 26 Cactus Bowl Kansas State vs. UCLA, 9 p.m. (ESPN) Neither of these squads lived up to expectations (K State was No. 20 in the preseason AP poll), but both pulled off memorable wins, with UCLA’s roaring Week 1 comeback over Texas A&M and the Wildcats’ shocker of No. 13 Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Can Bruins QB Josh Rosen rebuild his draft stock, or will the wily Bill Snyder have the right game plan to shut UCLA down? (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2017, file photo, Willie Taggart gestures as he is introduced as Florida State's new football coach during an NCAA college football news conference in Tallahassee, Fla. A potential new tax on seven-figure salaries for employees of non-profits hasn’t deterred schools from doling out huge contracts to new coaches. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File) — Wednesday, Dec. 27 Walk-On’s Independence Bowl Southern Miss vs. Florida State, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN) Sadly, this will not be a competition comprised entirely of walk-ons, which is something that I would absolutely watch (when this becomes a reality, please send my royalty check via WTOP). And despite a thoroughly mediocre year, Florida State is a huge favorite. Can new head coach Willie Taggart implement his new scheme in time to pay immediate dividends and give the Seminoles hope for the future? (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File)

Iowa fans wave to children in the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital at the end of the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against North Texas, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) — Wednesday, Dec. 27 New Era Pinstripe Bowl Iowa vs. Boston College, 5:15 p.m. (ESPN) Unfortunately, this game won’t include the best part of Iowa’s football tradition, The Wave. But it will still feature the Hawkeyes, who nearly beat Penn State, then blew out Ohio State to shake up the College Football Playoff picture. They’ll take on a quietly rising BC squad that won five-of-six to close the season, in what promises to be a well-played game out in the cold at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Wednesday, Dec. 27 Foster Farms Bowl Arizona vs. Purdue, 8:30 p.m. (FOX) Khalil Tate. That’s your reason. It’s Khalil Tate. Watch because of Khalil Tate. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)