Bowl Game Previews
Bowl season offers many high-profile matchups outside of the College Football Playoff.
The Cottom Bowl features the likes of the top group of five team Tulane and a high-powered offense in USC.
USC recently lost to Utah in the PAC-12 title game and it seems like star quarterback Caleb Williams’ injuries that he suffered during that game may keep him out of the bowl game.
On Tulane’s side, quarterback Michael Pratt has led the Green Wave’s offense to an AAC Championship in which they defeated USF.
In the Rose Bowl, Penn State will take on the PAC-12 champions Utah.
Penn State comes into this game with a lot of expectations as their only two losses are to top four teams and the freshman such as Abdul Carter and Nicholas Singleton have stepped up this season.
Utah has been the only team to solve USC this year and their defense has held opponents to under 25 points in six straight games.
The Citrus Bowl features the once highly touted LSU and Big Ten West Champion Purdue Boilermakers.
LSU was on the brink of making it into the College Football Playoff with two losses but then lost to Texas A&M and Georgia to finish 9-4 on the season as the No. 17 team.
Purdue game Michigan a tough time in the first half and features receiver Charlie Jones on offense, who has 1,361 receiving yards on the season.
In the Sugar Bowl, Alabama will face the Big 12 champion Kanas State in a lopsided game on paper.
Alabama has future NFL draft picks all over the roster and is led by top prospects Bryce Young and Will Anderson on each side of the ball.
Kansas State has continued to thrive even after the injury to quarterback Adrian Martinez with junior Will Howard taking over and having a 15/2 touchdown to interception ratio.
Tennessee will play Clemson in the Orange Bowl which features top ten teams who also have orange as the main color of their uniform.
Tennessee will be without star quarterback Hendon Hooker but will still have breakout receiver Jalin Hyatt catching passes in the game.
With DJ Uiagalelei entering the transfer portal, Cade Klubnik will be in charge of Clemson’s offense, and they will get a look at the next three years at quarterback.
The Gator Bowl will feature another ranked matchup in Notre Dame and South Carolina.
Notre Dame’s starting quarterback Drew Pyne entered the transfer portal, and this game is potentially the last college game for projected top tight end prospect Michael Mayer.
South Carolina is one of the hottest teams in the country after beating Tennessee and Clemson in back-to-back weeks.
The Alamo Bowl has been one of the bowls that has produced many good games in years past and will feature Texas and Washington.
Texas is favored to win, and the offense will be led by star running back Bijan Robinson and quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Washington will try to get 11 wins this season after a four-win season the year before.
Michael Penix Jr. has been one of the most explosive players this season alongside two 1,000-yard receivers in Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan.
James Morrison is a junior majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email jpm6920@psu.edu.
