Image Courtesy: Sporting News
*Below each game is a list of each New Year’s six team’s transfers that are headed to other schools*
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
9.Missouri (10-2) vs. 7.Ohio State (11-1)
December 29, 8 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN App
Missouri transfers: QB Gabarri Johnson, LB DJ Wesolak, LB Dameon Wilson, OL EJ N’Doma-Ogar, TE Max Whisner, QB Dylan Laible, LB Xavier Simmons, LB Carmycah Glass, QB Brett Brown, WR Demaryion Houston, OL Ma’Kyi Lee, S Tyler Hibber, OL Valen Erickson
Ohio State transfers: WR Julian Fleming, QB Kyle McCord, LB Reid Carrico, S Kyle Stokes, DE Omari Abor, S Cam Martinez, OT Vic Cutler, RB Evan Pryor, CB Ryan Turner, K Parker Lewis, CB Jyaire Brown, OC Jakob James, RB Chip Trayanum, TE Joe Royer
Ohio State was hit hard by players entering the transfer portal since their third consecutive loss against Michigan. Starting QB Kyle McCord and former five-star wide receiver Julian Fleming will hurt as the Buckeyes have to face a tough Missouri defense that has performed well most of the year. For the Missouri offense, signal caller Brady Cook has shined in head coach Eliah Drinkwitz’s offense, creating big plays to receivers Luther Burden, Theo Wease Jr., and and Mookie Cooper. The Tigers’ record of 10-2 is the best mark they have had since winning the SEC East in back to back years their first two years in the league. The SEC’s leading rusher also resides in Columbia. Cody Shrader rushed for almost 1500 yards and 13 TDs in his first regular season as a major D1 football player. He will be a lot to handle for the Buckeyes defense, who is led by talented senior linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. In the final season of divisions in the SEC, Missouri finished as the runners up to Georgia. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day confirmed Devin Brown will replace Kyle McCord as the starting quarterback against Missouri. After McCord beat Brown out for the starting job early on in the season, he has not played a meaningful snap. It will be helpful for Ohio State’s offense if receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is expected to be drafted in the top three in April’s NFL Draft, decides to play in Dallas. The result of this season’s Cotton Bowl will be dependent Ohio State’s playmakers, including tailback TreVeyon Henderson, receiver Emeka Egbuka, and tight end Cade Stover making it easier for Devin Brown. If not, Missouri will be able to control this game with Cody Shrader’s tough running game. Projected Score: Missouri 35, Ohio State 27
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
11.Ole Miss (10-2) vs. 10.Penn State (10-2)
December 30, 12 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN App
Ole Miss transfers: WR Larry Simmons, WR Jeremiah Dillon, WR JJ Henry, WR Bralon Brown, OL Cedric Melton, LB Reginald Hughes, DB Demarko Williams, TE Kyirin Heath, K Caden Costa, WR Rayf Vinson,
Penn State transfers: P Alex Bacchetta, WR Cristian Driver
Two 10-2 teams come into Atlanta for this season’s Peach Bowl. Ole Miss’ second ten win season in three years while Penn State continues to finish third in the Big Ten East under Michigan and Ohio State under head coach James Franklin. Lane Kiffin’s team has a ton of momentum in the transfer portal but on the field, they are hard to stop. The strength of the Rebels is Kiffin’s offense while Nittany Lion defensive coordinator Manny Diaz’s unit has caused problems for their opponents all season. Theirdefense, led by linebacker Kobe King and safety Kevin Winston Jr., will have their toughest test of the season against the Rebels offense, led by the terrific backfield duo of quarterback Jaxson Dart and tailback Quinshon Judkins. If Winston Jr. and the rest of the secondary let Dart get the ball to his talented receivers, Tre Harris and Dayton Wade, it will be tough for the Penn State defense to help their offense win this game. On offense for the Nittany Lions is quarterback Drew Allar, has avoided turnovers, but his offense has not been able to score consistently against Big Ten defenses. It will be up to running back Kaytron Allen and receiver Keandre Lambert Smith will look to score often against an Ole Miss defense that has been up and down this season. In his first season as defensive coordinator, Pete Golding has definitely improved that side of the ball for the Rebels, but he must trust defensive leaders Trey Washington and Ashanti Cistrunk to make big plays against the Allar led offense. Projected Score: Ole Miss 38, Penn State 27
Capital One Orange Bowl
5.Florida State (13-0) vs. 6.Georgia (12-1)
December 30, 4 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN App
Florida State transfers: WR Winston Wright, OT Colin King, QB AJ Duffy, TE Markeston Douglas, TE Preston Daniel, RB CJ Campbell, LB Dylan Brown-Turner, OL Qae’Shon Sapp, OL Daughtry Richardson, DL Ayobami Tifase, DE Patrick Payton, OT Bless Harris, OG Thomas Shrader, K Tyler Keltner, DL Malcolm Ray, DL Dylan Brown, DB Dwayne Wells Jr., LB DJ Lundy, RB Rodney Hill
Georgia transfers: QB Brock Vandagriff, CB Smoke Bouie, DL Jonathan Jefferson, OT Austin Blaske, DE CJ Madden, LB Darris Smith, WR Jackson Meek, QB Tate Rodemaker
Florida State believed they should have gotten into this season’s College Football Playoff. Before this season, no undefeated Power Five conference champion had ever been left out of the playoff. But, the selection committee believed the Seminoles looked like “a different team” during two tough performances for the Seminoles’ offense against Florida and Louisville without star quarterback Jordan Travis due to injury. As a result, running back Trey Benson, receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, tight end Jaheim Bell, defensive linemen Jared Verse and Fabien Lovett have opted out of the Orange Bowl for the 2024 NFL Draft. Many of those players have to believe if the first thirteen wins of their season don’t matter, a potential fourteen win would not matter either. Georgia, on the other hand, was the selection committee’s number one team since their second ranking reveal, but Alabama upended them in the SEC Championship. The loss ended the Bulldogs 29-game winning streak. Will they be up for what could be a meaningless bowl game for them? In an interview, Kirby Smart says his team will definitely be up for the game. Backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker, who did not play the ACC Championship against Louisville due to injury, is expected to enter transfer portal. Without much offensive experience or firepower for the Seminoles, it will be a tough challenge to beat the reigning back to back national champions. Third string quarterback Brock Glenn must rely on playmakers not sitting the game out, including tight end Kyle Morlock and receiver Ja’Khi Douglas to advance the ball down the field in this one. FSU had one of the best defenses this season. The Seminoles still have leading tacklers Tatum Bethune and Kalen DeLoach to rely on against the Carson Beck led Georgia offense. Beck’s favorite target Brock Bowers is undecided on whether he will play in this game but if he does, his offense will be able to drive down the field more easily on the Seminoles’ defense. If Bowers and Ladd McConkey, who has been injured on and off this season, are not able to go, it will be up to tailback Daijun Edwards and fellow receiving targets Dominic Lovett and Marcus Rosemy-Jackson to win this pivotal game as both teams go into the off-season. Projected Score: Georgia 38, Florida State 17
VRBO Fiesta Bowl
8.Oregon (11-2) vs. 23.Liberty (13-0)
January 1, 1 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN App
Oregon transfers: WR Ashton Cozart, S Bryan Addison, WR Kris Hutson, CB Daymon David, WR Josh Delgado, CB Trikweze Bridges, DL Tevita Pome’e, QB Ty Thompson, RB Dante Dowdell
Liberty transfers: CB Preston Hodge, DT Kendy Charles, S Jaylon Jimmerson, LB Jordan Norwood, DE Bryan Whitewood, DT Tysheik Galloway, DE Amari Williams, QB Johnathan Bennett, LB Aakil Washington
Oregon missed out on this season’s College Football Playoff after losing to Washington during the regular season and the Pac-12 Championship. On the other hand, Liberty went undefeated in their first season in Conference USA. And, despite their weak strength of schedule, the Flames received an invitation, as the Group of Five’s top ranked team, to the Fiesta Bowl. Oregon’s quarterback Bo Nix put up terrific numbers this season, finishing third in Heisman voting back on December 9. He will play his last collegiate game in Phoenix. Nix will will look to get the ball to talented tailback Bucky Irving and wideouts Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson so the Ducks can dominate the Flames. Like Nix, Liberty signal caller Kaidon Salter’s has had an awesome season, passing for over 2,700 yards and 31 TDs in addition to rushing for 1,322 yards and 12 touchdowns. Salters’ favorite targets CJ Daniels, Treon Sibley, and 16 touchdown running back Quinton Cooley have made it much easier on him. They ran into a tough Oregon defense, led by defensive backs Tysheem Johnson and Evan Williams and coached by defensive minded head man Dan Lanning. A great opportunity for Liberty will come up short against Oregon. Projected Score: Oregon 42, Liberty 24
CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game
1.Michigan (13-0) vs. 4.Alabama (12-1)
January 1, 5 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN App
Michigan transfers: RB CJ Strokes
Alabama transfers: QB Tyler Buchner, WR Thaiu Jones-Bell, CB Isaiah Hastings, WR Ja’Corey Brooks, DL Anquin Barnes
The stage is set for the final Rose Bowl Game in the four team playoff era. It is too bad that the final game is not a classic Big Ten-Pac-12 match up but it is a close second with the two winningest college football programs of all-time, Alabama and Michigan. The Wolverines dominated Big Ten play all season after playing a weak nonconference schedule while Alabama, ranked number 8 headed into the SEC Championship against 1.Georgia, became one of two teams to make the playoff after being ranked below number six in the penultimate rankings after defeating the Bulldogs (7.Texas was the other this season). The Wolverines will rely on tailbacks Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards to establish quarterback JJ McCarthy’s passing offense to leading receivers Roman Wilson and Colston Loveland. Establishing the running game will be very important to get in the endzone against talented Alabama defenders Caleb Downs, Dallas Turner, and Jihaad Campbell. The Alabama pass rush has been fantastic all season long so it will be important for the Michigan offensive line to give McCarthy time to throw the ball down field. Similarly for the Alabama offense, it will be important to run the ball with Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams so Jalen Milroe can make the deep throw to receivers Jermaine Burton and Isaiah Bond easier on himself. Milroe is also a runner himself so the Michigan defense will need to have spies throughout the game watch out for both designed runs and when he escapes the pocket late. The Wolverines may be the one seed but they are 0-2 in the semifinals with losses to Georgia and TCU over the last two seasons. If I am a betting man, the result of Alabama’s first playoff game since losing to Georgia in the 2022 national championship will not be a loss. Projected Score: Alabama 24, Michigan 20
CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
2.Washington (13-0) vs. 3.Texas (12-1)
January 1, 8:45 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN App
Washington transfers: QB Dylan Morris, CB Vincent Nunley
Texas transfers: CB X’Avion Brice, S Jalen Catalon, OL Sawyer Goran-Welch, CB BJ Allen Jr., WR Casey Cain, CB Larry Turner-Gooden, WR Isaiah Neyor
Kalen DeBoer’s Washington and Steve Sarkisian’s Texas matched up in last season’s Alamo Bowl. The Huskies defeated the Longhorns, 27-20. This season, both teams wanted to reach new heights. Washington went undefeated, dominating the first half of their Pac-12 schedule, defeating top ten Oregon 36-33 at the midway point of the season, and avoiding losses in close wins over the last five weeks of the regular season. In a rematch with the Ducks in the final Pac-12 title game ever, the Huskies used a strong fourth quarter to win. A statement week 2 win by the Longhorns in Tuscaloosa over Alabama proved they could be of national relevance again and a true College Football Playoff contender. Outside of one setback against Oklahoma, the Texas used a balanced attack to reach the playoff. Washington quarterback Michael Penix’s awesome season awarded him second place in Heisman Trophy voting. Penix did not do it alone. Dillon Johnson (running back), Rome Odunze (receiver), and Ja’Lynn Polk (receiver) have made things that much easier on Penix’s run as the Huskies’ quarterback. Their defense, however, has not played well this season. Texas Quinn Ewers’ matured quarterback play has helped the Longhorns one loss run this season. Terrific running back CJ Baxter and receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, who has experience in the playoff in the past with Georgia, will pose the Husky defense many problems on New Year’s Day. The Longhorn defense will have their own problems with Penix and his offense, too. Senior linebacker Jaylan For and freshman linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. have posed problems for opposing teams all season long. Stopping Washington’s offense regularly in this game will be a feat only a few teams accomplish during the 2023 season. This will be what determines if the Longhorns can avenge their loss to the Huskies last December. Projected Score: Texas 34, Washington 31
