The 2020 college football bowl season figures to be like none other, with COVID-19 issues causing some squads to opt out and bowl games having to be canceled because of a lack of participating teams.
Still, there are 28 bowl games left to keep us entertained between now and the Jan. 11 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App).
Here are the players and storylines to watch in each of those bowl games:
College Football Playoff
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Notre Dame
Friday, Jan. 1, 2021
4 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App
Coastal Carolina dominates Sun Belt postseason awards Troy defensive back Richard Jibunor (9) chases Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall (10) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Troy, Ala. (Source: AP Photo/Vasha Hunt) By Coastal Carolina Athletics | December 21, 2020 at 1:37 PM EST - Updated December 21 at 1:37 PM
NEW ORLEANS – The 2020 Sun Belt Conference Champions dominated the Sun Belt Conference football postseason awards, which were released today, as Coastal Carolina claimed five of the top six honors.
Redshirt quarterback
Grayson McCall was named both the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Redshirt senior defensive end
No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette gets UTSA in First Responder Bowl
By The Associated PressDecember 20, 2020 GMT
LOCATION: Dallas
USTA: RB Sincere McCormick, 226 carries for 1,345 yards and 11 TDs
Louisiana-Lafayette: QB Levi Lewis, 165 of 275 for 2,128 yards passing with 17 TDs and 7 INTs. Also has 5 TD runs.
NOTABLE
UTSA: The Roadrunners initially were heading to the Frisco Bowl, but that game’s cancellation caused them to seek a new postseason game to play. UTSA opened the season with three straight victories, then lost four of their next five before closing with three straight wins. A bowl victory would give UTSA eight wins to match the program’s single-season record set by the 2012 team that finished 8-4.
The Sun Belt Conference’s landmark season concludes on a high note with perhaps an even bigger milestone ahead no matter whether No. 9 Coastal Carolina or No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette wins the league championship.
Both schools, which meet in the Sun Belt title game Saturday, are in line for a New Year’s Six bowl spot with a win, something few could’ve envisioned back in August.
“I’m real excited,” Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill said.
And he has much to be thankful for this holiday season.
It’s the first time the league has had two ranked teams vie for the title. The Chants (11-0, 8-0 Sun Belt; No. 12 CFP) are the conference’s first top 10 team and while the contenders have two of the hottest young coaches in the country: Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell and the Ragin’ Cajuns’ Billy Napier.
Sun Belt Championship: Louisiana vs Coastal Carolina Picks
Dec 18, 2020 | By:
Michael Jenkins
Chanticleers RB CJ Marable ran for 73 yards and a touchdown in a win over Louisiana on October 14. He ll look for a better performance in the Sun Belt Championship, as he s averaging 136.3 yards over his last three games.
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports
Chanticleers RB CJ Marable ran for 73 yards and a touchdown in a win over Louisiana on October 14. He ll look for a better performance in the Sun Belt Championship, as he s averaging 136.3 yards over his last three games.
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports
You want the best college football betting story of the year? Look no further than Conway, South Carolina.