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Now that the official bowl schedule has been released, it's time to talk about it! But first, let's take a look at all of the match-ups awaiting us, from the College Playoff all the way down to Detroit.
Playoff semifinal | Date | Location | ||
Rose | No. 2 Oregon | No. 3 Florida State | 1/1/2015 | Pasadena, CA |
Sugar | No. 1 Alabama | No. 4 Ohio State | 1/1/2015 | New Orleans, LA |
New Year's bowl | Date | Location | ||
Cotton | Baylor | Michigan State | 1/1/2015 | Arlington, TX |
Fiesta | Boise State | Arizona | 12/31/2014 | Glendale, AZ |
Orange | Georgia Tech | Mississippi State | 12/31/2014 | Miami, FL |
Peach | TCU | Ole Miss | 12/31/2014 | Atlanta, GA |
Bowl | Date | Location | ||
GoDaddy | Toledo | Arkansas State | 1/4/2015 | Mobile, AL |
Birmingham | East Carolina | Florida | 1/3/2015 | Birmingham, AL |
Alamo | Kansas State | UCLA | 1/2/2015 | San Antonio, TX |
Armed Forces | Houston | Pitt* | 1/2/2015 | Fort Worth, TX |
Cactus | Oklahoma State | Washington | 1/2/2015 | Tempe, AZ |
TaxSlayer | Iowa | Tennessee | 1/2/2015 | Jacksonville, FL |
Citrus | Minnesota | Missouri | 1/1/2015 | Orlando, FL |
Outback | Wisconsin | Auburn | 1/1/2015 | Tampa, FL |
Belk | Louisville | Georgia | 12/30/2014 | Charlotte, NC |
Music City | Notre Dame | LSU | 12/30/2014 | Nashville, TN |
Foster Farms | Maryland | Stanford | 12/30/2014 | Santa Clara, CA |
Liberty | West Virginia | Texas A&M | 12/29/2014 | Memphis, TN |
Russell Athletic | Clemson | Oklahoma | 12/29/2014 | Orlando, FL |
Texas | Texas | Arkansas | 12/29/2014 | Houston, TX |
Holiday | Nebraska | USC | 12/27/2014 | San Diego, CA |
Independence | Miami | South Carolina | 12/27/2014 | Shreveport, LA |
Military | Cincinnati | Virginia Tech | 12/27/2014 | Annapolis, MD |
Pinstripe | Boston College | Penn State | 12/27/2014 | New York, NY |
Sun | Duke | Arizona State | 12/27/2014 | El Paso, TX |
Bitcoin | UCF | NC State | 12/26/2014 | St. Petersburg, FL |
Quick Lane | North Carolina | Rutgers | 12/26/2014 | Detroit, MI |
Heart of Dallas | Illinois | Louisiana Tech | 12/26/2014 | Dallas, TX |
Bahamas | Western Kentucky | Central Michigan | 12/24/2014 | Nassau, BS |
Hawaii | Rice | Fresno State | 12/24/2014 | Honolulu, HI |
Boca | Marshall | Northern Illinois | 12/23/2014 | Boca Raton, FL |
Poinsettia | San Diego State | Navy | 12/23/2014 | San Diego, CA |
Miami Beach | Memphis | BYU | 12/22/2014 | Miami, FL |
Camellia | Bowling Green | South Alabama | 12/20/2014 | Montgomery, AL |
Las Vegas | Colorado State | Utah | 12/20/2014 | Las Vegas, NV |
New Mexico | UTEP | Utah State | 12/20/2014 | Albuquerque, NM |
New Orleans | Louisiana-Lafayette | Nevada | 12/20/2014 | New Orleans, LA |
Potato | Western Michigan | Air Force | 12/20/2014 | Boise, ID |
As you can see, there are plenty of enticing options for your viewership. For me though, the most interesting game will take place on January 1st, and it won't include any of Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, or Ohio State. The Michigan State-Baylor game is fascinating. Not only does it include one of the team who I believe should have been included in the playoff, but it's a classic showdown between defense and offense, even if Michigan State's defense isn't quite at the same level it was last year. Connor Cook and the rest of the Spartans suffered two big losses this year to Oregon and Ohio State, but I still believe they have the ability to hang with those top tier teams, so this game will be a great chance for them to prove me right or wrong.
On the other side, Baylor is just fun to watch. I will never say no to watching the Bears take the field, especially in a game that should give their offense a real test. It will also be fun to see former Penn Stater Shawn Oakman play what could be his last college game.
That's enough from me though, because there should be plenty of conversation on this in the comments. So, Black Shoe Diaries readers, I have a question for you. Aside from the Pinstripe Bowl, which bowl game are you most excited for and why?