Lyon Life

Anderson Cerney ‘26, Circulation Manager 

The end of the college football season has come upon us and it is time to look back at the non-playoff bowl games. This bowl game season, which lasted from Dec. 13 to Jan. 2, had everything: blowouts, tight competitive games, brawls, and walkoffs. 

The first game, the LA Bowl, between 9-4 Boise State and 8-4 Washington, was in their swan song year, with being revealed that the bowl game would not be returning next year. This was explained by Andrew McCarthey of Newsweek who said, “The bowl’s current six-year contract concludes after this season. The bowl was created in 2020 to be played in SoFi Stadium, pairing up the Mountain West champion against the fifth selection from the Pac-12. The bowl’s fate was ultimately decided when conference realignment gutted the Pac-12.” So, Boise State and Washington would have the honor of playing the last one. The game was close in the first quarter, and then the flood gates opened. Boise State repeatedly turned the ball over due to numerous poor decisions. Washington pounced on the opportunities and ran away with the game, leading 38-3. Boise State did score in the last five minutes in the game, and the game ended with Washington beating Boise State 38-10. 

On Dec. 16, the Veterans Bowl was played between 8-5 Troy and 8-5 Jacksonville State. This game came down to the end, with Troy attempting a hail mary and failing. Jacksonville State beat Troy 17-13, and this game was boiled down to Troy not being able to complete drives and turning over the ball a few times, leaving at least six points off the board. This being that they could not make a field goal or two, or just not converting on fourth downs, thus killing any chance they had of winning. 

On Dec. 17, two games were played, with the first of the two between 9-3 Old Dominion and 9-3 South Florida in the Cure Bowl. The game was a slow burn of competitiveness, with the teams being always one score away from each other till the final two minutes. The final score of the matchup was Old Dominion beating South Florida 24-10. The game was very sloppy for the entire first half, with both teams committing turnovers and missing field goals. This is with all of Old Dominion’s touchdowns coming from exposing South Florida blitzing, by using option plays to bait the blitz. 

The second game was between 6-6 Louisiana and 6-6 Delaware in the 68 Ventures Bowl. Delaware looked to have been running away with a victory, leading 20-6 in the fourth quarter with the ball; however, Louisiana blocked a field goal and all of the momentum swung in their direction. The game came to the very end—with two seconds left, and in Delaware’s redzone, Louisiana failed to score and lost, resulting in a 20-13 win for Delaware.

On Dec. 18, the Xbox Bowl was played between 7-5 Missouri State and 6-6 Arkansas State. This game looked like a blowout, with Arkansas State beating Missouri State 31-7 going into the fourth quarter. Then, Missouri State flipped a switch and started scoring fast and repeatedly making it close; however, they did not have enough time and could not recover an onside kick and lost. 

The Myrtle Beach Bowl was played on Dec. 19, between 10-3 Kennesaw State and 9-4 Western Michigan; a game that resulted in an absolute blowout Western Michigan pounced all overKennesaw State, with Jalen Buckley rushing for 174 yards on eight carries. Western Michigan scored through offense and the defense, they scored through turnovers, running, and passing. Meanwhile, Kennesaw State was basically tripping over its feet while playing. The final score was Western Michigan defeating Kennesaw State 41-6. Also on Dec. 19, the Gasparilla Bowl was played between 8-4 Memphis and 7-5 North Carolina State. This game was a bore, with NC State heartily beating Memphis. All the points came in the first half of the game, with zero scoring in the second half. Memphis’ defense had zero answers for the NC State offense, and the Memphis offense kept shooting itself in the foot, except for one drive. The final score was NC State 31 and Memphis 7. 

On Dec. 22, the Idaho Potato Bowl was played between 6-6 Washington State and 6-6 Utah State. Utah State could not capitalize on any advantage from interceptions or good field position and Washington State just kept adding and adding to their score creating a bigger lead. The game was slow but took off in the second half. The final score was Washington State beating Utah State 34-21. 

On Dec. 23, the Boca Raton Bowl was played between 8-4 Toledo and 8-4 Louisville. The game started out pretty flat with not much scoring happening till the fourth quarter. Toledo tried to keep up with Louisville, but Louisville held the lead the whole time. Although, the game was very chippy, especially at the end of the game with refs constantly having to break up players and even a fight happening towards the end of the game. The final score was Louisville beating Toledo 27-22.

The New Orleans Bowl was played between 8-4 Western Kentucky and 7-5 Southern Mississippi. The first three quarters were an evenly matched game, but then the fourth quarter happened. Western Kentucky took over; they started the quarter losing by 10 and then won the game by 11. The final score was Western Kentucky beating Southern Mississippi 27-16. 

The Frisco Bowl was played between 10-3 University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and 8-4 Ohio. This game was a snooze fest with zero scoring in the first quarter. Then, Ohio woke up in the second quarter, and UNLV woke up in the third quarter in response, but it was too late. The UNLV defense needed to make a stop and they just could not while Ohio ran out the clock. The final score was Ohio beating UNLV 17-10. 

On Dec. 24, the Hawaii Bowl was played between 7-5 California (Cal) and 8-4 Hawaii. A sweet but sour game with what happened in it, that it was a good game that ended in a horrible way. California was decimating Hawaii, and then Hawaii got hot and won after being down 21 points and with their backup quarterback. But then, right when the game ended, a brawl happened. Zachary McKinnell of MSN wrote, “Hawaii defensive back Peter Manuma appeared to shove Cal wide receiver Quaron Adams after the play, prompting a strong response from multiple Cal players. As the Hawaii sideline stormed the field to celebrate a huge comeback victory, tension continued to rise near the California sideline.” Overall, this bowl was very emotional from the plays to the punches. The final score was Hawaii beating California 35-31. 

On Dec. 26, the GameAbove Sports Bowl was played between 7-5 Central Michigan and 6-6 Northwestern. This game could have been competitive, if only Central Michigan did not turn over the ball three times in the second quarter. Turnovers killed Central Michigan’s chances at winning this game and Northwestern took it and ran. The final score was Northwestern beating Central Michigan 34-7. 

The Rate Bowl was played between 9-3 New Mexico and 7-5 Minnesota. This game only really got entertaining in the third quarter and in overtime. In overtime, New Mexico kicked a field goal, followed by Minnesota who scored a walk-off touchdown.  The final score was Minnesota beating New Mexico 20-17. 

The First Responder Bowl was played between 7-5 Florida International University FIU and 6-6 University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA). This game swung in UTSA’s favor. FIU was beating UTSA 14-0, and then UTSA went on a run, scoring 38 straight. During that, FIU’s offense took a vacation, and came back and scored in the third quarter and were outpaced the rest of the game. The final score was UTSA beating FIU 57-20. 

On Dec. 27, the Texas Bowl was played between 7-5 Louisiana State University (LSU) and 9-3 Houston. This game was explosive, and LSU and Houston were going back and forth against each other, except for the third quarter. Then in the fourth, Hosuton took a 10 point lead, and LSU couldn’t catch up. The final score was Houston beating LSU 38-35. 

On Dec. 27, the Military Bowl was played between 8-4 PITT and 8-4 Eastern Carolina University (ECU). Overall, ECU just outplayed PITT in this matchup. PITT just started behind the eight ball this game and could not recover. The final score was ECU beating PITT 23-17.

On Dec. 27, the Pinstripe Bowl was played between 6-6 Penn State and 7-5 Clemson. Nothing happened in this game till the fourth quarter. Penn State kicked a field goal in the first quarter, then Clemson kicked one in the second. Then nothing happened in the third quarter and the rest of the scoring came in the fourth. This game was a firework, nothing happened till the very end, with most of the scoring happening at the end of the 4th quarter. The final score was Penn State beating Clemson 22-10. 

On Dec. 27, the Fenway Bowl was played between 9-3 University of Connecticut (UConn) and 6-6 Army. The first half of this game was close with Army leading 14-10 at halftime, and then Army blew the doors off of UCONN. Then, UCONN just didn’t have or make a response to Army scoring like crazy. The final score was Army beating UCONN 41-16. 

On Dec. 27, the Pop-Tarts Bowl was played between 9-3 Georgia Tech and 11-2 Brigham Young University (BYU). This game was really competitive, with both teams scoring in the first half. After that, nothing happened during the third quarter. Then, BYU took the lead in the fourth quarter and Georgia Tech needed quarterback Haynes King to lead another game winning drive, but they failed, as one of King’s passes was intercepted in the redzone. The final score was BYU beating Georgia Tech 25-21.

On Dec. 27, the Arizona Bowl was played between 7-6 Miami of Ohio and 8-4 Fresno State. If you had a bet on the over on field goals this game, you won without a sweat. A singular touchdown was scored by Fresno State, and Miami of Ohio came out flat. The final score was Fresno State beating Miami of Ohio 18-3.

On Dec. 27, the New Mexico Bowl was played between 11-2 North Texas and 9-3 San Diego State. This game was the definition of rubber banding. San Diego State was tied with North Texas, then went down 22 and almost came back. North Texas then quickly scored a touchdown for insurance to hold down the lead. The final score was North Texas beating San Diego State 49-47. 

On Dec. 27, the Gator Bowl was played between 10-3 Virginia and 8-4 Missouri. Virginia woke up in the second half and took the lead and Missouri could not score. Missouri held the lead for the first half and did not show up for the second half. The final score was Virginia beating Missouri 13-7. 

On Dec. 29, the Birmingham Bowl was played between 6-6 Georgia Southern and 5-7 Appalachian State. Georgia Southern took off in the third quarter and never looked back. Then a very outmatched Appalachian State failed to respond. The final score was Georgia Southern beating Appalachian State 29-10. 

On Dec. 30, the Independence Bowl was played between 6-6 Coastal Carolina and 7-5 Louisiana Tech. Coastal Carolina dominated this game winning 14-3 at halftime. Then Lousinia Tech took off and the Coastal Carolina offense must have stayed in the locker room during the second half. The final score was Louisiana Tech beating Coastal Carolina 23-14. 

On Dec. 30, the Music City Bowl was played between 8-4 Tennessee and 8-4 Illinois. This game was back and forth between the two teams, with Illinois hitting a walk off field goal at the end after it seemed Teenssee won it with a touchdown with only a minute left. The final score was Illinois beating Tennessee 30-28. 

On Dec. 30, the Alamo Bowl was played between 9-3 Southern California (USC)  and 8-4 Texas Christian (TCU). This game was another back and fourth matchup and ended just like the New Mexico-Minnesota game. The final score was TCU beating USC 30-27. 

On Dec. 31, the Cheez-it Citrus Bowl was played between 9-3 Michigan and 9-3 Texas. This game was a punch for punch matchup, with one score after another. Then Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood threw an interception and Texas basically iced the game. The final score was Texas beating Michigan 41-27. 

On Dec. 31, the Reliquest Bowl was played between 8-4 Iowa and 10-2 Vanderbilt. Iowa held the lead the whole game and Vanderbilt was stuck playing catchup. The final score was Iowa beating Vanderbilt 34-27. The score is ironic since Diego Pavia said something around how you only need to score seven points to beat Iowa. 

On Dec. 31, the Sun Bowl was played between 8-4 Arizona State and 8-5 Duke. These teams both scored about every single drive. Then, Arizona State had a game winning drive and threw a pick, and that was the game. The final score was Duke beating Arizona State 42-39.

On Dec. 31, the Las Vegas Bowl was played between 10-2 Utah and 7-5 Nebraska. This game looked competitive, and then the second half happened. Utah just destroyed Nebrsaka in the second with zero issues. The final score was Utah beating Nebraska 44-22. 

On Jan. 2, the Armed Forces Bowl was played between 5-7 Rice and 6-6 Texas State. Rice got exposed by Texas State for being a terrible team. The first half made this game seem close, and Texas State then made it not so close in the second half. The final score was Texas State beating Rice 41-10. 

On Jan. 2, the Liberty Bowl was played between 10-2 Navy and 6-6 Cincinnati. Navy was just very consistent this whole game with moving the ball, and it was apparent Cincinnati struggled in the poor weather and was just flat out-talented by Navy. The final score was Navy beating Cincinnati 35-13. 

On Jan. 2, the Holiday Bowl was played between 9-3 Airzona and 8-4 Southern Methodist (SMU). Arizona came out flat against SMU. So, with that SMU capitalized on this and scored 24 straight points before Airzona scored. The final score was SMU beating Arizona 24-19. 

On Jan. 2, the Duke’s Mayo Bowl was played between 8-4 Wake Forest and 5-7 Mississippi State. This game ended on a very sour note and Wake Forest just dominated this game through always holding the lead. The game was basically over, and Wake Forest’s quarterback went for a scramble and got hurt badly enough that he had to be carted off the field. The final score of the final non playoff games was Wake Forest beating Mississippi State 43-29. 

 Overall this bowl season had everything: from snooze fests, to high scoring games, and fights. The drama and highlights have made this college football bowl season one to remember for the ages. The next season’s bowl games will have a tough time topping this bowl season’s quality and entertainment.