ESPN releases 2023 College Football Playoff, full bowl projections after Week 6
Another weekend of college football, more results that will shake up the weekly bowl projections from ESPN. There were a number of high-profile games involving ranked opponents, and they did not disappoint.
From Oklahoma‘s upset of No. 3 Texas, to USC‘s escape in triple overtime against Arizona, to Louisville taking down No. 10 Notre Dame, there was plenty to take in.
How did those games, as well as dozens of others over the weekend, help shake up this week’s college football bowl projections from ESPN experts Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura? Let’s take a look inside.
CFP National Championship
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Monday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia vs. Washington
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Michigan
Both ESPN writers are back to having Georgia in the national title game, one week after Schlabach had nixed the Bulldogs in favor of Michigan and Texas. With the Longhorns losing this week, they’ve been dropped from the playoff mix by both ESPN personalities. In place of Texas this week steps in Michigan, taking on Georgia in the title game for Schlabach. Bonagura’s projection of Georgia vs. Washington remains intact this week.
CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Monday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Michigan vs. Washington
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Washington
Nothing has changed out west in the Rose Bowl projections, with both writers in agreement that it will be Michigan vs. Washington in one of the two semifinals. With Georgia commanding the top seed and staying in the south, the other pairing will get to play out on the West coast in a thrilling setting. This matchup would make for a riveting clash of styles, with Washington full-on airing it out and Michigan capable of the ground and pound.
CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Monday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia vs. Florida State
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Florida State
There’s also consensus in the Sugar Bowl this week, with both writers tabbing Georgia as the top seed in the playoff and getting the bid to New Orleans. Instead of last week’s projections of Georgia facing Texas, though, this week’s look-ahead has Georgia facing Florida State instead. The Seminoles took care of Virginia Tech handily this weekend.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Friday, Dec. 29
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Oklahoma vs. USC
Schlabach: Penn State vs. Texas
The bowl projections in the Cotton Bowl have changed quite a bit from week to week, and this week was no different. Instead of Oklahoma vs. Oregon in the Cotton Bowl, Bonagura now has Oklahoma vs. USC. That’s likely a nod to the notion that USC will trip up at some point if it keeps playing like it has been. Meanwhile, Schlabach has Penn State vs. Texas in this matchup following the Longhorns’ loss in the Red River Rivalry.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 30
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Alabama vs. Air Force
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
The Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl matchups both include Alabama, likely as the second-best team out of the SEC behind Georgia. To date, the Crimson Tide have done enough to merit that distinction, winning some close games the last few weeks. Bonagura sees Alabama taking on a Group of Five opponent in Air Force, while Schlabach has a fairly interesting Power Five matchup with Oklahoma, a preview of a 2024 game once the Sooners join the SEC.
Capital One Orange Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 30
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
4 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Ohio State
Schlabach: North Carolina vs. Ohio State
With Florida State now back in the playoff in this week’s bowl projections, the North Carolina Tar Heels slide into the ACC’s second spot in the Orange Bowl for both writers. Neither has changed from last week’s projections of Ohio State to the Orange Bowl, either, with Michigan still locked into a playoff spot in the projections. That would make for a fun matchup between North Carolina and Ohio State, with two explosive passing games.
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Monday, Jan. 1
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
1 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Oregon vs. Penn State
Schlabach: Oregon vs. Air Force
Both ESPN writers have Oregon penciled into the Fiesta Bowl at this point, with Washington taking the league’s spot in the playoff and USC also earning a New Year’s Six bowl berth. Like Bonagura, Schlabach has Air Force in the bowl projections as the top Group of Five team, slotted here against Oregon. Bonagura, though, sees Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl, the final of the New Year’s Six bowls we’re covering today.
Remaining Bowl Projections:
Saturday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Miami (Ohio) vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: Eastern Michigan vs. Liberty
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central
Schlabach: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Western Kentucky vs. Troy
Schlabach: Louisiana Tech vs. Marshall
Cure Bowl
FBC Mortgage Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UAB vs. Bowling Green
Schlabach: Appalachian State vs. South Florida
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Central Michigan vs. Marshall
Schlabach: Arizona vs. Fresno State
LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Colorado vs. Wyoming
Schlabach: Utah vs. Wyoming
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: UCF vs. Arizona
Schlabach: Oklahoma State vs.Colorado
Monday, Dec. 18
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Army vs. Louisiana
Schlabach: Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: New Mexico State vs. UTSA
Schlabach: New Mexico State vs. Tulsa
Thursday, Dec. 21
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: South Florida vs. Appalachian State
Schlabach: UTSA vs. Georgia Southern
Friday, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Auburn vs. Liberty
Schlabach: Army vs. Georgia Tech
Saturday, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: South Carolina vs. Georgia Southern
Schlabach: Auburn vs. Tulane
Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Tulsa vs. Georgia State
Schlabach: Troy vs. Central Michigan
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. Wake Forest
Schlabach: Iowa State vs. Texas State
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Toledo vs. Fresno State
Schlabach: Buffalo vs. Utah State
68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
7 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas State vs. Eastern Michigan
Schlabach: Louisiana vs. Toledo
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Rutgers vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Wisconsin vs. UCLA
EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
10:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: SMU vs. Utah State
Schlabach: Rice vs. UNLV
Tuesday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Boise State vs. Northern Illinois
Schlabach: Nebraska vs. Ohio
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Rice vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: TCU vs. Cal
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Purdue vs. BYU
Schlabach: Minnesota vs. Texas Tech
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: NC State vs. Memphis
Schlabach: Boston College vs. Memphis
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Miami vs. Kentucky
Schlabach: Clemson vs. Florida
Holiday Bowl
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
Bonagura: Duke vs. Utah
Schlabach: Notre Dame vs. Oregon State
TaxAct Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: BYU vs. LSU
(FUN FACT: There were only seven instances this week in the bowl projections where both Bonagura and Schlabach penciled in the same team to the same bowl, excluding the New Year’s Six bowls. That’s down from 14 just one week ago.)
Thursday, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Georgia Tech vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Wake Forest vs. SMU
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Clemson vs. Minnesota
Schlabach: NC State vs. Rutgers
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Louisville vs. West Virginia
Schlabach: Miami vs. West Virginia
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Texas vs. Washington State
Schlabach: Kansas vs. USC
Friday, Dec. 29
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Notre Dame vs. Florida
Schlabach: Duke vs. Texas A&M
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Syracuse vs. UCLA
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Washington State
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Kansas vs. Missouri
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. Kentucky
Saturday, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Iowa vs. Tennessee
Schlabach: Maryland vs. Missouri
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m.
Bonagura: Ohio vs. UNLV
Schlabach: Miami (Ohio) vs. Boise State
Monday, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Maryland vs. LSU
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Ole Miss
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Wisconsin vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Tennessee