Way-too-early bowl projections for 2016-17

The Celebration Bowl kicks off the bowl season with the leader of the MEAC taking on the leader of the SWAC. These two teams faced off in the Celebration Bowl last season, as well.

The Gildan New Mexico Bowl usually features the Mountain West vs. Conference USA. Last season Arizona from the Pac-12 participated and battled New Mexico.

The Las Vegas Bowl features the Mountain West vs. the Pac-12. Boise State has a realistic shot at a New Year's Six bowl, which could allow another Mountain West team like Air Force an opportunity. Utah has won the last two Las Vegas Bowls.

Last year was the inaugural AutoNation CureBowl, with San Jose State defeating Georgia State. Troy is trying to get back to a bowl after finishing 4-8 last season, while Maryland hired D.J. Durkin as new head coach in the offseason.

Bowling Green led the MAC with a 7-1 conference record last season, while Arkansas State went a perfect 8-0 in the Sun Belt. This matchup would be an interesting clash of mid-major powers.

Louisiana Tech tries to stay the course this season despite losing quarterback Jeff Driskel, who led the team to a 9-4 record last season. This would mark the second straight appearance in the New Orleans Bowl. Georgia Southern is coming of a 9-4 season of its own.

The Miami Beach Bowl is going into its third year. South Florida participated last year and lost to Western Kentucky. Northern Illinois is a perennial power in the MAC and hopes to get back on top this season.

The Boca Raton Bowl goes into its third year, with Marshall and Toledo as the first two winners. Getting back to a bowl game is a major goal for Wake Forest, who finished 3-9 and just 1-7 in the ACC last season. Western Kentucky lost star quarterback Brandon Doughty but still has an excellent shot to make noise in Conference USA.

BYU is tied to the Poinsettia Bowl, while San Diego State has been a regular participant with three past appearances. The Aztecs led the Mountain West last season at 8-0 but are expected by many to be knocked off their perch by Boise State this year.

Western Michigan has been solid recently in the MAC, going 8-5 overall last season. This scenario would be a return to the Potato Bowl for both teams, with Western Michigan participating in 2014 and Nevada participating in 2008.

The Bahamas Bowl is entering its third year, with Western Michigan claiming last year's game. Both Central Michigan and Duke made bowl games last season.

Navy last participated in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2013. The game features an American Athletic Conference team against a participant from the Big 12.

Formerly known as the GoDaddy Bowl, Dollar General has bought naming rights this year. Toledo went 10-2 last season and hopes for a similar year, while App State finished second in the Sun Belt.

The Hawaii Bowl will likely be a long trek for two teams. Last year San Diego State and Cincinnati got the honor. Middle Tennessee finished 7-6 last season, while Utah State was 6-7 following its bowl loss.

This would certainly be an intriguing matchup to watch, with new Miami head coach Mark Richt against Temple head man Matt Rhule. Temple hopes to build on last season's success after going 10-4.

The Quick Lane Bowl enters its third year, with Rutgers and Minnesota taking the first two installments. The Sun Devils hope to get back to a bowl as they search for a new quarterback, while Northwestern is trying to build on a 10-3 season in 2015.

The Independence Bowl is the 11th oldest bowl game, and this would be a return for both schools. Boston College participated in 2013, while Missouri played in the game in both 2003 and 2005.

A perennial power in Conference USA, Marshall is hoping for another strong year. Indiana is in a rebuilding year after losing quarterback Nate Sudfeld.

Cincinnati just made a bowl with a 6-6 regular-season record last year, while Georgia Tech hopes to get back to a bowl after finishing a disappointing 3-9. Navy claimed the Military Bowl last season.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 are set to clash in the Holiday Bowl, and this would be a particularly interesting matchup between two consistent power conference schools. Of course, Oregon fans have much higher hopes this season after making the College Football Playoff just two years ago.

Arizona wouldn't have to travel far for the Cactus Bowl, where rival Arizona State participated last season. Texas Tech will be welcome at many bowls around the country for its high-powered offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Former Memphis head coach Justin Fuente has big shoes to fill at Virginia Tech and a tough year in the ACC this season. The last two seasons of the Pinstripe Bowl have come down to the wire, and this matchup between two strong football programs would be quite intriguing.

Getting to the Russell Athletic Bowl would be settling for either the Seminoles or Cowboys, yet such a matchup would be an award for football fans. Florida State hopes to get back to the College Football Playoff this season, while Oklahoma State has equally high hopes.

These two college football powers have seen better days, but fans of both schools still have reason to be optimistic that the programs are on the upswing. Last year's bowl game featured Nebraska and UCLA, and this matchup would have similarly strong fan bases and historical significance.

What better way to welcome back the Texas vs. Texas A&M rivalry than a bowl game? This matchup would be a dream for bowl organizers, the mother ship and football fans, and it's not impossible with a Big 12 vs. SEC bowl.

Last year's Birmingham Bowl featured Auburn and Memphis, and this matchup would hold similar interest. Houston has higher hopes as one of the top mid-majors in the country, though Boise State stands as big competition for a New Year's Six bowl.

Fans of both Auburn and North Carolina are probably looking at rebuilding years, and the pressure is particularly on the Tigers to improve on last season's results. The Tar Heels have participated in three Belk Bowls since 2008.

Remember last year's Alamo Bowl? TCU made a historic comeback vs. Oregon in the second half to win 47-41. The previous year's game was also thrilling, with UCLA beating Kansas State 40-35. Why not feature a matchup of the last two winners? Granted, the matchup wouldn't be thrilling for Bruins fans, who have National Championship hopes this season.

Memphis is likely looking at a rebuilding year with a new head coach and quarterback. An invitation to the Liberty Bowl would be a great result for the Tigers, while West Virginia lost the Liberty Bowl to Texas A&M only two years ago.

Louisville will go as far as young quarterback Lamar Jackson can take the team, and some believe that's loftier than a Sun Bowl result. Utah's expectations have also been raised under head coach Kyle Whittingham, and the school has won consecutive Las Vegas Bowls.

South Carolina hopes to rebound from a poor 2015 season under two head coaches, and finding a bowl result will be tough with the talent that Steve Spurrier left behind. San Jose State went to a bowl game with a losing record last season.

Huskers head coach Mike Riley is hoping for a much better result than his first season with the program, while Florida would likely be taking a step back if it settles for the Music City Bowl. Nevertheless, this matchup would be an interesting one between two historic football powerhouses.

Notre Dame made the Fiesta Bowl last season and has the talent to get back to a New Year's Six bowl, if not better. Tennessee is considered a sleeper by many to make the College Football Playoff despite losing four games last season, returning most of its key talent from last season.

Georgia showed just how high expectations are after firing Mark Richt and hopes that new head coach Kirby Smart can have the Bulldogs competing for the College Football Playoff annually. Iowa, on the other hand, has exercised patience with Kirk Ferentz and was rewarded with a Rose Bowl appearance last year. Despite a tougher schedule, the Hawkeyes have a shot to return to a major bowl with quarterback C.J. Beathard.

Mississippi State is turning the page after Dak Prescott's departure, but it's still widely considered a strong bet to make a bowl this season. Pitt fans would be welcome at the TaxSlayer Bowl after Penn State made an appearance last year.

Both Michigan State and Ole Miss were in the College Football Playoff conversation at times last season and are certainly capable of being mentioned again this year despite major player losses. The Outback Bowl has featured several strong Big Ten vs. SEC matchups recently, and this would potentially be another.

What a storyline this matchup would be, with former Boise State head coach Chris Petersen facing his former team in a New Year's Six bowl. Washington is one of the favorites to win the Pac-12 this season, while the Cotton Bowl is set to host the highest ranked conference champ from the mid-majors.

Another dream matchup for college football fans, former Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh would create quite the stir facing his former team. Both schools have high hopes to make the College Football Playoff, though the Rose Bowl has been a regular fallback for the Cardinal with appearances in three of the last four years.

Baylor is ready to play football after an awful offseason. Despite their off-field issues, the Bears still have the talent to make noise in the Big 12. LSU brass showed with the Les Miles saga last year that it's disappointed with anything short of a College Football Playoff appearance, though a return to the Sugar Bowl for the first time in 10 years would be a good consolation.

Who's ready for a College Football Playoff rematch? Clemson opens the year as the No. 2 team in the AP Poll and certainly has a strong shot at a return to the CFP with Heisman Trophy favorite Deshaun Watson under center. The Sooners are ranked No. 3 and have unfinished business after losing to the Tigers by 20 points last year.

Alabama has questions at quarterback, but those don't worry fans or voters who ranked the team No. 1 entering the year. Ohio State lost running back Ezekiel Elliott, but the Buckeyes were the inaugural College Football Playoff champs two years ago and still have quarterback J.T. Barrett.

This matchup would be a repeat of last year's College Football Playoff National Championship Game, featuring the No. 1 and No. 2 teams to open the season.