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While everyone is worrying about the College Football Playoff - the expansion has made it more fun overall, but it's also taking the oxygen out of the room - just getting bowl eligible has taken a back seat.
And that makes sense for the powerhouse programs that should be fighting for one of the 12 spots, but for teams like Florida, Nebraska, USC, Washington, Oklahoma, and Michigan - among a slew of others - getting to six wins and that extra game is a great goal.
All of a sudden, the season that was a disappointment because the CFP dream was squashed early has something positive to get excited about.
With just a few weeks to go, there are fewer and fewer teams projected to be in the mix for one of the bowl games. Here are our latest bowl projections going into Week 13.
Bowl Projections: Week 13, 2024
CFN Bowl Projections
Dec 27-Jan 4 Bowls | CFP Picks
- Final CFP Bracket Projection
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Saturday, December 14
12:00, ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Bowl Affiliations: MEAC, SWAC
Last Season: Florida A&M 30, Howard 26
Bowl Projection: South Carolina State vs Jackson State
Last Week: South Carolina State vs Jackson State
Camellia Bowl
Saturday, December 14
9:00, ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery Alabama
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19
Bowl Projection: Texas State vs Western Michigan
Last Week: USF vs Toledo
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Tuesday, December 17
9:00, ESPN
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: UTSA 35, Marshall 17
Bowl Projection: TCU vs North Texas
Last Week: Houston vs Coastal Carolina
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
Wednesday, December 18
5:30, ESPN
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: USF 45, Syracuse 0
Bowl Projection: Rutgers vs James Madison
Last Week: North Carolina vs Rutgers
LA Bowl
Wednesday, December 18
9:00, ESPN
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Bowl Affiliations: MW, Former Pac-12
Last Season: UCLA 35, Boise State 22
Bowl Projection: UNLV vs Washington
Last Week: UNLV vs USC
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Thursday, December 19
7:00, ESPN2
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Sun Belt
Last Season: Jacksonville State 34, Louisiana 31 OT
Bowl Projection: Jacksonville State vs Louisiana
Last Week: WKU vs Louisiana
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Friday, December 20
12:00, ESPN
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: Appalachian State 13, Miami University 9
Bowl Projection: Coastal Carolina vs Bowling Green
Last Week: UConn vs Georgia Southern
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Friday, December 20
3:30, ESPN
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC, CUSA, SEC
Last Season: Georgia Tech 30, UCF 17
Bowl Projection: USF vs Florida
Last Week: Cincinnati vs Virginia Tech
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Monday, December 23
11:00 am, ESPN
Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: Ohio 41, Georgia Southern 21
Bowl Projection: East Carolina vs Toledo
Last Week: Western Michigan vs James Madison
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Monday, December 23
2:30, ESPN
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, MW, Sun Belt
Last Season: Georgia State 45, Utah State 22
Bowl Projection: Ohio vs San Jose State
Last Week: Northern Illinois vs San Jose State
Hawaii Bowl
Tuesday, December 24
8:00, ESPN
Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MW
Last Season: Coastal Carolina 24, San Jose State 14
Bowl Projection: WKU vs Colorado State
Last Week: Liberty vs Colorado State
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Thursday, December 26
2:00, ESPN
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, MAC
Last Season: Minnesota 30, Bowling Green 24
Bowl Projection: Michigan State vs Miami University
Last Week: Michigan State vs Miami University
Rate Bowl
Thursday, December 26
5:30, ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, Big 12
Last Season: Kansas 49, UNLV 36
Bowl Projection: Wisconsin vs Baylor
Last Week: Wisconsin vs TCU
68 Ventures Bowl
Thursday, December 26
9:00, ESPN
Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: South Alabama 59, Eastern Michigan 10
Bowl Projection: UConn vs Marshall
Last Week: Ohio vs Marshall
CFN Bowl Projections
Dec 27-Jan 4 Bowls | CFP Picks
- Final CFP Bracket Projection
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Oklahoma Sooners in pole position for priority recruit, but his commitment timeline creates a lot of doubt for him to land in Norman
Top Notre Dame recruiting target makes a surprising decision that will force the Fighting Irish staff to shift their focus
Browns reporter says rookie is 'not an NFL QB'
As of the first Monday of August, there was no indication that 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel or 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders had any real chance to emerge as the Cleveland Browns' Week 1 starting quarterback. During a Monday morning appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Browns reporter Daryl Ruiter offered quite a worrisome update regarding how Gabriel has looked during training camp practices. "He's not good," Ruiter said about Gabriel. "He's not an NFL quarterback. Not right now, and the fact that they keep running him out there for first-team reps ... they're cramming this guy down our throats, and it's not good." Numerous NFL analysts viewed Gabriel as a third-day selection before the Browns made him the 94th overall pick of this year's draft. The perception up until Sanders was held out of Saturday's practice due to arm soreness was that he has been the team's fourth-choice option at the position behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. All signs are reportedly pointing to Flacco getting the start for Cleveland's Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Gabriel is listed at 5-foot-11, but some who cover the team have expressed doubts about that measurement. It seems that a lack of desirable size for playing the position in the pros isn't all that's gone against Gabriel this summer. "It's not a height thing," Ruiter continued. "It's not personal. He's rolling out and can't hit guys who are wide open. He's not all that great, at times, in the warmup periods. ... He's just not a good quarterback." Ruiter said that he feels Gabriel "has no business being in contention to start a football game" for the Browns this season. "It's god awful when he's on the field," Ruiter added. Browns general manager Andrew Berry revealed in late July that he could stash all four active quarterbacks on the roster for at least Week 1. For an article published on Sunday night, Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand wrote that there's "zero chance" either Gabriel or Sanders will be cut this summer. Perhaps Gabriel will look better when he sees some action in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. That said, it sounds like fans should keep their expectations low for Gabriel's unofficial debut this coming Friday.
Steelers Fans Watch As Stephen A. Smith Destroys George Pickens In Epic Rant: 'Pick Up A Book'
Now, the Steelers’ wide receiver room is in an interesting spot. With Pickens gone, Metcalf is the clear number one option, but there are questions about who will step up behind him. Meanwhile, Pickens seems to be enjoying his time in Dallas. He has taken a few subtle jabs at the Steelers, suggesting he is in a better place and even praising the Cowboys for their Super Bowl history. His comments have raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. One person who wasn’t impressed was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. During a passionate segment on First Take, Smith ripped into Pickens for his remarks about the Cowboys being a Super Bowl team. He reminded Pickens that the Steelers are the more successful franchise and questioned whether the receiver understood what he was saying. Smith didn’t hold back, calling on Pickens to "pick up a book" and making it clear that he found the comments not only disrespectful, but uninformed. "Let me pause for a second and look in the camera for a second at George Pickens," Smith said. "I like George Pickens. He can ball, and I am sorry that he is gone from the Steelers and has now been contaminated by that Dallas Cowboys fan base." Pickens’ comments were very interesting. It’s no secret he feels a certain way about how the Steelers traded him. He’s been trying to keep a positive mindset about his new situation in Dallas, but it’s clear he’s made it a priority to throw in a few subtle jabs. Pickens said he understands the camaraderie in Dallas more than he ever did with the Steelers. He also claimed the Cowboys are synonymous with Super Bowls, which was a controversial statement considering the Steelers have more championships all-time than Dallas. "Here’s the deal," Smith said. "George Pickens, do you have any idea? When you talk about the Super Bowl and the Cowboys, you do understand that the Steelers are the more successful franchise. Did you know that? Did you know that? Do you understand what the he** you are saying? I mean, my God, you talk about a brother who needs to pick up a book. I am sorry, but I just have to call him out on that." Smith made it very clear that he thinks Pickens is a great football player and that he’s still a fan of his, even though he’s no longer on the Steelers. When you consider what Pickens was able to accomplish during his three seasons in Pittsburgh, it’s impressive. He played in one of the worst offenses in the NFL, yet he still managed to produce and deliver some truly exciting moments despite the team’s struggles. Steelers Fans Still Curious About George Pickens Now he finds himself in a much better offensive situation in Dallas, but from a franchise and team standpoint, the Cowboys are in a worse position than the Steelers. That’s why Pickens’ recent comments didn’t make much sense and why Smith felt the need to call him out during his epic rant. Many Steelers fans remain divided on the Pickens trade. Although he’s no longer in Pittsburgh, a lot of fans will continue to keep tabs on how he performs with the Cowboys. Whether out of frustration, curiosity, or lingering support, Pickens' journey in Dallas will be closely watched by Steeler Nation.
Chargers, Cowboys Connected In Micah Parsons Trade Rumor
Micah Parsons officially requested a trade, and every single team in the league should have some interest in acquiring the superstar. A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, Parsons is one of the best players at one of the game’s premier positions and, now entering his age-26 season, should have several years of elite play left in his tank. Players like this usually earn record-setting contracts, and Jerry Jones does not seem willing to hand out that kind of money. With this in mind, Bleacher Report‘s Alex Kay proposed a trade where the Cowboys will trade Micah Parsons to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for two first-round picks, a second-round pick, a fifth-round pick, and running back Najee Harris. “Parsons, meanwhile, would help L.A.’s already impressive defense be even better, potentially for longer,” Kay writes. “While the Chargers still have a high-profile pass-rusher in Khalil Mack, he’s 34 and set to play on a one-year deal. With $32 million in cap space, the Chargers could afford to make Parsons their long-term defensive star.” Chargers, Cowboys Connected In Micah Parsons Trade Rumor Micah Parsons may have requested a trade, but as of this posting, the Cowboys do not seem interested in granting his wish. This is par for the course with Jerry Jones, as the owner has a long, detailed history of drawing out these types of negotiations. He did it with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and history could be repeating itself with Parsons. However, for the sake of argument, let’s assume the Cowboys eventually decide to trade Micah Parsons. If this happens, they should be happy with this type of return. The Khalil Mack trade is the closest comparison to Parsons, and the Raiders parted ways with him and a 2020 second-round pick for two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick. This is roughly an equivalent value to what Kay offers in his article, so it’s easy to see Dallas pulling the trigger on this Micah Parsons trade. However, it would probably need to happen before the start of the regular season, as Najee Harris is a part of the deal. While he’s just a throw-in, the running back is currently playing on a one-year deal, and his value depreciates by the week. Would the Chargers Do This? Micah Parsons is a phenomenal player, but would the Chargers give up this much in a trade for one player? While we’ll never know for sure, the Chargers are the type of team that could make this risk. Head coach Jim Harbaugh brought this team to the playoffs last year, quarterback Justin Herbert is one of the game’s top talents, and the roster is loaded with talent. This team may be one piece away from a Super Bowl, and Parsons could take them to the next level. The Chargers have a strong team, but they need an influx of talent to overtake the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. A Micah Parsons trade could be the missing piece this team needs as they finally look to go on a deep playoff run for the first time since the Philip Rivers days.
Raiders' Spytek Makes Interesting Roster Moves
It's officially the first week of the NFL preseason, as the Las Vegas Raiders are set to take on the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night for a first glimpse of the team's new regime. However, general manager John Spytek continues to be active with the 90-man roster in training camp, making a couple of moves Sunday morning by adding two new pass-catchers to the Raiders' offense. Raiders sign free agent WR Kawaan Baker and TE Albert Okwuegbunam The Raiders announced they had signed two free agents, wide receiver Kawaan Baker and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, adding more depth to both position groups ahead of Thursday night. In a corresponding move, TE Pat Conroy and WR Kyle Philips were waived from the 90-man roster. Okwuegbunam is the notable addition as a former well-regarded tight end prospect from the Missouri Tigers. He was a fourth-round selection by the Denver Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft, spending three seasons with the team before he was traded in 2023 to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2025 seventh-round choice. The former Missouri standout spent some time on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad before being released this past week. Okwuegbunam's best season was in 2022 when he caught 33 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Baker was a former seventh-round pick by the New Orleans Saints out of South Alabama. The former Jaguars playmaker has spent time on four teams throughout his NFL career and played for the United Football League's San Antonio Brahmas before signing with the Raiders on Sunday. Baker was a productive college wide receiver, accumulating over 1,800 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns during his career. He capped his senior season with 51 catches, 659 yards, and eight touchdowns. Okwuegbunam is a late addition to training camp, joining a tight end room that features 2024 rookie sensation Brock Bowers and former Notre Dame standout Michael Mayer. Las Vegas signed former Carolina Panthers tight end Ian Thomas, who was a free agent signee this offseason, making the hill will be a tough one to climb for Okwuegbunam. Baker comes into the wide receiver corps with a group of young players fighting for a roster spot this month. The Raiders should have some of the most competitive battles in camp at receiver, and Baker has an opportunity to swoop in and make a name for himself. Find us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr and weigh in on the Raiders latest addition to their roster. While here, check out our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE to discuss this take.
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