CFB Bowl Notebook: News, full schedule

Nov 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13). Opts out of Bowl game.Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13). Opts out of Bowl game.Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

As we prepare for the 42-game College Football Bowl season,  watch for news about players who chose not to participate, usually because they decided to begin preparing for the NFL Draft and the Indianapolis Combine that precedes it. 

We list all the games in chronological order below, culminating with a January 8 National Championship.

Meantime, players are preparing for their future, either via a transfer portal or opting to get ready to play for pay.  OK, for MORE pay.

Caleb Williams

USC head coach Lincoln Riley said Monday that 2022 Heisman Trophy quarterback Caleb Williams will not play for the Trojans in the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl against the No. 15 Louisville Cardinals.

Williams was expected to declare early for the 2024 NFL Draft and this seems to be the first step in that process although there has been no statement to that effect. For the record, Williams said previously that if he is remaining at USC in 2024, he didn’t see any reason why he wouldn’t play in the Trojans’ bowl game.

Williams was listed No. 1 overall in early season NFLDraftScout.com 2024 Draft rankings, but early in November fell to No. 3 overall behind Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and North Carolina quarterback  Drake Maye

In 2022, after transferring from Oklahoma, Williams completed 66.6% of his passes for a USC single-season record 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns against five interceptions on his way to the 2022 Heisman Trophy. This fall, Williams threw for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns, while running for another 11 scores.

With Williams out, USC  will probably turn to quarterback Miller Moss against the Cardinals. USC missed an opportunity to get Moss more time on the field this season because they couldn’t put enough teams away early enough. But he did see time in the first three games of the year. Overall, he completed 71.9% of his passes for 309 yards and one score. He also added a 15-yard rushing touchdown against Stanford.

The Trojans could also have true freshman quarterback Malachi Nelson available. Those two will battle to replace Williams as the starter in 2024, though Riley also confirmed that the Trojans will be looking into the transfer portal to potentially add another quarterback to the roster.

The Lineup

Independence Bowl: Texas Tech vs. California

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 16, Shreveport, La., ESPN, 9:15 p.m.

Famous Toastery Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 18, ESPN, 2:30 p.m.

Frisco Bowl: Marshall vs. Texas-San Antonio

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 19, Frisco, Texas, ESPN, 9 p.m.

Boca Raton Bowl: South Florida vs. Syracuse

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 21, Boca Raton, Fla., ESPN, 8 p.m.

Gasparilla Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Central Florida

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 22, Tampa, Fla., ESPN, 6:30 p.m.

Birmingham Bowl: Duke vs. Troy

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 23, Birmingham, Ala., ABC, noon

Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 23, Montgomery, Ala., ESPN, noon

Armed Forces Bowl: James Madison vs. Air Force

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 23, Fort Worth, Texas, ABC, 3:30 p.m.

Idaho Potato Bowl: Utah State vs. Georgia State

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 23, Boise, Idaho, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

68 Ventures Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 23, Mobile, Ala., ESPN, 7 p.m.

Las Vegas Bowl: Northwestern vs. Utah

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 23, Las Vegas, ABC, 7:30 p.m.

Hawaii Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 23, Honolulu, ESPN, 10:30 p.m.

Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 26, Detroit, ESPN, 2 p.m.

First Responder Bowl: Texas State vs. Rice

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 26, Dallas, ESPN, 5:30 p.m.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Kansas vs. UNLV

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 26, Phoenix, ESPN, 9 p.m.

Military Bowl: Tulane vs. Virginia Tech

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 27, Annapolis, Md., ESPN, 2 p.m.

Duke's Mayo Bowl: North Carolina vs. West Virginia

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 27, Charlotte, N.C., ESPN, 5:30 p.m.

Holiday Bowl: Louisville vs. Southern California

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 27, San Diego, Fox, 8 p.m.

Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 27, Houston, ESPN, 9 p.m.

Fenway Bowl: Boston College vs. SMU

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 28, Boston, ESPN, 11 a.m.

Pinstripe Bowl: Miami (Fla.) vs. Rutgers

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 28, Bronx, N.Y., ESPN, 2:15 p.m.

Pop-Tarts Bowl: North Carolina State vs. Kansas State

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 28, Orlando, Fla., ESPN, 5:45 p.m.

Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Arizona

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 28, San Antonio, ESPN, 9:15 p.m.

Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Kentucky

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 29, Jacksonville, Fla., ESPN, noon

 Sun Bowl: Oregon State vs. Notre Dame

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 29, El Paso, Texas, CBS, 2 p.m.

 Liberty Bowl: Iowa State vs. Memphis

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 29, Memphis, Tenn. ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

 Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs. Missouri

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 29, Arlington, Texas, ESPN, 8 p.m.

 Peach Bowl: Penn State vs. Mississippi

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 30, Atlanta, ESPN, noon

 Music City Bowl: Auburn vs. Maryland

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 30, Nashville, Tenn., ABC, 2 p.m.

Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Georgia

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 30, Miami Gardens, Fla., ESPN, 4 p.m.

Arizona Bowl: Toledo vs. Wyoming

WHERE, WHEN: Dec. 30, Tucson, Ariz., 4:30 p.m.

ReliaQuest Bowl: Wisconsin vs. LSU

WHERE, WHEN: Jan. 1, Tampa, Fla., ESPN2, noon

Citrus Bowl: Iowa vs. Tennessee

WHERE, WHEN: Jan. 1, Orlando, Fla., ABC, 1 p.m.

Fiesta Bowl: Oregon vs. Liberty

WHERE, WHEN: Jan. 1, Glendale, Ariz., ESPN, 1 p.m.

Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Alabama

WHERE, WHEN: Jan. 1, Pasadena, Calif., ESPN, 5 p.m.

Sugar Bowl: Washington vs. Texas

WHERE, WHEN: Jan. 1, New Orleans, ESPN, 8:45 p.m.

College Football Playoff championship game

WHERE, WHEN: Jan. 8, Houston, ESPN, 8 p.m.

 MATCHUP: College Football Playoff semifinal winners

 

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