The good news for Memphis is that it earned a seventh straight bowl bid. The potentially bad news: the Tigers are in danger of dropping their sixth consecutive bowl game. FAU had all kinds of COVID-19 issues inside and outside of the program in 2020 but still managed a solid season during Willie Taggart’s first year in charge of the program. However, the Owls will try to avoid concluding the season with a third straight defeat.

The New Mexico Bowl being played in Texas. Another nod to 2020. This is also the first time since the Sugar Bowl during the 2007 season that Hawai’i is playing in a bowl game outside of the islands. Another of those teams with a losing record earning a bowl bid, Houston has played just once since Nov. 14 — a 30-27 loss at Memphis on Dec. 12. The Cougars lost 54-48 to the Warriors in three overtimes when these schools met in the 2003 Hawai’i Bowl.

A pair of teams that enter this Christmas Day affair looking to end promising seasons turned disappointing on a positive note. Marshall started 7-0, then lost 20-0 to two-win Rice and 22-13 to UAB in the Conference USA title contest. Buffalo, which boasts talented running backs Jaret Patterson (1,072 yards, 19 TDs) and Kevin Marks (603 yards, six TDs), must rebound following a 38-28 upset loss to Ball State in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game.

A couple of the more positive stories of this crazy 2020 college football season. These teams were slated to meet on Dec. 5, but Liberty had COVID-19 issues. BYU stepped in to take the Flames’ place, but now we finally get this potentially entertaining matchup. The best season in the young FBS history of Coastal Carolina gets one more moment in the sun. And, another chance to catch quarterback Grayson McCall (2,170 yards, 23 touchdowns, two interceptions; 473 rushing yards) in 2020.

This seems like a fitting matchup between two programs that still aren’t ready for prime time. Oklahoma State seems to have too much talent — running back Chuba Hubbard and receiver Tylan Wallace — to be a three-loss team in the Big 12. Miami, meanwhile, was rolling along with five straight victories until that run was abruptly halted with a 62-26 loss to North Carolina on Dec. 12 (in which the Hurricanes allowed 554 rushing yards and 778 total).

The Badgers expected more than a .500 regular-season within the Big Ten. Unfortunately, COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the program in 2020. That said, Wisconsin did halt a three-game slide with a 20-17 overtime win over Minnesota in its regular-season finale. The Badgers have totaled just 40 points over the last four games. Wake, meanwhile, will try to avoid a third consecutive defeat after going 4-0 in October.

One wonders what could have been for the Hawkeyes, who lost their first two games to Purdue and Northwestern by a combined five points. Iowa is getting it done defensively, allowing an average of 16.0 points. Missouri won three in a row during late November and early December before losing its last two vs. Georgia and Mississippi State. The Tigers have also allowed an average of 49.3 points in three December games.

This one could go on for hours. Expect plenty of scoring between these two teams to kick off the New Year’s Six slate of bowl games. Oklahoma has won seven straight since losing back-to-back losses to Iowa State and Kansas State. The Sooners have also allowed an average of 14.3 points in its last four contests, but Florida is averaging 41.6 on the season. The Gators, however, allowed a combined 89 points in losing their last two games to LSU and Alabama.

A couple of feel-good stories on the 2020 college football scene. San Jose State, which played three home games outside of California due to the coronavirus pandemic, won the Mountain West (first league crown since 1991) two years removed from a 1-11 campaign. This will be the Spartans’ first bowl game since 2015. Ball State also enjoyed a tremendous season, winning its first Mid-American Conference title since 1996 and earning its first bowl berth since 2013.

This might end up being one of the best bowl matchups on the docket. There are some college football pundits who thought the Bearcats deserved serious CFP consideration. Well, OK. Instead, they get a quality matchup against Georgia, which has won three in a row and suffered its only two losses to Alabama and Florida. The Bulldogs average 33.2 points while Cincinnati yields 16.0 per contest. Should be fun.

Even with that 24-point loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, Notre Dame is worthy of a spot in the CFP. However, we don’t see things going much better for the Irish against the Crimson Tide. Alabama’s averaged 53.0 points in its last three games and boasts three of the country’s best players in Mac Jones (3,739 passing yards, 32 touchdowns), Najee Harris (1,262 rushing yards, 24 TDs), and DeVonta Smith (98 receptions, 1,511 yards, 17 TDs). Will this be the Notre Dame swan song for Ian Book (8,719 career passing yards, 72 touchdowns)? Also, playing the Rose Bowl in Texas is so 2020.

A rematch of last season’s highly entertaining CFP semifinal, which Clemson won 29-23. The Tigers’ Trevor Lawrence threw for 259 yards with two touchdowns and ran for 107 with a score. Justin Fields, meanwhile, was picked off twice for Ohio State. The Buckeyes needed to rally to win the Big Ten Championship Game. Clemson, however, rolled over Notre Dame in the ACC title game and has outscored its last three opponents 131-37.

N.C. State enters bowl season as one of the hottest teams in the country, a winner in four straight following back-to-back defeats to North Carolina and Miami. The Wolfpack have done it with defense — allowing an average of 19.5 points in those last four. That might not bode well for Kentucky, which in a normal season would not be bowl eligible and averages 21.7 points on the season.

How’s this? Oregon did not win either of the Pac-12’s divisions and yet was thrust into the league’s title game and beat USC 31-24. That earned the Ducks, who had dropped its two previous games to Oregon State and Cal — teams that won a combined three games — a New Year’s Six berth. Another great 2020 moment. Iowa State, meanwhile, saw its five-game winning streak end with a 27-21 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game. Still, Brock Purdy (2,594 passing yards, 18 TDs) and Breece Hall (1,436 rushing yards, 19 TDs) seem too tough for the Ducks to handle).