They say the best ability is availability, but that seems harder than ever for NFL quarterbacks this season.

Seven starting quarterbacks − a whopping 22% of the league’s starters − have been sidelined this year due to season-ending injuries. The quarterback injury bug started Week 1 of the 2023-24 season with New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) going down in the team’s season-opening drive. The list has continued to grow at an alarming rate throughout the season, with Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert (finger) as the latest addition as of Tuesday.

In addition to Rodgers and Herbert, Anthony Richardson (shoulder), Kirk Cousins (Achilles), Daniel Jones (knee) Deshaun Watson (shoulder) and Joe Burrow (wrist) all sustained season-ending injuries.

Here’s a week-by-week timeline of all the starting quarterbacks sidelined this season by injury:

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Week 14: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert, 25, won five of his 13 starts this season, completing 65.1% of his passes for 3,134 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His 17,223 career passing yards are the most by any player in their first four seasons.

Prior to his injury, Herbert started 62 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak by a quarterback, behind the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, who has started 84 straight games. 

Week 11: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow, who became the highest-paid player in NFL history in September after signing a five-year, $275 million contract extension, suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist in the Bengals’ 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Nov. 16. The injury to his throwing hand happened in the second quarter when he landed on it following a hit and appeared in visible pain following a touchdown pass on the next play. He underwent season-ending surgery on Nov. 27.

‘I landed on the wrist a little bit,’ explained Burrow, who was hampered by a calf injury to start the season. ‘The next play, the touchdown pass I felt a pop in the middle of the throw.’

Burrow, 27, won five of his ten starts this season, completing 66.8% of his passes for 2,309 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. This is the second time an injury has cut Burrow’s season short. He sustained a season-ending knee injury as a rookie in Week 11 of the 2020 season.

Week 10: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson suffered a shoulder injury, a displaced fracture in his right glenoid in his throwing shoulder, during the Browns’ 33-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 12. Watson was injured in the first half of the game, but was able to finish out the contest. However, he had season-ending surgery on his shoulder on Nov. 21.

Watson, 28, won five of his six starts this season, completing 61.4%, of his passes for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. During the past three seasons, Watson has only started 12 games.

Week 9: Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Daniel Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million contact extension with the Giants in March, suffered a torn ACL in the team’s 30-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 5. The injury occurred during the second quarter when Jones dropped back for a pass, his right knee buckled under him and he went down awkwardly. He missed the previous three weeks due to a neck injury.

Jones, 26, lost five of his six starts this season, completing 67.5% of his passes for 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions. This will mark the second time in three years that an injury has ended his campaign early. In 2021, he was sidelined for the final six games by a neck injury.

Week 8: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Cousins, 35, won four of his eight starts this season, completing 69.5% of his passes for 2,331 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s started 87 games for the Vikings since arriving in 2018 and missed only two games: one when the team rested its starters in 2019 and another in 2021 after testing positive for COVID-19.

Week 5: Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Rookie QB Anthony Richardson’s first season in the NFL ended after only four games. Richardson suffered a reported Grade 3 AC joint sprain in his shoulder during the Colt’s 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 8 and the team announced on Oct. 18 that he would undergo season-ending surgery.

Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023 NFL draft in April, won two of his four starts, completing 59.5% of his passes for three touchdowns and one interception. Richardson missed one game earlier in the season due to a concussion.

Week 1: Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury just four plays into his highly anticipated Jets’ tenure during New York’s 22-16 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 11 on ‘Monday Night Football.’ The injury happened on a sack from Bills’ DE Leonard Floyd. Rodgers got up before falling back to the ground.

‘Before even an MRI, I knew what happened. I knew I tore my Achilles. I had popped my calf a few times… and it was not that sensation, so I knew that this was not a good situation,’ Rodgers, 40, said afterwards.

AARON RODGERS: How’s the Jets QB rehabbing his torn Achilles so fast? Here’s what medical experts say

He underwent season-ending surgery on Sept. 13 with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and promised a ‘damn good rehab plan that will shock some people.’ He did just that, blowing away general rehab timeline of six to nine months. Rodgers was cleared to return to practice in a limited capacity as the quarterback on Nov. 29,. although he remains on the injured reserve. He’s not expected to return this season.

IRVING, Texas – Roger Goodell was struck by the irony.

This week’s big officiating crisis flows from the episode at the end of the Buffalo Bills’ victory at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, which ignited MVP Patrick Mahomes like something awful.

‘I find it ironic that I’m sitting here answering questions about the officials got it right, and they’re being criticized,’ the NFL commissioner said as league meetings wrapped up on Wednesday. ‘I think it shows how difficult it is for them to do their job.’

Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, went ballistic after a would-be, go-ahead touchdown was wiped out by a penalty – wide receiver Kadarius Toney lined up offsides – and in the aftermath blasted the crew headed by referee Carl Cheffers.

While Mahomes has since expressed regret, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid walked back on his postgame criticism, the furor only added to a tsunami of criticism of NFL officiating that has intensified in recent weeks.

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While Goodell was correct in pointing out the irony of the Chiefs’ gripes, the optics of having one of the NFL’s biggest stars openly question the credibility of officiating should represent a concern, as Mahomes is hardly the only high-profile player who has gone off on officiating.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, arguably the front-runner to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, called the officiating a “travesty” following a victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Garrett maintained that officials allowed blockers to consistently cross the line with infractions that were ignored.

‘I mean, respect to those guys, it’s a hard job, but hell, we have a hard job as well,’ Garrett said during his postgame news conference. ‘You can’t make it harder by throwing holding and hands to the face out the rulebook. And like I said, I got a lot of respect for those guys, but we get scrutinized for the plays that we don’t make. So, someone has to hold them accountable for the plays or the calls they don’t make. And they need to be under the same kind of microscope as we are every single play.’

Garrett’s remarks came a week after Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt suggested that blatant holding calls against him were so consistently ignored during a loss against the Arizona Cardinals that he felt the league had a vendetta against him.

Similarly, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons said apparently missed holding calls were “comical” after a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

Asked about the wave of criticism coming from high-profile players, Goodell didn’t dare bite back.

‘We understand,’ he said. ‘That’s not new. We get that. And it’s frustrating. You know how hard the players are playing, you know how hard the coaches are coaching. We know how much the fans put in with passion. So, we want to get it right.’

The scrutiny on officials never lets up. Nor does the league’s defense. Of course, the criticism comes from all corners, including broadcasters (hello, Troy Aikman) and fans on social media.

Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president for football operations, isn’t ready to push the panic button. But the noise has to strike a nerve.

‘You’ve got half the teams that win on the week, ‘The officiating was good,’ ‘ Vincent said. ‘The other half that loses, you don’t like officiating. That’s the reality of our game.’

Vincent, who oversees the officiating, stressed that he is hardly content. He mentioned consistency from crew to crew – a common criticism – is a key quality control emphasis. Yet he also refused to declare that the heat is any worse this season – though others have argued otherwise.

‘We’re at that time of year,’ Vincent said. ‘This happens every year.’

It’s Vincent who is often the league’s point man in fielding calls from angry coaches, general managers and owners who call in with complaints.

‘Sometimes I have to put on the hat,’ he said. ‘I call it ‘Misery Monday.’ ‘

Despite the scrutiny, there’s no apparent appetite for a major overhaul. At least not that this point.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, for instance, pushed back on the frequent suggestion about employing full-time officials.

‘I’m satisfied with the way we attempt to have a fair game,’ Jones told reporters.

After all, NFL revenues and TV ratings continue to soar.

Illinois State University apologized after an incident during a basketball game against Norfolk State University on Saturday after fans were heard using racial slurs at a Black player for Norfolk State.

The broadcast crew commentating on the game said they heard fans making comments that were ‘of a racial nature.’

Norfolk State guard Jamarii Thomas exchanged words with a fan before the referee got involved.

Norfolk State coach Robert Jones said on social media, ‘I’m not letting anybody call my players a racial slur.’

‘Those are my kids and I will fight for them,’ Jones added. ‘We have come too far in society to be called the N- word at college basketball game.’

Norfolk State won the game 64-58.

‘The men’s basketball game on Saturday between Illinois State and Norfolk State was regrettably marred by the report of a racial slur directed at a Norfolk State player by an Illinois State fan,’ Bill Salyer, Illinois State director of athletic communications said in a statement. ‘The use of racial slurs and other offensive language targeting people for their identity is abhorrent and is not tolerated by Illinois State University. Among Illinois State’s core values are respect for others, diversity, and inclusion.’ 

Illinois State coach Ryan Pedon and Jones then confronted each other and were issued technical fouls and multiple fans were ejected from the game.

Pedon also apologized to Jones on social media.

‘I was wrong for allowing the situation to escalate,’ Pedon said in a statement. ‘This was a misunderstanding in which I reacted to him without understanding the situation and I own that mistake 100%.’

Days later, Jones was not satisfied with the apology.

‘For me, you had four opportunities to make it right in person. So let’s not make it right now when 6 million people have seen the video,’ Jones said. ‘There was no apology about anything with the racial slurs. I can’t respect that.’

Pro wrestling is storytelling, and ‘The Iron Claw’ may be the latest and best example of that.

While quality movies about professional wrestling are few and far between — ‘Ready to Rumble,’ anyone? — there’s no denying that there are plenty of behind-the-kayfabe stories that are made for the big screen.

Starring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White, making its way to the silver screen in December is ‘The Iron Claw,’ a film that tells the story of the Von Erichs (real name Adkisson), a family of wrestlers which rose to stardom in the late ’70s and ’80s. As is unfortunately the case with a sizeable portion of wrestlers, though, the film will focus on both the triumphs of the Von Erichs as well as the infamous tragedies that befell the family since their arrival in the squared circle.

Distributed by Academy award-winning production company A24 Films, ‘The Iron Claw’ is sure to tug at heartstrings — and tag ropes — this holiday season. Here’s what to know about ‘The Iron Claw’s’ subjects, cast, release date and more:

Who are the Von Erich brothers?

Better known as the Von Erich family, the Von Erich brothers are a group of Texas-based wrestlers who rose to prominence in the 1980s, during wrestling’s famed territory days.

Heralded for their charisma, good looks and athletic ability, five of the six brothers wrestled for their father’s promotion, World Class Championship Wrestling, both as singles stars and tag team partners; Kevin, Kerry, David, Chris and Mike all held championships in WCCW as well as the National Wrestling Alliance.

Father, Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson), rose to fame in the 1950s as a villain, portraying a Nazi character when he wrestled. He later founded WCCW in the 1960s.

The Von Erich family became local celebrities in Texas with their reach extending beyond. They starred in commercials and helped build WCCW to become the nation’s most successful wrestling promotion, which also resulted in a syndicated TV program. They were famed rivals of The Fabulous Freebirds, with whom the Von Erichs had an all-time great feud in the 1980s.

The family, though, fell on hard times amid their success over the decade, with four of the five brothers dying between 1984 and 1993. David was found dead in a Japan hotel room in 1983 while wrestling for All Japan Pro Wrestling at age 25. Three other brothers died by suicide; Mike in 1987 at age 23; Chris in 1991 at age 21, followed by Kerry’s death in 1993 at age 33.

Jack, the eldest of the Von Erich brothers, died at age 6 outside of the family home; he was electrocuted and subsequently drowned.

Of the Von Erich family, Kerry eventually made it to WWF (now known as WWE) in the early ’90s, rebilled as the ‘Texas Tornado.’ He would spend a few years with the promotion before departing in August 1992.

Kevin’s two sons, Ross and Marshall, carry on the Von Erich legacy, wrestling as a tag team. Kerry’s daughter, Lacey, wrestled for TNA Wrestling, where she was a one-time Knockouts champion.

The film’s name takes after the finishing hold made famous by the Von Erich family.

‘The Iron Claw’ cast

‘The Iron Claw’ features a cast of actors as well as wrestlers:

Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich;Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich;Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich;Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich;Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich;Maura Tierney as Doris Von Erich;Brady Pierce as Michael ‘P.S.’ Hayes;Aaron Dean as Ric Flair;Kevin Anton as Harley Race;Cazzey Louis Cereghino as Bruiser Brody;Chavo Guerrero as Edward Farhat, a.k.a. The Sheik;Ryan Nemeth as Gino Hernandez.

Chris Von Erich, the youngest of the Von Erich family, will not appear in the movie, as he was removed from the script in order to consolidate characters, according to director Sean Durkin.

‘The Iron Claw’ release date

Premiering in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 8, the film is scheduled to be released in the United States on Dec. 22, 2023 and will be distributed by A24 Films.

‘The Iron Claw’ reviews

As of Dec. 13, early reviews have praised the film. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes currently polls reviews at 90%, based on 48 reviews.

In an episode of the hit show, Lasso recounts all the people who overlooked and underestimated him, seeing through him because they didn’t think he was worth their time or attention. It bothered him, he said, until he saw a quote from Walt Whitman: Be curious. Not judgmental.

“All the sudden it hits me,” Lasso said. “All them fellas that used to belittle me, not a single one of them were curious.”

The same could be said of many of the NFL’s owners. It is hardly a surprise they gravitate toward familiar names or people they think fit the part — white men — when hiring a head coach or general manager because that’s who they’re surrounded by in every other aspect of their lives.

By and large, they’re not curious to look beyond what, and who, they know. They’re not curious to challenge their assumptions. They’re not curious to discover if someone who looks different or comes from a different background might have value to their team. (Or their business or their social circle.)

They’re not curious to get to know people just because, not realizing those interactions might pay dividends down the road.

“That’s all of it. That’s the entire problem. The entire problem is (owners) hire people like them that they know,” said David Berri, an economics professor at Southern Utah University who specializes in the economics of sports.

“I don’t think you can make a policy that’s going to fix it,” Berri added. “You have to educate them and say, ‘Your current approach has significant costs because you’re not getting the right people. You keep hiring the same person over and over again.’”

The Rooney Rule isn’t going to fix this. It’s been 20 years since the NFL first implemented the policy requiring teams to interview minority candidates for their top openings and there are only seven head coaches of color this season. And one of them is an interim.

But the NFL’s Accelerator Program, begun last year for minority head coaching and front-office candidates, just might.

In addition to interview prep, participants get to meet and interact with owners and/or team officials in a more relaxed setting than a job interview. The thinking being that when owners do have an opening, they’ll remember these meetings and these candidates won’t just be another name on a list.

The latest Accelerator Program, for front-office and GM candidates, was held at the league meeting this week. More than 40 people from 31 teams participated.

“(This is about) building relationships … and seeing that there’s a lot of other talented people,” said Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer.

“This is about, really, the human-to-human connection, developing the relationship so the first time they are meeting one of these amazing candidates is not during an interview,” he added. “The relationship is already built.” 

The NFL has tweaked the Rooney Rule several times and tried to make it so teams aren’t just checking boxes. But let’s be honest. If owners don’t know these candidates, if they’re only meeting them for the first time during the interview process, of course they’re going to stick with what — and who — they know.

‘The people who are owning these NFL teams and making decisions, and the people they’re connected to, aren’t people from my neighborhood, you know?’ Cleveland Browns offensive assistant Ashton Grant told USA TODAY Sports earlier this fall. ‘I don’t think it’s a racial thing. It’s just who they’re exposed to, and who they have relationships with. Who do they know? And who can they get in contact with? I think that’s why you see all the changes, or the demographics are the way they are.’

Or as Nicole Melton, the co-director of the Laboratory for Inclusion and Diversity in Sport at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, said, “It does take some effort to go beyond, ‘Who do I know?’”

But put owners and minority candidates together in low-pressure settings where they can talk about spouses and kids and pets and hobbies, and it’s going to be easier for owners to envision that person as the face of their franchise when the situation arises. Rather than just ‘minority candidate No. 1.’

Titans general manager Ran Carthon is convinced of it. He participated in Accelerator Programs in May and December of last year and believes they were instrumental in him being hired by Tennessee.

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk didn’t disagree.

“I really enjoyed the Accelerator experience last December. We were weeks away from starting our formal general manager hiring process at the time, but it was a unique opportunity to meet some of the league’s top up-and-comers,” Adams Strunk said in an email.

“Given his experience and reputation around the league, I think Ran would have been high on our interview list even if we hadn’t met him in Dallas last year. But spending time with him in a laid-back, informal setting offered us a different perspective than the formality of an interview.”

It might seem simplistic to think the NFL’s lack of diversity could be solved with small talk and low-key conversations. But look at the way Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis operates and you realize it’s got a far better chance than anything else the NFL has tried.  

The Raiders have one of the better track records for diversity in the NFL, dating back to the days of Davis’ father Al. They hired both the first Black (Art Shell) and Latino (Tom Flores) head coaches. They had the league’s first female CEO, Amy Trask.

When Davis was looking for a new team president last year, he reached out to Sandra Douglass Morgan.

Douglass Morgan’s only NFL experience was as vice chair of the Las Vegas Super Bowl committee — an attorney, she previously had worked in politics and gaming — but Davis had been impressed with her when they’d met and kept in touch. She is now the first Black woman president of an NFL team.

Davis has used similarly fluid thinking with his WNBA team, the Las Vegas Aces. Though Davis has known Nikki Fargas for years — her husband Justin once played for the Raiders — she was coaching at LSU when Davis hired her to be the Aces president. He hired Becky Hammon as coach of the Aces after getting to know her when the team retired her jersey.

The Aces have won the last two WNBA titles, the first championships for the Davis family since the Raiders won the Super Bowl in 1984.

“As I go through life and I meet people all the time, there are a lot of people that pique my interest. `That’s somebody I’d like to work with,’” Davis told USA TODAY Sports. “There are people that, to me, stand out. I always keep that mental Rolodex.”

The NFL cannot make owners think like Davis. It cannot force owners to have the innate curiosity that makes them see possibility in everyone they meet. But it can broaden their horizons so the gap between those they know and those they don’t is no longer an insurmountable chasm.

Because the problem has never been with the people interviewing for these jobs. Or as Ted Lasso said, “I realized their underestimating me, who I was had nothing to do with it.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

Alabama football quarterback Jalen Milroe intends to return to the Crimson Tide for the 2024 season rather than declaring early eligibility for the 2024 NFL Draft. Milroe revealed the decision on Next Round Live. As a third-year sophomore, he was eligible to apply for the draft because he’s three years removed from high school.

‘I’m coming back for my senior year,’ Milroe said.

Although Milroe struggled early in the season and was not considered among the top pro prospects in the quarterback class for the 2024 draft, his steady improvement, arm strength and athleticism give him the makings of a strong case for the 2025 draft. He completed 171 of 261 passes for 2,718 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions in his first year as a starter this season, leading Alabama to an SEC championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. He also rushed for 468 yards and another 12 scores, and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting last week.

Alabama’s other top draft-eligible underclassmen include cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, linebackers Dallas Turner and Deontae Lawson and offensive tackle JC Latham.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

The home stretch of the 2023 NFL regular season is nigh. No more Saturdays off for the pros. No more bye weeks – aside from the two teams that advance to the playoffs but earn home-field advantage. And almost no more margin for error if you’re one of those clubs trying to qualify for postseason, especially among those cluster of squads currently sitting on six or seven wins – which is nearly half the league (13 teams).

Almost every matchup has significant playoff ramifications. Saturday’s entire tripleheader – Vikings-Bengals, Steelers-Colts, Broncos-Lions – feels like a wild-card weekend trailer. The old NFC Central ‘Battle of the Bays’ (Buccaneers at Packers) is back and significant with a pair of 6-7 outfits trying to keep their projected postseason berths. The AFC’s (currently) top-seeded Baltimore Ravens head to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in a pairing of division leaders. And the Philadelphia Eagles hope to end their two-game losing streak against the spiraling Seahawks at Seattle in the first-ever game flexed into the ‘Monday Night Football’ slot.

But, naturally, all eyes will be on the Dallas Cowboys (again), ‘America’s Team’ headed to Orchard Park, New York, with a win-and-in playoff-clinching scenario. But they’ll have to go through a hot, but desperate, Buffalo Bills squad mired in 11th place in the AFC … yet only a few breaks from reclaiming first place in the AFC East.

What will the fallout look like? Our experts make their picks:

(Odds provided by BetMGM. Access more BetMGM odds here.)

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Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas RaidersMinnesota Vikings at Cincinnati BengalsPittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis ColtsDenver Broncos at Detroit LionsAtlanta Falcons at Carolina PanthersChicago Bears at Cleveland BrownsTampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay PackersNew York Jets at Miami DolphinsNew York Giants at New Orleans SaintsHouston Texans at Tennessee TitansKansas City Chiefs at New England PatriotsSan Francisco 49ers at Arizona CardinalsWashington Commanders at Los Angeles RamsDallas Cowboys at Buffalo BillsBaltimore Ravens at Jacksonville JaguarsPhiladelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks

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The college football bowl season is upon us. The three-week, 41-game extravaganza kicks off Saturday and will take us all the way into the new year.

Now we understand that holiday time is busy, so watching all of the games might not be possible. Obviously, if you’re an alum or supporter of a particular school, you’ll seek out your team’s spot on the schedule. But if you’re a casual follower who wants to find the best matchups and prioritize your calendar accordingly, well, that’s where we come in.

With so many bowls, some are inevitably going to be better than others. And, some of these will turn out to be more entertaining than anticipated while others that should provide quality contests will turn out to be duds. But with all that in mind, here’s our annual attempt to rank the bowls by watchability.

1. Rose Bowl: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama

DETAILS: Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN, Pasadena, Calif.

We give the top nod to the Granddaddy given the multiple layers of intrigue. Of course there’s the well-chronicled controversy surrounding the Wolverines, who must now contend with the most accomplished program in the four-team era to live up to their top seeding. The Crimson Tide for their part were 31 yards from championship oblivion just a few short weeks ago, so one could say they’re essentially playing with house money at this point.

2. Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Washington vs. No. 4 Texas

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

For once, the system works as the postseason lineup builds up to the two bowls that truly matter. We’ll put this one second only because of the pedigree of the other half of the foursome, but there’s certainly no lack of star power in this one. Both the Huskies and Longhorns have played their share of nail biters getting to this point, and it’s certainly fair to expect another.

3. Orange Bowl: No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 6 Georgia

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

In terms of rankings, by poll voters and the CFP committee alike, this should be the best of the non-playoff matchups. The undeniable fact, of course, is that neither team wants to be here. How the Seminoles approach their snub and how the Bulldogs shake off the disappointment of their Alabama loss will determine if this contest does indeed warrant this lofty position.

4. Cotton Bowl: No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Missouri

DETAILS: Dec. 29, 8 p.m., ESPN, Arlington Texas.

One would be hard pressed to find a more downtrodden one-loss team and fan base than the Buckeyes, so the squads level of interest in this contest is a major question mark. The Tigers by contrast were the SEC’s breakout team and figure to be enthusiastic participants. In short, it has great game potential but only if Ohio State decides to make it so.

5. Peach Bowl: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 11 Mississippi

DETAILS: Dec. 30, noon, ESPN, Atlanta.

Though something of a consolation prize for both participants, both can say without dispute that they won the games they were supposed to this season. The Rebels did pick up a signature win against LSU, and a positive result here for the young Nittany Lions could help their narrative heading into next year’s expanded Big Ten campaign.

6. Fiesta Bowl: No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 20 Liberty

DETAILS: Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ESPN, Glendale, Ariz.

Congratulations are in order for the Flames as they get this turn on the big stage, but we’d still have to rate this as the least attractive pairing of the New Year’s Six lineup. The level of participation from the Ducks’ high-end talent will also impact this game’s aesthetics.

7. ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin

DETAILS: Jan. 1, noon, ESPN2, Tampa, Fla.

We place this game here with the caveat that it would drop in the pecking order if the star attraction chooses not to participate, a decision Heisman winner Jayden Daniels has not yet made as of this writing. There’s less reason to watch if he opts out, though even the offense-challenged Badgers might give the Tigers’ leaky secondary a battle.

8. Citrus Bowl: No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 23 Tennessee

DETAILS: Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ABC, Orlando, Fla.

Say what you will about Iowa’s offensive shortcomings, but watching the Hawkeyes is always a fascinating study of tactical football. In this case, we’ll see how their rock-solid defense holds up against an SEC-caliber offense, and whether the Volunteers’ less accomplished stoppers can win a field-position game.

9. Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona

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

Once again, the question of what constitutes a successful season would be answered quite differently by these respective fan bases. For the Wildcats, with their highest win total since 2014 and first bowl of any kind since 2017, this campaign was a smash hit. The Sooners got one result they really wanted but were prevented from achieving even bigger things by a couple of close defeats, and the team that takes the field here could look reinvented on the fly due to portal activity.

10. Sun Bowl: No. 16 Notre Dame vs. No. 22 Oregon State

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

It’s an attractive matchup on paper, but with coaches and QBs coming and going it might not deliver the goods. Beating a name-brand program like Notre Dame could only help the Beavers as they embark on an uncertain future, while getting to 10 wins would perhaps quiet the grumbling from Fighting Irish fans who are always looking for more.

11. Pop-Tarts Bowl: No. 18 North Carolina State vs. Kansas State

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

Edible mascot gimmick aside, this is a strong power-conference pairing. The Wolfpack unfortunately didn’t find their footing until late October, and the Wildcats were on the wrong side of several one-score decisions they’d dearly love to have back.

12. Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Kansas vs. UNLV

DETAILS: Dec. 26, 9 p.m., ESPN, Phoenix, Ariz.

Now we’re starting to reach the hidden gems as these two programs unaccustomed to sustained gridiron success should definitely bring the effort. Though the Rebels fell short in the Mountain West finale, the fact they were there at all after nine consecutive losing seasons speaks volumes, and the Jayhawks are no longer just a basketball school – ask Oklahoma.

13. Texas Bowl: No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M

DETAILS: Dec. 27, 9 p.m., ESPN, Houston.

It’s hard to know what we’ll get from either participant in this one, but curiosity makes it worth an early look. The Cowboys’ season can best be described as up-and-down, while the Aggies’ drift into mediocrity that led to an expensive coaching change is well documented.

14. Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Kentucky

DETAILS: Dec. 29, noon, ESPN, Jacksonville, Fla.

Naturally this contest won’t settle the ongoing ACC/SEC debate/feud, but it will be cited as a datapoint nevertheless. The Tigers to their credit closed on a four-game winning streak after their league title hopes were already dashed, and the Wildcats’ upset of Louisville helped to salvage a brutal second half of the season.

15. Holiday Bowl: No. 15 Louisville vs. Southern California

DETAILS: Dec. 27, 8 p.m., Fox, San Diego.

This isn’t the destination either team wanted, as the Trojans failed to live up to their preseason billing and the Cardinals dropped their last two games to miss out on the Orange Bowl. USC games tend to at least be high-scoring, but with its offense – minus Caleb Williams – now in flux that’s a bit more iffy.

16. Liberty Bowl: Iowa State vs. Memphis

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

The Tigers might have been the quietest nine-win team in the country, with all three of their losses by 10 points or fewer. Their hometown fans should make plenty of noise as they take on the Cyclones, classic overachievers in the crowded Big 12 overcoming a 2-3 start.

17. Armed Forces Bowl: No. 25 James Madison vs. Air Force

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

In the end, the Dukes got their first bowl opportunity ahead of schedule but had to bid farewell to the coach that oversaw the successful transition. The Falcons, in the New Year’s Six conversation until a winless November, would like to go out on a better note.

18. New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. New Mexico State

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 5:45 p.m., ESPN, Albuquerque.

The happy-to-be-here factor would seem to favor the Aggies, who made the most of their first year in Conference USA by reaching the title game and are bowling in consecutive seasons for the first time in over six decades. The Bulldogs were in the driver’s seat in the Mountain West before closing on a three-game slide that scuttled their title aspirations.

19. Duke’s Mayo Bowl: North Carolina vs. West Virginia

DETAILS: Dec. 27, 5:30 p.m., ESPN, in Charlotte, N.C.

This is another case of identical records but very different views thereof. Eight wins is a significant feat for the Mountaineers in a season that began with the coach’s chair feeling quite warm, but for the Tar Heels it feels empty after a 6-0 start.

20. Cure Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Miami (Ohio)

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m., ABC, Orlando, Fla.

Among the better selections on opening Saturday is this pairing of the MAC champ and the Sun Belt runner-up. The RedHawks avenged their only league loss to Toledo in the title game and also own a victory against Big 12 rookie Cincinnati, while the Mountaineers’ season highpoints include handing the Dukes of James Madison their lone setback.

21. Birmingham Bowl: Duke vs. Troy

DETAILS: Dec. 23, noon, ABC, Birmingham, Ala.

The Sun Belt champion Trojans had to say goodbye to their coach but get to stay fairly close to home for this postseason opportunity. It’s a transition time for the Blue Devils as well as they look to salvage a disappointing second half of the season with their coach and injured star quarterback off to greener pastures.

22. LA Bowl: Boise State vs. UCLA

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., ABC, Inglewood, Calif.

In one of the highlights of the bowl season’s opening day, the Broncos, who came seemingly from out of nowhere to win the Mountain West title, take on the Bruins, whose offense took a significant step back in their last trip through the Pac-12.

23. Las Vegas Bowl: Northwestern vs. Utah

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

It’s an imperfect predictor of how the actual game will unfold, but this is a pairing of teams who feel quite differently about their records. The campaign was a letdown for the Utes, winners of the last two Pac-12 crowns, but a huge step forward for the Wildcats, especially considering the tumultuous start to the year.

24. New Orleans Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 2:15 p.m., ESPN, New Orleans.

Props to the Gamecocks, whose first season in the FBS will end with a bowl trip. They figure to provide a good test for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who finished in a crowded Sun Belt pack.

25. Military Bowl: No. 24 Tulane vs. Virginia Tech

DETAILS: Dec. 27, 2 p.m., ESPN, Annapolis, Md.

The Green Wave came up short in their repeat bid in the American Athletic, and they now find themselves in a coaching transition as they look to secure a Top 25 finish. The Hokies showed improvement over the course of the season, and they figure to have a crowd advantage as they look to carry the momentum into the offseason.

26. Hawaii Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State

DETAILS: Dec. 23, 10:30 p.m., ESPN, Honolulu.

The Mountain West tiebreaker didn’t go the way of the Spartans, but this destination is a nice consolation prize. They should also get a good game from the Chanticleers, who’ve come back to earth a bit since their 2020-21 run but remain in the Sun Belt’s upper tier.

27. Fenway Bowl: No. 19 SMU vs. Boston College

DETAILS: Dec. 28, 11 a.m., ESPN, Boston.

While we can’t endorse all the handwringing from certain league officials, there’s no disputing that the American Athletic champion Mustangs deserved a better bowl assignment. Nevertheless, SMU will want to make a positive impression against one of its future ACC opponents despite playing in the Eagles’ home territory.

28. Myrtle Beach Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Ohio

DETAILS: Dec. 16, 11 a.m., ESPN, Conway, S.C.

The first bowl to kick off will be worth a look. It does have mismatch potential though, as the Bobcats and their highly-ranked defense with a ledger that includes a win against Iowa State could subdue the Eagles, who dropped their last three games.

29. First Responder Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State

DETAILS: Dec. 26, 5:30 p.m., ESPN, Dallas.

You could do worse than watching this Lone Star State pairing. The Bobcats, relative newcomers to the FBS, make their bowl debut, while the Owls look to close out their first winning season since 2014, which also marked their last bowl victory.

30. Arizona Bowl: Toledo vs. Wyoming

DETAILS: Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m., Tucson, Ariz.

This could actually turn out to be among the more attractive contests matching Group of Five members. The fact that it can only be streamed, however, will deter casual viewers from finding it.

31. Pinstripe Bowl: Miami (Fla.) vs. Rutgers

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

Remember when the selling point for bowl games used to be a holiday venture to a warm-weather destination? But while convincing Hurricanes’ fans to come north is difficult, that still might not translate into much of a home region advantage for the Scarlet Knights, a mere blip on the Big Apple’s sports radar.

32. Music City Bowl: Auburn vs. Maryland

DETAILS: Dec. 30, 2 p.m., ABC, Nashville, Tenn.

While both these teams had some moments this season, they primarily came in the context of ‘close, but’ or ‘if only.’ As such, it’s hard to predict the level of effort the participants will put forth.

33. Frisco Bowl: Marshall vs. Texas-San Antonio

DETAILS: Dec. 19, 9 p.m., ESPN, Frisco, Texas.

Here we have yet another realignment reunion as former Conference USA members are brought together. The Roadrunners, now in the American, are a lot closer to home and have a good chance to even their series record against the Thundering Herd, now in the Sun Belt, who failed to score in double digits in three of their last five outings.

34. Gasparilla Bowl: Central Florida vs. Georgia Tech

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

Life in the Power Five wasn’t a complete success for UCF, but the Knights did manage some good results in the Big 12, most notably a thrashing of eventual runner-up Oklahoma State. The Yellow Jackets, playing in their first bowl since 2018, will be enthusiastic participants.

35. Famous Toastery Bowl: Old Dominion vs. Western Kentucky

DETAILS: Dec. 18, 2:30 p.m., ESPN, Charlotte, N.C.

Sadly this bowl’s usual home in the Bahamas is undergoing renovations, but the Carolinas are nice this time of year, right? It probably won’t matter to the players, but things could get awkward for some school officials as Old Dominion, now in the Sun Belt, renews acquaintances with one of its former Conference USA opponents.

36. Independence Bowl: California vs. Texas Tech

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

For what it’s worth, it’s the first matchup of major conference squads in the bowl lineup. The Golden Bears are probably happier to be here after winning their last three games to get to the six-victory threshold, while the Red Raiders’ injury-plagued campaign that began with promise and a preseason ranking was largely a disappointment

37. Idaho Potato Bowl: Georgia State vs. Utah State

DETAILS: Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m., ESPN, Boise.

This one could produce some points if nothing else. The Aggies have a momentum advantage having won their last game against New Mexico to get eligible, while the Panthers enter on a five-game losing streak.

38. 68 Ventures Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama

DETAILS: Dec. 23, 7 p.m., ESPN, Mobile, Ala.

We’re not picking on the MAC, we promise. A couple of its member institutions will show up much higher on this list. But another clash of .500 squads, in effect a home game for the Jaguars, doesn’t move the needle.

39. Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State

DETAILS: Dec. 23, noon, ESPN, Montgomery, Ala.

Considering the RedWolves began the season by being outscored 110-3 in their first two games and the Huskies lost to an FCS opponent, getting to six wins is not to be taken lightly for either team. But unless you’re a diehard fan of one of these schools you probably won’t go out of your way to watch it.

40. Boca Raton Bowl: South Florida vs. Syracuse

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

Not all 6-6 records are created equal. At Syracuse, it meant a coaching change was needed. But it’s a sign of progress for the Bulls with first-year coach Alex Golesh leading them to their first bowl since 2018.

41. Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota

DETAILS: Dec. 26, 2 p.m., ESPN, Detroit.

The bowl that drew the short straw having to take the team with a losing record lands at the bottom of the list. There’s actually a bit of recent history between these programs, as the Falcons upended the Golden Gophers 14-10 in September of 2021, but it’s doubtful anyone on either side was clamoring for a rematch of that one.

Let’s not mince words about this – the college bowl system is weird. There’s nothing quite like it in any other sport.

The games count – sort of –, but really they don’t. Well, except for a couple. In the sport’s modern era, a significant number of the participating teams will be in the midst of a coaching change, have draft-eligible players sitting out, have other players hitting the transfer portal, or a combination of all of these.

Given all the moving parts, in addition to the simple reality that the games just mean more to some squads than others – and no, not just in the conference with that obnoxious slogan –, and it’s fair to say you know as much about who is actually going to win than we so-called experts do.

But if nothing else, it’s fun to try. Here’s the full lineup of the FBS bowls, from Myrtle Beach all the way through the playoff semifinals in the Rose and Sugar, with the panel’s predictions.