2015-2016 College Football Bowl Projections After Week 1

No need to play the rest of the regular season, because here’s what’s going to happen. Welcome to the 2015-2016 college football bowl projections after Week 1 – at least they’re hopefully close to the pin.

College Football Bowl Projections

College Football Playoff

College Football Playoff National Championship

Monday, January 11, ESPN
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Playoff Winner vs. Playoff Winner
Projection: Ohio State vs. Alabama

Goodyear Cotton Bowl

College Football Playoff Semifinal
Thursday, December 31, 4:00 or 8:00 pm ET, ESPN
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Playoff vs. Playoff
Projection: Alabama vs. Notre Dame

No reason to get away from the preseason pick of Alabama now after an bruising and impressive performance against Wisconsin. No, Texas isn’t a world-beater, but the razor-sharp performance from the Irish was enough to think 11-1 is possible. Do that, and they’re going to get in considering their schedule.

Capital One Orange Bowl

College Football Playoff Semifinal
Thursday, December 31, 4:00 or 8:00 pm ET, ESPN
Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Playoff vs. Playoff
Projection: UCLA vs. Ohio State

he Michigan State-Ohio State winner will end up with the No. 1 overall spot, with the loser making a phenomenal case to get in despite not winning the Big Ten championship. Now that we know Josh Rosen can throw and chew gum at the same time, the preseason pick is stronger than ever. UCLA will finally rise up to its talent level and take the Pac-12 title and the No. 4 slot.

[MORE: 10 Things That Matter From Week 1 In College Football]

New Year’s Six Bowls

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Thursday, December 31, 12:00 pm ET, ESPN
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
CFP Top 12 vs. CFP Top 12
Projection: Wisconsin vs. Florida State

Fiesta Bowl

Friday, January 1, 1:00 pm ET, ESPN
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
CFP Top 12 vs. CFP Top 12
Projection: Baylor vs. Boise State

Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual

Friday, January 1, 5:00 pm ET, ESPN
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Projection: Michigan State vs. Oregon

Allstate Sugar Bowl

Friday, January 1, 8:30 pm ET, ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Big 12 vs. SEC
Projection: Oklahoma vs. Georgia

Remaining College Football Bowl Schedule

AutoNation Cure Bowl

Saturday, December 19, 12:00 pm ET, CBSSN
Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, FL
American vs. Sun Belt
Projection: Houston vs. Appalachian State

Gildan New Mexico Bowl

Saturday, December 19, 2:00 pm ET, ESPN
University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Conference USA vs. Mountain West
Projection: Rice vs. Colorado State

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl

Saturday, December 19, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
BYU or Mountain West vs. Pac-12
Projection: BYU vs. Utah

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

Saturday, December 19, 5:30 pm ET, ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Projection: Bowling Green vs. Arkansas State

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Saturday, December 19, 9:00 ET, ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Mountain West vs. Sun Belt
Projection: Utah State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

Miami Beach Bowl

Monday, December 21, 2:30 pm ET, ESPN
Marlins Park, Miami, FL
American Athletic vs. Conference USA
Projection: UCF vs. WKU

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Tuesday, December 22, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID
MAC vs. Mountain West
Projection: Western Michigan vs. Nevada

Boca Raton Bowl

Tuesday, December 22, 7:00 pm ET, ESPN
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
American Athletic vs. MAC
Projection: Memphis vs. Toledo

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

Wednesday, December 23, 4:30 pm ET, ESPN
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Army vs. Mountain West
Projection: Miami* vs. San Diego State
*Army not projected available

GoDaddy Bowl

Wednesday, December 23, 8:00 pm ET, ESPN
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Projection: Ohio vs. Georgia Southern

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl

Thursday, December 24, 12:00 pm ET, ESPN
Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
Conference USA vs. MAC
Projection: Middle Tennessee vs. Northern Illinois

Hawai’i Bowl

Thursday, December 24, 8:00 pm ET, ESPN
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI
American Athletic vs. Mountain West or BYU
Projection: Temple vs. Fresno State

St. Petersburg Bowl

Saturday, December 26, 11:00 am ET, ESPN
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
American Athletic vs. Conference USA
Projection: East Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Saturday, December 26, 2:00 pm ET, CBS
Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
ACC or Notre Dame vs. Pac-12
Projection: NC State vs. Arizona

Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl

Saturday, December 26, 2:20 pm ET, ESPN
Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, TX
Big 12 vs. Conference USA
Projection: Mississippi State* vs. Marshall
*No Conference USA team projected available

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Saturday, December 26, 3:30 pm, ABC
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
ACC or Notre Dame vs. Big Ten
Projection: Louisville vs. Nebraska

Independence Bowl

Saturday, December 26, 5:35 pm ET, ESPN
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
ACC or Notre Dame vs. SEC
Projection: LSU vs. Pitt

Foster Farms Bowl

Saturday, December 26, 9:15 pm ET, ESPN
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Projection: Michigan vs. Stanford

Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman

Monday, December 28, 2:30 pm, ESPN
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
ACC or Notre Dame vs. American Athletic
Projection: North Carolina vs. Navy

Quick Lane Bowl

Monday, December 28, 5:00 pm, ESPN2
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
ACC or Notre Dame vs. Big Ten
Projection: Penn State vs. Boston College

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Tuesday, December 29, 2:00 pm ET, ESPN
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Big Ten vs. Mountain West
Projection: Maryland vs. Air Force

Russell Athletic Bowl

Tuesday, December 29, 5:30 pm ET, ESPN
Orlando Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
ACC or Notre Dame vs. Big 12
Projection: Clemson vs. West Virginia

AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl

Tuesday, December 29, 9:00 pm ET, ESPN
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Big 12 vs. SEC
Projection: Texas A&M vs. Texas

Birmingham Bowl

Wednesday, December 30, 12:00 pm ET, ESPN
Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
American Athletic vs. SEC
Projection: Ole Miss vs. Cincinnati

Belk Bowl

Wednesday, December 30, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
ACC or Notre Dame vs. SEC
Projection: South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Wednesday, December 30, 7:00 pm ET, ESPN
LP Field, Nashville, TN
ACC or Notre Dame or Big Ten vs. SEC
Projection: Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech

National University Holiday Bowl

Wednesday, December 30, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Projection: Northwestern vs. Arizona State

Outback Bowl

Friday, January 1, 12:00 pm ET, ESPN2
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Big Ten vs. SEC
Projection: Arkansas vs. Iowa

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl

Friday, January 1, 12:00 pm ET, ABC
Orlando Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
Big Ten vs. SEC
Projection: Auburn vs. Minnesota

TaxSlayer Bowl

Saturday, January 2, 12:00 pm ET, ESPN
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL
ACC or Notre Dame or Big Ten vs. SEC
Projection: Indiana vs. Florida

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Saturday, January 2, 3:20 pm ET, ESPN
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
Big 12 vs. SEC
Projection: Missouri vs. Kansas State

Valero Alamo Bowl

Saturday, January 2, 6:45 pm ET, ESPN
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Projection: TCU vs. USC

Cactus Bowl

Saturday, January 2, 10:15 pm ET, ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Projection: Oklahoma State vs. California