Bowl Season is the best excuse to watch football.
It's not just about the College Football Playoff semifinals. There are 39 other bowl games on the schedule, and there is almost always a reason to watch football on the holidays.
Football is football, right? It might be two under-the-radar Group of 5 teams, an NFL prospect we didn't get to see enough of or just a fun matchup between two schools we've been waiting to see. There is a little bit of everything on this list. We found 10 bowl matchups outside the CFP that you can't miss in 2022-23.
MORE: Against the spread picks for every bowl game
Top 10 bowl games we can't wait to watch
Cure Bowl: Troy vs. UTSA
Thursday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m., ESPN
The Conference-USA and Sun Belt champions meet in a battle of 11-2 teams – and up-and-coming coaches in UTSA's Jeff Traylor and Troy's Jon Sumrall. UTSA ranks in the top 10 in total offense (486.1 yards per game), and quarterback Frank Harris is a fantastic playmaker. Troy won 10 straight games after losing to Appalachian State in Hail Mary fashion.
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Fresno State vs. Washington State
Friday, Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m., ABC
This hinges a bit on whether Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener will play for the Mountain West Conference champions. Haener entered the transfer portal last season before returning to the Bulldogs, and he didn't throw an interception in his last five starts. Washington State quarterback Cam Ward had four 300-yard games and can get the Cougars to eight wins in 2022. That is progress for first-year coach Jake Dickert.
THE CASE FOR: Georgia | Michigan | Ohio State | TCU
SDCU Holiday Bowl: No. 15 Oregon vs. North Carolina
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 8 p.m., FOX
The Holiday Bowl is back after a two-year absence. It's fun in the sun for the Ducks and Tar Heels, two teams that missed opportunities this season yet both have a chance to get to 10 wins. Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was one of the best transfer portal finds, and Drake Maye was a breakout star for the Tar Heels.
Valero Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Washington vs. No. 20 Texas
Thursday, Dec. 29, 9 p.m., ESPN
Here is another quarterback matchup we can't wait to see. Quinn Ewers earned the chance to push Texas to nine wins, and Michael Penix Jr. worked wonders for Washington in Year 1 with Kalen DeBoer. The Longhorns can win this bowl for the third time in four years. This will be a high-scoring affair.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina
Friday, Dec. 30, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
The Lou Holtz Bowl. Every bowl season features a matchup with two “it” teams for the following season. This is all of that. The Gamecocks closed the season with huge victories against Tennessee and Clemson, and for second-year coach Shane Beamer to cap that off against Notre Dame would be huge. Marcus Freeman also is a year behind, and Drew Pyne is in the transfer portal. What will the Irish do at quarterback?
MORE: Tracking big-name QBs in transfer portal
Capital One Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Tennessee
Friday, Dec. 30, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Who will get the memo to wear orange? The Vols had a break-through season, and it's a chance to prove it against the ACC champions. This also will be freshman Cade Klubnik's first start for the Tigers. That alone will be must-see TV against the Vols and their high-powered offense. Tennessee is on the rise. Clemson has been trying to stay there the last two seasons.
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Kansas State
Saturday, Dec. 31, 12 p.m., ESPN
So the Crimson Tide didn't make the playoff despite a political push from Nick Saban. Will Bryce Young opt out of the Sugar Bowl against the Wildcats – who are coming off a thrilling Big 12 championship victory? Deuce Vaughn will get his chances against the Crimson Tide defense. Alabama hasn't lost a bowl game outside the CFP since 2013.
Vrbo Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Purdue
Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m. ABC
There always is a great SEC vs. Big Ten bowl matchup on the schedule, and this is the best one. Quarterbaccks Jayden Daniels and Aidan O'Connell should be able to put an offensive show between teams that lost their conference championship games. It's also Brian Kelly's first bowl game with the Tigers.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl: Tulane vs. USC
Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., ESPN
Caleb Williams remains the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, and USC can get to 12 wins under first-year coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans averaged 41.1 points per game. Tulane wasn't too far behind at 35.2 points per game, and this will be a preview of what it looks like for Group of 5 schools in the 12-team playoff.
MORE: What a 12-team CFP bracket would look like
Rose Bowl Game: Utah vs. Penn State
Monday, Jan. 2, 5 p.m., ESPN
Utah is back in the Rose Bowl after losing a thriller to Ohio State last year, and the Nittany Lions are looking for an 11-win season. Cam Rising has been great for the Utes, and it's a send-off game for veteran Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford. Which young playmakers on both sides will step up? Say, Nick Singleton? This game will not disappoint.
