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ESPN releases 2023 college football bowl projections after Week 2

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report09/10/23
NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Host Committee News Conference
Jan 11, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; A detailed view of College Football Playoff National Championship logo helmet at 2022 Indianapolis Host Committee press conference at the JW Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With another big weekend of college football action in the books, the bowl projections and postseason outlooks have changed considerably.

Texas took down Alabama to give one of the College Football Playoff favorites its first loss, while a handful of other contenders continued to take care of business. Then were were plenty of mid-level games that had outcomes that could shake up the bowl projections.

Below are the bowl projections for the 2023 college football season after Week 2, courtesy of ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach.

CFP National Championship

(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NRG Stadium (Houston)
Monday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Georgia vs. Florida State
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Michigan

While Schlabach’s bowl projections held intact from last week, Bonagura had to shake up his national title selection thanks to this week’s games. Previously he had Georgia vs. Alabama in the national title game. Now he’s got Georgia taking on Florida State, a matchup that would provide some really interesting storylines.

CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl

(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Monday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Michigan vs. Florida State
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Texas

Both ESPN writers saw their Rose Bowl semifinal predictions change from Week 1, thanks to the Alabama vs. Texas game. While Bonagura previously had Michigan vs. Alabama, he now has Michigan vs. Florida State. Schlabach had Michigan vs. USC but has opted to bump Texas into USC’s spot in this semifinal.

CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl

(Photo by Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Monday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Georgia vs. USC
Schlabach: Georgia vs. Florida State

Both ESPN writers have Georgia making the College Football Playoff title game, so both have Georgia in pole position getting the berth in the southern semifinal game in their bowl projections. Bonagura has USC in the mix here now, while Schlabach has bumped Ohio State for Florida State. Texas bumps Ohio State in Schlabach’s overall playoff prediction.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Friday, Dec. 29
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Tennessee vs. Texas
Schlabach: Notre Dame vs. Penn State

To kick off the other New Year’s Six games, Tennessee and Texas would be a fantastic offensive matchup. Moreover, the two schools can fight over the bragging rights on who the real ‘UT’ is. Schlabach’s pick features an equally interesting Notre Dame vs. Penn State matchup, a series that has a dead even 9-9-1 record through 19 games.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

(Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Saturday, Dec. 30
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Alabama vs. Memphis
Schlabach: Alabama vs. USC

Both ESPN writers have Alabama falling to the Peach Bowl after dropping a game against Texas on Saturday. While the Crimson Tide aren’t yet out of the playoff hunt, that means that both writers are presumably predicting a second loss for the Crimson Tide at some point in these bowl projections. Schlabach’s Alabama vs. USC matchup would be a great one for the fans.

Capital One Orange Bowl

(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Saturday, Dec. 30
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
4 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Schlabach: Miami vs. Ohio State

Once again, both writers agree that Ohio State will be in the Orange Bowl, though they differ quite a bit on which opponent the Buckeyes would face. Schlabach’s pick of Miami definitely raises some eyebrows and is a testament to the job quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and the Hurricanes did in erasing some doubters this weekend with a big win over Texas A&M.

Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

VRBO Fiesta Bowl
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Monday, Jan. 1
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
1 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Washington vs. Penn State
Schlabach: Washington vs. Tulane

Washington is a consensus pick here in the Fiesta Bowl, likely to emerge from the Pac-12 as one of the strongest teams in the league. Good enough to earn a Fiesta Bowl bid? We’ll see. But a matchup against Penn State would provide an interesting contrast of styles. And a Tulane matchup would be a fun redux of the Tulane vs. Pac-12 showdown from bowl season last year insofar as bowl projections go.

Remaining Bowl Projections:

Saturday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl

Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Ohio vs. Liberty
Schlabach: Eastern Michigan vs. Liberty

Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central
Schlabach: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina Central

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Middle Tennessee vs. Texas State
Schlabach: Louisiana Tech vs. Troy

Cure Bowl
Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Troy vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: Appalachian State vs. Florida Atlantic

New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Wake Forest vs. Utah State
Schlabach: Florida International vs. San Diego State

LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Colorado vs. Fresno State
Schlabach: UCLA vs. Wyoming

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. UCLA
Schlabach: Texas Tech vs. Washington State

Monday, Dec. 18
Myrtle Beach Bowl

Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Eastern Michigan vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: UAB vs. South Alabama

Tuesday, Dec. 19
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl

Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Georgia State vs. San José State
Schlabach: BYU vs. Air Force

Thursday, Dec. 21
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl

FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: UAB vs. Georgia Southern
Schlabach: East Carolina vs. Georgia Southern

Friday, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl

Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Marshall vs. Auburn
Schlabach: Army vs. Auburn

Saturday, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl

Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Florida vs. Cal
Schlabach: South Carolina vs. Tulsa

Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Appalachian State vs. San Diego State
Schlabach: Marshall vs. Northern Illinois

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Eastern Michigan vs. Coastal Carolina
Schlabach: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Miami (Ohio) vs. Wyoming
Schlabach: Ball State vs. Fresno State

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68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
7 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: James Madison vs. Western Kentucky
Schlabach: Coastal Carolina vs. Toledo

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Minnesota vs. Utah
Schlabach: Wisconsin vs. Colorado

EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
10:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: UTSA vs. Air Force
Schlabach: Kansas vs. Boise State

Tuesday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl

Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Michigan State vs. Toledo
Schlabach: Rutgers vs. Ohio

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Wake Forest vs. Rice
Schlabach: Cincinnati vs. Cal

Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Illinois vs. TCU
Schlabach: Minnesota vs. TCU

Wednesday, Dec. 27
Military Bowl

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: NC State vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Memphis

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Clemson vs. Mississippi State
Schlabach: Wake Forest vs. Kentucky

Holiday Bowl
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox

Bonagura: Duke vs. Oregon
Schlabach: Duke vs. Utah

TaxAct Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: UCF vs. Kentucky
Schlabach: UCF vs. Arkansas
(FUN FACT: There were 12 instances this week in the bowl projections where both Bonagura and Schlabach penciled in the same team to the same bowl, exclusing the New Year’s Six bowls.)

Thursday, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Pitt vs. SMU
Schlabach: Georgia Tech vs. SMU

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (New York)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Rutgers
Schlabach: Pitt vs. Illinois

Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Miami vs. Cincinnati
Schlabach: Clemson vs. Kansas State

Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Oklahoma vs. Oregon

Friday, Dec. 29
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Syracuse vs. Auburn
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Texas A&M

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS

Bonagura: Louisville vs. Washington State
Schlabach: NC State vs. Oregon State

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas
Schlabach: Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi State

Saturday, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Maryland vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: Maryland vs. Ole Miss

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m.

Bonagura: Northern Illinois vs. Boise State
Schlabach: Miami (Ohio) vs. San José State

Monday, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl

Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN2 and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Wisconsin vs. LSU
Schlabach: North Carolina vs. LSU

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App

Bonagura: Iowa vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Tennessee

There is still a long way to go and as we saw in Week 2, expectations can change in a hurry in college football. So while these bowl projections are a lot of fun and a great source of entertainment, you can be sure there will be plenty of movement going forward. For now, though some teams are beginning to establish themselves at the forefront of the College Football Playoff race.