What college football bowl games are there today? Boca Raton Bowl and LA Bowl

The show must go on, as the old saying goes. Amid the now annual hand-wringing over the exodus of players and coaches, there are still windows of opportunity that need to be filled with sports products. And so the college football bowl season continues, for better or for worse.

On Wednesday, two postseason contests will be held in warm-weather venues, which ended up being the original draw for these postseason exhibitions. First up is a clash between programs that have been in the hunt for the Group of Five championship title for most of the season. Then the nightcap showcases the second-place team taking the field during bowl season.

Here are today’s encounters.

Boca Raton Bowl – James Madison vs. Western Kentucky

Time/TV/Location: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Boca Raton, Florida.

Why watch: It’s easy to forget that JMU is relatively new to the Bowl Subdivision. The Dukes took a small step back this year in coach Bob Chesney’s first season, but can still reach a program milestone with their first bowl win. South Florida is a familiar destination for the Hilltoppers, who have won the event twice. Western Kentucky QB Caden Veltkamp is expected to play despite his name being in the transfer portal, although many of his teammates who helped the Toppers reach the C-USA title game will not be there . The Dukes will also be shorthanded with QB Alonza Barnett out due to injury, so they will likely rely heavily on RBs George Pettaway and Wayne Knight.

Why it might disappoint: JMU could have a significant advantage with a more cohesive roster. But WKU’s bowl history has often come with a dose of ferocity, like last year when the Toppers staged a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat Old Dominion, so anything is possible.

ON THE WAY: Ranking of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal

From best to worst:Ranking all 35 college football bowl games

LA Bowl – No. 24 UNLV vs. California

Time/TV/Location: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN, Inglewood, California.

Why watch: The good news for UNLV with coach Barry Odom’s move to Purdue is that he has at least made the job attractive enough to interest a free agent like Dan Mullen with a proven track record. Before he takes over, however, the Rebels will be led by interim coach Del Alexander in this matchup with the Golden Bears, who will be in a transition phase themselves with QB Fernando Mendoza in the portal. UNLV should have most of its key pieces on the field, including QB Hajj-Malik Williams and WR Ricky White, as well as top RB Jai’Den Thomas. California’s leading WR Nyziah Hunter is also in the portal alongside Mendoza, so either CJ Harris or Chandler Rogers will likely pass the ball frequently. The good news for the Bears is that RB Jaydn Ott could finally be back to full speed after struggling with ankle issues for most of the season.

Breaking News

Dellupodisabato

What college football bowl games are there today? Boca Raton Bowl and LA Bowl

Leave a Reply Cancel reply