The college football regular season has come to an end, but there are still a ton of games college football fans are getting excited to watch. Here is HNGN's list of the top five bowl games to watch this holiday season.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide Vs. Michigan State Spartans Cotton Bowl Dec. 31
The College Football Playoff was always going to take the top two spots on this list, but Alabama against Michigan State is clearly the most anticipated game to watch this holiday season. The Crimson Tide have been on a roll since their only loss of the season to Ole Miss in September. Nick Saban is seeking a chance to earn his fourth National Championship at Alabama, and this team arguably is the best defense we have seen from Saban since taking over in Tuscaloosa. Alabama's star running back Derrick Henry is the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, and NFL scouts will be watching him closely as he is expected to be a dominant running back at the next level. Michigan State has had a phenomenal season of their own under head coach Mark Dantonio, and their signature wins over both Iowa and Ohio State make them a battle-tested team going into the playoffs. Senior quarterback Connor Cook has had another great season with the Spartans, but faces arguably his toughest test yet against Alabama's vaunted defense.
2. Clemson Tigers Vs. Oklahoma Sooners Orange Bowl Dec. 31
While this game comes in at two on the top-five list, it does not take away from how much anticipation there will be for this game. The Tigers are the top-ranked team in the country, and have earned the top spot with an undefeated record. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is having an incredible season, and has already been named the ACC Player of the Year. Head coach Dabo Swinney will look to have his team ready New Year's Eve, as they face arguably the hottest team in college football in the Oklahoma Sooners. Bob Stoops' group is playing their best football of late, with the Sooners winning the Big 12 title behind great play from quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Oklahoma quarterback has thrown for 3,389 yards with 35 touchdowns to five interceptions. This game arguably features two of the best quarterbacks in college football going head-to-head, and should not disappoint fans as they head into the new year.
3. Notre Dame Vs. Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Jan. 1
The Fighting Irish only lost two games this season and both losses were by just two points. Notre Dame was in the conversation all year for the College Football Playoff, but a late field goal from Stanford ended any chance they had. The Irish's only losses were to ACC Champion Clemson and Pac-12 Champion Stanford, but they face another difficult challenge against the Buckeyes. Norte Dame head coach Brian Kelly has been one of the best head coaches in the nation given the amount of injuries Notre Dame has suffered this season. Quaterback Malik Zaire was lost for the year after fracturing his ankle in the second game, but backup quarterback DeShone Kizer has proven to be one of the most talented signal-callers at the collegiate level. The Buckeyes will look to contain Kizer, and star defense lineman Joey Bosa will look to create havoc for the Notre Dame offense. The Buckeyes have some incredible playmakers on offense, and running back Ezekiel Elliott may be the most dynamic player on the field when they meet New Year's Day. These two teams last squared off in the Fiesta Bowl in 2006 when the Buckeyes defeated the Irish 34-20. Both programs are led by different head coaches at this point, but the matchup between Kelly and Urban Meyer may be one of the most interesting to watch this holiday bowl season.
4. TCU Horned Frogs Vs. Oregon Ducks Valero Alamo Bowl Jan. 2
Part of what makes college football so exciting is seeing huge plays, and teams that can go back and forth all game long. This matchup could be an be an offensive explosion. The Ducks are one of the hottest teams in college football, and have won six straight down the stretch, including a win over Pac-12 Champion Stanford. Transfer quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was injured earlier this season, but since he has gotten healthy he has been tearing Pac-12 defenses apart. This game could have been one of the College Football Playoff matchups if not for injuries, as two star quarterbacks in Adams Jr. and Trevone Boykin were not able to complete full seasons for their respective teams. The Horned Frogs were one of the favorites to win the Big 12 this season, but Boykin's ankle injury, and the loss of star wide receiver Josh Doctson were huge blows. Doctson reportedly could return for this bowl game, and if he is on the field, this could be the most exciting game to watch outside of the College Football Playoff.
5. Iowa Hawkeyes Vs. Stanford Cardinals Rose Bowl Jan. 1
The Hawkeyes have had one of the best defenses in college football this season, and head coach Kirk Ferentz has done a great job with the Iowa program. Josey Jewell has been one of the most exciting linebackers in college football as he tracks ball carriers from across the field. The Hawkeyes star sophomore linebacker now has 119 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. It will be interesting to see if Jewell lines up across from Stanford's star running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey broke the NCAA single-season record for all-purpose yards with 3,496 yards and is a finalist for the Heisman after having already won the Paul Hornung Award. McCaffrey alone is enough to make college football fans tune in to this game, and the matchup between Stanford's offense against Iowa's defense makes this game a must on New Year's Day.
