This week in the NCAA Football Bowl Games 2024-25 has been a rollercoaster of emotions, with surprise wins and unforgettable moments. Looking back on the past three days of NCAA matches, the Music City Bowl on December 30, 2024, was a testament to the power of resilience as Missouri staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Iowa 27-24. Despite being outscored in the first quarter, they rallied with the help of Craig B.’s consistent performance, securing their third straight triumph. Illinois’ underdog victory over South Carolina with a narrow 21-17 win in the Citrus Bowl was a defensive showdown that inspired all who witnessed it. The main reason for Illinois’ victory was their early lead in the first quarter, thanks to Franklin Z. and Olano D.
On December 31, 2024, LSU and Baylor played a challenging game in the Texas Bowl. The game was high-scoring, favoring LSU with a dominant scoreline of 44-31. Both teams showcased explosive offensive plays, but LSU’s offense overwhelmed Baylor’s defense. Ramos D. performed phenomenally on game day, which was also a vital reason for the team’s victory.
The ReliaQuest Bowl witnessed Michigan’s impressive victory over Alabama with a score of 19-13. Michigan’s performance was a balanced masterclass, with both offense and defense shining. They outscored the opponent in the first quarter with a dominant 16-0, and while the second and third quarters were challenging, their early lead saved them from defeat. In the Sun Bowl, Washington Huskies and Louisville had an exciting battle, where Louisville managed to outlast Washington Huskies with a narrow margin of one point, 35-34. From the start of the game to the end, Travelstead B.’s performance was impressive, with five extra points.
On January 1, 2025, the CFP Quarterfinal Peach Bowl was a battle between Texas and Arizona State. Texas edged out Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime. In the Rose Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal), Ohio State triumphed over Oregon with a decisive 41-21 score. The Buckeyes’ offense was unstoppable, while their defense executed pivotal stops to curb Oregon’s scoring.
With the same excitement, the remaining days in the week promise another set of thrilling battles that will keep every NCAA fan on the edge of their seat. The anticipation is palpable as we look forward to more unforgettable moments. To stay updated on your favorite sports, check out our website and put all your information at your fingertips.
Georgia vs. Notre Dame
The College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame was initially scheduled for January 1, 2025, but was postponed to Thursday due to a deadly terror attack in the New Orleans French Quarter. This event is scheduled for January 2, 2025, at Caesars Superdome. Following their victory over Texas in the SEC championship on December 7, 2024, Georgia received a first-round bye. Notre Dame triumphed over Indiana with a score of 27-17 in the first round, setting up a match against the Bulldogs in New Orleans. The Irish could not secure a bye because they do not belong to any conference, and the top four seeds are reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions.
According to their statistics, Georgia holds a record of 11-2, with 31.9 points per game and 21.8 points against per game. The leading rusher for Georgia is Nate Frazier, with 634 yards; the leading receiver is Arian Smith, with 750 yards; and the leading tackler is Malaki Starks, with a record of 73 tackles. On the other hand, Notre Dame has a record of 12-1, and offensively, they scored 38.8 points per game and 13.8 points against. Jeremiyah Love is the leading rusher for Notre Dame, with 1,057 yards and 445 yards; Beaux Collins is the leading receiver, and Jack Kisner is the leading tackler, with 69 tackles. The winner of this battle will face off No. 6 Penn State in the CFP semifinals. Considering the overall performances, Georgia will have an edge to win this game over Notre Dame.
Ole Miss vs. Duke
In the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, Ole Miss will compete against Duke on January 2, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in the highly anticipated NCAA football Bowl Games 2024-25. Under the head coach Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss is ready for their fifth straight bowl appearance. With an impressive record of 38-13 since 2021, they ranked third among all SEC schools in wins during this period. This bowl game will be an excellent opportunity for Ole Miss to secure another 10 wins this season. At the same time, Duke has a rich history in football, with 17 conference championships and other notable achievements, such as ranking in the top 25 of the BCS standings and the AP poll during the 2013 season.
However, this season was challenging, as were their key players, such as quarterback Maalik Murphy and leading rusher Star Thomas, who went to the transfer portal. Where Ole Miss has a well-balanced offense and defense, but Duke’s offense needs more consideration because of the absence of key players; although their defense is more vigorous, and in this game, they will highly rely on that to secure a win over Ole Miss. This match will be an exciting one where the teams are eager to conclude the season on a high note; this game also marked their first H2H meetup, bringing a lot of nail-biting momentum to this. Therefore, with potent offense and defense, Ole Miss will have a higher chance of winning this game.
Texas State Bobcats vs. North Texas
On January 3, 2025, Texas State Bobcats will square off against North Texas at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in the forthcoming First Responder Bowl NCAA Football Bowl Games 2024-25. Both teams are looking for their second straight victory in this matchup after their disappointing defeats. North Texas sought a victory against Temple in the regular season finale to secure bowl eligibility for the third time in four years. Despite this opportunity, they have faced defeat in their last six bowl games and will aim to break this streak with a win on Friday. They have an offensive average of 34 points per game, and they throw 322.8 yards and 165.8 yards per game for rush. Defensively, they conceded 34.5 points per game, and in their last match, they gave up 17 points.
North Texas players, such as Oscar Hammond, Jeremiah Aaron, and Damashja Harris, are questionable in this game. The Texas State Bobcats beat South Alabama in their previous game after losing to Georgia State. Having won the first bowl game in school history last year, the Mean Green will look to continue their perfect bowl record. In addition to their performances, the Texas State Bobcats have an offensive average of 41.6 points per game. Their average passing yardage is 265.5 yards, and their rushing yardage is 208.8. Defensively, they gave up 24.3 points per game, and in their last match alone, they gave up 38 points. In contrast, Konner Fox and Drew Donley are questionable for this game for the Texas State Bobcats. Given Texas State’s recent form and strong offensive capabilities, they will likely come out on top in this game.
Virginia Tech vs. Minnesota
In the NCAA Football Bowl Games 2024-25, Virginia Tech will face off against Minnesota on January 3, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Minnesota lost two games to Rutgers and Penn State in the last three games. However, they snapped this listing streak in their prior match by defeating Wisconsin with a dominant score of 24-7. In the first quarter of the game, Brosmer M.’s touchdown and Kesich D.’s one extra point gave them an early lead. In addition, their defense was exceptional on the game day, stopping the opponent from scoring in three quarters. Kesich D. was appreciable in the game: he added three extra points and one field goal. Minnesota is in seventh place in the Big Ten conference with seven wins and five losses. Senior QB Max Brosmer leads the Golden Gophers, having completed 66.8% of his passes for 2,617 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Meanwhile, Virginia Tech concluded its three-losing streak by defeating Virginia with a score of 37-17. In the first quarter, Virginia Tech outscored the opponent by 10-0, and their consistent performance continued till the end of the game, saving them from their fourth consecutive defeat. Love J.‘s performance on the day was outstanding each quarter. His gameplay improved and led the team toward the path of success. In the Atlantic Coast Conference, Virginia Tech is in 10th place with a record of six wins and six losses. Junior quarterback Kyron Drones, who has thrown for 1,562 yards and rushed for 336 yards with 16 total touchdowns, is doubtful for the game. Backup Collin Schlee, with 346 passing yards and three touchdowns, is questionable. With their recent form and performances, Minnesota will be favored to win this game.
Liberty Flames vs. Buffalo
In the Bahamas Bowl at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, Liberty Flames will go head-to-head with Buffalo on January 4, 2025, in the NCAA Football Bowl Games 2024-25. Buffalo’s offense was potent this season, but the major drawback was their defense, which gave more this time. The Buffalo Bulls averaged 29.1 points scored and 28.0 points allowed per game, ranking 59th and 248th, respectively. They also averaged 164.7 rushing yards and 190.4 passing yards per game. On defense, Buffalo allowed an average of 145.3 rushing yards and 258.9 passing yards per game. On the other hand, Liberty Flames recorded an average of 30.9 points scored and 23.3 points allowed per game, ranking 48th and 50th, respectively. They averaged 259.5 rushing yards and 175.8 passing yards each game. Defensively, Liberty conceded an average of 147.9 rushing yards and 201.7 passing yards per game.
This matchup will be their third meetup in their bowl game history, and their prior two games highly favored Liberty Flames. In their last meetup in September 2023, Liberty Flames defeated Buffalo with an impressive scoreline of 55-27. In the first quarter of the game, Liberty Flames showed a balanced offense and defense that made them outscored the opponent with 10-0. This first-quarter early lead played a crucial role in securing their second triumph over Buffalo thanks to Brown N.’s one field goal, one extra point, and Sibley T.’s one touchdown in the first quarter. Despite their strong record in the H2H, Buffalo’s recent performance gives them a slight edge over the Liberty Flames in winning this game.
