Source: WRAL
The 2023 college football regular season has come to an end. The post season is upon us and there is much to talk about. If you have been under a rock lately you will know that Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama will play for a chance to be crowned national champions. Alabama was the final team making the top four after an impressive victory over defending national champions Georgia. Undefeated Florida State of the ACC was left out of the playoff with a 13-0 record but given their best play Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury, the committee did not think they were one of the four best teams in the nation.
The decision by the committee to leave FSU out has sent some people into space on how corrupt the college football system is. Some folks agreed that they are not one of the best teams but deserved a chance. The argument of deserving an opportunity versus the best four teams is a trending argument in the sports world. Next year the playoffs will extend to 12 teams so there should be less room for controversy on who deserves a chance at a national championship.
As far as our local teams, this bowl season features some interesting matchups and in some very interesting named and themed bowl games. Let’s take a look where area teams will be playing this postseason.
December 28, 5:45 p.m. on ESPN Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando, Florida) NC State vs 25 Kansas State
The Wolfpack began the season a little rocky but better play from the team’s offense turned into a five game winning streak to end the season. Along with that winning streak came a beatdown of rival North Carolina to end the regular season. With a win the Wolfpack can have only their second 10 game winning season in program history.
Let’s not forget to mention they are playing in Orlando and in a bowl game called the Pop-Tart Bowl. I’m sure the swag at the game will be next level and if the players need a choice for best Pop-tart ever it is easily the frosted strawberry flavor hands down. The winner of the game gets to take a bite out of a live Pop-Tart mascot. Do not ask me how that works because we are just as curious as you are. Wolfpack Coach Dave Doeren has an idea on how he wants to enjoy his Pop-Tart.
“Can I chase down the Pop-Tart with a nice bourbon or something like that afterwords?” Doeren said during a media availability. “Is that part of the Pop-Tart experience or not?”
Dec. 23, Kickoff: noon on ABC 76 Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, Alabama) Duke vs Troy University
The Duke Blue Devils kickoff the 2023 college football season with a huge upset of Clemson on national television. Following that big victory the Blue Devils won four one games with only one loss. Duke almost pulled off another major upset but came up short against Notre Dame. The season took a bad turn and injuries started to impact the team with star quarterback Riley Leonard getting knocked out for the season. Duke finished the regular season with a 7-5 record.
The Blue Devils will also be without head coach Mike Elko who took the job at Texas A&M after the university fired former head coach Jimbo Fisher. At this time of the year the biggest question is who will remain at Duke and who will take advantage of the transfer portal that just opened. A win by Duke would be a nice ending to a season full of highs and lows.
Date: Dec. 27, Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. on ESPN Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, North Carolina) UNC vs West Virginia Mountaineers
UNC football had high expectations for the 2023 season with their preseason Heisman candidate quarterback Drake Maye. The team also returned key players in positions to make a run for the ACC title. The Tarheels started off the season with a perfect 6-0 record. At one point it looked like the Duke/UNC game was going to feature two undefeated teams playing for the Victory Bell. But just like Duke, UNC’s season took a turn for the worse. UNC lost four of its last six games including losses to Clemson and that NC State beatdown mentioned earlier. A win after that NC State loss could help make a season full of high expectations a little better.
UNC started their 2023 campaign in the same stadium with the same sponsor as they will end their season in Duke’s Mayonnaise. UNC played in the Duke’s Mayonnaise kickoff against South Carolina. The Tarheels won the game and the winner got to hangout with mayonnaise. The winning coach of this bowl game usually gets doused with a giant tub of mayonnaise. Let’s see if Mack Brown will get that opportunity this year.
Pop-Tarts, Duke’s Mayonnaise and Brimingham describes the 2023 college football season for our local ACC teams. Good luck to all area teams in postseason play!
Read more about local teams postseason plans here
