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Mario Cristobal on Miami staying along with 5% probability to make CFP
After shedding to SMU in November, Mario Cristobal explains how he stored the crew collectively and targeted on making the CFP.
With 2026 now formally underway, the school soccer season is sort of at its finish. But earlier than we wrap issues up within the Bowl Subdivision with subsequent week’s College Football Playoff semifinals and the following title sport, we have now yet one more full day of bowl video games to get pleasure from.
If it’s big-name applications you need, Friday’s lineup won’t enchantment to you. But the slate does characteristic a few squads in the US LBM Coaches Poll, in addition to a few of the nation’s premier tutorial establishments. One of the prime-time contests will hopefully dwell as much as our placement within the bowl rankings – a number of of which, we freely admit, had been wildly off the mark. Here are the Friday bowl choices.
Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN in Fort Worth, Texas.
Why watch: The final full day of the bowl season kicks off with a pair of Lone Star State squads with out a lot shared historical past. These identical two groups did, nonetheless, sq. off within the First Responder Bowl two years in the past, with the Bobcats taking a 45-21 determination. The 2025 marketing campaign wasn’t an enormous success for both program, however each ought to get pleasure from this chance. Unfortunately, Owls beginning QB Chase Jenkins and backup Drew Devillier have introduced plans to switch, that means both Lucas Scheerhorn or Patrick Crayton Jr., each little-used freshmen, will probably be pressed into service. The Bobcats ought to have most of their major contributors, together with QB Brad Jackson and WRs Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn.
Why it might disappoint: Texas State generates a ton of lengthy scoring performs, and the Owls have a tendency to offer them up. That definitely appears to be like ominous from a aggressive standpoint.
Time/TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN in Memphis, Tenn.
Why watch: With a double-digit win season and the Commander in Chief’s Trophy secured, the Midshipmen have yet one more purpose to realize, a Top 25 rating to complete the marketing campaign. The Bearcats briefly cracked the ballot themselves this fall earlier than closing the yr on a four-game skid. Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby is within the portal, so the beginning will go to Brady Lichtenberg, who has tried simply six passes however accomplished 4 of them. Navy QB Blake Horvath will look to shut out his excellent profession on a excessive notice, with assist as standard from RB Alex Tecza and SB Eli Heidenreich.
Why it might disappoint: It shouldn’t. Even with most of its common lineup, Navy doesn’t normally win with vast margins however by executing higher within the particulars. Expect a detailed one right here.
Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN in Charlotte, N.C.
Why watch: Year one in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, beneath Jake Dickert unquestionably exceeded expectations. The Demon Deacons now look to shut out the yr by giving their new head coach a mayo bathtub. The Bulldogs managed only one victory in SEC play however had been inside a rating on a pair different events. Wake QB Robby Ashford wasn’t all the time an correct passer however normally received the ball the place it wanted to go. He will probably be with out draft-bound RB Demond Claiborne and breakout WR Chris Barnes who’s within the portal. The Mississippi State offense will probably be within the fingers of freshman Kamario Taylor, who didn’t have a lot luck in his Egg Bowl begin in opposition to Ole Miss however does have some speedy weapons at his disposal.
Why it might disappoint: Wake’s most vital strides this fall had been on the defensive facet, which was demonstrably not the case for the Bulldogs. Miss State might win a shootout, so it’d behoove the Deacons to average the tempo.
Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox in San Diego.
Why watch: The non-playoff bowl calendar closes in – normally – sunny San Diego, the place the Wildcats and Mustangs might placed on an offensive present. Both groups ought to have most of their high producers collaborating. Arizona QB Noah Fifita threw for two,963 yards and 26 TDs, with WR Kris Hutson serving as major goal and RB Ismail Mahdi main the bottom sport. SMU counters with QB Kevin Jennings, who additionally has 26 scoring tosses however twice as many picks with 10 on the season. He spreads the ball properly, however TE Matthew Hibner is a worthwhile weapon within the pink zone.
Why it might disappoint: We hope this one delivers the products, however each groups have opportunistic defenses that thrive on takeaways. It may get away if these happen early, as occurred to SMU in final yr’s playoff look.
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