College Football New Year's Six Bowl Predictions 2023-24
For the final season, the Cotton, Peach, Orange, and Fiesta Bowls are not included in the College Football Playoff. As the world moves to a 12-team field, all historic New Year's Six games will be folded into quarter- and semifinal matches for the foreseeable future. The 2023-24 slate of NY6 games kicks off with the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29 and ends with the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
Catch the full slate of New Year's Six games on ESPN:
- Goodyear Cotton Bowl: No. 9 Missouri (10-2) vs. No. 7 Ohio State (11-1). Dec. 29, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 11 Ole Miss (10-2) vs. No. 10 Penn State (10-2). Dec. 30, 12:00 p.m. ET
- Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 6 Georgia (12-1) vs. No. 5 Florida State (13-0). Dec. 30, 4:00 p.m. ET
- Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: No. 23 Liberty (13-0) vs. No. 8 Oregon (11-2). Jan. 1, 1:00 p.m. ET
Cotton Bowl: No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 7 Ohio State
It might be easier to compile a list of who is playing for Ohio State than who isn't. The most notable not suiting up in the scarlet and grey include QB Kyle McCord, WR Marvin Harrison Jr., and DT Michael Hall. There's a list of All-Conference players eligible for the NFL Draft that haven't yet decided. QB Devin Brown gets the start for Ohio State.
Missouri is without their top two defenders – linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper and corner Ennis Rakestraw – due to injuries. However, the rest of the team is intact as Mizzou plays in its first New Year's Six bowl since 2013. Receiver Luther Burden was one of college football's most dynamic players while Cody Schrader led the SEC in rushing.
This game is packed with offensive talent and defensive prowess. The Buckeyes haven't lost a non-Playoff bowl game since 2011 and a non-Playoff NY6 game since 2008. However, the buy-in comes from the Tigers, and their roster is in better shape.
The pick: Missouri, 27-24
Peach Bowl: No. 11 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Penn State
Almost everyone will play in this game, save for Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson and Ole Miss tackle Micah Pettus. The Rebels have been loading up in the portal for a monster 2024 season, but the 2023 team took huge strides forward. Jaxson Dart improved as a passer, and Tre Harris emerged as a superstar.
Both teams boast the most impressive list of losses; Ole Miss' two came at Alabama and at Georgia while Penn State's came against Michigan and Ohio State. In their other games, these two teams laid waste to their opponents.
Penn State has the more dependable defense, a unit that held its opposition to peanuts. Even against Ohio State and Michigan, the stop unit applied the brakes well. The Nittany Lions also showed the ability to score on elite defenses, beating Iowa 31-0, which Ole Miss lacks.
The pick: Penn State, 31-20
Orange Bowl: No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 5 Florida State
Nobody has a more ravaged roster than Florida State. They're down to QB3 in Brock Glenn, who completed just 8-of-21 passes for 55 yards in the ACC Championship Game. No players who caught a pass in that game will play in this one, and both top rushers are out. Further, FSU star Jared Verse opted out alongside three other defensive starters.
Georgia is missing a couple of key pieces, namely linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, but they're far more intact than FSU. Star TE Brock Bowers will forego the game to focus on the NFL Draft, and a few other high-round players could follow. However, most importantly, QB Carson Beck will play in the game and return in 2024.
Missing out on the CFP has opposite effects for these teams – FSU and its 12 absent starters were dejected by the decision; Georgia took it as motivation, led by college football's top motivator in Kirby Smart. This game could get ugly.
The pick: Georgia 45-17
Fiesta Bowl: No. 23 Liberty vs. No. 8 Oregon
Heisman finalist Bo Nix announced he would play one more game for Oregon. Running back Bucky Irving and standout defensive tackle Brandon Dorluss also decided to suit up before leaving for the NFL. Oregon finished the season as the No. 1 offense in efficiency, and both their losses came to No. 2 Washington – both decided by a couple plays.
Liberty secured a 13-0 season – a feat very few teams in the country can boast – and will represent the Group of Five in the NY6. Kaidon Salter and Quinton Cooley led the Flames to the No. 1 rushing attack in the country, becoming the first non-service academy to do so since New Mexico in 2016.
However, Liberty didn't play one team from the Power Five, and their schedule ranked the easiest in the country. To go from Sam Houston State and FIU to Oregon is a major step-up in caliber. With the buy-in from the Ducks, the Flames might be in for a long afternoon.
The pick: Oregon 56-28
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