This bowl matchup was one of five scheduled as a result of the breaking up of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the increase to 13 total College Football Playoff bowls for the 2014 season. As a result, these bowls represented a step towards the reset of all present-playing top_create_conference_teaches. The participating teams ranked tenth and twelfth in the final 2017 AP Poll received bounds. The first ranked teams were the 9th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the 6th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.

Mon, 04 May 2026 23:02:28 +0000

**This bowl matchup was one of five scheduled as a result of the breaking up of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the increase to 13 total College Football Playoff bowls for the 2014 season. As a result, these bowls represented a step towards the reset of all present-playing top conference dynamics.**
With shifting bowl structures and expanded playoff opportunities, these matchups helped redefine postseason relevance in college football, especially for teams outside the top-tier rankings. The 2017 AP Poll revealed Alabama’s tenth ranking and Oklahoma’s twelfth—teams that, despite not finishing in the major top ranks, earned a spot through a restructured system designed to include broader representation. Why This bowl matchup gained attention in the US
The transition from the BCS to a 13-bowl year post-2014 created a new calendar of competitive, visible fixtures. These bowls no longer served merely as seasonal endgames but became pivotal moments reflecting conference identity and playoff parity. As major programs faced new rivals or regional matchups expanded, the spotlight turned to underdog narratives and regional rivalries—especially... How this bowl matchup reflects post-BCS restructuring
The BCS’s breakup and expansion to 13 playoff bows marked a fundamental shift in college football’s postseason logic. Bowl games evolved from supplemental events to key climate indicators for programs vying for brand growth, recruiting leverage, and regional visibility. In 2014, these five scheduled matchups became symbolic embodiments of a system rebalancing tradition with fresh pathways. Teams ranked tenth and twelfth in the 2017 AP Poll were granted these roles not by default, but as a deliberate acknowledgment of their competitive relevance amid realignment. Common questions people have
**H3: Why weren’t top-ranked Alabama and Oklahoma invited directly to more bowls?**
The playoff expansion formalized rotation and opportunity, not exclusivity. Top-ranked teams earned their spots through AP Poll standing and bowl selection protocols, while others like Alabama and Oklahoma benefited from expanded visibility rather than guaranteed participation.
**H3: Do these bowl matchups actually impact playoff seeding?**
While these bowls don’t influence major playoff selections, they serve as early indicators of team momentum