Ranking the 10 best non-College Football Playoff bowl games
1. Pop-Tarts Bowl: Iowa State vs. Miami
The Pop-Tarts Bowl features a pair of teams that seemed destined for the College Football Playoff just weeks ago as Iowa State and Miami will play for the first time ever at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Dec. 28 in what could very well be the top bowl game of the season.
No. 18 Iowa State enters the game as field-goal underdogs following a 10-3 campaign where the Cyclones narrowly missed a playoff berth after being dominated by Arizona State in the Big 12 title game. It appears Iowa State will have most of its stars playing in this contest, including quarterback Rocco Becht and 1,000-yard receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. That could lead to a shootout against a Miami offense that ranks No. 1 in the country, putting up nearly 540 yards and over 44 points per game. Heisman finalist and 4,000-yard passer Cam Ward will likely play his final collegiate game for the 10-2 Hurricanes, who also fell just short of the playoff.
