College Football New Year's Six Bowl Predictions

The college football rankings should be in for a major shakeup after a crazy Week 5 that saw Clemson escape Chapel Hill with a one-point win, as well as two dominant performances by Alabama and Ohio State. Following these eye-opening performances, the New Year's Six bowls are looking much different, yet just as enticing.

6. Cotton Bowl: Boise State vs Notre Dame

Following UCF's loss, Boise State remains the only Group of 5 team that still has an unblemished record and looks like it could provide a challenge to one of the big boys in college football. Notre Dame rebounded from a loss against Georgia by beating a quality Virginia team, and should be in a game of this magnitude now that they are overwhelming favorites to run the table.

5. Orange Bowl: Virginia vs LSU

Miami and Florida State are still figuring things out, so Bronco Mendenhall and Virginia have the best chance of taking home the coveted "Best ACC team That Isn't Clemson" title. They did lose at Notre Dame, but Bryce Perkins and the Cavaliers don't really have a strong challenger in the Coastal Division. LSU isn't even the favorite to win the SEC West given the presence of Alabama, so a playoff spot could be hard to come by. They'll have to settle for the Orange Bowl in Miami. What a bummer.

4. Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs Texas

A rematch of last year, in which Tom Herman and the Longhorns kicked the stuffing out of Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs. At the moment, Texas is far and away the best team in the Big 12 that isn't Oklahoma. Georgia is assuredly going to end up here if they either fall to Florida in the rivalry game, or become the SEC West champion. Hopefully the second time around, Georgia comes ready to play and doesn't overlook Texas, who proved they can more than hang with them last year.

3. Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs Washington

With no more unbeaten teams after Cal lost, the Pac-12 will likely come down to either Justin Herbert's Oregon or Jacob Eason's Washington for both the North Division crown and the conference's spot in the Rose Bowl. Given how Chris Petersen and the Huskies have the edge on defense, they get the vote here. Jonathan Taylor and Wisconsin's bludgeoning of Michigan made them clear Big Ten West favorites, and they'll end up here if Ohio State is in the playoff.

2. Fiesta Bowl: Clemson vs Oklahoma

Clemson's struggles against North Carolina will likely lead to them sliding out of the No. 1 slot they have occupied to this point. Now the No. 2 team in these rankings, they will have to contend with Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma, who somehow look even more unstoppable than in previous years. Mind you, in the last two years they had Heisman-winning No. 1 overall picks at QB. Defense will be optional in the Hurts-Trevor Lawrence shootout in the desert.

1. Peach Bowl: Alabama vs Ohio State

Justin Fields and the Buckeyes cemented their status as a Top 4 team Saturday on the road against Nebraska, as the Buckeyes dismantled what was a pretty solid Cornhuskers team, up until that point. Tua Tagovailoa and Alabama, however, have been just as unstoppable on offense, and these two seemed destined to play each other if they win out.