All the 2020-2021 college football bowl ties, tie-ins and affiliations by conference.
After an abbreviated season, the MAC Championship Game has finally arrived. And it would not be 2020 if the MAC's championship contenders did not have their fair share of adversity.
2020-2021 College Football Playoff, New Year’s Six Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Of course, everything is up in the air when it comes to college football, any bowl schedules and games, and far more important things overall. For now, hoping all is okay and the season goes off as planned, these are the expected conference bowl tie-ins and affiliations for the 2020-2021 bowl season.
The Power Five conferences are close to set, but the Group of Five conferences are still going to need time to lock in exactly what their official tie-ins will be. Please note that there likely will be several changes over the next several months.
– The top four teams ranked by the College Football Playoff selection committee will be slotted in the semifinals: Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl, both on Friday, January 1st, 2021.
– The two winners to play in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami, Florida on Monday, January 11th, 2021.
– The highest-ranked conference champion from the American Athletic, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt will automatically get one spot in either the College Football Playoff, GoodYear Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl or Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
– The Rose Bowl is a College Football Playoff semifinal, so the Big Ten and Pac-12 tie-ins aren’t a factor this season.
– The Capital One Orange Bowl will be the ACC (the champion, if not in the CFP, otherwise, the next-highest ranked team) vs. the highest-ranked non-champion among the Big Ten, SEC, or Notre Dame that’s not in the playoff.
American Athletic Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Highest-ranked champion from the AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW & Sun Belt will play in a New Year’s Six bowl – Chick-Fil-A Peach, Cotton, Fiesta, Orange.
The American Athletic Conference doesn’t have a true pecking order. The bowls matchups are based on best possible games and geography.
– TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl vs. SEC
– Fenway Park Bowl vs. ACC
– Military Bowl presented by Northrup Grumman vs. ACC
Still to be determined among the Group of Five conferences
– Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl vs. Conference USA or MAC
– FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl vs. Sun Belt or MAC
– Myrtle Beach Bowl vs. Conference USA or MAC or Sun Belt
– New Mexico Bowl vs. Conference USA or Mountain West
– Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl vs. Conference USA or MAC or Mountain West
– SoFi Hawaii Bowl or Conference USA vs. Mountain West
– Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl or Conference USA vs. Big 12
Alternates if the one of the other conferences can’t fill the spots
– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs. ACC or Big 12
– Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl vs. SEC or ACC
ACC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Notre Dame is eligible for any ACC bowl tie-in as long as it’s within one game of the team eligible for the slot.
The ACC Champion goes to the Orange Bowl unless it makes the College Football Playoff, in which case the next-highest ranked ACC team in the final College Football Playoff rankings will get in.
1. College Football Playoff Semifinal: If Selected
2. Capital One Orange Bowl vs. SEC or Big Ten
First Tier
– Camping World Bowl vs. Big 12
– Belk Bowl vs. SEC
– San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl vs. Pac-12
– Fenway Park Bowl vs. American Athletic Conference
– New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. Big Ten
– Sun Bowl vs. Pac-12
– TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs. SEC
– ACC and Big Ten combine in the Music City and TaxSlayer, with each getting three appearances in six years. The ACC played in the Music City in 2015 and the TaxSlayer in 2016, 2017 & 2018. It’s almost certainly going to be in the Music City, but can still play in the TaxSlayer.
Second Tier
– Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl vs. SEC (or American Athletic)
Conditional if American Athletic or Conference USA can’t fill the spot.
OR
– Birmingham Bowl vs. SEC
Conditional if American Athletic or SEC can’t fill the spot.
OR
– SERVPRO First Responders Bowl vs. Big 12
Big Ten Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The Rose Bowl is a College Football Playoff semifinal. The Big Ten isn’t locked into the Rose if it gets a team into the CFP.
College Football Playoff Semifinal: If Selected
1. New Year’s Six (Chick-Fil-A Peach, Fiesta, Cotton or Orange Bowl) vs. New Year’s Six. Big Ten Champion gets a New Year’s Six spot if it’s not in the College Football Playoff.
2. Citrus Bowl vs. SEC
3. Outback Bowl vs. SEC
4. Belk Bowl vs. ACC
5. Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl vs. SEC
6. New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. ACC
7. Cheez-It Bowl vs. Big 12
8. Redbox Bowl vs. Pac-12
9. Quick Lane Bowl vs. MAC
Las Vegas Bowl vs. Pac-12
Note: Big Ten alternates with the SEC between the Las Vegas and Belk bowls over the next six seasons. Vegas is 2021, 2023, 2025, Belk is 2020, 2022, 2024
Big 12 Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The Sugar Bowl is a College Football Playoff semifinal. The Big 12 isn’t locked into the Sugar if it gets a team in.
College Football Playoff Semifinal: If Selected
1. New Year’s Six (Chick-fil-A Peach, Cotton, Fiesta) vs. New Year’s Six
Big 12 Champion goes here if not in the College Football Playoff.
2. Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Pac-12
3. Camping World Bowl vs. ACC
4. Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl vs. SEC
5. Liberty Bowl vs. SEC
6. Cheez-It Bowl vs. Big Ten
7. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs. Group of Five Program
8. SERVPRO First Responders Bowl vs. ACC or American
Conference USA Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Highest-ranked champion from the AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW & Sun Belt will play in a New Year’s Six bowl – Chick-Fil-A Peach, Cotton, Fiesta, Orange.
The Conference USA doesn’t have a true pecking order. The bowls matchups are based on best possible games and geography
– Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl vs. MAC
– R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs. Sun Belt
Still to be determined among the Group of Five conferences
– Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl vs. American Athletic or MAC
– Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs. Big 12
– New Mexico Bowl vs. American Athletic or Mountain West
– SoFi Hawaii Bowl or American Athletic vs. Mountain West
– Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl vs. American Athletic or MAC or Mountain West
Independent Bowl Ties, Affiliations
– Liberty, New Mexico State,UConn and UMass don’t have direct bowl ties or affiliations.
– Army will be tied into the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl vs. Pac-12
– BYU will be in an ESPN owned and operated bowl in 2020, 2022 and 2024, and in the Independence Bowl in 2021, 2023 and 2025.
– Notre Dame can take one of the ACC’s bowl spots – if it’s not in the College Football Playoff – but it must be within one overall win over the available ACC team with the best overall record.
MAC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Highest-ranked champion from the AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW & Sun Belt will play in a New Year’s Six bowl – Chick-Fil-A Peach, Cotton, Fiesta, Orange.
The MAC doesn’t have a true pecking order. The bowls matchups are based on best possible games and geography.
– Camellia Bowl vs. Sun Belt
– LendingTree Bowl vs. Sun Belt
– Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl vs. Conference USA
– Nova Homes Loans Arizona Bowl vs. Mountain West
– Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs. Mountain West
– Quick Lane Bowl vs. Big Ten
Still to be determined among the Group of Five conferences. MAC will get spots in two of them.
– FBS Mortgage Cure Bowl or American Athletic or Sun Belt
– Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl or American Athletic, Conference USA or Mountain West
– Myrtle Beach Bowl or American Athletic or Sun Belt
– Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl or American Athletic or Conference USA
Mountain West Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Highest-ranked champion from the AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW & Sun Belt will play in a New Year’s Six bowl – Chick-Fil-A Peach, Cotton, Fiesta, Orange.
The Mountain West doesn’t have a true pecking order. The bowl matchups are based on best possible games and geography.
– Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs. MAC
– SoFi Hawai’i Bowl vs. American Athletic or Conference USA
– LA Bowl vs. Pac-12
– NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl vs. MAC
Still to be determined among the Group of Five conferences.
– Gildan New Mexico Bowl or American Athletic or Conference USA
– Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl or American Athletic, Conference USA or MAC
Pac-12 Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The Rose Bowl is a College Football Playoff semifinal. The Pac-12 isn’t locked into the Rose if it gets a team into the CFP.
Note: Pac-12 will have one more bowl tie-in to be named later.
College Football Playoff Semifinal: If Selected
1. New Year’s Six (Chick-fil-A Peach, Cotton, Fiesta) vs. New Year’s Six
Pac-12 Champion goes here if not in the College Football Playoff.
Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Big 12
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl vs. ACC
Las Vegas Bowl vs. SEC
Redbox Bowl vs. Big Ten
Sun Bowl vs. ACC
Walk-On’s Independence Bowl vs. Army
LA Bowl vs. Mountain West
SEC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The Sugar Bowl is a College Football Playoff semifinal. The SEC isn’t locked into the Sugar if it gets a team in.
College Football Playoff Semifinal: If Selected
1. New Year’s Six (Chick-fil-A Peach, Cotton, Fiesta, Orange) vs. New Year’s Six
SEC Champion goes here if not in the College Football Playoff.
2. VRBO Citrus Bowl vs. Big Ten
The Citrus Bowl gets its pick of the top SEC team available after the CFP shakes
The SEC will assign teams to the respective bowls in this pool.
– Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl vs. Big 12
– AutoZone Liberty Bowl vs. Big 12
– Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl vs. Big Ten
– Las Vegas Bowl vs. Pac-12
– Outback Bowl vs. Big Ten
– TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs. ACC
Second Tier
– Birmingham Bowl vs. American Athletic or ACC
– Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl vs. ACC (or American Athletic)
Belk Bowl vs. ACC
Note: SEC alternates with the Big Ten between the Las Vegas and Belk bowls over the next six seasons. Belk is 2021, 2023, 2025, Las Vegas is 2020, 2022, 2024
Sun Belt Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Highest-ranked champion from the AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW & Sun Belt will play in a New Year’s Six bowl – Chick-Fil-A Peach, Cotton, Fiesta, Orange.
The Sun Belt doesn’t have a true pecking order after the New Orleans. The bowls matchups are based on best possible games and geography.
1. R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs. Conference USA
– Camellia Bowl vs. MAC
– LendingTree Bowl vs. MAC
Still to be determined among the Group of Five conferences.
– FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl or American Athletic or MAC
– Myrtle Beach Bowl or American Athletic or MAC
The Ball State football team faced the Buffalo Bulls in the 2020 Mid-American Conference Championship game in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday, Dec. 18.
© Carlos Osorio, AP Ball State players reach for the trophy after defeating Buffalo 38-28 in the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)Ball State defeated UB 38-28.
Ball State improved to 6-1 overall. The Buffalo Bulls went to 5-1 overall. After Friday, Ball State leads the all-time series 10-2 against Buffalo.
MAC Champions: See Ball State football celebrate winning 2020 MAC Championship game vs. Buffalo Bulls
Kevin Marks Jr. 67-yard touchdown run
His friends call him smoke for a reason 🌬️@MarksKevin is off the the races with a 67-yard touchdown! #MACtion I @UBFootballpic.twitter.com/QTSq5JQQUg
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Buffalo Bulls running back Kevin Marks Jr. ran 67 yards for a touchdown with 1:16 left in the third quarter. It cut the Ball State lead to 38-28.
Christian Albright fumble return touchdown
AND. WE. HAVE. #MACtion
📺 Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToVpic.twitter.com/ITt5gZwaqe
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Ball State outside linebacker Christian Albright recovered a fumble by Buffalo Bulls quarterback Kyle Vantrease, and Albright returned it 34 yards for a touchdown with 48 seconds left in the second quarter. Ball State inside linebacker Jimmy Daw recorded the sack on the play. It put Ball State up 35-21 vs. Buffalo.
Drew Plitt 56-yard TD pass to Jalen McGaughy
We knew that Cardinals could fly but SHEESH! @dp_TheTruth unloads another deep ball to give @BallStateFB the lead!
Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToV#MACtionpic.twitter.com/ANGNx81SAO
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jalen McGaughy with 1:30 left in the second quarter. It put Ball State up 28-21 vs. the UB Bulls.
Drew Plitt touchdown pass to Justin Hall
Can y'all slow down the scoring please we're having trouble keeping up 😳@dp_TheTruth finds @ferdjvy in the endzone for @BallStateFB
📺: Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToV#MACtionpic.twitter.com/HjMF5igRv3
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Justin Hall with 5:55 left in the second quarter. It tied the game 21-21.
Kyle Vantrease rushing touchdown
Buffalo got creative here 😎 pic.twitter.com/f476E8jalb
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 19, 2020UB Bulls quarterback Kyle Vantrease ran around the right side of the offensive line for a 1-yard touchdown run with 7:31 left in the second quarter. After the extra point, Buffalo led Ball State 21-14.
Drew Plitt rushing touchdown
'PUSHHH' *Patrick Star Voice* @dp_TheTruth sneaks it in on 4th and 1 to knot the game at 14 for @BallStateFB
📺 Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToV#MACtionpic.twitter.com/l4CJtJ9Iav
Mac Champion Football
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020On fourth down, Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt ran the ball in 1 yard for a touchdown. The Jacob Lewis extra point tied the game 14-14 with 8:49 left in the second quarter.
Kyle Vantrease touchdown pass to Trevor Wilson
You wanted #MACtion, you got #MACtion@KyleV18 serves up a dot for the @UBFootball TD!
📺 Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToVpic.twitter.com/11bzJNFLvr
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Buffalo Bulls quarterback Kyle Vantrease hit wide receiver Trevor Wilson in the back of the end zone with a 24-yard touchdown pass. After the Alex McNulty extra point, UB went up 14-7 vs. Ball State with 3:41 left in the first quarter.
Drew Plitt touchdown pass to Yo'Heinz Tyler
‼️ @yoheinzz ‼️@BallStateFB marches down the field to tie the game!
📺 Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToV#MACtionpic.twitter.com/bS85Vrwc2o
Mac Champion Bowl Game 2015 Score
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Mac Champion Bowl Game 2015 Scores
Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Yo'Heinz Tyler with 7:47 left in the first quarter. It tied the score 7-7 between UB and Ball State.
Yo'Heinz Tyler: Ball State receiver Yo'Heinz Tyler leaves with injury vs. UB football in MAC Championship
Jaret Patterson touchdown run
Who else but @__JP26 🤷♂️@UBFootball is on the board first here at @fordfield
📺 Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToV#MACtionpic.twitter.com/dqeUEaddEK
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson ran 3 yards for a touchdown. It put UB up 7-0 vs. Ball State with 11:59 left in the first quarter.
MAC Championship: Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson leaves with injury vs. Ball State football
Buffalo Bulls football takes the field
Here come your Bulls! #UBhornsUPpic.twitter.com/VESdOf01kG
— UB Football (@UBFootball) December 18, 2020Members of the UB Bulls football team takes the field before the MAC Championship game vs. Ball State. Joe Cocker's song 'Feelin' Alright' plays in the background.
Read more Ball State football news:
- Betting odds: MAC Championship Game: Ball State vs. Buffalo Bulls football betting line, point spread
- MAC Championship: How to watch Buffalo Bulls vs. Ball State football on TV, live stream
- MAC Championship Game: Buffalo Bulls vs. Ball State football officials, referee, judges
- Yo'Heinz Tyler: Ball State receiver Yo'Heinz Tyler leaves with injury vs. UB football in MAC Championship
The UB Bulls football head coach is Lance Leipold. The Ball State football head coach is Mike Neu.
Erik Hall is the lead digital producer for sports with the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: MAC Championship: Ball State vs. Buffalo Bulls football video highlights, final score