SBNation.com: All Posts by Peter Berkeshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2017-01-10T03:05:00-05:00https://www.sbnation.com/authors/peter-berkes/rss2017-01-10T03:05:00-05:002017-01-10T03:05:00-05:00Meet the walk-on who owned Bama 2 years in a row
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The former walk-on had the game of his life in last year's Championship, then scored the touchdown that took down the Tide for good.</p> <p>Clemson was in the middle of a brawl with Alabama in the 2015 season's College Football Playoff championship game. Deshaun Watson had a pair of really nice touchdown passes, which wasn't a surprise. The surprising part was who caught them. Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow was on the receiving end of both of these passes.</p>
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<p>Renfrow was Clemson's No. 2 receiver last year, bringing in two touchdowns and 88 yards on seven catches. Renfrow routinely got the better of Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick, a former five-star recruit.</p>
<p>And he did the same against the Tide a year later, running in a 24-yarder to put Clemson within a score in the third quarter, then catching the last-second pick route that gave the Tigers their first national title in 35 years, avenged the loss to Bama, and gave Nick Saban his first-ever defeat in a Championship.</p>
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<cite>ESPN</cite>
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<p>So, who exactly is this kid?</p>
<p>Renfrow is a redshirt sophomore from Myrtle Beach who originally walked onto the team in 2014. He's listed as 5'10, 175 pounds on Clemson's official website. He was a triple option quarterback in high school and <a href="http://www.campusrush.com/hunter-renfrow-clemson-tigers-walk-on-1379154341.html">eschewed scholarships to play football and baseball at the FCS level to walk on at Clemson</a>. He was offered a scholarship right before the start of the 2015 season after redshirting in 2014.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NuPViLzyiME" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Renfrow's importance in this game last year was magnified by the absences of Mike Williams and Deon Cain, who missed due to injury and suspension, respectively. This year, both are back, but Renfrow is still getting the ball.</p>
<p>The most amazing stat: he has seven career touchdowns in games against anybody besides Saban's mighty Bama defense, with four in National Championships against the Tide.</p>
<p>Mighty impressive timing for a guy whom Dabo Swinney said <a href="http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2015/08/28/intriguing-script-hunter-renfrow-story-turning-good-one-clemson/71278000/">"looks like a trainer or something"</a> and who said on the field to ESPN after the title win that he wants to be a coach some day.</p>
<p>"I think he's going to be a great NFL player some day. Eventually he'll be a 300-pound lifter and (weigh) 188. He's a baller. Football players come in all shapes and sizes. When you step on the field, it's not always about how big you are," <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/article125295289.html">Swinney now says</a>.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/1/11/10753180/hunter-renfrow-clemson-walk-on-receiverPeter Berkes2016-12-28T09:00:02-05:002016-12-28T09:00:02-05:00A&M and Kansas State meet in the Texas Bowl
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Kansas State at Texas Christian" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/o8YwcK0JuMuigiA7PK6BqLFiOnU=/0x0:2084x1389/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52411109/usa_today_9720143.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>An old time Big 12 matchup awaits.</p> <p id="kYe32r">Texas A&M won’t have to travel far to take on Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, which will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston, just down the road from College Station. However, we’ll see how motivated the Aggies are to play in this game after being in contention for much more prestigious bowls late in the year.</p>
<p id="7zReQd">November was not kind to the Aggies. They climbed all the way to No. 4 in the country, and then lost three of their final four games to plummet in the polls. The team fell apart without quarterback Trevor Knight, but he should be back in the lineup after recovering from a shoulder injury.</p>
<p id="n23F8q">The formula for Kansas State was the same as usual this year. The Wildcats ran the ball and played good defense. They can do pretty much everything well but nothing really great. Quarterback Jesse Ertz threw only eight touchdown passes on the season, but he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns as well. They’re going to run right at Texas A&M and their middle-of-the-road rushing defense. How that matchup goes will go a long way in determining the game.</p>
<h3 id="e0WIyh">How to watch, stream, and listen</h3>
<p id="TIqs6w"><strong>TV:</strong> 9 p.m. ET, ESPN</p>
<p id="eJGjoe"><strong>Radio:</strong> <a href="http://sportsaffiliates.learfieldsports.com/affiliates/texas-am">Texas A&M</a> | <a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/page/radio-network">Kansas State</a></p>
<p id="62r2dw"><strong>Online streaming:</strong> <a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a></p>
<p id="LSwVDu"><a href="http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/odds"><strong>Spread:</strong></a> Texas A&M is favored by 2.5 points.</p>
<p id="0DRNr6"><strong>Make friends:</strong> You can chat with fans of these teams during the game at <a href="http://www.goodbullhunting.com">Good Bull Hunting</a> for Texas A&M fans, and <a href="http://www.bringonthecats.com">Bring On The Cats</a> for Kansas State fans.</p>
<h3 id="LH4S27">Three big things to know</h3>
<ol>
<li id="gjqnYQ">Texas A&M, at one point, was in the top four of the Playoff rankings. Then it dropped three of its last four games, including losses to Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Those whispers about Kevin Sumlin’s job security from the beginning of the season started to creep back into the background a little bit, and while no one will confuse this game with the Cotton Bowl or Sugar Bowl, a big win here would be nice to go into the offseason with for A&M.</li>
<li id="nJeEXX">All four of Kansas State’s losses came to ranked teams, and two were by a single possession. You may not have heard much about the Wildcats this year, but they finished 38th in the S&P+ rankings and managed to win eight games. They’re 19 spots lower in the S&P+ rankings than the Aggies, but this team is not a pushover.</li>
<li id="yJ23vX">Texas A&M has the reputation as the offensive-minded team in this matchup, but it’s only averaging three more points per game than Kansas State. The Aggies should have quarterback Trevor Knight back for this game after he missed two games in November with a shoulder injury. The offense is much more dynamic with Knight in the game, so if something happens and he can’t go, it will be a big loss.</li>
</ol>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/28/14048656/kansas-state-texas-am-texas-bowl-time-tv-schedule-online-streaming-2016Peter Berkes2016-12-28T08:00:02-05:002016-12-28T08:00:02-05:00It’s Indiana-Utah in the Foster Farms Bowl
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Utah at Colorado" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TqfoR7RYo6qvkm0l9FIo1xzdnYc=/0x0:5568x3712/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52410693/usa_today_9731544.1482366307.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We could have a lively one on our hands.</p> <p id="GZrIlv">The 2016 Foster Farms Bowl has a nondescript time slot, but the matchup between Indiana and Utah could be a sneaky fun game. Both teams are capable of playing at a high level, but can also ruin things for themselves in a hurry.</p>
<p id="fljd1n">Utah had a run in the middle of the season where it was in the mix for the Pac-12 title, but it lost three of its last four games to end the regular season on a bit of a down note. The Utes are sticking with their traditional formula of physical defense and running the football, so there won’t be many surprises for them.</p>
<p id="h23W7r">Indiana has continued its tradition of wild, unpredictable games, but its path has been different this year. After years of big-time offense and swiss cheese defense, the Hoosiers actually were decent on defense this year, and their offense would frequently shoot itself in the foot. They’re playing in this game, of course, without former head coach Kevin Wilson, who was fired after the season ended over allegations of player mistreatment.</p>
<h3 id="QY10mp">How to watch, stream, and listen</h3>
<p id="b2lhlN"><strong>TV:</strong> 8:30 p.m. ET, FOX</p>
<p id="q6Q4gK"><strong>Radio:</strong> <a href="http://iuhoosiers.com/sports/2015/4/1/GEN_2014010179.aspx?path=football">Indiana</a> | <a href="http://espn700sports.com/">Utah</a></p>
<p id="OjLXAM"><strong>Online streaming:</strong> <a href="http://www.foxsportsgo.com">FOX Sports GO</a></p>
<p id="CF1AnP"><a href="http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/odds"><strong>Spread:</strong></a> Utah is favored by 7.5 points.</p>
<p id="l2pPYv"><strong>Make friends:</strong> Get to the game threads at SB Nation’s team blogs, <a href="http://www.crimsonquarry.com">Crimson Quarry</a> for Indiana fans, and <a href="http://www.blocku.com">Block U</a> for Utah fans.</p>
<h3 id="XyTZYk">Three big things to know</h3>
<ol>
<li id="shqn7P">Motivation would seem to play a big part in who will win this game. Indiana just fired its coach, but for every time you see a team mail it in after a coaching change, you see a team play hard for the new guy. Utah ended the season on a sour note, so maybe the players will be eager to turn the page to 2017. Either way, you should be able to tell early if one of these teams isn’t in the game, mentally.</li>
<li id="cI9ELE">Joe Williams and Devine Redding should put on a nice show running the ball. As their respective teams’ feature running backs, they both went over 1,000 rushing yards on the season and can carry their respective offenses on their own if they need to.</li>
<li id="Hk0uRI">If Indiana is going to have success in this game, it’ll need to avoid turnovers. Richard Lagow threw 16 interceptions this year, and the Hoosiers finished with a negative turnover ratio on the year. Utah is one of the better teams in the country in terms of turnover margin, so this is an obvious point to look for to see how this game goes.</li>
</ol>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/28/14048468/utah-indiana-foster-farms-bowl-time-tv-schedule-online-streaming-2016Peter Berkes2016-12-26T11:55:00-05:002016-12-26T11:55:00-05:00The St. Pete Bowl turf looks just ghastly
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<p>This post is a slightly updated version of one from 2014, because this bowl's turf looks like this every year.</p> <p> <figure class="e-image">
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HCj55qJZ2DPcb33eggBxMtCoGtA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7703123/IMG_9313.0.png">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Roughly 10 minutes before kickoff here at the Trop. <a href="https://twitter.com/StPeteBowl">@StPeteBowl</a> <a href="https://t.co/VcBDcsq3Ju">pic.twitter.com/VcBDcsq3Ju</a></p>
— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Bulls/status/813411650170720256">December 26, 2016</a>
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<p>Yes, that's what the Tropicana Field turf at St. Petersburg's bowl looks like. Football teams are playing on that nonsense.</p>
<p>Here are various things people think that turf looks like:</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>Pond scum</span></li>
<li><span>A velvet painting</span></li>
<li><span>A topographic map</span></li>
<li><span>Kale</span></li>
<li><span>The Breaking Bad credits</span></li>
<li><span>The stuff that gets scrubbed away in toothpaste commercials</span></li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/peterberkes">@peterberkes</a> I thought it was areas of heavier precipitation</p>
— Donnie Ross (@donnieross) <a href="https://twitter.com/donnieross/status/548649921654845440">December 27, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Field at the Bitcoin Bowl looks like if you asked a kid to draw the grass on with marker and it kept running out</p>
— Peter Berkes (@peterberkes) <a href="https://twitter.com/peterberkes/status/548648901985988608">December 27, 2014</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>The Bitcoin Bowl field looks like it was pissed on by a giant dog.</p>
— Drew Magary (@drewmagary) <a href="https://twitter.com/drewmagary/status/548649727093669889">December 27, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>(It should be noted that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/12/26/7450623/bitcoin-bowl-mascots-giant-smiling-bitcoin-bitcoin-dog-other-bitcoin-dogs">one of the Bitcoin Bowl's mascots is a dog</a>. Connect the dots, people.)</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>The Trop got some turf for free from craigslist, all they had to do was go pick it up.</p>
— Brian J Pickett (@BrianPickett) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianPickett/status/548649479537459201">December 27, 2014</a>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB">@SBNationCFB</a> crop circles or a 12th century cartography accident</p>
— John (@enigmaticsquid) <a href="https://twitter.com/enigmaticsquid/status/548651583245144064">December 27, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB">@SBNationCFB</a> A bad toupee.</p>
— CH (@cHerring8808) <a href="https://twitter.com/cHerring8808/status/548651731815784448">December 27, 2014</a>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB">@SBNationCFB</a> A hideous green velvet chair that badly needs to be reupholstered.</p>
— Morgan Flood (@morgan_s_flood) <a href="https://twitter.com/morgan_s_flood/status/548651668465012736">December 27, 2014</a>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB">@SBNationCFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilHecken">@PhilHecken</a> we had a couch that my dad got in '77. Looks identical</p>
— Bill Tooke (@BillTooke) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillTooke/status/548651631173455873">December 27, 2014</a>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The grass at the Trop looks like an irradiated wasteland.</p>
— Jon Morse (@jonfmorse) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonfmorse/status/548649077798612992">December 27, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Trop's turf: <a href="http://t.co/c91pKXJw6R">pic.twitter.com/c91pKXJw6R</a></p>
— SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/edsbs/status/548652639844859906">December 27, 2014</a>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB">@SBNationCFB</a> as if they are playing on grass underneath a flipped over kids pool</p>
— Sam Helmerich (@helmerich47) <a href="https://twitter.com/helmerich47/status/548652593921404928">December 27, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>Please add your contributions in the comments below!</p>
<p style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.25em">* * *</p>
<p><b>SB Nation presents:</b> <i>All 40 college football bowl games, in one song</i></p>
<div class="volume-video" id="volume-placement-5114" data-volume-placement="article" data-analytics-placement="article:middle" data-volume-id="5837" data-volume-uuid="0528e90d3" data-analytics-label="All 40 college football bowl games, sung in a song | 5837" data-analytics-action="volume:view:article:middle" data-analytics-viewport="video"></div>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/12/26/7452155/bitcoin-bowl-turf-trash-garbage-good-lordPeter Berkes2016-12-21T08:00:02-05:002016-12-21T08:00:02-05:00BYU vs. Wyoming, Poinsettia Bowl 2016: Time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Brigham Young at Utah" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sojaKT6tmEKCOjJq-L24xXP3Me8=/0x0:4746x3164/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52371975/usa_today_9532517.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Two teams from the Rockies head down to San Diego for the holidays.</p> <p id="FN9j28">We get some Wednesday night football this week, as BYU and Wyoming get together in San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl. Both teams hit the eight-win mark this season, so this game should be a solid matchup, as pre-Christmas bowl games go.</p>
<p id="UMa8CN">Wyoming’s run to the Mountain West title game was not what most fans saw coming before the season. They had won four, then two games in Craig Bohl’s first two years in charge in Laramie, but their improvement this year has been stark. They went from 107th and 114th in S&P+ in 2014 and 2015, all the way up to 68th this year, and their win total shot all the way up to eight.</p>
<p id="mf19U0">BYU, meanwhile, is staying on the same path as always. They won at least eight games for the sixth consecutive season, and their four losses this year came by a combined eight points. Two of their losses, to Utah and Boise State, were both by just one point each. They’ve lost three straight bowl games, though, and the defense will have to contain Wyoming running back Brian Hill, who rushed for over 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns this year.</p>
<h4 id="KvYohE">How to watch, stream, and listen</h4>
<p id="oiOs21"><strong>TV:</strong> 9 p.m. ET, ESPN</p>
<p id="e2JQv4"><strong>Radio:</strong> <a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=16">BYU</a> | <a href="http://www.gowyo.com/page/cowboy-sports-network">Wyoming</a></p>
<p id="1WCzya"><strong>Online streaming:</strong> <a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a></p>
<p id="g3kjdN"><a href="http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/odds"><strong>Spread</strong></a><strong>:</strong> BYU is favored by 10 points.</p>
<p id="HCO4Yx"><strong>Make friends:</strong> Jump into the game threads to talk about the game at <a href="http://www.vanquishthefoe.com">Vanquish The Foe</a> for BYU fans, and <a href="http://www.mwcconnection.com">Mountain West Connection</a> for Wyoming fans.</p>
<h4 id="PwMLVh">Three big things to know</h4>
<ol>
<li id="Q2MeHw">Wyoming scores on average touchdown per game more than BYU, so you would think that the Cougar offense would need to have a good day to win this game. They’ll have to do it without Taysom Hill, though, as his season ended on Nov. 26 with an elbow injury against Utah State. Tanner Mangum has plenty of experience, though, so BYU won’t be going with a total unknown.</li>
<li id="NkWoh2">A win over a national name like BYU would be a fitting end for Wyoming’s incredible season. The Cowboys have struggled in recent years, but finally broke through to beat Boise State and win their division. They fell just short of winning the Mountain West title, but a win here would add even more goodwill to the program going into the offseason.</li>
<li id="71EclM">The Wyoming defense is great at forcing turnovers (25 this season), but the offense was nearly as good at giving the ball away (22). BYU, on the other hand, averages a plus-one turnover margin per game this season. If Wyoming can’t hold on to the ball, that could put an end to this game early.</li>
</ol>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/21/14019164/wyoming-byu-poinsettia-bowl-time-tv-schedule-online-streaming-2016Peter Berkes2016-12-20T08:00:01-05:002016-12-20T08:00:01-05:00Memphis takes on WKU in Boca
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Boca Raton Bowl-Marshall vs Northern Illinois" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ruej4Myr1lPoioGAd_Vd1ewGJlI=/476x0:3851x2250/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52298195/usa_today_8288884.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Get excited for what should be an explosive game.</p> <p id="sUZkBq">Tuesday night isn’t a traditional football night, but it is this week. The Boca Raton Bowl will kick off on this non-traditional football night with a matchup between two of the better mid-major programs in the country. Points should be plentiful, so hopefully you’re interested in that sort of thing.</p>
<p id="uf7O62">Western Kentucky has been maybe the best mid-major program in the country over the past two years under Jeff Brohm. They’ve blown the doors off Conference USA, and routinely put scares into power conference teams. That performance just earned Brohm the Purdue job, but the Hilltoppers are still dangerous without him.</p>
<p id="uQJyyz">Memphis may have flown under the radar this year after the departure of head coach Justin Fuente, but new coach Mike Norvell has done an excellent job with the Tigers. They went 8-4, and their four losses came to Ole Miss and three AAC teams that each won at least nine games.</p>
<h3 id="DzcE9y">How to watch, stream, and listen</h3>
<p id="CoirrL"><strong>TV:</strong> 7 p.m. ET, ESPN</p>
<p id="7ekgkn"><strong>Radio:</strong> <a href="http://sportsaffiliates.learfieldsports.com/affiliates/memphis1">Memphis</a> | <a href="http://www.wkusports.com/ot/radio-affiliates.html">Western Kentucky</a></p>
<p id="TO86Pq"><strong>Online streaming:</strong> <a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a></p>
<p id="DMcCUR"><a href="http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/odds"><strong>Spread:</strong></a> Western Kentucky is favored by five points.</p>
<p id="hWXkkF">Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chat for this game at <a href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com">Underdog Dynasty</a>.</p>
<h3 id="Ve1K3q">Three big things to know</h3>
<ol>
<li id="hpVYcE">The Western Kentucky offense was one of the most explosive in the country this year, but we’ll see how they perform in their first game without head coach Jeff Brohm. They will still have Mike White and Anthony Wales, so barring any unmotivated bowl game weirdness, they should still be scoring in bunches.</li>
<li id="WuqF2l">The over/under for this game is 80, and that number seems perilous. Both White and Riley Ferguson can light it up, throwing for a combined 62 touchdown passes this year.</li>
<li id="vclyfW">Neither of these teams has ever taken part in the prestigious Boca Raton Bowl before, and the bowl’s swag bag is simply a mysteriously labeled “gift suite.” If there’s something in there better than a Fossil watch, maybe this game will really get crazy.</li>
</ol>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/20/13962666/memphis-western-kentucky-boca-raton-bowl-time-tv-schedule-online-streaming-2016Peter Berkes2016-12-17T08:15:00-05:002016-12-17T08:15:00-05:00We ran out of CFB things to compare NDSU to
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GTHKsqc8I5w0eyC2-9YWSc4yqQs=/0x0:3649x2433/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48497037/usa-today-8323347.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Bison owned a piece of history after winning their fifth-straight FCS title.</p> <p>In January 2016, North Dakota State emphatically beat Jacksonville State, 37-10, in the FCS Playoff Championship, clinching a record fifth-straight national championship at college football's second level. That streak set an all-time, all-levels college football record.</p>
<p>It ended in December, when James Madison knocked the Bison out of the following season's FCS semifinals.</p>
<p>Despite obstacles, North Dakota State has kept on winning. It survived a coaching transition in 2014 without skipping a beat, after Craig Bohl left for Wyoming after winning three straight titles. During Chris Klieman's first three seasons in charge in Fargo, all the Bison did is go 40-5 with two championships.</p>
<p>Going to the title game is tradition for NDSU fans, so much so that this year's trip was <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2015/11/4/9654192/ndsu-bison-ncaa-football">planned well ahead of time</a>. Back early in the season:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"No one travels like us," insists Bison superfan Mike Wheeler. "No one compares, that's just a fact. When we went to Minnesota (to play the Gophers in 2011), a couple of their boosters took photos of our tailgate to show those fans how it should be done."</p>
<p>Indeed, many fans have already made their plans, as usual, to travel to Frisco, Texas, the annual site of the FCS National Championship game, or "Bison Weekend," as they call it in the Lone Star State. Frisco is a second home for Bison Nation, to the point "they were talking about giving us our own zip code," according to Wheeler. Indeed, the income generated by NDSU fans traveling south to the Dallas suburb is so crucial to the locals that it is practically part of the municipal operating budget.</p>
</blockquote>
<h4>When the Bison won their fifth straight championship, we looked at how their current run stacks up against other streaks from the sports world.</h4>
<p>They're already at the top of the heap among college football teams. They already owned the longest streak at the FCS level, and the win on Saturday gives them the record for all levels, breaking the tie with D-III Augustana (Ill.), which won four straight titles from 1983-1986. No team at the FBS level has ever won four straight outright national championships. If you count split titles, Michigan won or split four straight championships, but it was all the way back in 1901-1904.</p>
<h4>College football championship streaks</h4>
<p><b>FBS: </b>Two, seven different teams</p>
<p><b>FCS: </b>Five, North Dakota State</p>
<p><b>D-II:</b> Three, North Alabama</p>
<p><b>D-III: </b>Four, Augustana (Ill.)</p>
<h4>Other college sports streaks</h4>
<p><b>Baseball:</b> Five, USC</p>
<p><b>Men's basketball:</b> Seven, UCLA</p>
<p><b>Squash: </b>13, Trinity (Conn.) College</p>
<p><b>Men's swimming and diving:</b> 31, Kenyon</p>
<p><b>Women's basketball: </b>Four, North Dakota State/Washington St. Louis</p>
<h4>Pro sports streaks</h4>
<p><b>NFL:</b> Two, eight different teams</p>
<p><b>NBA: </b>Eight, Boston Celtics</p>
<p><b>MLB: </b>Five, New York Yankees</p>
<p><b>NHL: </b>Five, Montreal Canadians</p>
<p><b>World Cup:</b> Two, Italy/Brazil</p>
<h4>Other streaks!</h4>
<p><b>High school football state titles: </b>Six, Iolani (Hawaii)/Highlands (Ky.)</p>
<p><b>Billboard No. 1 singles: </b>Seven,<b> </b>Whitney Houston</p>
<p><b>No. 1 weekends at the box office:</b> 15, <i>Titanic</i></p>
<p><b>WrestleMania wins:</b> 21, The Undertaker</p>
<p><b>Years winning an Oscar:</b> Eight, Walt Disney</p>
<p>Even before the Bison won their fifth straight championship this calendar year, they had already established themselves among the firmament of college football history. But the streak places this run among the best in all of sports, transcending college football.</p>
<h3>What else should be on this list?</h3>
<p></p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/1/6/10712788/north-dakota-state-fcs-championship-streakPeter Berkes2016-12-17T08:00:01-05:002016-12-17T08:00:01-05:00Here’s Saturday’s college football schedule (now with bowls!)
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<img alt="NCAA Football: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl-Arkansas State vs Louisiana Tech" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JWY0CE9515xUdkb67teuRFVFbOI=/0x0:2801x1867/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52297587/usa_today_9006624.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Bowl season is finally here, but that’s not all.</p> <p id="KfgZR3">The first day of bowl season is upon us, and the day’s schedule includes a number of teams that rank among the most entertaining in the nation. There are five games stretching from just after lunch to well into the night, so settle in for a long day of meaningless, yet what should hopefully be fun football.</p>
<p id="fOsYmQ">Here’s the schedule for Saturday.</p>
<p id="1JZnt7"><strong>Celebration Bowl</strong><br>NC Central vs. Grambling State<br>Noon ET, ABC (<a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a>)</p>
<p id="Zs8klz"><strong>New Mexico Bowl</strong><br>New Mexico vs. UTSA<br>2 p.m. ET, ESPN (<a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a>)</p>
<p id="bqeSKM"><strong>Las Vegas Bowl</strong><br>Houston vs. San Diego State<br>3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (<a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a>)</p>
<p id="ZIhGyV"><strong>Division II national title game</strong><br>Northwest Missouri State vs. North Alabama<br>4 p.m. ET, ESPN2. (<a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a>)</p>
<p id="70avYc"><strong>Ca</strong><strong>mellia Bowl</strong><br>Appalachian State vs. Toledo<br>5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (<a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a>)</p>
<p id="4616W3"><strong>Cure Bowl</strong><br>UCF vs. Arkansas State<br>5:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN (<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/">CBS Sports</a>)</p>
<p id="V7jktW"><strong>FCS playoff semifinal</strong><strong>*</strong><br>Youngstown State at Eastern Washington<br>6:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU (<a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a>)</p>
<p id="Rwr3Lp"><strong>New Orleans Bowl</strong><br>Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Southern Miss<br>9 p.m. ET, ESPN (<a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a>)</p>
<p id="cLjwln"><em>* The winner gets James Madison, fresh off </em><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/16/13991126/ndsu-james-madison-final-score-results-fcs-playoff-bracket-2016"><em>an upset of North Dakota State</em></a><em>, in the upcoming FCS national title game.</em></p>
<p id="gcz7Ma">The New Mexico Bowl has seen some high-scoring shootouts in recent years. This game may not be one of them, but at least tune in to watch New Mexico, one of the best rushing teams in the country. That’s the first FBS game, though <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/16/13979988/grambling-state-nc-central-celebration-bowl-2016-preview-time-tv-schedule">the excellent Celebration Bowl</a> comes before it by a few hours.</p>
<p id="Ov5BLZ">The Las Vegas Bowl is next up at 3:30 p.m. ET, and includes a two of the best mid-major programs in the country this year in Houston and San Diego State. Who knows how Houston will respond now that Tom Herman is the head coach at Texas, but they’ll have their hands full regardless with the Aztecs and running back Donnel Pumphrey.</p>
<p id="00CZ4a">The Camellia Bowl is a matchup of nine-win teams. Toledo finished second in the MAC West behind undefeated Western Michigan, and Appalachian State earned a share of the Sun Belt title along with Arkansas State. This isn’t a bowl with a lot of history or shine to it, but this has the makings of a very good game.</p>
<p id="Kf8k5j">The Cure Bowl will feature the other Sun Belt co-champion, Arkansas State, which takes on UCF. The Knights are staying home for this game, which is one of the rare bowl games to exist outside the ESPN orbit. If you get CBS Sports Network, give it a look.</p>
<p id="v4pHOp">The last game of the night should be in front of a raucous crowd in the Superdome between Louisiana-Lafayette and Southern Miss. Both schools are only a short drive to New Orleans, and the fans should be in fine form after having all day to get ready for the 8 p.m. local kick.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/17/13962322/2016-college-football-schedule-december-17-start-time-tv-channels-live-streamPeter Berkes2016-12-17T08:00:01-05:002016-12-17T08:00:01-05:00Youngstown State and EWU try to join JMU in the FCS title game
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Eastern Washington at Washington State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fjKoTGT0WXp1cOml0BT7nIIXIYY=/0x0:3744x2496/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52257749/usa_today_9519289.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>James Snook-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Get ready for football in the freezing cold.</p> <p id="4g1Lw3">The second FCS playoff semifinal comes to you from frigid Cheney, Wash., where No. 2 seed Eastern Washington will host Youngstown State, with the winner heading to the FCS Championship. The forecast calls for a high temperature of barely above zero, so this game will be a test of who can endure. The winner gets James Madison in the Jan. 17 national title game, after the Dukes <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/16/13991126/ndsu-james-madison-final-score-results-fcs-playoff-bracket-2016">beat powerhouse North Dakota State</a> to end the Bison’s run of five consecutive championships.</p>
<p id="pkraHB">The Eagles lost their only game of the season to now-eliminated NDSU in September, and they’ve reeled off 11 straight wins in the meantime. They have the best passing attack in the FCS, led by quarterback Gage Gubrud. The question, however, is how effective the passing game will be with temperatures dropping so low on Saturday.</p>
<p id="hfPRkg">Youngstown State booked its ticket to the semis with a gut-check, double-overtime win over Wofford last weekend. The Penguins have three losses on the year: one to West Virginia, and the other two were to North Dakota State and South Dakota State. </p>
<h4 id="qvRYsT">How to watch, stream, and listen</h4>
<p id="0B92AG"><strong>TV:</strong> 6:30 p.m., ET, ESPNU</p>
<p id="AL2Y59"><strong>Radio:</strong> <a href="http://ysusports.com/multimedia/radio-tv-broadcasts">Youngstown State</a> | <a href="http://goeags.com/sports/2015/12/15/tvradio.aspx">Eastern Washington</a></p>
<p id="jFe90V"><strong>Online streaming:</strong> <a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a></p>
<h4 id="hJnUrt">Three big things to know</h4>
<ol>
<li id="7ZlW9o">Eastern Washington’s passing attack will face tough conditions on Saturday. It probably won’t be very snowy or windy, but bone-chilling temperatures will make securely gripping the ball extremely difficult. If the Eagles have to keep the ball on the ground, they may be in trouble.</li>
<li id="VsxCBk">Youngstown State is coming off an emotional double-overtime win, and it remains to be seen how the Penguins respond after hitting the road and playing in adverse conditions. The stakes are high, but getting hit in this kind of cold knocks the enthusiasm right out of you.</li>
<li id="afN9Be">No, really, it’s going to be freezing. If you know someone going to this game, ask them how many dozens of blankets they’re bringing. It probably won’t be enough.</li>
</ol>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/17/13931476/eastern-washington-youngstown-state-time-tv-schedule-online-streaming-2016-fcs-playoffsPeter Berkes2016-12-16T08:00:01-05:002016-12-16T08:00:01-05:00James Madison takes on NDSU in the FCS playoffs
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<img alt="NCAA Football: FCS Championship-Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5jCEr6E-WgqqMO7pNy8y2ZXTCDg=/0x0:3252x2168/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52257313/usa_today_9046143.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This could be the best game of the FCS playoffs.</p> <p id="i2z0sP">The headline game of the FCS Playoff semifinals kicks off Friday night, when the top-overall seed North Dakota State hosts No. 4-seed James Madison. The five-time defending champion Bison are coming off a big win over South Dakota State, and can place themselves only one win away from an unprecedented sixth-straight title with a win here against the Dukes.</p>
<p id="vmS7uk">South Dakota State was the only team to defeat North Dakota State this season, pulling off a 19-17 upset earlier in the year. But after a promising start last week, the Jackrabbits were choked out by the North Dakota State defense, and the Bison ran all over them to the tune of 302 yards as a team. King Frazier, Lance Dunn, and Easton Stick are a potent rushing combination, but James Madison has a strong running game of their own.</p>
<p id="0uFDm2">The Dukes smashed Sam Houston State, 65-7, last week, with both Trai Sharp and Khalid Abdullah rushing for over 140 yards each, and combining for five touchdowns. James Madison was able to build a 35-0 lead within 20 minutes, and scored 65 unanswered before giving up a touchdown in the fourth quarter.</p>
<h3 id="Kbjpys">How to watch, stream and listen</h3>
<p id="wYzl3j"><strong>TV:</strong> 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2</p>
<p id="J0GIJn"><strong>Radio:</strong> <a href="http://www.gobison.com/sports/2013/4/19/radio.aspx">North Dakota State</a> | <a href="http://www.jmusports.com/news/2014/8/29/GEN_0829141830.aspx">James Madison</a></p>
<p id="qKpcCC"><strong>Online streaming:</strong> <a href="http://www.watchespn.com">WatchESPN</a></p>
<h3 id="LCRiYG">Three big things to know</h3>
<ol>
<li id="dHXI7q">North Dakota State’s quarterfinal romp over South Dakota State didn’t have many blemishes, but the Bison did give up quite a bit of yardage early in the game, especially on the ground. James Madison is one of the best rushing offenses in the country, and maybe they saw something in the film that will allow them to break through the tough Bison defense. </li>
<li id="RluhPk">On the other hand, after getting gashed early, North Dakota State only allowed 30 yards of total offense over the final three quarters. Combine this suffocating defense with an efficient offense that went 10-13 on third downs last week, and you see just how thin the margins are if you want to beat the Bison.</li>
<li id="hQSZv7">James Madison can write themselves into the sport’s history books if they can knock off the five-time defending champions in their own house. </li>
</ol>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/12/16/13930684/ndsu-james-madison-time-tv-schedule-online-streaming-2016-fcs-playoffsPeter Berkes