ORANGE BOWL COMMITTEE

Officers

President & Chair............................ Lee StapletonChair-Elect.............................Michael B. ChaviesVice Chair........................................Don SlesnickVice Chair........................................Sean PittmanSecretary..........................................Ann E. PopeTreasurer.....................................Frank GonzalezImmediate Past Pres./Chair...............Luis E. BouéCEO.................................................Eric L. Poms

Communications Staff

Larry Wahl VP, Communications lwahl@orangebowl.org

Schuyler Easterling Communications Coordinatorseasterling@orangebowl.org

Daniel Pyser Communications & Media Assistantshipdpyser@orangebowl.org

Rachel Rodriguez Communications & Media Assistantshiprrodriguez@orangebowl.org

Orange Cotton Peach Fiesta Rose Sugar Championship

2015-16 Semi-Final

(Dec. 31)

Semi-Final

(Dec. 31)

Peach

(Dec. 31)

Fiesta

(Jan. 1)

Rose

(Jan. 1)

Sugar

(Jan. 1)

Glendale, AZ

(Jan. 11)

2016-17 Orange

(Dec. 31)

Cotton

(Jan. 2)

Semi-Final

(Dec. 31)

Semi-Final

(Dec. 31)

Rose

(Jan. 2)

Sugar

(Jan. 2)

Tampa, FL

(Jan. 9)

2017-18 Orange

(Dec. 30)

Cotton

(Dec. 30)

Peach

(Jan. 1)

Fiesta

(Dec. 30)

Semi-Final

(Jan. 1)

Semi-Final

(Jan. 1)

TBD

(Jan. 8)

WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING

Jerry Palm Mark Schlabach Brett McMurphy Stewart Mandel Brant Parsons Bill Bender Erick Smith Pat Forde

Ohio Statevs.

Clemson

Baylorvs.

Alabama

Clemsonvs.

Michigan State

Ohio State vs.

Clemson

Ohio Statevs.

Utah

LSUvs.

Baylor

Ohio Statevs.

Clemson

LSUvs.

Baylor

TCUvs.

Alabama

Ohio Statevs.

Utah

Baylorvs.

Stanford

Alabamavs.

TCU

LSUvs.

Baylor

Ohio Statevs.

Clemson

TCUvs.

Alabama

Utahvs.

Clemson

____Alabama

vs.Ohio State

Baylorvs.

Michigan State____

Ohio Statevs.

Baylor

Ohio Statevs.

Baylor

Ohio Statevs.

TCU____

WEEK 8: OCT. 20 - OCT. 24

Capital One Cup Impact Performance of the Week

What is the official name of this year’s game?“College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl.” Shortened it can be called “Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl.” Collectively, the Capital One Orange Bowl and Goodyear Cotton Bowl (where the other Semifinal will be held) can be called “Playoff Semifinals” or “Semifinals.” How will you select teams for this year’s game?This year, the Capital One Orange Bowl will host a College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal game so the matchup will be determined by the CFP Selection Committee. The CFP Selection Committee ranks the teams and selects the top four for the playoff. They are seeded in order and matched up in Semifinal games (1 vs. 4, and 2 vs. 3). The two polls and computer rankings are no longer part of the selection process; it is strictly seeded by the committee. One game will be placed in the Capital One Orange Bowl and the other in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl.

What time will the game start on New Year’s Eve? Our game will start at either 4 or 8 p.m., as assigned by the Selection Committee and ESPN. Once the Selection Committee determines matchups on December 6, they will determine the starting time and location for each Semifinal game. The announcement of matchups, location and time of game will be made at approximately 12:45 p.m. on ESPN.

How does the CFP select which game goes to which site?The Selection Committee will place the games using geography as a factor and giving a proximity preference to the No. 1 seed first, and then if possible the No. 2. For example if a southern, northeastern or midwestern team is No. 1 and a southwestern team No. 4 they would most likely come to the Capital One Orange Bowl, because sending that game to the Cotton Bowl would give an advantage to the lower seed. Conversely, if a southwestern team is No. 1 and southern, northeastern or midwestern No. 4, that game would most likely be in the Cotton Bowl.

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl

AP Top 25 Poll1. Ohio State2. Baylor3. Utah4. TCU5. LSU6. Clemson7. Michigan State8. Alabama9. Florida State10. Stanford11. Notre Dame12. Iowa13. Florida14. Oklahoma State15. Michigan15. Texas A&M17. Oklahoma18. Memphis19. Toledo20. California21. Houston22. Temple23. Duke24. Ole Miss25. Pittsburgh

Mon. Nov. 2 Online Credential Application Opens

Tue. Nov. 3 First Weekly CFP Rankings Released

Fri.-Sat.

Dec. 4-5 Conference Championship Games

Sun. Dec. 6 CFP Selection Show / Coaches’ Teleconference

Sat. Dec. 18 Credential Application / Media Hotel Reservations Close

Thurs, Dec. 31 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl

IMPORTANT MEDIA DATES

Winner:Jalen Watts-Jackson(DB, Michigan State)38-yard game-winning fumble recovery returned for TD;27-23 W vs. No. 12 Michigan

Other Nominees:Minkah Fitzpatrick(DB, Alabama)2 INTs returned for TDs;41-23 W vs. No. 9 Texas A&M

Paxton Lynch(QB, Memphis)39/53, 384 yds, 3 TDs;37-24 W vs. No. 13 Ole Miss

Seth Russell(QB, Baylor)20/33, 380 yds, 5 TDs; 14 car, 160 yds, 1 TD;62-38 W vs. West Virginia

Photo credit: Matthew Mitchell, Michigan State Athletic Communications

Weekend Watch ListNo. 22 Temple @ East CarolinaThursday, October 22, 7:00 p.m.

Temple defeated East Carolina 20-10 last year in first meeting in nearly 20 years...East Carolina leads all-time series 7-4.

No. 20 California @ UCLAThursday, October 22, 9:00 p.m.

Pac-12 cross-divisional matchup...Teams have split last eight meetings...UCLA leads all-time series 51-32-1.

No. 18 Memphis @ TulsaFriday, October 23, 8:00 p.m.

Memphis defeated Tulsa last year 40-20...Tulsa has not lost to Memphis at home since 1994...Memphis leads all-time series 15-10.

No. 6 Clemson @ MiamiSaturday, October 24, 12:00 p.m.

Road team has won each of the four previous meetings, including three overtime games...Miami leads all-time series 6-3.

Indiana @ No. 7 Michigan StateSaturday, October 24, 3:30 p.m.

Michigan State has won six in a row over Indiana...Indiana has not won in East Lansing since 2001.

Tennessee @ No. 8 AlabamaSaturday, October 24, 3:30 p.m.

Alabama has won eight in a row against Tennessee...Alabama leads all-time series 51-38-7.

Texas Tech @ No. 17 OklahomaSaturday, October 24, 3:30 p.m.

Oklahoma has won four of the previous five meetings against Texas Tech...Oklahoma leads all-time series 16-6.

No. 23 Duke @ Virginia TechSaturday, October 24, 3:30 p.m.

ACC Coastal matchup...Virginia Tech has won 13 of the previous 14 games against Duke dating back to 1982.

Western Kentucky @ No. 5 LSUSaturday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.

These two teams have combined for 12 wins already this season...LSU won only previous meeting against Western Kentucky 42-9 in 2011.

No. 15 Texas A&M @ No. 24 Ole MissSaturday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.

Ole Miss defeated Texas A&M for the first time last season, 35-20...Texas A&M won previous six meetings.

No. 9 Florida State @ Georgia TechSaturday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.

Rematch of 2012 and 2014 ACC Championship Games, both Florida State wins...Florida State leads all-time series 14-9-1.

No. 3 Utah @ USCSaturday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.

Pac-12 South matchup...Utah’s last win over USC in Los Angeles came in 1915...USC leads all-time series 9-4.

Rutgers @ No. 1 Ohio StateSaturday, October 24, 8:00 p.m.

Ohio State won first-ever meeting between these two schools last year 56-17.

Washington @ No. 10 StanfordSaturday, October 24, 10:30 p.m.

A third straight Stanford win over Washington on Satuday night will knot up all-time series at 41-41-4.

The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. The winner of the award will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and receive his trophy at an on-field presentation.

Previous winners of the Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award are Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson (2014), San Jose State defensive lineman Anthony Larceval (2013), Clemson wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez (2012), Michigan State offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr. (2011), Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand (2010), the University of Connecticut football team (2009), Tulsa’s Wilson Holloway (2008), Navy’s Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis’ Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State’s Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo’s William Bratton (2002).

The 2015 nominees thus far are Boston College wide receiver Bobby Swigert, USC long snapper Jake Olson, Penn State defensive lineman Anthony Zettel, LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Toledo defensive back Cheatham Norrils, and Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Greer. The Orange Bowl and FWAA announce the weekly nominees each Wednesday. There are four more remaining this season.

AP Top 25 RecapThe Top 10:No. 1 Ohio State outscored Penn State 38-7 over the final three quarters en route to a 38-10 win. Quarterback J.T. Barrett shined for the Buckeyes while splitting snaps, finishing with 102 yards rushing, two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. Quarterback Seth Russell and No. 2 Baylor continued to put up monster numbers on the offensive side of the ball. Russell finished with 380 yards through the air and five touchdowns to go along with 160 yards rushing and another touchdown on the ground as Baylor beat West Virginia 62-38. No. 3 TCU beat Iowa State 45-21. Trevone Boykin had an equally impressive day for the Horned Frogs, finishing with 436 yards passing, 74 yards rushing and five total touchdowns. Trailing entering the fourth quarter, No. 4 Utah scored 20 unanswered points and beat Arizona State 34-18. Both fourth quarter touchdowns came courtesy of Utes’ running back Devontae Booker, including a 62-yarder to seal the game with less than two minutes remaining. No. 5 Clemson beat Boston College 34-17 in a matchup of two of the country’s best defenses. Quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for 420 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns for the Tigers. No. 6 LSU defeated No. 8 Florida 35-28 in a back-and-forth affair. Brandon Harris and Leonard Fournette shined for the Tigers, but it was a 16-yard touchdown run from kicker Trent Domingue on a fake field goal that was the difference in the game. No. 7 Michigan State stunned No. 12 Michigan in a thriller in Ann Arbor. Michigan State’s Jalen Watts-Jackson scooped up a muffed punt and returned it 38 yards as time expired to give the Spartans a 27-23 win. No. 10 Alabama beat No. 9 Texas A&M, scoring on both sides of the ball. Running back Derrick Henry finished with 236 yards and two touchdowns for Alabama, while the Crimson Tide defense returned three interceptions for touchdowns.

The Best of the Rest:No. 11 Florida State beat Louisville 41-21. Quarterback Everett Golson finished with 372 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Dalvin Cook rushed for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Seminoles. No. 13 Ole Miss fell to undefeated Memphis 37-24. The Tigers scored 31 unanswered points over a nearly 21-minute span crossing three quarters, including three touchdown passes from quarterback Paxton Lynch. No. 14 Notre Dame scored the game’s final 17 points en route to a 41-31 win over rival USC. Quarterback DeShone Kizer’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Corey Robinson proved to be the game-winner for the Fighting Irish. No. 15 Stanford beat No. 18 UCLA 56-35 behind 243 yards and four touchdowns from running back Christian McCaffrey. No. 17 Iowa defeated No. 20 Northwestern 40-10. Hawkeyes’ backup running back Akrum Wadley, who was forced into action due to an injury to the starter, nearly matched his career total in yards, finishing with 204, and doubled his career touchdown total with four on the day. No. 19 Oklahoma shut out Kansas State 55-0 as quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for five touchdowns for the Sooners. No. 21 Boise State fell to Utah State 52-26. The Aggies defense forced eight Boise State turnovers, seven coming in the first half. No. 22 Toledo beat Eastern Michigan 63-20 behind four touchdown passes from quarterback Phillip Ely. No. 24 Houston beat Tulane 42-7. Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. threw a touchdown pass and ran for three more for the Cougars.

*Note: All rankings are as of October 11, prior to Week Seven games, per the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.

The Newcomers:Three teams joined the polls for the first time this season heading into Week Eight. Memphis surged to No. 18 after its upset win over Ole Miss. Temple, who is undefeated at 6-0, joined the poll at No. 22. Pittsburgh, who has won three straight conference games, rounds out the poll at No. 25.

Clemson takes on Miami this weekend in an ACC showdown at Sun Life Stadium. Among the two teams’ previous nine matchups was the 1951 Orange Bowl, a 15-14 Clemson victory. Pictured above from 1951, Miami’s mascot Hurricane I, the predecessor to Sebastian the Ibis, interacts with the Clemson Tiger mascot.

Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award

Photo of the Week