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The college football national championship was officially set on Monday night as the Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies were victorious in their College Football Playoff semifinal matchups.
Next Monday, the Wolverines or the Huskies will be crowned champions of the college football season. But there was plenty of exciting action for college football fans leading up to the College Football Playoff.
Here are the five best bowl games of the 2023 season.
5. Famous Toastery Bowl
WKU 38 – ODU 35 (OT)
FAMOUS TOASTERY BOWL CHAMPIONS!! pic.twitter.com/3M9fWDBUfd
— TERRANCE THOMPSON (@micmonsta2) December 27, 2023
The 2023 Bowl Season was led by toasted products. The 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl will go down in history as one of the most exciting bowl games to ever happen.
Old Dominion jumped out to a 28-0 lead over Western Kentucky in the first half. But the Hilltoppers didn’t yield to the higher Monarchs.
A 21-point fourth quarter pushed WKU to an epic OT victory and a memory that Famous Toastery fans won’t soon forget.
4. Tax Slayer Gator Bowl
Clemson 38 – UK 35
2023 Gator Bowl Champs! 🏆🔥
No. 22 Clemson Tigers tamed the Wildcats, 38-35 in the 2023 Tax Slayer Gator Bowl! @ClemsonFB | #ACCFootball pic.twitter.com/T1nUqc5gmb
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) December 29, 2023
Not everyone in the state of Kentucky had a happy Bowl Season. However, the Kentucky Wildcats and Clemson Tigers played in an epic matchup with conference pride on the line.
The game started slow but ended in absolute madness.
The Tigers and the Wildcats combined for 42 fourth-quarter points, but in the end, it was Dabo’s gang who threw the winning punch.
3. Pop-Tarts Bowl
Kansas St. 28 – NC State 19
The Pop-Tarts Bowl generated $12,098,187 in earned media for the breakfast treat's parent company, Kellanova, per @ApexMarketing.
pic.twitter.com/N0meJsgrXp— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 29, 2023
I’ve got to be honest, the participants of the Pop-Tarts Bowl took a back seat — which NC State fans are glad to accept after losing to Kansas State for the right to eat an edible mascot.
Yes, that last sentence is a real thing; the Pop-Tarts Bowl entered instant college football lore with the addition of a Pop-Tarts mascot that was baked, and then consumed by the victors.
There’s no reason that the Pop-Tarts Bowl isn’t a College Football Playoffs semifinal next season.
2. Allstate Sugar Bowl
Washington 37 – Texas 31
2024 SUGAR BOWL CHAMPIONS 🏆
SEE YOU IN HOUSTON ☔️#USvsUS #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/zE69jR8dW4
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) January 2, 2024
The nightcap of the College Football Playoff semifinals delivered in a big way.
Texas and Washington flexed their muscles on the offensive side of the ball, but in the end, it was a Washington defensive stand that gave the Huskies the Sugar Bowl victory.
Huskies quarterback Michael Penix put the college football world on notice with his 430-yard passing performance, but Washington has bigger plans in mind.
1. Rose Bowl
Michigan 27 – Alabama 20 (OT)
Next Stop: Houston
We’re headed to the Natty!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/cHFX7EPFpO
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 2, 2024
Two of the most storied programs in college football history met in the most iconic stadium and gave fans everything they wanted and more. The Rose Bowl featured outstanding performances from both sides of the ball, and the game’s final chapter was written in overtime.
In the end, the Michigan Wolverines were victorious and have now guaranteed for the first time since 2018, that someone outside of the SEC will be crowned the national champion.
