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 Semifinal

(Dec. 31)

Semifinal

(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)

Semifinal

(Dec. 31)

Semifinal

(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)

Semifinal

(Jan. 1)

Semifinal

(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

Alabamavs.

Clemson

Michigan Statevs.

Clemson

Ohio State vs.

Stanford

Baylorvs.

Clemson

LSUvs.

Baylor

Ohio Statevs.

Alabama

Clemsonvs.

Memphis

TCUvs.

Alabama

TCUvs.

Ohio State

Baylorvs.

Stanford

Alabamavs.

Clemson

LSUvs.

Ohio State

Ohio Statevs.

Clemson

TCUvs.

Clemson

LSUvs.

Ohio State

____Ohio State

vs.Clemson

Baylorvs.

Clemson____

LSUvs.

Clemson

Ohio Statevs.

Baylor

Ohio Statevs.

TCU____

WEEK 10: NOV. 3 - NOV. 7

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

CFP Rankings1. Clemson2. LSU3. Ohio State4. Alabama5. Notre Dame6. Baylor7. Michigan State8. TCU9. Iowa10. Florida11. Stanford12. Utah13. Memphis14. Oklahoma State15. Oklahoma16. Florida State17. Michigan18. Ole Miss19. Texas A&M20. Mississippi State21. Northwestern22. Temple23. UCLA24. Toledo25. Houston

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:Deshaun Watson(QB, Clemson)23/30, 383 yds, 5 TDs;14 car, 54 yds, 1 TD;56-41 W vs. N.C. State

Other Nominees:Corn Elder(DB, Miami)91-yd KO return for TD on final play;30-27 W vs. No. 23 Duke

DeShone Kizer(QB, Notre Dame)23/36 299 yds, 1 TD;17 car, 143 yds, 2 TDs;24-20 W vs. No. 21 Temple

Jacques Patrick(RB, Florida State)24 car, 162 yds, 3 TDs;45-21 W vs. Syracuse Photo Credit: Clemson Athletics

Weekend Watch ListNo. 6 Baylor @ Kansas StateThursday, November 5, 7:30 p.m.

Kansas State has held Baylor to its second-lowest point total each of the past two years...Baylor has won three in a row over K-State.

Vanderbilt @ No. 10 FloridaSaturday, November 7, 12:00 p.m.

Vanderbilt’s last trip to Gainesville ended a 22-game losing streak against the Gators...Florida won last year and leads all-time series 36-10-2.

No. 5 Notre Dame @ PittsburghSaturday, November 7, 12:00 p.m.

70th meeting between these two rivals...Teams did not play in 2014 for first time since 2007...The past six meetings have been split 3-3.

No. 11 Stanford @ ColoradoSaturday, November 7, 1:00 p.m.

Stanford has won four in a row over Colorado dating back to 1991...Colorado’s three all-time wins against Stanford all came at home.

No. 16 Florida State @ No. 1 ClemsonSaturday, November 7, 3:30p.m.

This will mark the third year in a row that the Florida State-Clemson game features the No. 1-ranked team in the country.

No. 9 Iowa @ IndianaSaturday, November 7, 3:30 p.m.

Iowa has won five of the previous six meetings against Indiana...Iowa has not won in Bloomington since 2010.

Arkansas @ No. 18 Ole MissSaturday, November 7, 3:30 p.m.

SEC West matchup...Previous eight meetings between these two teams split at 4-4...Arkansas leads all-time series 33-28-1.

No. 8 TCU @ No. 14 Oklahoma StateSaturday, November 7, 3:30 p.m.

Home team has won each of past five meetings dating back to 1992...Oklahoma State holds 2-1 advantage since TCU joined the Big 12 in 2012.

Cincinnati @ No. 25 HoustonSaturday, November 7, 3:30 p.m.

Houston has won both meetings against Cincinnati since becoming AAC foes in 2013...Cincinnati has not won in Houston since 1999.

No. 7 Michigan State @ NebraskaSaturday, November 7, 7:00 p.m.

Michigan State has won the previous two meetings against Nebraska after Nebraska won the first seven dating back to 1914.

Navy @ No. 13 MemphisSaturday, November 7, 7:00 p.m.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Navy and Memphis...Two teams have combined for a 14-1 record so far this season.

No. 12 Utah @ WashingtonSaturday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.

Washington has won all eight all-time meetings against Utah dating back to 1931...Seven of the eight past games have been played in Seattle.

Minnesota @ No. 3 Ohio StateSaturday, November 7, 8:00 p.m.

Minnesota has only defeated Ohio State three times since 1950, most recently a 29-17 win in 2000 in Columbus.

No. 2 LSU @ No. 4 AlabamaSaturday, November 7, 8:00 p.m.

80th meeting between these two SEC West rivals...Alabama has won four in a row over LSU, including the 2012 National Championship.

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, Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Greer, Arizona State wide receiver D.J. Foster, and Virginia defensive back Demetrious Nicholson. The Orange Bowl and FWAA announce the weekly nominees each Wednesday.

AP Top 25 RecapThe Top 10:Deshaun Watson exploded for his best offensive output of the season as No. 3 Clemson beat N.C. State 56-41. Watson finished with 383 yards passing and five touchdowns, adding another 54 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown. Trevone Boykin continued to shine as well, leading No. 5 TCU to a 40-10 win over West Virginia on Thursday night. Boykin passed for 388 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 84 yards and another score. His favorite target, receiver Josh Doctson, finished with 11 receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks in the top four in the nation in all three of those categories. No. 8 Stanford trailed by as many as 12 points in the third quarter against Washington State before a field goal late in the fourth quarter propelled the Cardinal to a 30-28 win. Quarterback Kevin Hogan struggled passing on the day for Stanford, but finished with 112 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. No. 9 Notre Dame also found itself down late in the game when No. 21 Temple scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take a 20-17 lead. But DeShone Kizer found Will Fuller for a 17-yard touchdown with just over two minutes remaining, sealing a 24-20 win for the Fighting Irish. Kizer finished with 299 yards passing, one passing touchdown, 143 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. No. 10 Iowa held Maryland scoreless until the fourth quarter en route to a 31-15 win. The Hawkeye defense forced four turnovers, including an 88-yard interception returned for a touchdown.

The Best of the Rest:No. 11 Florida defeated Georgia 27-3 in their annual rivalry game played in Jacksonville. The Gators’ defense held Georgia to 233 total yards and forced five turnovers. No. 12 Oklahoma State outscored Texas Tech 42-15 in the second half en route to a 70-53 win in this season’s highest scoring game. The two teams combined for more than 1,300 yards and featured scoring plays in all three facets of the game. While Jakeem Grant’s playmaking was a highlight for Texas Tech, three different Oklahoma State players threw touchdown passes, including a pair from quarterback J.W. Walsh to go along with a rushing touchdown. No. 13 Utah beat Oregon State 27-12. Quarterback Travis Wilson passed and rushed for a touchdown for the Utes. No. 14 Oklahoma scored the game’s final 41 points, beating Kansas 62-7. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 383 yards and four touchdowns for the Sooners. No. 15 Michigan trailed Minnesota late in the fourth quarter before taking a 29-26 lead with under five minutes to go. A goal-line stand on the game’s final play preserved the win for the Wolverines. No. 16 Memphis scored 41 straight points after trailing Tulane 13-0 in the second quarter, winning 41-13. Three different Tigers ran for touchdowns and quarterback Paxton Lynch tossed one touchdown pass in the win. No. 17 Florida State beat Syracuse 45-21 as backups starred for the Seminoles. With starting quarterback Everett Golson and starting running back Dalvin Cook both out, Sean Maguire threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns while Jacques Patrick ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns. No. 18 Houston shut out Vanderbilt 34-0. The Houston defense held Vanderbilt to 185 total yards and forced four turnovers, returning one of its interceptions for a touchdown. No. 19 Ole Miss defeated Auburn 27-19. Quarterback Chad Kelly’s second touchdown pass of the day, hauled in by Laquon Treadwell, gave the Rebels the lead early in the fourth quarter and they held on for the win. For the third week in a row, a ranked team fell on a miraculous final play. This time, No. 22 Duke fell to Miami 30-27 after Miami used eight backwards passes to return a kickoff for a touchdown on the game’s final play. After Duke’s Thomas Sirk ran for a touchdown, giving Duke the lead for the first time with six seconds remaining, Miami used one of the season’s most improbable and controversial plays to pull off the upset. No. 23 Pittsburgh fell to North Carolina 26-19 on Thursday night as North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams threw two touchdown passes. No. 24 UCLA beat Colorado 35-31. Running back Paul Perkins ran for 118 yards and a touchdown and also caught a 31-yard touchdown pass for the Bruins.

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

This week No. 2 LSU meets No. 4 Alabama. The last time these two rivals were both in the Top 5 when they played was 2012 when No. 1 Alabama defeated No. 5 LSU 21-17. Alabama went on to earn a berth in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game hosted by the Orange Bowl, beating Notre Dame 42-14. Pictured: (Above) Most Oustanding Player Eddie Lacy and (Left) Head Coach Nick Saban celebrate with

the championship trophy.

Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award

Photos of the Week