12 Days Of Bowl Games-Day 6: 1996 Aloha Bowl-Navy vs. California (Second Half Only)

(Video courtesy of ABC Sports)

On this New Year's Eve 2019, we've reached the halfway point of our "12 Days Of Bowl Games" series here at RFC. In today's installment, we turn the clock back to Christmas Day, December 25, 1996. That was when the Navy Midshipmen rallied to knock off the California Golden Bears 42-38 in the Aloha Bowl. Click on the link above to see how the second half of that contest developed. 

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12 Days Of Bowl Games-Day 5: 1992 Freedom Bowl-Fresno State vs Southern Cal "aka" USC

(Video courtesy of Raycom Sports)

Our "12 Days Of Bowl Games" series rolls on with Fresno State doing battle with the USC Trojans in the 1992 Freedom Bowl, played at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. Led by future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer, the Bulldogs pulled off one of the biggest upsets in bowl history, rolling past the then heavily-favored Trojans 24-7. 

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12 Days Of Bowl Games-Day 4: 1987 California Bowl-Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State

(Videos courtesy of Video Images, Inc./ESPN)

The "12 Days Of Bowl Games" series continues with the 1987 California Bowl contest between Eastern Michigan and San Jose State. EMU rallied in the final seconds to stun SJSU in a 30-27 thriller. It would be the program's last postseason game until 2016. That was when the Eagles fell to Old Dominion 24-20 in the Bahamas Bowl. 

NOTE: An almost half-hour pre-game show precedes the actual ESPN broadcast.

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12 Days Of Bowl Games-Day 3: 1980 Cotton Bowl-Houston vs. Nebraska

(Video courtesy of CBS Sports)

The third installment of the "12 Days Of Bowl Games" turns the clock back to back to New Year's Day, January 1, 1980. That was when the University of Houston Cougars of the now-defunct Southwest Conference squared off against the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers in what was then the Big Eight (now Big 12) Conference, in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The then No. 8 Cougars knocked off the No. 7 Cornhuskers in what was probably one of the greatest Cotton Bowl games ever played.

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12 Days Of Bowl Games-Day 2: 1978 Holiday Bowl-Navy vs. BYU

(Video courtesy of SanDiegoBowlGames)

Our "12 Days Of Bowl Games" head into Day 2, with a brief recap on how the Holiday Bowl started in San Diego, as well as a brief recap of the inaugural game from 1978 between BYU and Navy.

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12 Days Of Bowl Games: 1978 Independence Bowl-East Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech

(Video courtesy of WITN Washington, N.C.)

Editor's Note: Here's a fitting end to College Football's 150th Anniversary season, the "12 Days of Bowl Games" here at Real Football Central blog. Over the next 12 days, from December 26, 2019, to January 6, 2020, we'll only feature bowl games involving teams in the current Group Of Five conferences (AAC, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt). First up is the 1978 Independence Bowl between the East Carolina Pirates and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

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RFC Throwback Thursday Part 3: 1994 NAIA Division II National Championship Game-Pacific Lutheran vs. Westminster (Pa.)

(Video courtesy of Westminster College Athletics)

In the third and final installment of a three-part series leading to this weekend's small college (NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA) national championship games, "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to 1994. That was when the Westminster College Titans from New Wilmington, Pennsylvania took on the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes for the NAIA Division II national championship. While Westminster would go on to win it all that mid-December day, PLU would eventually win their first and only NCAA Division III title five years later, crushing Rowan in the 1999 Stagg Bowl. Westminster eventually joined the D-III ranks in 2000.

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RFC Throwback Thursday Part 2: 1987 Stagg Bowl-Dayton vs. Wagner

(Video courtesy of NCAA Productions)

In the second installment of a three-part series leading to this weekend's small college (NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA) national championship games, "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to 1987. That was when the University of Dayton Flyers squared off against the Wagner University Seahawks in the Stagg Bowl for the NCAA Division III national championship. In 1993, both programs found their way to what is now the FCS level, with Dayton joining the Pioneer Football League, while Wagner eventually joined the Northeast Conference.

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RFC Throwback Thursday: 1979 Division II National Championship Game-Delaware vs. Youngstown State

(Video courtesy of University of Delaware Athletics/NCAA/ABC Sports)

In the first installment of a three-part series leading to this weekend's small college (NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA) national championship games, "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to 1979. That was when the University of Delaware Blue Hens did battle with the Youngstown State University for the NCAA Division II national championship. Within the next two years, both schools eventually joined what is now the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)-(formerly NCAA Division I-AA), with Delaware moving up in 1980, followed by Youngstown State in 1981.

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FCS Semifinal, Celebration Bowl, and Small College National Championship Predictions 2019

Last Week: 6-3 (.667)

This Year: 675-325 (.675)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

FCS Playoffs-Semifinals

Saturday, December 21

Montana State (11-3) at North Dakota State (14-0)

Weber State (11-3) at James Madison (13-1)

Saturday, December 21

NCAA Division II Championship-at McKinney, Texas

Minnesota State (14-0) vs. West Florida (11-2)

Friday, December 20

NCAA Division III Championship (Stagg Bowl)-at Shenandoah, Texas

North Central (13-1) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-1)

Saturday, December 21

NAIA Championship-at Grambling, Louisiana

Marian (12-0) vs. Morningside (13-0)

BONUS PREDICTION

Saturday, December 15

Celebration Bowl-at Atlanta

Alcorn State (9-3) vs. North Carolina A&T (8-3)

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RFC Group Of Five Bowl Predictions Special 2019

Editor's Note: Only the bowl games involving at least two teams from any two of the FBS Group Of Five Conferences (American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) are eligible for inclusion in this post. With that said, let's get started.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Friday, December 20

Bahamas Bowl (at Nassau, Bahamas)

Buffalo (7-5) vs. Charlotte (7-5)

DXL Frisco Bowl (at Frisco, Tex.)

Kent State (6-6) vs. Utah State (7-5)

Saturday, December 21

New Mexico Bowl (at Albuquerque, N.M.)


Central Michigan (8-5) vs. San Diego State (9-3)

Cure Bowl (at Orlando, Fla.)

Georgia Southern (7-5) vs. Liberty (7-5)

Boca Raton Bowl (at Boca Raton, Fla.)

Florida Atlantic (10-3) vs. SMU (10-2)

Camellia Bowl (at Montgomery, Ala.)

Florida International (6-6) vs. Arkansas State (7-5)

New Orleans Bowl (at New Orleans)

Appalachian State (12-1) vs. UAB (9-4)

Monday, December 23

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl (at Tampa, Fla.)

Marshall (8-4) vs. UCF (9-3)

Tuesday, December 24 (CHRISTMAS EVE)

Hawai'i Bowl (at Honolulu)

BYU (7-5) vs. Hawai'i (9-5) 

Monday, December 30

First Responder Bowl (at Dallas, Texas)

Western Kentucky (8-4) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)

Tuesday, December 31 (NEW YEAR'S EVE)

Arizona Bowl (at Tucson, Ariz.)

Georgia State (7-5) vs. Wyoming (7-5)

Friday, January 3

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (at Boise, Idaho)

Nevada (7-5) vs. Ohio (6-6)

Saturday, January 4

Armed Forces Bowl (at Fort Worth, Texas)

Southern Mississippi (7-5) vs. Tulane (6-6)

Monday, January 6

Lending Tree Bowl (at Mobile, Ala.)

Louisiana (10-3) vs. Miami (Ohio)-(8-5)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!!!!

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RFC Throwback Thursday: 1969 Grantland Rice Bowl-East Tennessee State vs. Louisiana Tech

(Video courtesy of East Tennessee State University Athletics)

This week's installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to December 13, 1969. That was when the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers took on the Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs in a Grantland Rice Bowl contest that featured future Pro Football Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Now sit back and enjoy a recollection from multiple ETSU players from 50 years ago this week.

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The Army/Navy Game and Non-FBS Postseason Predictions

Editor's Note: Here's another set of multiple installments of predictions during postseason play. Next up are the predictions for the Army/Navy Game, as well as the predictions for the FCS quarterfinals, as well as the NCAA Division II and III semifinals.

Last Week: 20-8 (.714)

This Year: 669-322 (.675)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Saturday, December 14

The Army/Navy Game-at Philadelphia, Pa.-Airtime at 3 p.m. EST on CBS

Army (5-7) vs. Navy (9-2)

FCS Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Friday, December 13

Austin Peay (11-3) at Montana State (10-3)

Montana (10-3) at Weber State (10-3)

Northern Iowa (10-4) at James Madison (12-1)

Saturday, December 14

Illinois State (10-4) at North Dakota State (13-0)

NCAA Division II Playoffs-Semifinals (Both games to air on ESPN3)

Saturday, December 14

Minnesota State (13-0) at Slippery Rock (13-0)

West Florida (11-2) at Ferris State (12-0)

NCAA Division III Playoffs-Semifinals (Both games to air on ESPN3)

Saturday, December 14

Muhlenberg (13-0) vs. North Central (12-1)

St. John's (12-1) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-1)

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Bonus Predictions: SWAC Championship and NCAA Division II Bowl Games

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Saturday, December 7

FCS

SWAC Championship Game

Southern (8-4) at Alcorn State (8-3)

NCAA Division II

America's Crossroads Bowl-at Hobart, Ind.

Ohio Dominican (7-2) vs. Truman State (9-2)

Heritage Bowl-at Corsicana, Texas

Eastern New Mexico (7-4) vs. Southern Arkansas (8-3)

Live United Bowl-at Texarkana, Ark.

Missouri Western State (8-3) vs. Henderson State (9-2)

Mineral Water Bowl-at Excelsior Springs, Mo.

Nebraska-Kearney (6-5) vs. Winona State (8-3)

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RFC Throwback Thursday: Albion vs. Washington & Jefferson-1994 Stagg Bowl

(Video courtesy of ESPN)

In this week's installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday", the clock gets turned back to 1994. That was when one of the few NCAA Division III national championship games that didn't involve Mount Union took place, as the Albion College Britons from Michigan played against the Washington & Jefferson College Presidents from Pennsylvania for the title that December day 25 years ago. Now sit back and watch the 1994 Stagg Bowl.


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Small College Football Playoff Predictions: NCAA Division II and III Quarterfinals/NAIA Semifinals

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

NCAA Division II Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Saturday, December 7

Super Region #1

Notre Dame (Ohio)-(12-1) at Slippery Rock (11-0)

Super Region #2

West Florida (10-2) at Lenoir-Rhyne (13-0)

Super Region #3

Northwest Missouri State (11-1) at Ferris State (11-0)

Super Region #4

Texas A&M-Commerce (10-2) at Minnesota State (12-0)

NCAA Division III Playoffs-Quarterfinals

Saturday, December 7

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket 

Upper Right Bracket

Muhlenberg (12-0) at Salisbury (11-0)

Lower Right Bracket

Delaware Valley (11-1) at North Central (11-1) 

Upper Left Bracket

Wisconsin-Whitewater (11-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-0)

Lower Left Bracket

St. John's (Minn.)-(11-1) at Wheaton (11-0)

NAIA Playoffs-Semifinals

Saturday, December 7

Semifinals Press Release (courtesy of naia.org)

Grand View (13-0) at Morningside (12-0)

Lindsey Wilson (12-0) at Marian (11-0)

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Group Of Five Conference Championship and FCS Second Round Playoff Predictions

Editor's Note: This is the second of multiple installments of predictions during the Thanksgiving week. Next up are the predictions for all five Group Of Five conference championship games, as well as all eight second-round games in the FCS playoffs.

Last Week: 28-12 (.700)

This Year: 649-314 (.674)

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

FBS Group Of Five

Saturday, December 7

American Athletic Conference-Airtime at 3:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. CST on ABC

Cincinnati (10-2) at Memphis (11-1)

Conference USA-Airtime at 1:30 p.m. EST/12:30 p.m. CST on the CBS Sports Network

UAB (9-3) at Florida Atlantic (9-3)

Mid-American Conference at Detroit-Airtime at noon EST on ESPN2

Miami (Ohio)-(7-5) vs. Central Michigan (8-4)

Mountain West Conference-Airtime at 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST/2 p.m. MST on ESPN

Hawai'i (8-4) at Boise State (10-2)

Sun Belt Conference-Airtime at noon EST/11 a.m. CST on ESPN

Louisiana-Lafayette (10-2) at Appalachian State (11-1)

FCS Playoffs-Second Round

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

Top Seeds (In Order Of National Seeding)

NOTE: All national seeds have first-round byes.

1. North Dakota State (12-0)
2. James Madison (11-1)
3. Weber State (9-3)
4. Sacramento State (9-3)
5. Montana State (9-3)
6. Montana (9-3)
7. South Dakota State (8-4)
8. Central Arkansas (9-3)

Saturday, December 7 (All games on ESPN3!!!)

Nicholls State (9-4) at North Dakota State (12-0)

Illinois State (9-4) at Central Arkansas (9-3)

Albany (N.Y.)-(9-4) at Montana State (9-3)

Austin Peay (10-3) at Sacramento State (9-3)

Kennesaw State (11-2) at Weber State (9-3)

Southeastern Louisiana (8-4) at Montana (9-3)

Northern Iowa (9-4) at South Dakota State (8-4)

Monmouth (N.J.)-(11-2) at James Madison (11-1)

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