12 Days of Bowl Games Day 2: The 1980 Holiday Bowl-BYU vs. SMU

(Video #1 courtesy of Mizlou Sports)

(Video #2 courtesy of Mizlou Sports)

 

(Video #3 [Audio] courtesy of Mutual Broadcasting System)

Our "12 Days of Bowl Games" series continues with a look back at the Holiday Bowl from San Diego, California on the night of December 19, 1980. In what was considered to be the greatest comeback in bowl history at the time, the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars, led by future NFL star quarterback Jim McMahon, rallied from a 20-point deficit in the final seconds to stun the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs, led by fellow future NFL star running backs Craig James and Eric Dickerson, 46-45, with a spectacular touchdown catch on the game's final play. This installment also includes the radio call of the dramatic ending to this incredible classic. 

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12 Days of Bowl Games 2020-2021 Debut: The 2015 and 2016 Camellia Bowls

(Video #1 courtesy of ESPN)

 

(Video #2 courtesy of ESPN)

Our "12 Days of Bowl Games" series returns to the Real Football Central blog for the second straight season, featuring 12 straight days of classic bowl games involving teams from the current FBS Group Of Five Conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West, and Sun Belt Conference), as well as their now-defunct predecessors, from now until New Year's Day (Friday, January 1, 2021).

The first installment of "12 Days" takes a look back at the Camellia Bowl from Montgomery, Ala. from 2015 and 2016. Both games had the Appalachian State University Mountaineers square off against two straight foes from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in the Ohio University Bobcats and the University of Toledo Rockets, respectively. Both games would come down to the final play, with Appalachian State winning both contests in dramatic fashion.

Now, sit back and enjoy a double-dose of close calls from the Camellia Bowl, only on the "12 Days of Bowl Games", on RFC.

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RFC Weekly Predictions: The Totals (So Far) For 2020

Last Week: 2-3 (.400)*

This Year: 167-69 (.708)

*-Three (3) games were postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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RFC Group Of Five Bowl Predictions Special 2020 (REVISED)

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 more games added to it as more match-ups are confirmed. As always, this schedule is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with any canceled games not counting towards the overall winning percentage. Having said that, let's get started.

Last updated at 6:01 p.m. EST on Sunday, December 20, 2020.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Monday, December 21

Myrtle Beach Bowl-at Conway, S.C.

North Texas (4-5) vs. Appalachian State (8-3)

Tuesday, December 22

Idaho Potato Bowl-at Boise, Idaho

Tulane (6-5) vs. Nevada (6-2)

Boca Raton Bowl-at Boca Raton, Fla.

UCF (6-3) vs. BYU (10-1)

Wednesday, December 23

New Orleans Bowl-at New Orleans, La.

Louisiana Tech (5-4) vs. Georgia Southern (7-5)

Montgomery Bowl-at Montgomery, Ala.

Memphis (7-3) vs. Florida Atlantic (5-3)

Thursday, December 24 (CHRISTMAS EVE)

New Mexico Bowl-at Frisco, Tex.

Hawai'i (4-4) vs. Houston (3-4)

Friday, December 25 (CHRISTMAS DAY)

Camellia Bowl-at Montgomery, Ala.

Buffalo (5-1) vs. Marshall (7-2)

Saturday, December 26

Cure Bowl-at Orlando, Fla.

Liberty (9-1) vs. Coastal Carolina (11-0)

First Responders Bowl-at Dallas, Tex.

Louisiana (9-1) vs. UTSA (7-4)

Lending Tree Bowl-at Mobile, Ala. 

Western Kentucky (5-6) vs. Georgia State (5-4)

Thursday, December 31 (NEW YEAR'S EVE)

Arizona Bowl-at Tucson, Ariz.

Ball State (6-1) vs. San Jose State (7-0)

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

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RFC Throwback Thursday: The Inaugural NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) National Championship Game-1978

 

(Video courtesy of the NCAA/ABC Sports)

This week's installment of RFC Throwback Thursday turns the clock back to December 16, 1978. That was when the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Rattlers faced off against the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen for the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship, which was then known as the Pioneer Bowl, and played in Wichita Falls, Texas. FAMU outlasted UMass 35-28 to win the first-ever I-AA national championship, the MEAC's only title to this day. Now, sit back and enjoy yet another great moment in non-Power Five Conference college football history.

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RFC Weekly Predictions: Week Of December 19, 2020

Last Week: 11-4 (.713)*

This Year: 165-66 (.714)

*-Four (4) games were postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

NOTE: This schedule is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball for updates of any rescheduled games, postponements, or cancellations. The amount of postponed or canceled games are indicated with the "asterisk" (*) icon above. Additionally, any postponed or canceled games will not count toward the overall record of games predicted for that week. Also, the final scores of any games played on Thursday and/or Friday games will be indicated here in this post, if available.

FBS Group Of Five

Thursday, December 17

Louisiana-Monroe (0-10) at Troy (5-6)

(Game canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Friday, December 18

UAB (5-3) at Marshall (7-1)

("Championship Weekend" kicks off with a clash between the Thundering Herd and the Blazers for the Conference USA Championship!!! Airtime is at 7 p.m. EST on the CBS Sports Network!!!)

Ball State (5-1) vs. Buffalo (5-0)

(The unbeaten Bulls do battle with the once-beaten Cardinals for the Mid-American Conference Championship!!! Airtime is at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN!!!)

Saturday, December 19

Louisiana (9-1) at Coastal Carolina (11-0)

("Championship Saturday" gets underway with the undefeated Chanticleers clashing with the once-beaten Ragin' Cajuns in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game!!! Airtime is at noon EST/11 a.m. CST on ESPN!!!)

Boise State (5-1) vs. San Jose State (6-0)

(Following the Sun Belt championship game, it's the once-beaten Broncos doing battle with the unbeaten, upstart Spartans for the Mountain West Conference Championship in Las Vegas!!! Airtime is at 4:15 p.m. EST/3:15 p.m. CST/2:15 p.m. MST/1:15 p.m. EST on FOX!!!)

Tulsa (6-1) at Cincinnati (8-0)

(Finally, the unbeaten Bearcats will look to secure a bid to a New Year's Six Bowl when they play host to the upstart Golden Hurricane for the American Athletic Conference Championship!!! Airtime is at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST on ABC!!!)

Air Force (3-2) at Army (8-2)

SMU (7-3) vs. UTSA (7-4)*

*-Frisco Bowl at Frisco, Texas.

(Game canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

.

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RFC Throwback Thursday: The Army/Navy Game-1974 and 1979

(Video #1 courtesy of ABC Sports)

(Video #2 courtesy of ABC Sports)

This week's installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday" features a double-feature within the same post, featuring the traditional season-ending Army-Navy Game.

The first video listed above has the broadcast of the Army-Navy Game from 1974, while the second video has the broadcast of the 1979 contest. Now, sit back and enjoy another fierce rivalry involving two teams from outside of college football's current power conference structure.

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RFC Weekly Predictions: Week Of December 12, 2020

Last Week: 10-7 (.588)*

This Year: 154-62 (.713)

*-Seven (7) games were postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

NOTE: This schedule is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball for updates of any rescheduled games, postponements, or cancellations. The amount of postponed or canceled games are indicated with the "asterisk" (*) icon above. Additionally, any postponed or canceled games will not count toward the overall record of games predicted for that week. Also, the final scores of any games played on Thursday and/or Friday games will be indicated here in this post, if available.

FBS Group Of Five

Thursday, December 10

Florida Atlantic (5-2) at Southern Mississippi (2-7)

Friday, December 11

*Nevada (6-1) at San Jose State (5-0)

(The unbeaten Spartans play host to the Wolfpack in a potential preview of next week's Mountain West Conference Championship Game!!! Airtime is at 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. CST/8 p.m. MST/7 p.m. PST on the CBS Sports Network!!!)

*-The game will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Charlotte (2-4) at Marshall (7-1)

San Diego State (4-3) at BYU (9-1)

Saturday, December 12

Western Michigan (4-1) at Ball State (4-1)

(Cardinals play host to the Broncos, with the winner clinching the Mid-American Conference West Division Championship!!! Airtime is at noon EST on ESPN+!!!)

Cincinnati (8-0) at Tulsa (6-1)

(The Bearcats do battle with the Golden Hurricane in the first of two straight games in the battle for the American Athletic Conference Championship!!! Airtime is at 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST on ESPN or ESPN2!!!)

Akron (1-4) at Buffalo (4-0)

Appalachian State (7-3) at Georgia Southern (7-4)

Boise State (4-1) at Wyoming (2-3)

Central Michigan (3-2) at Toledo (3-2)

Coastal Carolina (10-0) at Troy (5-5)

Fresno State (3-2) at New Mexico (1-5)

Houston (3-3) at Memphis (6-3)

Incarnate Word (FCS) at Arkansas State (4-7)

Miami (Ohio)-(2-1) at Bowling Green (0-5)

Navy (3-6) at Army (7-2)

Northern Illinois (0-5) at Eastern Michigan (1-4)

North Texas (3-5) at UTEP (3-4)

UAB (4-3) at Rice (2-2)

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Quick Prediction-BYU (9-0) at Coastal Carolina (9-0)-(BONUS)

NOTE: Projected winner marked in RED.

BYU 31, Coastal Carolina 21

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RFC Throwback Thursday: NCAA College Football on ABC-1980

(Video #1 courtesy of ABC Sports)

(Video #2 courtesy of ABC Sports)

(Video #3 courtesy of ABC Sports)

This week's installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to 1980. That was when the now-defunct ABC Sports was the exclusive broadcast television network provider for NCAA college football.  

In the first video listed above, there's a rare broadcast of an NCAA Division III contest between Salisbury State College (now Salisbury University) from Salisbury, Maryland and Hampden-Sydney College, which was played in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia. Legendary sportscaster Verne Lundquist and color commentator John Dockery provided the play-by-play and color commentary, respectively, for that game on September 20, 1980. 

The other two videos listed below the first video are promos for NCAA football broadcasts on ABC, with the first being a brief 10-second promo for the games that aired on October 25, followed by a longer 30-second promo for the games played on the weeks of November 29 and December 6. Pay close attention to both promos, and you'll find some familiar programs that currently compete at the FBS Group of Five and FCS levels, respectively.

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RFC Weekly Predictions: Week Of December 5, 2020

Last Week: 11-6 (.647)*

This Year: 144-55 (.724)

*-Eight (8) games were postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

KEY: Projected winners marked in RED.

Featured games in BOLD type.

NOTE: This schedule is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball for updates of any rescheduled games, postponements, or cancellations. The amount of postponed or canceled games are indicated with the "asterisk" (*) icon above. Additionally, any postponed or canceled games will not count toward the overall record of games predicted for that week. Also, the final scores of any games played on Thursday and/or Friday games will be indicated here in this post, if available.

FBS Group Of Five

Tuesday, December 1

Western Kentucky (4-6) at Charlotte (2-3)*

(*-Rescheduled from Saturday, November 28, 2020.)

Thursday, December 3

Air Force (2-2) at Utah State (1-4)

Lousiana Tech (4-3) at North Texas (3-4)

Friday, December 4

Louisiana (8-1) at Appalachian State (7-2)

(Ragin' Cajuns hit the road to face the Mountaineers in a re-match of the last two Sun Belt Conference championship games!!! Airtime is at 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST on ESPN2!!!) 

Boise State (4-1) at UNLV (0-5)

Southern Mississippi (2-7) at UTEP (3-4)

Saturday, December 5

Liberty (9-1) at Coastal Carolina (9-0)

(The unbeaten Chanticleers play host to the once-beaten Flames in a battle of upstart Group Of Five squads!!!)

Fresno State (3-1) at Nevada (5-1)

(The Bulldogs travel to Reno to take on the Wolfpack in a critical Mountain West Conference contest!!!)

Rice (1-2) at Marshall (7-0)

Ball State (3-1) at Central Michigan (3-1)

Florida Atlantic (5-1) at Georgia Southern (6-4)

Florida International (0-5) at Charlotte (2-3)

Hawai'i (3-3) at San Jose State (4-0)

Houston (3-3) at SMU (7-3)

Kent State (3-1) at Miami (Ohio)-(2-1)

Louisiana-Monroe (0-9) at Arkansas State (3-7)

Memphis (6-2) at Tulane (5-5)

Tulsa (5-1) at Navy (3-5)

Toledo (2-2) at Northern Illinois (0-4)

Troy (4-5) at South Alabama (4-6)

Colorado State (1-2) at San Diego State (3-3)

Bowling Green (0-4) at Akron (0-4)

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THE 2000'TH POST AT RFC!!!--RFC Throwback Thursday: Hofstra vs. Georgia Southern in the NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) Playoffs-2000

(Video courtesy of the NCAA/Metro Sports)

We here at the Real Football Central blog have officially reached a new milestone: POST #2000! And what better way to celebrate that moment than with a special post from the year 2000! This week's installment of "RFC Throwback Thursday" turns the clock back to December 2, 2000. That was when the then-defending NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national champion Georgia Southern University Eagles played host to the Hofstra University Pride in the quarterfinals of the Division I-AA playoffs. While Georgia Southern cruised to an easy 48-20 win en route to winning their sixth and final national championship, Hofstra dropped its football program at the end of the 2009 season. Meanwhile, in 2014, Georgia Southern transitioned from the FCS to the FBS Group of Five, not only joining the Sun Belt Conference but also winning the league title in their inaugural season. 

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!