SPORTS
Thursday, December 14, 2017
BOWL GLANCE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
All times EST
East Oregonian
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27
Independence Bowl:
Shreveport, La.;
Southern Mississippi
(8-4) vs. Florida State
(6-6), 1:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
2 017-1 8 B O W L S E A S O N
SATURDAY, DEC. 16
Celebration Bowl:
Atlanta; NC A&T (11-0)
vs. Grambling State
(11-1), Noon
(ABC)
New Orleans Bowl:
North Texas (9-4) vs. Troy
(10-2), 1 p.m.
(ESPN)
Pinstripe Bowl: Bronx,
N.Y.; Boston College
(7-5) vs. Iowa (7-5), 5:15
p.m.
(ESPN)
TOP PLAYERS
TO WATCH
Foster Farms Bowl:
Santa Clara, Calif.;
Arizona (7-5) vs. Purdue
(6-6), 8:30 p.m.
(FOX)
Cure Bowl:
Orlando, Fla.; Georgia
State (6-5) vs. Western
Kentucky (6-6), 2:30 p.m.
(CBSSN)
Texas Bowl: Houston;
Texas (6-6) vs. Missouri
(7-5), 9 p.m.
(ESPN)
Las Vegas Bowl:
Boise State (10-3) vs.
Oregon (7-5), 3:30 p.m.
(ABC)
Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield
The Sooners’ electrifying signal-caller is
the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman
Trophy after passing for 4,340 yards
with 41 touchdowns while rushing for
another 310 yards and five scores.
Clemson QB Kelly Bryant
The emergence of Bryant has
helped push the Tigers back into
the College Football Playoff, he's
completing more than 67 percent
of his passes for 2,678 yards.
New Mexico Bowl:
Albuquerque; Colorado
State (7-5) vs. Marshall
(7-5), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Camellia Bowl:
Montgomery, Ala.;
Arkansas State (7-3) vs.
Middle Tennessee (6-6),
8 p.m.
(ESPN)
FRIDAY, DEC. 29
Belk Bowl: Charlotte,
N.C.; Wake Forest (7-5)
vs. Texas A&M (7-5), 1
p.m. (ESPN)
THURSDAY, DEC. 21
Gasparilla Bowl:
St. Petersburg, Fla.;
Temple (6-6) vs. FIU
(8-4), 8 p.m.
(ESPN)
Alabama RB Damien Harris
He leads the team with 906 yards and
11 rushing touchdowns. He's a threat
to score every time he touches the ball
and averages 8.2 yards per carry.
FRIDAY, DEC. 22
Bahamas Bowl:
Nassau; Ohio (8-4) vs.
UAB (8-4), 12:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
SUNDAY, DEC. 24
Hawaii Bowl:
Honolulu; Fresno State
(9-4) vs. Houston (7-4),
8:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
TUESDAY, DEC. 26
Heart of Dallas Bowl:
West Virginia (7-5) vs.
Utah (6-6), 1:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
Georgia RB Nick Chubb
The senior is the second-leading rusher
in SEC history. Although injuries have
slowed him, he should be rested and
ready for the biggest game of his career.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Atlanta • Jan. 8, 8 p.m.
TITLE FIGHT
Famous Idaho Potato
Bowl:
Boise; Central Michigan
(7-5) vs. Wyoming (7-5),
4 p.m.
(ESPN)
Dollar General Bowl:
Mobile, Ala.; Appala-
chian State (8-4) vs.
Toledo (11-2), 7 p.m.
(ESPN)
Clemson and Alabama meet in the College Football Playoff
for a third straight year, Oklahoma plays Georgia for the first time
t is probably going to be a while for fans who thought Big
Ten champion Ohio State, or maybe some other team,
I should
have been in the College Football Playoff to get past
the selection of Alabama. The Crimson Tide had been more
consistent this season and lost just once. The Buckeyes lost
twice, including an embarrassing 31-point loss to unranked
Iowa, but have the more impressive set of victories. Ohio
State won the Big Ten while Alabama
All New
did not even win its SEC division.
Year’s Six
In the end, Alabama got in for being
games
Alabama, the surest bet in college
on ESPN
football and the only team to appear in
every playoff since the first in 2014.
Meanwhile, this marks the first season that the Big Ten has
been left out of the playoffs and the second time in four
seasons that the Pac-12 was shut out.
Regardless of what you think, the games set up for this
year’s playoffs look to be pretty good. Recent history
suggests Alabama and Clemson in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1
will be entertaining. Rarely in his college career has Baker
Mayfield failed to deliver for Oklahoma, and Georgia brings
one of the best defenses the Heisman front-runner has ever
faced in a brilliant career to the Rose Bowl.
Simply having the games back on New Year's Day is
probably reason for celebration.
SUGAR BOWL
SEMIFINAL
No. 1 Clemson
(12-1, 7-1 ACC)
No. 4 Alabama
(11-1, 7-1 SEC)
Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., New Orleans
Rematch of last two national championship games
Total yards per game (rank)
Offense
457.9 (23)
465.4 (20)
Defense
283.3 (6)
257.8 (2)
ROSE BOWL
SEMIFINAL
No. 2 Oklahoma
(12-1, 8-1 Big 12)
No. 3 Georgia
(12-1, 7-1 SEC)
Jan. 1, 5:10 p.m., Pasadena, Calif.
Teams play for the first time
Total yards per game (rank)
Offense
583.3 (1)
Defense
384.8 (57)
COTTON BOWL
Southern Cal (11-2)
vs. Ohio State (11-2)
Fri. Dec. 29
8:30 p.m.
Arlington, Texas
FIESTA BOWL
Washington (10-2)
vs. Penn State (10-2)
Sat. Dec. 30
4 p.m.
Glendale, Ariz.
270.9 (4)
Semifinal winners meet in championship Jan. 8
ORANGE BOWL
Wisconsin (12-1)
vs. Miami (10-2)
Sat. Dec. 30
8 p.m.
Miami Gardens, Fla.
Sun Bowl:
El Paso, Texas;
NC State (8-4) vs.
Arizona State (7-5), 3
p.m. (CBS)
Music City Bowl:
Nashville, Tenn.;
Kentucky (7-5) vs.
Northwestern (9-3), 4:30
p.m. (ESPN)
Arizona Bowl: Tucson,
Ariz.; New Mexico State
(5-6) vs. Utah State
(6-6), 5:30 p.m.
(CBSSN)
SATURDAY, DEC. 30
TaxSlayer Bowl: Jackson-
ville, Fla.; Louisville (8-4)
vs. Mississippi State
(8-4), Noon
(ESPN)
Liberty Bowl: Memphis,
Tenn.; Iowa State (7-5)
vs. Memphis (10-2),
12:30 p.m.
(ABC)
MONDAY, JAN. 1
Outback Bowl: Tampa,
Fla.; Michigan (8-4) vs.
South Carolina (8-4),
Noon (ESPN2)
Citrus Bowl: Orlando,
Fla.; Notre Dame (9-3)
vs. LSU (9-3), 1 p.m.
(ABC)
433.6 (37)
OTHER NEW YEAR’S SIX GAMES
Quick Lane Bowl: Detroit;
Northern Illinois (8-4) vs.
Duke (6-6), 5:15 p.m.
(ESPN)
Cactus Bowl: Phoenix;
Kansas State (7-5) vs.
UCLA (6-6), 9 p.m.
(ESPN)
Camping World Bowl:
Orlando, Fla.; Oklahoma
State (9-3) vs. Virginia
Tech (9-3), 5:15 p.m.
(ESPN)
Holiday Bowl: San Diego;
Washington State (9-3)
vs. Michigan State (9-3),
9 p.m. (FOX)
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20
Frisco (Texas) Bowl:
Louisiana Tech (6-6) vs.
SMU (7-5), 8 p.m.
(ESPN)
Armed Forces Bowl:
Fort Worth, Texas; San
Diego State (10-2) vs.
Army (8-3), 3:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
THURSDAY, DEC. 28
Military Bowl: Annapolis,
Md.; Virginia (6-6) vs.
Navy (6-5), 1:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
Alamo Bowl: San
Antonio; Stanford (9-4)
vs. TCU (10-3), 9 p.m.
(ESPN)
TUESDAY, DEC. 19
Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl:
Akron (7-6) vs. FAU
(10-3), 7 p.m.
(ESPN)
SATURDAY, DEC. 23
Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl:
South Florida (9-2) vs.
Texas Tech (6-6), Noon
(ESPN)
Page 3B
PEACH BOWL
UCF (12-0)
vs. Auburn (10-3)
Mon. Jan. 1
12:30 p.m.,
Atlanta
Content by The Associated Press; page designed by GateHouse Media’s Center for News & Design.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS
SATURDAY, JAN. 20
East-West Shrine Classic:
St. Petersburg, Fla.; East
vs. West, 3 p.m.
(NFLN)
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl:
Carson, Calif.; American
vs. National, TBA
(FS1)
SATURDAY, JAN. 27
Senior Bowl: Mobile,
Ala.; North vs. South,
2:30 p.m.
(NFLN)
Pro Football
NFL spokesman: Roger Goodell views new contract as his last
Goodell likely to step
down as commissioner
once contract expires
By SCHUYLER DIXON
Associated Press
IRVING, Texas — Commis-
sioner Roger Goodell views the
agreement reached on an exten-
sion last week as his fi nal contract
overseeing the NFL, a league
spokesman said Wednesday.
Goodell’s extension through
2024 will allow him to help
negotiate a new labor deal when
the current collective bargaining
agreement expires in 2021, and
have a hand in talks over new
broadcast contracts, spokesman
Joe
Lockhart
said
when
announcing details of the deal
signed last week.
“The commissioner I think
has been clear that he
views this as his last
contract and will allow
him to deal with some
of the important issues
that we know are on the
horizon,” Lockhart said
at the luxury Dallas-area
hotel where NFL meet-
ings were held.
The
extension Goodell
has been a source of
controversy because powerful
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry
Jones objected to the process led
by the six-owner compensation
committee and chairman Arthur
Blank of the Atlanta Falcons.
Lockhart said 90 percent of the
contract will be incentive based,
which he said was an increase
in nonguaranteed income over
previous deals.
A person with knowledge
of the agreement has told The
Associated Press the fi ve-year
extension is worth almost $200
million with a base
salary of $40 million.
The person spoke on
condition of anonymity
because the fi gures are
not made public.
Goodell made nearly
$32 million in 2015, the
last year public records
of the NFL are avail-
able. League revenues
have more than doubled
to $14 million since Goodell
replaced Paul Tagliabue in 2006.
Blank removed Jones as an
ad-hoc member of the compen-
sation committee after Jones
threatened a lawsuit over the
extension last month. Jones
accused the committee of with-
holding details of negotiations
from other owners and demanded
the deal be presented to all owners
even though they had voted
unanimously in May to let the
committee complete the contract.
Blank said Jones didn’t have
a role in an increase in the part
of Goodell’s contract that isn’t
guaranteed, but that Jones did
have input on possible changes to
how the compensation committee
is put together.
When the Cowboys and
Falcons played last month in
Atlanta, the respective owners
skipped their customary pre-game
talk on the fi eld.
“I’ve got a great respect for
Jerry,” Blank said. “I spoke to
him ... on the phone about a week
and a half ago. It was a very good
conversation. I thanked him,
which I didn’t get a chance to do,
or chose not to do really, the time
we played because I didn’t think it
was the right setting.”
Blank said the committee’s
handling of Goodell’s extension
was the most transparent he has
seen in 35 years, going back to
the tenures of Tagliabue and Pete
Rozelle. Blank said owners were
updated in general meetings and
with multiple phone calls.
“We were not necessarily
connected totally on how this
process should have been
handled,” Blank said of his rela-
tionship with Jones. “We went
to great lengths to make sure we
were completely transparent.”
Jones’ dispute with Goodell
surfaced in reports after the
commissioner suspended star
Dallas running back Ezekiel
Elliott for six games over alleged
domestic violence in a case pros-
ecutors in Ohio didn’t pursue.
Jones has denied the suspension
was the impetus for his objections
over the contract.
“I don’t know that there’s a
rift going forward,” Blank said.
“I think that Jerry, he loves the
league, he loves the Cowboys,
he’s very passionate about issues
that he cares deeply about, which
is great. I think it’s important
to have difference voices in the
room.”