As the Andy Williams Christmas song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of year.” Especially for football fans. The holiday season means college football bowl games are upon us. The 2023 postseason begins with a flurry of matchups that will include a handful of former high school standouts, plus it will mark a celebration of a compelling year in the sport. Vista Murrieta and Murrieta Valley showcase a lot of former players donning college jerseys during Bowl Game season, which also includes a pair of brothers playing in two different championships, and a pair of brothers playing in the same championship game, on the same team.
Former Nighthawk linemen, Jason, and Jake Steele, separated by a year in age, but both are freshman, eligibility wise, and will get to see postseason play when their teams, Boise State, and San Jose State, wrap up the postseason with Bowl Games. The Migao brothers, twins in fact, who both play for Utah State, by way of Chaparral High School, will also get their chance to make a difference in the postseason as well.
The action got underway Saturday, Dec. 16, and will run all the way through the College Football Playoff National Championship Monday, Jan. 8, as the crown for a national title winner gets placed for the 2023 season.
Ohio kicked off bowl season with a dominant 34-21 victory over Georgia Southern in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. They needed overtime to decide a winner in the New Orleans Bowl, where Louisiana prevailed 31-31 over first-time bowl participant Jacksonville State. Appalachian State took down Miami (Ohio) 13-9 in a rain-soaked Cure Bowl and UCLA showed off in front of its hometown crowd with a 35-22 win over Boise State in the LA Bowl. Texas Tech flexed its muscles in the nightcap with a dominant 34-14 win over Cal.
Check out the schedule below, with roster notes including former area prep players, and keep scrolling for updates from each game as they conclude. All times Eastern
Saturday, Dec. 16
Myrtle Beach Bowl (Conway, South Carolina): Ohio – 41, Georgia Southern – 21
Celebration Bowl (Atlanta, Georgia): Florida A&M – 30, Howard – 26
New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana): Louisiana – 34, Jacksonville State – 31
Cure Bowl (Orlando, Florida): Appalachian State – 13, Miami (OH) – 9
Former area players: New Mexico State: Dion Wilson Jr. – DT, Jr., Perris, Orange Vista HS (Transfer from Arizona); Amari Pouncy – OLB, R-So., Perris, Village Christian HS.
L.A. Bowl (Inglewood, California): UCLA – 35, Boise State – 22
Former area players: UCLA: Joshua Swift – DB, R-Jr., Temecula, Chaparral HS; Jack Pedersen – RB, R-Fr., Murrieta, Vista Murrieta HS; Boise State: Sheldon Newton – NT, Jr., San Jacinto, San Jacinto HS; Jason Steele – OL, Fr., Temecula, Murrieta Valley.
Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana): Texas Tech – 34, Cal – 14
Former area players: Cal: Joshua Stovall – OL, R-Fr., Menifee, Vista Murrieta HS; T.J. Session – OL, R-Jr., Menifee, Vista Murrieta HS (Transfer from Montana State); Ethan Saunders – DL, 6-3, Inglewood, CA / Orange Vista HS.
The schedule below will only pertain to games through Dec. 23. The remaining 2023-24 college football bowl game schedule, scores, TV channels, and matchup information with local alumni ties after that date will be posted in the next issue.
Monday, Dec. 18 (score will be posted after article goes to print)
Bahamas Bowl (Temporarily renamed the Famous Toastery Bowl)
Nassau, Bahamas (Temporarily relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina)
Western Kentucky – 38, Old Dominion – 35
Tuesday, Dec. 19 (score will be posted after article goes to print)
Frisco Bowl – Frisco, Texas
UTSA – 35, Marshall – 17
Thursday, Dec. 21
Boca Raton Bowl – Boca Raton, Florida
USF – 45, Syracuse – 0
Friday, Dec. 22
Gasparilla Bowl – Tampa, Florida
Georgia Tech – 30, UCF – 17
Saturday, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl – Birmingham, Alabama
Duke – 17, Troy – 10
Camellia Bowl – Montgomery, Alabama
Northern Illinois – 21, Arkansas State – 19
Armed Forces Bowl – Fort Worth, Texas
Air Force – 31, James Madison – 21
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, Idaho
Georgia State – 45, Utah – State 22
Former area players: Utah State: Xavion Steele – CB, Sr. 5′ 9″ 180 – Hemet, Orange Lutheran HS/Fullerton JC; Enoka Migao – DE, So. 6′ 4″ 255, Temecula, Chaparral HS; Elia Migao – OL, So. 6′ 2″ 310 – Temecula, Chaparral HS.
68 Ventures Bowl – Mobile, Alabama
South Alabama – 59, Eastern Michigan – 10
Las Vegas Bowl – Las Vegas, Nevada
Northwestern – 14, Utah – 7
Former area players: Utah: Brandon Rose – QB, Redshirt Freshman – Temecula, Murrieta Valley HS.
Hawaii Bowl – Honolulu, Hawaii
Coastal Carolina – 24, San Jose State – 14
Former area players: SJSU: Elisha Guidry – DB, 6′0″192lbs, Redshirt Senior, Long Beach, Vista Murrieta HS/UCLA; Jaime Navarro – OT, 6′3″310lbs, Graduate Student – Temecula, Great Oak HS; Anthony Pardue – OL, 6′4″317lbs Graduate Student, Murrieta, Murrieta Valley HS; Jake Steele – OL, 6′4″306lbs, Redshirt Freshman, Temecula, Murrieta Valley HS.
College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl – 1/1/24
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama
Pasadena, California
5 p.m. ET | ESPN
College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl – 1/1/24
No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas
New Orleans, Louisiana
8:45 p.m. ET | ESPN
*Games after 12/23 will be added here soon, including the College Football Playoff National Championship Game that will take place Monday, Jan. 8, in Houston, Texas.
If there are any former players from inside the Valley News coverage area that were missed, please reach out by email to sports@reedermedia.com so we can include them in the next issue.
