Florida State, the undefeated ACC champion, will face Georgia in the Orange Bowl after being snubbed by the College Football Playoff. Liberty Flames, the undefeated Conference USA champion, secured a New Year's Six bid and will play against Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. Other New Year's Six matchups include Missouri vs. Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Classic and Ole Miss vs. Penn State in the Peach Bowl. The CFP semifinal matchups are Michigan vs. Alabama in the Rose Bowl and Washington vs. Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
Washington wins the Pac-12 championship with a 34-31 victory over Oregon, improving their record to 13-0 and positioning themselves for a potential College Football Playoff semifinal berth. Liberty Flames win their first Conference USA title with a 45-35 victory over New Mexico State, remaining undefeated and staying in contention for a New Year's Six bowl game.
Jamey Chadwell, head coach of the Liberty Flames, has experienced remarkable success with a 12-0 start to his first season at the helm. Chadwell, known for his winning record at Coastal Carolina, has been pleasantly surprised by the team's rapid progress. With a potential win in the Conference USA championship game and some luck, Liberty could secure a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game. Chadwell attributes the team's success to the resources and support he has received at Liberty, including a significant increase in salary and top-notch facilities. Despite not yet being hired by a Power 5 school, Chadwell is content to continue winning at Liberty.
The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Liberty Flames 75-71 in the NIT, with Chucky Hepburn leading the way with 27 points. The Badgers shot 83.3% from the free-throw line, outscoring the Flames 20-11. The team played excellent defense in the final minutes, allowing only 3 shot attempts from Liberty. The win marks back-to-back victories for the Badgers for the first time since January 3rd.
The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Liberty Flames 75-71 in a close game, with Chucky Hepburn scoring a career-high 27 points. Despite a strong performance from Dharius McGee, who scored 31 points, the Badgers were clutch at the end, with Tyler Wahl contributing 14 points. The win moves the Badgers to the quarterfinals of the NIT, where they'll face the winner of UCF and Oregon.
The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Bradley Braves 81-62 in the first round of the NIT tournament. Steven Crowl led all scorers with 36 points and 9 rebounds, while Tyler Wahl and Connor Essegian also contributed with 14 and 16 points respectively. The Badgers will face the Liberty Flames in the second round on Sunday, March 19 at the Kohl Center.
