Nancy Turner
Dec 03, 2023 - 08:05

Louisville football bowl projections: Cards potential bowl destination if FSU misses CFP

Florida State's win over Louisville puts them in the College Football Playoffs, potentially leaving the Cardinals in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl.

After Louisville's 16-6 loss to Florida State in the ACC title game, the Cardinals are now in a waiting game to see how the College Football Playoff committee will handle the Seminoles, who are down to their third-string quarterback.

If Florida State (13-0) is passed over, it would mark the first time an undefeated Power Five team has missed the College Football Playoffs. This unprecedented decision by the CFP committee would likely result in the Cards (10-3) heading to the Taxslayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 29. Projections from The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated have Louisville facing off against Texas A&M in the bowl game, which takes place in Jacksonville, Florida.

FSU's playoff hopes were thrown into uncertainty after Alabama defeated No. 1 Georgia to win the SEC championship, handing the Bulldogs their first loss in 30 games. The CFP committee has previously selected two SEC teams for the four-team field twice (2017, 2021), with both instances featuring Alabama and Georgia.

It is likely that Florida State will secure a spot in the CFP, which would give Louisville the Orange Bowl bid as the highest-ranked ACC team outside of the champion. In the event that the Seminoles do miss the playoffs, they would take the Orange Bowl slot against Ohio State.

The Orange Bowl is part of the New Year's Six bowls, which also include the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Cotton Bowl.

Louisville has a history of playing in bowl games, having participated in 18 since 2000 with a record of 9-9. In their last 11 bowl games, the Cardinals have gone 6-5, including a 24-7 Fenway Bowl win over Cincinnati to close out the 2022 season.

The SEC selection for the Gator Bowl is determined by the program that finishes outside of the New Year's Six bowl projections. LSU (ReliaQuest Bowl against Notre Dame) and Auburn (set to play Georgia Tech in the Mayo Bowl) are among the SEC teams already slated for bowl game appearances.

In the aftermath of Louisville football's loss to FSU, it is clear that the team missed crucial opportunities. For more sports coverage, reach out to sports reporter Brooks Warren at [email protected] and follow him on X at @Broookksss.