NCAA Football

15 Biggest Losers From College Football Bowl Season

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By @BrianKalchik

15 Biggest Losers From College Football Bowl Season

Jameis Winston Florida State
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The bowl season is supposed to be a time where teams celebrate their accomplishments from the regular season and carry that over into the postseason. For some teams, however, their bowl seasons were less than jolly. Here are the 15 biggest losers from the college football bowl season.

15. Fresno State

Fresno State Bulldogs
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15. Fresno State

Fresno State Bulldogs
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With Derek Carr and Davante Adams gone to the NFL, Fresno State struggled all year and played in the Hawaii Bowl. Against Rice, the Bulldogs were crushed 30-6, making this season one to forget.

14. Colorado State

Colorado State Rams
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14. Colorado State

Colorado State Rams
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With Jim McElwain gone to Florida, the Colorado State Rams fell back to earth in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. The Rams were outmatched against Utah, losing big 45-10.

13. North Carolina

North Carolina Tar Heels
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13. North Carolina

North Carolina Tar Heels
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North Carolina has been miserable all season on defense, and nothing changed in the Quick Lane Bowl. Against Rutgers, the Tar Heels lost in embarrassing fashion, 40-21.

12. Miami

Duke Johnson Miami
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12. Miami

Duke Johnson Miami
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Miami football has not bounced back yet under Al Golden and let a golden opportunity slip away in the Independence Bowl. Against South Carolina, the Hurricanes lost 24-21, leaving with yet another disappointing season.

11. Nebraska

Tommy Armstrong Jr. Nebraska
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11. Nebraska

Tommy Armstrong Jr. Nebraska
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Nebraska not only lost their coach before the bowl game in Bo Pellini, but they have lost their identity, which is their defense. Against USC in the Holiday Bowl, the blackshirts gave up 45 points in a 45-42 loss.

10. Oklahoma

Semaje Perine Oklahoma
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10. Oklahoma

Semaje Perine Oklahoma
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Oklahoma not only got obliterated against Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl, but they also quit. The game was never in doubt as the Tigers dominated from the first kickoff to the last. The luster around the Oklahoma Sooner program is starting to fade, and unless Bob Stoops wins in a hurry, the Sooners will fall off the map.

9. Texas

Charlie Strong Texas
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9. Texas

Charlie Strong Texas
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Charlie Strong's inaugural season as Texas head coach ended with an unimpressive loss to Arkansas. In the Texas Bowl, the Longhorns' defense was gashed by the Razorbacks and the offense continued to struggle in a 31-7 loss. The rebuilding program will take years, not months for Strong to fix.

8. Minnesota

Mitch Leidner Minnesota
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8. Minnesota

Mitch Leidner Minnesota
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The Minnesota Golden Gophers have steadily improved under Jerry Kill, but the bowl season continues to be their kryptonite. Against Missouri in the Citrus Bowl, Minnesota lost 33-17, losing their seventh straight bowl game.

7. Auburn

Quan Bray Auburn
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7. Auburn

Quan Bray Auburn
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After seeing Auburn's defensive performance against Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl, new coordinator Will Muschamp will have his work cut out for him. After letting Amari Cooper run wild on them, the Tigers allowed Melvin Gordon to do the same as they lost 34-31 in overtime after a missed field goal.

6. Arizona

Anu Solomon Arizona
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6. Arizona

Anu Solomon Arizona
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After losing their chance at the College Football Playoff against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game, Arizona's once promising season ended in disappointment in the Fiesta Bowl. Against Boise State, the Wildcats lost 38-30, turning a once promising 10-2 start into a disappointing 10-4 finish.

5. Mississippi State

Josh Robinson Mississippi State
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5. Mississippi State

Josh Robinson Mississippi State
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After losing to Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, the Mississippi State Bulldogs followed up that performance with another disappointing outing in the Orange Bowl. Against Georgia Tech, one of the nation's top defenses was exposed as the Yellow Jackets rang up 42 points in a 42-34 Georgia Tech win.

4. TCU

Trevone Boykin TCU
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4. Ole Miss

Trevone Boykin TCU
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In the Peach Bowl, Ole Miss looked uninspired, outmatched and outgunned against a vastly better TCU team. Bo Wallace became the bad Bo and threw three interceptions as the Rebels were routed, 42-3.

3. Baylor

Bryce Petty Baylor
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3. Baylor

Bryce Petty Baylor
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Art Briles was highly critical for not being included in the College Football Playoff, but Baylor deserved to be left out after the Cotton Bowl. Against Michigan State, Baylor held a 21-point fourth quarter lead and collapsed, losing 42-41 in the game's final minute.

2. Florida State

Jameis Winston Florida State
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2. Florida State

Jameis Winston Florida State
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After going undefeated for almost two years, the Florida State Seminoles saw their reign as National Champions end in a humiliating loss to Oregon. The Seminoles couldn't hang on to the ball and were outmatched on defense in a 59-20 rout.

1. Alabama

Blake Sims Alabama
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1. Alabama

Blake Sims Alabama
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As the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff, Alabama was supposed to easily defeat an inferior Ohio State team that was down to their third-string quarterback. In the Sugar Bowl, the Crimson Tide struggled establishing the line of scrimmage and lost 42-35 in a stunning upset.

Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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