See when and where Pensacola area alums will be playing in bowl games this winter.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for college football fans.
Bowl season kicked off Dec. 13, with South Carolina State beating Prairie View A&M 40-38 in the Celebration Bowl and Washington beating Boise State 38-10 in the LA Bowl.
That was the start of 36 bowl games over the next three-plus weeks, along with 11 College Football Playoff games.
Two Florida universities will play in bowl games, with South Florida playing Old Dominion in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 17 and Florida International playing University of Texas-San Antonio in the Servpro First Responder Bowl on Dec. 26.
Miami will play at Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 20.
Seven bowl games and two CFP games, including the national championship game, will take place in Florida, though none of those games are close to the Pensacola area. The closest bowl game to Pensacola is 73 miles away at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, where Louisiana and Delaware will clash in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Dec. 17.
However, there are 23 players from Pensacola and Santa Rosa counties who will be suiting up one more time and maybe more this season. Here’s how to watch bowl games featuring Pensacola area players.
CFP games will be at the top with the rest of the bowl schedule below.
College Football Playoff First Round: No. 10 Miami (Fla.) at No. 7 Texas A&M
Where: Kyle Field (College Station, Texas)
When: Dec. 20, 11 a.m. CST, ESPN/ABC
Local connections: Miami—Emory Williams (Milton)
Williams has appeared in five games this season, completing 13 of 19 passes for 156 yards. He started two games as a freshman in 2023 before suffering a season-ending arm injury.
Williams was a two-time all-area selection at Milton, throwing for 4,380 yards and 40 touchdowns.
With a win, Miami will play No. 2 Ohio State in the CFP Quarterfinals in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m. CST.
College Football Playoff First Round: No. 20 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, Mississippi)
When: Dec. 20, 2:30 p.m. CST, TNT/HBOMax/truTV
Local connections: Ole Miss—Ladarian Clardy (Escambia)
Clardy has recorded four tackles in eight games for the Rebels as a true freshman.
He was a consensus four-star recruit and won PNJ Player of the Year in 2024 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Clardy recorded 180 tackles and seven interceptions and caught 34 passes for 663 yards and 10 touchdowns in his high school career.
With a win, Ole Miss would play Georgia in the CFP Quarterfinals in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. CST.
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: Troy vs. Jacksonville State
Where: Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
When: Dec. 16, 8 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Jacksonville State—Ryland Bragg (Pensacola Catholic), Bryson Rouillier (Gulf Breeze)
Both Bragg and Rouillier have played in just one game this season, a 45-10 win over Murray State on Sept. 20, after redshirting in 2024.
Bragg didn’t allow a sack his senior season and helped the Crusaders run for nearly 3,000 rushing yards while being named first team All-PNJ. He flipped from UWF to Jacksonville State in Jan. 2024.
Rouillier was the Pensacola area’s most prolific wide receiver his senior season, catching 82 passes for an area-best 1,364 yards and 13 touchdowns.
StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs. South Florida
Where: Camping World Stadium (Orlando)
When: 4 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Old Dominion—Ryan Huff (Pensacola Catholic), CJ Floyd (Pine Forest); South Florida—Turner McLaughlin (Pensacola Catholic), Christian Neptune (South Florida)
Neptune is the only of the four local players on either team that’s seen serious playing time this year.
He’s played in 10 games for the Bulls, catching 29 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown, running six times for 39 yards and completing a 29 yard touchdown pass against North Texas on Nov. 10. Neptune caught 92 passes for 1,423 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Tate.
McLaughlin transferred to USF from Tennessee Tech, where he was selected to the Stats’ Perform Freshman All-American team as a long snapper. He was first all PNJ long snapper in 2023 and also played at Gulf Breeze before transferring to Catholic.
Neither Floyd nor Huff have seen time for Old Dominion this season. Both were three-star recruits according to the 247 Sports Composite. Huff Was a two-year starter for Catholic after transferring in from Greenwood High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky, throwing for 3,869 yards, 25 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Floyd was a four-year varsity player for Pine Forest, recording 149 tackles.
Xbox Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Missouri State
Where: Ford Center (Frisco, Texas)
When: Dec. 18, 8 p.m. CST, ESPN2
Local connections: Arkansas State—Nigel Nelson (Pensacola Catholic)
Nelson has made an immediate impact for the Redwolves as a true freshman. He played in all 12 games, recording 48 tackles (1 TFL), a sack and one pass broken up.
He recorded recorded 166 tackles, four sacks, eight quarterback hurries, 11 interceptions and nine passes defended in high schools and was the PNJ 2023 Player of the Year. He also spent time on offense, most notably running for 1,371 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2023 to help the Crusaders win a Region 1-2S title.
Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by Engine: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan
Where: Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
When: Dec. 19, 10 a.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Western Michigan—Terence Marshall (Navarre)
Marshall appeared in nine games as a redshirt freshman, catching three passes for 17 yards for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champions. He appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2024.
As a senior for Navarre in 2023, he had 925 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to help lead the Raiders to a District 1-4S title and regional playoff appearance.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Memphis vs. NC State
Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa)
When: Dec. 19, 1 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Memphis—Ethan Newman (Navarre), Frank Peasant (Escambia), Xavier Thompson (Pine Forest), Pooda Walker (Pine Forest)
Newman, Peasant and Walker all transferred into Memphis this season and have made an impact.
Peasant transferred after five years at Middle Tennessee, where he ran for 1,508 yards and 19 touchdowns from 2020-24. He’s run for 254 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Peasant ran for 2,046 yards and 25 touchdowns as a high school senior in 2019, helping the Gators to a 6A state runner-up finish and winning all area co-MVP.
Newman and Walker both transferred from Kennesaw State. Newman played in 16 games over two seasons for the Owls and has played in 11 games for Memphis this season.
This is Walker’s third school, having played for West Florida in 2021 and 2022 and Kennesaw State in 2023 and 2024. He’s played in every game for Memphis this season, recording 28 tackles (0.5 TFL), one fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries. Walker helped Pine Forest win back-to-back district titles as a junior and senor.
Thompson hasn’t seen game action this season. A three-star recruit according to the 247 Sports Composite. He played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Pensacola Catholic before transferring to Pine Forest.
Bush Brothers and Company Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville vs. Toledo
Where: Flager Credit Union Stadium (Boca Raton)
When: Dec. 23, 1 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Louisville—Tyler Folmar (Tate)
Folmar has appeared in two games during his freshman season. A PNJ all-area selection as a senior, he was a three-star recruit originally committed to Louisiana before flipping and signing with Louisville during the 2024 early signing period.
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss
Where: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
When: Dec. 23, 4:30 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Southern Miss—Eric Thomas Jr. (Booker T. Washington)
Thomas has seen time as a reserve defensive lineman, recording five tackles in seven games. He played at Arkansas from 2020-22 before transferring to Southern Miss ahead of the 2023 season.
Thomas was a three-star recruit and the No. 49 weakside defensive end in the Class of 2020 according to the 247 Sports Composite, recording 60 tackles (27 TFL), 14.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and a pick six as a senior.
Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota
Where: Chase Field (Phoenix)
When: Dec. 26, 3:30 p.m. CT
Local connections: Minnesota—Donielle Hayes (Pine Forest)
Hayes has played in just two games this year as a redshirt sophomore and hasn’t recorded any stats. He was a three-star recruit coming out of Pine Forest, where he was a PNJ Super Senior in 2022.
Hayes spent his junior and senior season playing for the Eagles after transferring from Lighthouse Private Christian Academy, catching 73 passes for 1,465 yards and 19 touchdowns over those two seasons.
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech
Where: Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
When: Dec. 30, 1 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Coastal Carolina—Xakery Wiedner (Pace)
Wiedner has played in seven games for the Chanticleers during his redshirt freshman season, but hasn’t recorded any stats.
He entered Coastal Carolina a three-star recruit, totalling over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs. Illinois
Where: Nissan Stadium (Nashville)
When: Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Illinois—Tyler Strain (Pace)
Strain has played in all 12 games for the Fighting Illini this season, recording nine tackles and a fumble recovery. This will be his final college game. He’s recorded 66 tackles and three interceptions in 47 career games.
Strain recorded 109 tackles, 3.0 TFL, three interceptions, nine pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries at Pace and was a 2020 PNJ Super Senior.
Valero Alamo Bowl: No. 16 USC vs. TCU
Where: Alamodome (San Antonio)
When: Dec. 30, 8 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: USC—Waymond Jordan (Escambia)
Jordan was looking like one of the best running backs in the Big 10 before suffering a season-ending injury, running for 576 yards and five touchdowns in the Trojans first seven games.
He spent the previous two seasons at Hutchinson Community College, where he was the NJCAA Division I Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 while leading the Blue Dragons to a national championship.
Jordan ran for 4,235 yards and 42 touchdowns in his varsity career was named first team all-area as a senior.
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Texas State vs. Rice
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium (Forth Worth, Texas)
When: Jan. 2, 12 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Rice—David Stickle (Rice)
Stickle transferred to Rice ahead of the 2024 season after playing at Florida State from 2020-23. He started all 12 games at center in 2024 and has played in eight games this year.
Stickle played tight end at Pace, where he was an all area selection in 2018 and 2019.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest
Where: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
When: Jan. 2, 7 p.m. CST, ESPN
Local connections: Mississippi State—Brennan Smith (Escambia), Joeseph Skipworth (Pace)
Two Florida panhandle products will look to reward their coach with one of the grossest celebrations in sports. The winning coach in this game is doused in mayonnaise from the title sponsor.
Smith played at Austin Peay from 2021-23 and then UTEP in 2024 before transferring to Mississippi State for this season. He played in 36 games and made 31 starts from 2021-24 before appearing in three games this fall.
Smith graduated from Escambia in 2021, where he was a first team Class 6A all-state selection in 2019 and a two-time all area selection.
Skipworth flipped from Kansas to Mississippi State shortly before the early signing period and has appeared in three games for the Bulldogs this fall. He finished with 656 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns combined during his junior and senior seasons at Pace.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: How to watch Pensacola area football players in bowl games, playoff
Category: General Sports
