State college tidbits: Shula Bowl's a must-see

Shula Bowl coaches

None of the previous 15 FAU-FIU matchups had this much buzz. Both teams are bowl eligible, and both coaches are national names:

FAU coach Lane Kiffin

Record: 7-3

You knew him as: The arrogant hotshot who talked a big game at Tennessee and USC and failed at both stops (plus the Raiders).

You should know: His high-scoring offense has the nation's No. 8 rushing attack — one spot ahead of his last school, Alabama — with three 400-yard games.

FIU coach Butch Davis

Record: 6-3

You knew him as: The former Miami head coach who recruited most of the roster on the 2001 powerhouse title team before bolting (and flopping) with the Browns.

You should know: He has taken a team that's average in most Conference USA statistics to its first six-win season since 2011.

Miami letdown?

The No. 2 Hurricanes could be in for a letdown, coming off the huge win over Notre Dame and facing an easy-to-overlook Virginia team. Don't count on the upset, though. The Cavaliers have lost three of their past four games and have never beaten a top-two team on the road.

Trailblazing

Regardless of what happens Saturday at Florida, UAB has had a remarkable season. A program that was shut down in 2014 is thriving. The Blazers have won three games in a row, are bowl eligible and have already tied the program record for most Division I-A wins in a season (seven).

Coaching carousel

Tennessee: Butch Jones is already out, but I'm curious to see how former Michigan coach Brady Hoke does in his interim job Saturday against No. 21 LSU.

Nebraska: Mike Riley needs to beat No. 13 Penn State to have a chance at six wins. Good luck.

Texas A&M: Can't imagine winning out (Ole Miss on Saturday, LSU next week) would save Kevin Sumlin. That means the speculation about Jimbo Fisher leaving FSU will pick up.

Arkansas: The Razorbacks canned athletic director Jeff Long. Considering Arkansas needs to beat No. 17 Mississippi State on Saturday and Missouri next week to reach six wins, coach Bret Bielema looks like the next to go.

Group of Five watch

Games USF fans should keep an eye on as the Bulls hope to earn a New Year's Six bowl bid:

No. 14 UCF at Temple: Can Temple coach (and former Gators defensive coordinator) Geoff Collins come up with a blueprint to knock off the Knights?

SMU at No. 18 Memphis: A dangerous game for the Tigers. Plus these are two entertaining offenses with up-and-coming coaches (SMU's Chad Morris, Memphis' Mike Norvell).

Air Force at Boise State: The Broncos are ranked No. 25 by the Playoff committee and should get a seventh consecutive win against struggling Air Force.

Nevada at San Diego State: The nation's No. 2 rusher (Rashaad Penny) should run all over a porous Wolfpack defense.

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Audible

"The mullet is just a good time." — Miami K Michael Badgley, whose hair is all business in the front, a party in the back and irrelevant to the school record he set last week with his 74th career field goal.

By the numbers

34 Passing touchdowns by former Gators QB Will Grier in 10 games at West Virginia.

32 Passing touchdowns by the Gators in the 30 games since Grier's suspension (and subsequent transfer).

33-8 FSU record under Fisher in games after October. Expect it to go to 34-8 today against lowly Delaware State.

17 Seniors who will be recognized at FSU's senior day, including Dade City native Jacob Pugh and St. Petersburg Catholic alumnus Ryan Green.