As expected, Notre Dame and Alabama will meet in the BCS National Championship Game to award another trophy to one of college football’s most successful programs. However, the complete bowl lineup was not without some surprises, including #15 Northern Illinois crashing the BCS party and 9-3 Louisiana Tech being left home for the holidays after their administration turned down an Independence Bowl invite.

Here is an updated schedule of this year’s college football bowl games:

 TAXSLAYER.COM GATOR BOWL: Mississippi State (8-4) vs. #20 Northwestern (9-3)

Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 12 p.m. on ESPN

HEART OF DALLAS BOWL: Purdue (6-6) vs. Oklahoma State (7-5)

Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 12 p.m. on ESPNU

CAPITAL ONE BOWL: #7 Georgia (11-2) vs. #16 Nebraska (10-3)

Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 1 p.m. on ABC

OUTBACK BOWL: #10 South Carolina (10-2) vs. #18 Michigan (8-4)

Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 1 p.m. on ESPN

ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY VIZIO: Wisconsin (8-5) vs. #6 Stanford (11-2)

Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 5 p.m. on ESPN

DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL: #15 Northern Illinois (12-1) vs. #12 Florida State (11-2)

Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL: #21 Louisville (10-2) vs. #3 Florida (11-1)

Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL: #4 Oregon (11-1) vs. #5 Kansas State (11-1)

Thursday, Jan. 3, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

AT&T COTTON BOWL: #9 Texas A&M (10-2) vs. #11 Oklahoma (10-2)

Friday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m. on Fox

BBVA COMPASS BOWL: Pittsburgh (6-6) vs. Mississippi (6-6)

Saturday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m. on ESPN

GODADDY.COM BOWL: #25 Kent State (11-2) vs. Arkansas State (9-3)

Sunday, Jan. 6, at 9 p.m. on ESPN

DISCOVER BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: #2 Alabama (12-1) vs. #1 Notre Dame (12-0)

Monday, Jan. 7, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

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