Bowl games are officially considered the final game of a long season. But for a lot of teams, especially those outside the top 4 of the College Football Playoff, they’re actually an opportunity to get a head start on the next year.

That’s the case for the newly minted ACC champion, Clemson.

While the 10th-ranked Tigers’ upcoming Orange Bowl date against No. 6 Tennessee is a chance to “win the closer,” as coach Dabo Swinney described it in the aftermath of his team’s title clinching 39-10 win Saturday night against North Carolina, it’s also an opportunity to prepare for the future.

Swinney ensured that by naming freshman Cade Klubnik as Clemson’s starting quarterback for the matchup against the Volunteers in Miami.

Klubnik replaced struggling teammate DJ Uiagalelei late in the 1st quarter of Saturday’s game and earned ACC Championship Game MVP honors by throwing for 279 yards and a touchdown while also running for a score.

“Things have to happen the way they’re supposed to happen, and tonight, that’s the way it went. And Cade was ready,” Swinney said after the win that earned the Tigers their 7th league crown during the past 8 years. “You got a chance to see what he can do. He played in rhythm, guys made plays for him. He’s really, really fast. He can really make plays with his legs.

“It was a great night and a glimpse of our future and what it looks like at Clemson. I’m really happy for him and yeah, he definitely earned his opportunity to start.”

The Tigers are 1 of 9 ACC teams that received their bowl destinations Sunday.

Here’s a look at where they’re going and the matchups they’ll face:

Louisville vs. Cincinnati

Fenway Bowl, Boston

When – Saturday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. ET

TV – ESPN

The Cardinals (7-5) and the Bearcats (9-3) renew an old rivalry that went dormant 9 years ago when Louisville joined the ACC. The schools, located about 100 miles apart on Interstate 71, 1st played in 1929 and met every year between 1966 and 2013 with a traveling trophy known as the Keg of Nails going to the winner. 

This renewal has the potential to be the most intense and unusual of the 54 all-time meetings between the teams thanks to the surprising news that Scott Satterfield will leave Louisville to become the next coach at Cincinnati. Both teams will play the bowl with interim coaches. The Bearcats will be lead by cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, who was elevated after Luke Fickelly took the job at Wisconsin last week.

The matchup at Fenway Park promises to be a defensive struggle. The Cardinals rank 2nd nationally with 43 sacks and 3rd nationally with 28 takeaways (15 interceptions, 13 fumbles). Cincinnati leads the American Athletic Conference in scoring (20.3 ppg), pass (186.4 ypg) and total defense (328.5 ypg).

The Bearcats haven’t been as good at stopping the run, which should favor a Louisville offense that averages 194 yards on the ground. Another advantage is that quarterback Malik Cunningham will have had a full month to recover from a shoulder injury that has bothered him through the 2nd half of the regular season. 

Wake Forest vs. Missouri

Gasparilla Bowl, Tampa, Fla.

When – Friday, Dec. 23, 6:30 p.m. ET

TV – ESPN

The Deacons (7-5) are making their school-record 7th straight bowl appearance and their 2nd straight in the state of Florida. They beat Rutgers in the Gator Bowl to finish last season. Although this will be their 1st meeting with the Tigers, they’re no strangers to Mizzou coach Eliah Drinkwitz, who was the offensive coordinator at NC State in 2016-18.  

Wake Forest features an explosive offense that averages 36.8 points per game behind the passing of Sam Hartman and a deep receiving corps that is led by AT Perry, the school’s career leader in touchdown catches. 

While the Deacons come into the game having lost 4 of their past 5 regular-season games, their opponent is trending in the opposite direction. The Tigers (6-6) were just 2-4 and winless in the SEC going into their mid-October open week. They still needed to win their final 2 games to earn bowl eligibility, sneaking in by beating New Mexico State and Arkansas.

Mizzou, which hasn’t won a bowl game since 2014, won’t be at full strength against Wake Forest, with several players – including leading receiver Dominic Lovett – having entered the transfer portal. Linebacker Martez Manuel (49 tackles, 4 sacks) has opted out of the bowl game after declaring for the NFL draft.

Duke vs. Central Florida

Military Bowl, Annapolis, Md.

When – Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m. ET

TV – ESPN

The Blue Devils (8-4) put an exclamation point on the successful rookie season of ACC Coach of the Year Mike Elko with a matchup against the American Athletic Conference runner-up Knights (9-4). Duke currently is on a 3-game bowl winning streak, but its game against UCF will be its 1st postseason appearance since a 2018 win against Temple in the Independence Bowl.

The Knights, coached by Gus Malzahn, lost to Tulane 45-28 in their conference championship game Saturday. They are 6-21 all-time against ACC opponents, including a win against Georgia Tech and a loss to Louisville this season. 

The matchup will feature a battle of dual-threat quarterbacks. The Blue Devils’ Riley Leonard has passed for 2,794 yards and 20 touchdowns and run for 636 yards and 11 scores. The Knights’ John Rhys Plumlee, who started his college career at Ole Miss, has thrown for 2,404 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 841 yards and 11 scores.

This will be the first Military Bowl since 2019 after the past 2 games were canceled by COVID-19-related issues.

North Carolina vs. Oregon

Holiday Bowl, San Diego

When – Wednesday, Dec. 28, 8 p.m. ET

TV – Fox

The Tar Heels (9-4) originally seemed headed to the Gator Bowl. But when the game in Jacksonville, Fla., won a tug-o-war with the Holiday Bowl over Notre Dame, coach Mack Brown’s team was given a detour to San Diego, instead.

While the folks at the Holiday Bowl might be disappointed in losing out on the Irish, they could turn out to be the big winners of the back-room dealing because of the potential offensive fireworks UNC and Oregon (9-3) are capable of providing.

The Ducks average 39.7 ppg game while the Tar Heels still are scoring at a 35 ppg clip despite dropping off considerably during their past 3 games. The game will feature a showdown between 2 of the most dynamic quarterbacks in college football in Oregon’s Bo Nix and UNC’s Drake Maye. 

The Tar Heels’ star will have to break out of a recent slump and put a big number on the scoreboard for his team to offset a ragged defense that ranks dead last in the ACC in virtually every statistical category. He’ll likely have to do it without star receiver Josh Downs, who hinted he might opt out of the bowl in a social media post after Saturday’s ACC title game.

Regardless of the circumstances, the Holiday Bowl will give UNC an opportunity to finish the season on a positive note after 3 straight losses – including Saturday’s lopsided defeat to Clemson in Charlotte.

Syracuse vs. Minnesota

Pinstripe Bowl

When – Thursday, Dec. 29, New York, 2 p.m. ET

TV – ESPN

The Orange (7-5) finished the regular season by losing 5 of its final 6 games. But it finished on a winning note by beating Boston College to close out the schedule. Syracuse also will have a home-field advantage of sorts. Not only is the game being played in its home state, but the Orange is 2-0 all-time at the current Yankee Stadium with wins against Kansas State in 2010 and West Virginia in 2012.

While the Holiday Bowl features a potential shootout between prolific passers, the matchup between Syracuse and Minnesota (8-4) shapes up to be a showcase of elusive runners. The Orange’s Sean Tucker’s 1,060 rushing yards are down from last year’s school-record of 1,496. But he still ranks 3rd in the ACC and has scored 11 touchdowns on the ground this season. The Gophers’ Mohamed Ibrahim has chalked up 1,594 yards and 19 touchdowns, good for 2nd in the Big Ten.

Both teams have enjoyed postseason success. Syracuse is 16-9-1 all-time and its .635 winning percentage is the 6th-best in Football Bowl Subdivision history. Minnesota, on the other hand, has won 5 straight bowls – including the past 3 under coach P.J. Fleck. The Orange beat the Gophers 21-17 in the 2013 Texas Bowl.

Florida State vs. Oklahoma

Cheez-It Bowl

When – Thursday, Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. ET

TV – ESPN

Two brand-name programs that have fallen upon hard times meet for the 5th time in their combined bowl history. The Sooners have won the past 3, all at the Orange Bowl, following the 1979, 1980 and 2000 seasons. The Seminoles won at the Gator Bowl in 1965.

FSU (9-3) is making its 1st postseason appearance since 2019 and will be trying to reach the 10-win mark for the 1st time since 2016. Coach Mike Norvell’s team comes in on a hot streak, having won its final 5 regular-season games. The Seminoles are led by a high-scoring offense led by the passing of quarterback Jordan Travis and a ground attack that has amassed 200 or more yards 8 times this season.

Oklahoma (6-6) is in its 1st  season under former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and needs a victory to avoid its 1st losing season since 1998. The Sooners’ 3 most recent losses, however, have come by 3 points each. They average almost 33 points per game and are fueled by Central Florida transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

NC State vs. Maryland

Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Charlotte

When – Friday, Dec. 30, Noon ET

TV – ESPN

The Wolfpack (8-4) returns to postseason play after last year’s 11th-hour cancellation against UCLA. The opponent is familiar. The Terrapins (7-5) were a charter member of the ACC before leaving for the Big Ten in 2014. The teams have split their 70 previous meetings, with each side winning 33 times with 4 ties.

The big question surrounding NC State is who will play quarterback. Freshman M.J. Morris is expected to be healthy after missing the final 2 regular-season games. But sophomore Ben Finley, who spent most of the season on the scout team, is coming off a standout performance in a win against rival UNC.

The key to the Wolfpack’s success since starting quarterback Devin Leary was lost to a season-ending injury has been a defense anchored by the ACC’s top linebacking corps of Drake Thomas, Payton Wilson and Isaiah Moore.

They’ll be tested by a Maryland offense, triggered by dual-threat quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. The younger brother of the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa became the Terps’ career leader in passing touchdowns in his team’s regular-season finale against Rutgers. He could be at a disadvantage, however, with receivers Dontay Demus Jr. and Jacob Copeland having declared for the NFL draft and tight end C.J. Dippre entering the transfer portal.

Pittsburgh  vs. UCLA 

Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

When – Friday, Dec. 30, 2 p.m. ET

TV – CBS

The Panthers (8-4) and Bruins (9-3) have played 14 times, but their paths haven’t crossed in exactly a half century. Their most recent meeting was a 38-28 UCLA victory Sept. 16, 1972.

This year’s renewal shapes up as a contrast in styles. While the Bruins rely heavily on the passing game, with quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson throwing for 2,883 yards and 25 touchdowns, the Panthers forte is a punishing ground attack. Israel Abanikanda, the ACC’s leading rusher, has run for 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns – 6 of which came during a win against Virginia Tech. 

Pitt’s defense leads the nation with 45 sacks and features the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in tackle Calijah Kancey. The Panthers come in on a 4-game winning streak after a midseason slump that knocked them out of contention for a repeat league title.

The Bruins, meanwhile, can tie their school record for wins in a season with a victory. They are 19-13 all-time against current ACC members.

Clemson vs. Tennessee

Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.

When – Friday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m. ET

TV – ESPN

The Orange Bowl might never have been as orange as it will be with this year’s matchup. Both teams wear the color and their fans will be there in big numbers despite the disappointment of barely missing out on the College Football Playoff.

The Tigers (11-2) finished 7th in the final CFP rankings, a spot below the Volunteers (10-2). Coincidentally, both teams had their playoff hopes dashed by late-season losses to South Carolina. That’s not the only similarity they share. Both will be starting different quarterbacks than they did for most of the season.

ACC Championship Game hero Cade Klubnik will get his 1st start for Clemson. Joe Milton III will be making his 2nd start in place of Hendon Hooker, whose Heisman-quality senior season was cut short by a knee injury in the next-to-last game. Tennessee also will be without offensive coordinator Alex Golesh. The man responsible for an attack that leads the nation in scoring (47.3 ppg) and total yardage (538.1 ypg) has left to take the head-coaching position at South Florida.

Tennessee leads the all-time series 11-6-2, but Clemson came out on top in the most recent meeting – winning 27-14 in the 2004 Peach Bowl. And while the SEC has dominated the ACC by winning 20 of the past 26 games between the leagues, including 6-3 against this year, the Tigers have held up their end of the bargain by winning 11 of their past 15 against SEC opponents.