The oft-sloth week between Christmas and New Year's Day does little more than encourage the watching of professional and college football alike. Unfortunately, with both holidays on a Monday, that leaves a large time gap between games, especially the more exciting contests such as late-season NFL games that change playoff standings and draft orders and the high-profile college bowl games.
While the Chicago Bears are technically alive for the playoffs, much attention has already been diverted to the college football landscape and the draft process. Fortunately, with many of the nation's top teams facing off this weekend, it will be a great opportunity to familiarize oneself with college players who could be on the Bears' roster following the 2024 NFL Draft, starting with the Cotton Bowl, a matchup between #7 Ohio State and #9 Missouri.
Unfortunately, the first New Year's Six Bowl game is unlikely to feature the best player on either roster in Marvin Harrison Jr., who has yet to announce his absence from the game despite sitting out of practice during the week. Still, this game will feature many players who will go in the first few rounds of next April's draft and some who have a real chance of being game-changers in the NFL.