The Mustangs finished one spot behind Liberty, missing a chance to make a statement in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon.

Instead, they’ll make a 1,700-mile trip without their injured quarterback to shiver during a de facto road game.

Speaking of southern teams making long trips to the Northeast to appear in a low-stakes game with little to gain.

The Hurricanes — who lost their 2018 trip to The Bronx, 35-3, to Wisconsin — will be forced to use first-year, third-string quarterback Jacurri Williams against the nation’s 17th-ranked pass defense.

Predicting bowl games has become increasingly difficult in this era, but motivation remains a massive factor.

Few players are more ready to announce their presence than Wildcats freshman backup Avery Johnson, who was electric in limited snaps this season.

In a win over Texas Tech, he completed 8 of 9 passes and rushed for 90 yards and five touchdowns.

The world is backing the Wildcats after the departure of quarterback Dillon Gabriel, but the Sooners (10-2) still have the more talented squad, including five-star recruit Jackson Arnold under center.

Arizona has won its past six games, but only one came against a team that is currently ranked.