By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

On Friday, the Oregon football team will begin practicing for its Alamo Bowl matchup against Texas Christian in San Antonio on Jan. 2. Until then coaches are focused on recruiting and players are wrapping up finals week, but anticipation nationally is already building for the game.

Several media outlets have released rankings of all 40 bowl games, with several rating the Alamo Bowl as the best of the non-New Year's Six bowls (Cotton, Orange, Rose, Fiesta, Peach, Sugar) -- and in some cases even better than a couple of those games.

ESPN

Alamo Bowl ranking: 5

Comment: “If Oregon's Vernon Adams Jr. and TCU's Trevone Boykin had remained healthy this season, they might have been facing each other in the playoff (and seeing each other in New York this weekend). Fortunately, both are expected to be fully healthy for the Alamo Bowl, which should be one of the most entertaining games to watch.”

SB Nation

Alamo Bowl ranking: 3

Comment: Analyst Bill Connelly attempted to use advanced metrics to judge “watchability,” based on quality of teams, evenness, excitement and improvement over the course of the season. The Alamo Bowl ranked in the top 10 for quality, excitement and improvement, and trails only the two national semifinals as “appointment viewing.”

CBS Sports

Alamo Bowl ranking: 8

Comment: “Before the year began, these two teams were definite playoff contenders. Things didn't go to plan, but if TCU gets healthy on offense in time for this game, watch out. It'll be fun.”

Yahoo! Sports

Alamo Bowl ranking: 5

Comment: “Oh hell yes. This is set up to be one of the most entertaining bowl games of the season. Both TCU's Trevone Boykin and Oregon's Vernon Adams Jr. should be healthy and the contrast between offensive styles should be an intriguing one. Does the winner break 50, or even 60?”

Athlon Sports

Alamo Bowl ranking: 6

Comment: “The Alamo Bowl should be the most intriguing bowl matchup outside of the playoff and New Year's Six games. Needless to say, there should be no shortage of points in the Alamodome on Jan. 2, as Oregon and TCU are two of the nation's highest-scoring offenses.”

Washington Post

Alamo Bowl ranking: 2

Comment: “For pure entertainment value, this might be the best game the postseason has to offer. Oregon finally got back to its absurd offensive ways while closing the season on a six-game winning streak, and Texas Christian can fling it around with anyone thanks to Trevone Boykin.”

Sports On Earth

Alamo Bowl ranking: 4

Comment: “Oregon has made an impressive climb back after struggling in the first half of the season, becoming the Oregon of old. The Ducks have won six in a row to move to 9-3, now ranking third nationally in yards per play. Most notably, transfer quarterback Vernon Adams -- who struggled with a finger injury early -- now leads the nation in passer rating, living up to the preseason hype and then some.”

FOX Sports

Alamo Bowl ranking: 5

Comment: “Oregon's Vernon Adams Jr. and Royce Freeman shred every defense they face. The fun factor is off the charts.”

Sports Illustrated

Alamo Bowl ranking: 5 stars

Comment: “The scoreboard operator might need a week off after this game. Oregon and TCU both average better than 41 points per game thanks to two dynamic quarterbacks. The Ducks' Vernon Adams, Jr. and the Frogs' Trevone Boykin should provide plenty of offense in San Antonio.”