If the Houston Cougars (18) and the AAC want to solidify their case now or in the future to be considered the sixth Power Conference, beating the Florida State Seminoles (9) in a New Year's Eve bowl game will go a long way.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. on ESPN

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The College Football Playoff committee did not seem ready to consider an AAC team for the playoff this season. The highest any AAC team got in the committee's rankings was 13th overall in week nine: an undefeated Memphis team that had upset Ole Miss.

Even out of Houston and Navy, the eventual AAC champion and runner-up, respectively, did not crack the Top 10 at any point. But in last year's inaugural CFP, the committee ranked only one AAC team in the Top 25.

In addition to posting about 40 points per game Houston boasts a balanced offensive attack, averaging 247.4 passing yards and 239.5 rushing yards per game. Only four teams in the nation allowed fewer points per game than Florida State and the Seminoles were just as tough on the run as they were against the pass.

With Everett Golson ruled out, Florida State will turn to Sean Maguire at quarterback. Though no matter who is under center, the Seminole offense will center on running back Dalvin Cook, who finished sixth in the nation in rushing.

"I think win, lose or draw, we've established our validity in college football and that we belong that the American Athletic Conference. If you win the American Athletic Conference, you're going to go to a New Year's 6 bowl game. So I don't know that a win does anything for us on a national level," Houston coach Tom Herman said in a pregame press conference. "I've had people ask me about preseason rankings and all that. I'm just trying to play a game and sign a recruiting class and put one step in front of the other."

(Rankings: CFP. Stats: ESPN)