
The New Era of the NCAA Football: Bowl, Playoffs, and a Season of Excitement
Bowl season is here and the 2024-2025 college football season is gearing up for one of its most thrilling chapters yet, as the NCAA introduces a revamped playoff system and a diverse lineup of bowl games. With a packed schedule, fans are set to enjoy weeks of electrifying matchups, culminating in a College Football Playoff National Championship that promises to redefine the sport’s pinnacle moment.
Expanded Playoffs: A Game Changer
This season marks the dawn of an expanded College Football Playoff format, offering more teams a chance to compete for the coveted national title. The first round kicks off on December 20 with marquee matchups, including No. 8 Indiana visiting No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 16 Clemson heading to Austin to take on No. 3 Texas. These games bring the high stakes of playoff football to campus sites, a move designed to reward top seeds and add a new layer of excitement to the postseason.
As the playoffs progress, fans can look forward to the quarterfinal games hosted at iconic bowls like the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. These high-profile contests on January 1 will set the stage for the national semifinals in the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl on January 9 and 10, leading to the grand finale at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20.
Bowl Games: Tradition Meets Innovation
Beyond the playoffs, the 2024-25 bowl season features a robust lineup of traditional and new matchups that cater to every fan’s appetite. Familiar classics like the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Citrus Bowl are joined by newer games such as the Salute to Veterans Bowl and the GameAbove Sports Bowl, showcasing the diversity and depth of college football’s postseason landscape.
Matchups to watch include:
2024-25 college football bowl game schedule, scores, TV channels, matchup information
(all times ET)
Saturday, Dec. 14
Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State vs. Jackson State
12 p.m. | ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
Salute to Veterans Bowl
South Alabama vs. Western Michigan
9 p.m. | ESPN
Cramton Bowl
Montgomery, Alabama
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Frisco Bowl
No. 25 Memphis vs. West Virginia
9 p.m. | ESPN
Toyota Stadium
Frisco, Texas
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Boca Raton Bowl
James Madison vs. Western Kentucky
5:30 p.m. | ESPN
FAU Stadium
Boca Raton, Florida
LA Bowl
No. 24 UNLV vs. Cal
9 p.m. | ESPN
SoFi Stadium
Inglewood, California
Thursday, Dec. 19
New Orleans Bowl
Sam Houston vs. Georgia Southern
7 p.m. | ESPN2
Caesars Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
Friday, Dec. 20
Cure Bowl
Ohio vs. Jacksonville State
12 p.m. | ESPN
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
Gasparilla Bowl
Florida vs. Tulane
3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
College Football Playoff First Round Game
No. 8 Indiana at No. 5 Notre Dame
8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
South Bend, Indiana
Saturday, Dec. 21
College Football Playoff First Round Game
No. 10 SMU at No. 4 Penn State
12 p.m. | TNT/MAX
University Park, Pennsylvania
College Football Playoff First Round Game
No. 16 Clemson at No. 3 Texas
4 p.m. | TNT/MAX
Austin, Texas
College Football Playoff First Round Game
No. 7 Tennessee at No. 6 Ohio State
8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
Columbus, Ohio
Monday, Dec. 23
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA
11 a.m. | ESPN
Brooks Stadium
Conway, South Carolina
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
2:30 p.m. | ESPN
Albertsons Stadium
Boise, Idaho
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Hawai’i Bowl
South Florida vs. San Jose State
8 p.m. | ESPN
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex
Honolulu, Hawai’i
Thursday, Dec. 26
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Pitt vs. Toledo
2 p.m. | ESPN
Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan
Rate Bowl
Rutgers vs. Kansas State
5:30 p.m. | ESPN
Chase Field
Phoenix, Arizona
Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green
9 p.m. | ESPN
Hancock Whitney Stadium
Mobile, Alabama
Friday, Dec. 27
Armed Forces Bowl
Navy vs. Oklahoma
12 p.m. | ESPN
Amon G. Carter Stadium
Fort Worth, Texas
Birmingham Bowl
Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt
3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Protective Stadium
Birmingham, Alabama
Liberty Bowl
Arkansas vs. Texas Tech
7 p.m. | ESPN
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
Memphis, Tennessee
Holiday Bowl
No. 21 Syracuse vs. Washington State
8 p.m. | FOX
Snapdragon Stadium
San Diego, CA
Las Vegas Bowl
USC vs. Texas A&M
10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Allegiant Stadium
Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday, Dec. 28
Fenway Bowl
UConn vs. North Carolina
11 a.m. | ESPN
Fenway Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Pinstripe Bowl
Boston College vs. Nebraska
12 p.m. | ABC
Yankee Stadium
Bronx, New York
New Mexico Bowl
TCU vs. Louisiana
2:15 p.m. | ESPN
University Stadium
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Pop-Tarts Bowl
No. 13 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 18 Iowa State
3:30 p.m. | ABC
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida

Colorado State vs. Miami (Ohio)
4:30 p.m. | CW Network
Arizona Stadium
Tucson, Arizona
Military Bowl
NC State vs. East Carolina
5:45 p.m. | ESPN
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Annapolis, Maryland
Alamo Bowl
No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Colorado
7:30 p.m. | ABC
Alamodome
San Antonio, Texas
Independence Bowl
No. 22 Army vs. Marshall
9:15 p.m. | ESPN
Independence Stadium
Shreveport, Louisiana
Monday, Dec. 30
Music City Bowl
No. 19 Missouri vs. Iowa
2:30 p.m. | ESPN
Nissan Stadium
Nashville, Tennessee
Tuesday, Dec. 31
ReliaQuest Bowl
No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan
12 p.m. | ESPN
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
Sun Bowl
Louisville vs. Washington
2 p.m. | CBS
Sun Bowl
El Paso, Texas
Citrus Bowl
No. 15 South Carolina vs. No. 20 Illinois
3 p.m. | ABC
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
Texas Bowl
LSU vs. Baylor
3:30 p.m. | ESPN
NRG Stadium
Houston, Texas
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game (Fiesta Bowl)
No. 9 Boise State vs. TBD
7:30 p.m. | ESPN
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
Wednesday, Jan. 1
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game (Peach Bowl)
No. 12 Arizona State vs. TBD
1 p.m. | ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game (Rose Bowl)
No. 1 Oregon vs. TBD
5 p.m. | ESPN
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game (Sugar Bowl)
No. 2 Georgia vs. TBD
8:45 p.m. | ESPN
Caesars Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
Thursday, Jan. 2
Gator Bowl
No. 14 Ole Miss vs. Duke
7:30 p.m. | ESPN
EverBank Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
Friday, Jan. 3
First Responder Bowl
North Texas vs. Texas State
4 p.m. | ESPN
Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Dallas, Texas
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech
7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
Saturday, Jan. 4
Bahamas Bowl
Liberty vs. Buffalo
11 a.m. | ESPN2
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium
Nassau, Bahamas
Thursday, Jan. 9
College Football Playoff Semifinal Game (Orange Bowl)
7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
Friday, Jan. 10
College Football Playoff Semifinal Game (Cotton Bowl)
7:30 p.m. | ESPN
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
Monday, Jan. 20
College Football Playoff National Championship Game
7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
College Football Playoff: Scores
Rising Stakes and New Traditions
The NCAA’s expanded playoffs and revamped bowl lineup reflect the sport’s ongoing evolution to meet the demands of its growing fan base. By offering more teams a shot at glory and maintaining the rich traditions of its storied bowls, college football has struck a balance between innovation and heritage.
As the first round of playoff games and bowl matchups approach, excitement is building across the nation. Whether you’re tuning in for the underdog stories or powerhouse programs, this postseason promises to deliver unforgettable moments that will be etched in the annals of college football history.
Stay tuned for more coverage as we dive deeper into each matchup and bring you all the latest updates on the road to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
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