The 2024-25 college football bowl season kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 14, and concludes with the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 20. This year marks the historic debut of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, adding more action and excitement for fans across the nation.
The season starts with thrilling matchups in traditional bowls and first-round playoff games that will set the tone for the road to the championship. Here’s a look at some key games to watch:
Early Bowls
- Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State vs. Jackson State – Dec. 14, 12 p.m. ET, ABC
- Salute to Veterans Bowl: South Alabama vs. Western Michigan – Dec. 14, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Playoff First-Round Games (Dec. 20-21)
- No. 8 Indiana at No. 5 Notre Dame – Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
- No. 10 SMU at No. 4 Penn State – Dec. 21, 12 p.m. ET, TNT/MAX
- No. 16 Clemson at No. 3 Texas – Dec. 21, 4 p.m. ET, TNT/MAX
- No. 7 Tennessee at No. 6 Ohio State – Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Other notable Bowl Games
- Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Texas Tech – Dec. 27, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Holiday Bowl: No. 21 Syracuse vs. Washington State – Dec. 27, 8 p.m. ET, FOX
- Alamo Bowl: No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Colorado – Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Pop-Tarts Bowl: No. 13 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 18 Iowa State – Dec. 28, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Quarterfinal Playoff Games
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 9 Boise State vs. TBD – Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Peach Bowl: No. 12 Arizona State vs. TBD – Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. TBD – Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. TBD – Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
Semifinal and Championship
- Orange Bowl (Semifinal) – Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Cotton Bowl (Semifinal) – Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- National Championship Game – Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Boo Corrigan, chair of the College Football Playoff Committee, shared his enthusiasm for the new format: “The 12-team playoff will provide more teams and fans with an opportunity to engage in the excitement of postseason football.”
With a mix of traditional bowl matchups and the added intensity of the expanded playoffs, this season is set to deliver unforgettable moments.
