The 2024-25 College Football Bowl Season: A New Era Begins

The excitement of college football reaches its peak during the bowl season, and the 2024-25 season promises to be particularly thrilling. Kicking off on Saturday, December 14, 2024, and culminating with the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on January 20, 2025, this season marks a significant milestone in college football history: the introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff format. This new structure aims to enhance competition and provide more teams with a shot at the national title, making the upcoming bowl season one of the most anticipated in recent memory.

A Fresh Format: The 12-Team College Football Playoff

The 2024-25 season is the first to implement the 12-team playoff format, which expands the postseason landscape significantly. Under this new system, the top four conference champions will receive first-round byes, while the remaining eight teams will compete in the first round. This change is expected to create more excitement and drama, as teams that previously might have been on the bubble now have a clearer path to the playoffs. Fans can look forward to intense matchups and the potential for upsets as teams vie for a coveted spot in the national championship.

Bowl Game Schedule: Key Dates and Matchups

The bowl season is packed with action, featuring a variety of games across the country. Here’s a breakdown of the schedule, including dates, times, and TV channels for each matchup:

Saturday, Dec. 14

• Celebration Bowl
  12 p.m. | ABC
  Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

• Camellia Bowl
  9 p.m. | ESPN
  Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama

Tuesday, Dec. 17

• Frisco Bowl
  9 p.m. | ESPN
  Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

Wednesday, Dec. 18

• Boca Raton Bowl
  5:30 p.m. | ESPN
  FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida

• LA Bowl
  9 p.m. | ESPN
  SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

Thursday, Dec. 19

• New Orleans Bowl
  7 p.m. | ESPN2
  Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Friday, Dec. 20

• Cure Bowl
  12 p.m. | ESPN
  Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

• Gasparilla Bowl
  3:30 p.m. | ESPN
  Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• College Football Playoff First Round Game
  8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
  Location TBD

Saturday, Dec. 21

• College Football Playoff First Round Game
  12 p.m. | TNT
  Location TBD

• College Football Playoff First Round Game
  4 p.m. | TNT
  Location TBD

• College Football Playoff First Round Game
  8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
  Location TBD

Monday, Dec. 23

• Myrtle Beach Bowl
  11 a.m. | ESPN
  Brooks Stadium, Conway, South Carolina

• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
  2:30 p.m. | ESPN
  Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho

Tuesday, Dec. 24

• Hawai’i Bowl
  8 p.m. | ESPN
  Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, Hawai’i

Thursday, Dec. 26

• Detroit Bowl
  2 p.m. | ESPN
  Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

• Guaranteed Rate Bowl
  5:30 p.m. | ESPN
  Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona

• 68 Ventures Bowl
  9 p.m. | ESPN
  Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama

Friday, Dec. 27

• Armed Forces Bowl
  TBD | ESPN
  Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas

• Birmingham Bowl
  TBD | ESPN
  Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

• Liberty Bowl
  7 p.m. | ESPN
  Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

• Holiday Bowl
  8 p.m. | X
  Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California

• Las Vegas Bowl
  10:30 p.m. | ESPN
  Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

Saturday, Dec. 28

• Fenway Bowl
  11 a.m. | ESPN
  Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

• Pinstripe Bowl
  12 p.m. | ABC
  Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

• New Mexico Bowl
  2:15 p.m. | ESPN
  University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Pop-Tarts Bowl
  3:30 p.m. | ABC
  Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

• Arizona Bowl
  4:30 p.m. | CW Network
  Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona

• Military Bowl
  5:45 p.m. | ESPN
  Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland

• Alamo Bowl
  7:30 p.m. | ABC
  Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

• Independence Bowl
  9:15 p.m. | ESPN
  Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana

Monday, Dec. 30

• Music City Bowl
  2:30 p.m. | ESPN
  Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Tuesday, Dec. 31

• ReliaQuest Bowl
  12 p.m. | ESPN
  Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• Sun Bowl
  2 p.m. | CBS
  Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

• Citrus Bowl
  3 p.m. | ABC
  Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

• Texas Bowl
  3:30 p.m. | ESPN
  NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

• College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game (Fiesta Bowl)
  7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Wednesday, Jan. 1

• College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game (Peach Bowl)
  1 p.m. | ESPN
  Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

• College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game (Rose Bowl)
  5 p.m. | ESPN
  Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

• College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game (Sugar Bowl)
  8:45 p.m. | ESPN
  Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Thursday, Jan. 2

• Gator Bowl
  7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Friday, Jan. 3

• First Responder Bowl
  4 p.m. | ESPN
  Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas

• Duke’s Mayo Bowl
  7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Saturday, Jan. 4

• Bahamas Bowl
  11 a.m. | ESPN/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

A Look Back: College Football Playoff History

As we gear up for this exciting new chapter, it’s worth reflecting on the history of the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014. The playoff has seen a variety of teams rise to prominence, with memorable matchups and thrilling finishes. Here’s a brief recap of the championship scores from previous seasons:

• 2014 Season: Ohio State claimed the title, defeating Oregon 42-20.
• 2015 Season: Alabama edged out Clemson 45-40 in a nail-biter.
• 2016 Season: Clemson avenged their previous loss, beating Alabama 35-31.
• 2017 Season: Alabama triumphed over Georgia in an overtime thriller, 26-23.
• 2018 Season: Clemson dominated Alabama 44-16 for their second title.
• 2019 Season: LSU took home the championship, defeating Clemson 42-25.
• 2020 Season: Alabama continued their dynasty with a 52-24 victory over Ohio State.
• 2021 Season: Georgia emerged victorious against Alabama, winning 33-18.
• 2022 Season: Georgia showcased their dominance, defeating TCU 65-7.
• 2023 Season: Michigan secured the title with a 34-13 win over Washington.

As we prepare for the 2024-25 bowl season, fans can expect thrilling matchups, unforgettable moments, and the chance to witness history in the making. With the new playoff format, the stakes have never been higher, and the excitement is palpable. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, this bowl season promises to deliver the drama and intensity that college football is known for.