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

The excitement of college football reaches its zenith as the 2024-25 bowl season kicks off on Saturday, December 14, 2024. This year marks a significant turning point in the landscape of college football, as it introduces the much-anticipated 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) format. This new structure promises to enhance the competitive spirit and provide more teams with the opportunity to vie for the national championship. The season will culminate with the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on January 20, 2025, at the iconic Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

A New Format: The 12-Team College Football Playoff

The 2024-25 season is particularly noteworthy as it is the inaugural year of the 12-team College Football Playoff. This expansion from the previous four-team format aims to create a more inclusive postseason experience, allowing for a broader representation of teams from various conferences. The top four teams will receive a bye in the first round, while the remaining eight teams will compete in the opening round of the playoffs. This new format is expected to generate heightened interest and excitement among fans, as more teams will have a shot at the coveted national title.

For a detailed breakdown of how the 12-team playoff will work, you can check out this article.

Bowl Game Schedule: Key Dates and Matchups

The bowl season is packed with thrilling matchups, and fans can look forward to a variety of games across the country. Below is a comprehensive schedule of the bowl games, including dates, times, and broadcasting information. All times are in Eastern Time (ET).

Saturday, December 14

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

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

Tuesday, December 17

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

Wednesday, December 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, December 19

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

Friday, December 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, December 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, December 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, December 24

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

Thursday, December 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, December 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, December 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, December 30

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

Tuesday, December 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, January 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, January 2

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

Friday, January 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, January 4

• Bahamas Bowl
  11 a.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
  Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas

Thursday, January 9

• College Football Playoff Semifinal Game (Orange Bowl)
  7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Friday, January 10

• College Football Playoff Semifinal Game (Cotton Bowl)
  7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Monday, January 20

• College Football Playoff National Championship Game
  7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Historical Context: College Football Playoff Scores

As we gear up for this exciting bowl season, it’s worth reflecting on the history of the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014. The playoff has seen thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments, with teams like Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia consistently making their mark. Here’s a snapshot of the scores from previous CFP seasons:

2014 Season

• Rose Bowl: No. 2 Oregon 59, No. 3 Florida State 20
• Sugar Bowl: No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 1 Alabama 35
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20

2015 Season

• Orange Bowl: No. 1 Clemson 37, No. 4 Oklahoma 17
• Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Alabama 38, No. 3 Michigan State 0
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40

2016 Season

• Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Clemson 31, No. 3 Ohio State 0
• Peach Bowl: No. 1 Alabama 24, No. 4 Washington 7
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31

2017 Season

• Rose Bowl: No. 3 Georgia 54, No. 2 Oklahoma 48 (2OT)
• Sugar Bowl: No. 4 Alabama 24, No. 1 Clemson 6
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23 (OT)

2018 Season

• Orange Bowl: No. 1 Alabama 45, No. 4 Oklahoma 34
• Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Clemson 30, No. 3 Notre Dame 3
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16

2019 Season

• Peach Bowl: No. 1 LSU 63, No. 4 Oklahoma 28
• Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Clemson 29, No. 2 Ohio State 23
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25

2020 Season

• Rose Bowl: No. 1 Alabama 31, No. 4 Notre Dame 14
• Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Ohio State 49, No. 2 Clemson 28
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24

2021 Season

• Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Alabama 27, No. 4 Cincinnati 6
• Orange Bowl: No. 3 Georgia 34, No. 2 Michigan 11
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18

2022 Season

• Peach Bowl: No. 1 Georgia 42, No. 4 Ohio State 41
• Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 TCU 51, No. 2 Michigan 45
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7

2023 Season

• Rose Bowl: No. 1 Michigan 27, No. 4 Alabama 20
• Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Washington 37, No. 3 Texas 31
• CFP National Championship Game: No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13

Upcoming Championship Locations

Looking ahead, the College Football Playoff National Championship Game will continue to rotate through iconic venues. The upcoming locations and dates are as follows:

• 2024 Season: January 20, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia
• 2025 Season: January 19, 2026, in Miami, Florida

As the 2024-25 bowl season unfolds, fans can expect thrilling matchups, dramatic finishes, and the emergence of new college football legends. Whether you’re a die-hard supporter of a specific team or a casual viewer, this season promises to deliver unforgettable moments and a celebration of the sport we all love.