College Football Bowl Games January 1: Full Schedule and TV Times
The New Year’s here, and honestly, it’s one of the wildest days for college football fans. January 1st is packed with three College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals, and they’re all shaping up to be epic.
Let’s dig into what’s coming, who’s playing, and why these games might just stick in your memory for years.
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College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Showdowns
New Year’s Day is serving up three big CFP quarterfinals. These games are loaded with talent, strategy, and, if history’s any guide, a little bit of chaos.
Orange Bowl: No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech
The Orange Bowl gets things started at noon ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Both Oregon and Texas Tech have 12-1 records and top-10 offenses, so you can probably expect some fireworks.
Oregon’s quarterback, Dante Moore, is a name you’ll hear a lot—he’s already being talked up as a future NFL star. His last game against James Madison? Four passing touchdowns, one more on the ground. But Texas Tech’s defense is a different beast.
- Teams: No. 5 Oregon (12-1) vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1)
- TV: ESPN
- Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Neither team has lost since October. They’re both gunning for more than just an Orange Bowl trophy. There’s a stat floating around that teams scoring 35+ in the Orange Bowl are 24-1 all-time. With both squads lighting up the scoreboard all year, this could turn into a shootout.
Rose Bowl: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana
The Rose Bowl always feels special, doesn’t it? This time, it’s No. 9 Alabama taking on top-ranked Indiana at 4 p.m. ET in Pasadena. Indiana’s unbeaten at 13-0, led by Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza at quarterback.
Alabama’s 11-3 and itching to knock off the Hoosiers for a shot at the semis.
- Teams: No. 9 Alabama (11-3) vs. No. 1 Indiana (13-0)
- TV: ESPN
- Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Indiana’s coach Curt Cignetti has flipped the program around fast—just two years. There’s a bit of extra spice too, since he used to work under Nick Saban. Mendoza’s out to prove he’s the top draft pick, and Indiana’s win over Ohio State in the Big Ten title game has people taking them seriously now.
Sugar Bowl: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia
The Sugar Bowl wraps up the day at 8 p.m. ET in New Orleans. It’s a rematch: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia. Ole Miss is still stinging from their regular-season loss to Georgia, where they blew a late lead and lost 43-35.
- Teams: No. 6 Ole Miss (12-1) vs. No. 3 Georgia (12-1)
- TV: ESPN
- Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Georgia’s looking for a little redemption too, after last year’s Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame. With Pete Golding now at the helm, the Bulldogs are hoping to keep their playoff dreams alive. This one could get tense.
First Round Recap and Upcoming Schedule
The first CFP round ran from December 19-21 and had its share of drama. Alabama took down Oklahoma 34-24. Miami squeaked by Texas A&M 10-3. Ole Miss rolled over Tulane 41-10. Oregon handled James Madison, 51-34.
Quarterfinals kicked off December 31, with Ohio State facing Miami. The rest play out on January 1. The winners move on to the semifinals, which are set for January 8 and 9. The national championship is locked in for 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, January 19, back at Hard Rock Stadium.
Non-CFP Bowl Games on January 2
Bowl season’s got more in store on January 2, with four non-CFP games. They’re not playoff games, but there’s still plenty of fun—and some quirky traditions.
- Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State
- AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Cincinnati
- Trust & Will Holiday Bowl: No. 17 Arizona vs. SMU
- Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl? That’s the one where the winning coach gets a bucket of mayo dumped on them. It’s weird, but honestly, it’s become a highlight of bowl season for a lot of fans.
If you want the full bowl schedule—times, channels, all that—check out NBC Sports.
Conclusion
January 1st is shaping up to be packed with college football drama. The College Football Playoff quarterfinals are front and center, and honestly, who can resist that?
There are big matchups, plenty of big names, and more than a few storylines worth following. If you love the sport, you probably don’t want to miss it—these teams are fighting for their shot at the semifinals, and maybe, just maybe, a shot at the national title.
