Today’s College Football Bowl Games: Schedule, TV Channels, Kickoff Times

The year’s winding down, but college football? It’s just getting good. With New Year’s Eve on the horizon, fans have a string of bowl games to look forward to—including a College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinal between Miami and Ohio State at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

This post covers the main matchups set for December 31. If you’re hunting for the full schedule, kickoff times, or TV details, you can check it all out here.

ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 23 Iowa vs. No. 14 Vanderbilt

Matchup: No. 23 Iowa (8-4) vs. No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2)

TV: ESPN

Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET

Location: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida

Game Preview

Two teams, two totally different styles. Iowa’s known for its gritty defense and a run-heavy offense.

Vanderbilt? They’re all about big plays and their star quarterback, Diego Pavia. Both squads are mostly healthy and, honestly, pretty fired up.

It’s shaping up to be a non-CFP bowl game worth watching. Will the Commodores finish off a dream season, or does Iowa’s defense have other plans for Pavia?

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke

Matchup: Arizona State (8-4) vs. Duke (8-5)

TV: CBS

Kickoff: 2 p.m. ET

Location: Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas

Game Preview

Arizona State’s head coach Kenny Dillingham just inked a new five-year deal. He’s probably hoping to celebrate with a Sun Bowl win, but here’s the catch: the Sun Devils are missing over 30% of their roster thanks to transfers, NFL draft departures, and injuries.

Duke, meanwhile, has their star QB Darian Mensah ready to go. That’s a big deal. The last time these two met in the Sun Bowl, Arizona State just barely pulled it out. Can they do it again, or is Duke due for some payback?

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: No. 18 Michigan vs. No. 13 Texas

Matchup: No. 18 Michigan (9-3) vs. No. 13 Texas (9-3)

TV: ABC

Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida

Game Preview

Sure, the Cotton Bowl’s the big headline, but the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl? It’s got plenty of intrigue. Texas, led by Arch Manning, started the year ranked No. 1 but missed the CFP cut.

Michigan’s gone through some chaos after coach Sherrone Moore was fired. Now, they’re under new head coach Kyle Whittingham and looking for a statement win. Curious to see which of these blue-blood programs rises to the occasion?

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. No. 15 Utah

Matchup: Nebraska (7-5) vs. No. 15 Utah (10-2)

TV: ESPN

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET

Location: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada

Game Preview

Nebraska’s got a tough road ahead in Vegas. With both starting QB Dylan Raiola and running back Emmett Johnson sidelined by injuries, the Cornhuskers have to dig deep.

Utah, on the flip side, brings a bruising run game with Wayshawn Parker and two mobile quarterbacks—Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin. New head coach Morgan Scalley is stepping in, hoping to keep Utah rolling despite Kyle Whittingham’s departure. Can Nebraska pull off a surprise, or does Utah’s ground game just steamroll them?

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Matchup: No. 10 Miami (11-2) vs. No. 2 Ohio State (12-1)

TV: ESPN

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

Location: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

Game Preview

Ohio State’s back at the Cotton Bowl for the third year in a row. This time, they’re up against a tough Miami squad.

Head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are still smarting from a close loss to No. 1 Indiana in the Big Ten title game. Miami’s coming in hot after beating Texas A&M, with QB Carson Beck, RB Mark Fletcher Jr., and WR Malachi Toney leading the charge.

There’s a CFP semifinal spot on the line, so the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Miami shock the Buckeyes, or does Ohio State keep marching toward a national championship?

Looking Ahead: The Road to the National Championship

The first round of the CFP ran from December 19-21. Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss, and Oregon all made it through to the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinals are coming up on December 31 and January 1. Here’s what the matchups look like:

• No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama
• No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami
• No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
• No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon

Semifinals are set for January 8 and 9. The national championship will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

With the season heading toward its peak, there’s plenty for fans to get excited about. If you want the full schedule, scores, or just need to double-check kickoff times, you can find everything laid out here.