College football’s postseason is super confusing – here’s some explanation of how it all works.

What is a bowl game?

A bowl game is a postseason college football game primarily played by teams from the NCAA’s Division I Football Bowl Subdivisions who use a playoff tournament to determine an annual national champion. 

Only four teams compete for the National Championship. However, eligible teams can play in a postseason one-off matchup against a team of similar skill that they wouldn’t normally face during their regular season. The winner of these bowl games receive trophies but do not advance to other games.

What makes a college team bowl eligible?

To be eligible for bowl games, teams must have at least six wins and not have a losing record at the end of the regular season.

What’s the New Year’s Six?

The “New Year’s Six” refers to the top six major NCAA Division I Football Subdivision bowl games: Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. They’re played on or around New Year’s Day. These six rotate hosting two College Football Playoff semifinal games, which determines who will play in the National Championship game. 

2021-22 New Year’s Six Schedule

DATE TIME (ET) BOWL NAME, MATCHUP & LOCATION WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
Thu, Dec 3o 7:00 PM Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Michigan State (10) vs Pittsburgh (12)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

 ESPN TICKETS
Sat, Jan 1 1:00 PM Fiesta Bowl

Notre Dame (5) vs Oklahoma State (9)

State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ

 ESPN TICKETS
Sat, Jan 1 5:00 PM Rose Bowl

Ohio State (6) vs Utah (11)

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

 ESPN TICKETS
Sat, Jan 1 8:45 PM Sugar Bowl

Baylor (7) vs Ole Miss (8)

Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

 ESPN TICKETS

2021-22 College Football Playoff (CFP) Schedule

DATE TIME (ET) BOWL NAME, MATCHUP & LOCATION WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
Fri, Dec 31 3:30 PM or 

7:30 PM 

 Orange Bowl

Michigan (2) vs Georgia (3)

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

 ESPN TICKETS
Fri, Dec 31 3:30 PM or 

7:30 PM  

 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Alabama (1) vs Cincinnati (4)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

 ESPN TICKETS
Mon, Jan 10 8:00 PM National Championship

Semifinal winners

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

 ESPN TICKETS

How many bowl games are there?

The number of college football bowl games has grown over the years – there were 20 games in 1997, then 30 games by 2006, then 40 by 2015. Currently, there are 40 bowl games in addition to the National Championship game. See the full schedule below and buy college football bowl game tickets here.

2021-22 College Football Bowl Schedule

Friday, December 17 

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
6:00 PM Cure Bowl

N. Illinois vs C. Carolina

Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL

 ESPN-2 TICKETS

Saturday, December 18

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
11:00 AM Boca Raton Bowl

W. Kentucky vs App. State

FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL

 ESPN TICKETS
12:00 PM Celebration Bowl

Jackson State vs S. Carolina State

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta,GA

 ABC TICKETS
2:15 PM New Mexico Bowl

UTEP vs Fresno State

University Stadium (NM), Albuquerque, NM

 ESPN TICKETS
3:30 PM Independence Bowl

BYU vs UAB

Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA

 ABC TICKETS
5:45 PM LendingTree Bowl

E. Michigan vs Liberty

Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile AL

 ESPN TICKETS
7:30 PM Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl

Utah State vs Oregon State

SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA

 ABC TICKETS
9:15 PM New Orleans Bowl

Marshall vs Louisiana

Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

 ESPN TICKETS

Monday, December 20

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
2:30 PM Myrtle Beach Bowl

Tulsa vs Old Dominion

Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC

 ESPN TICKETS

Tuesday, December 21

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
3:30 PM Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Kent State vs Wyoming

Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID

 ESPN TICKETS
7:30 PM Frisco Bowl

UTSA vs San Diego State

Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX

 ESPN TICKETS

Wednesday, December 22

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
7:30 PM Armed Forces Bowl

Army vs Missouri

Amon G Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX

 ESPN TICKETS

Thursday, December 23

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
7:00 PM Gasparilla Bowl

Florida vs UCF

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

 ESPN TICKETS

Friday, December 24

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
8:00 PM Hawaii Bowl

Memphis vs Hawaii

Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI

 ESPN TICKETS

Saturday, December 25

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
2:30 PM Camellia Bowl

Ball State vs Georgia State

Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL

 ESPN TICKETS

Monday, December 27

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
11:00 AM Quick Lane Bowl

W. Michigan vs Nevada

Ford Field, Detroit, MI

 ESPN TICKETS
2:30 PM Military Bowl

ECU vs Boston College

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD

 ESPN TICKETS

Tuesday, December 28

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
12:00 PM Birmingham Bowl

Houston vs Auburn

Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL

 ESPN TICKETS
3:15 PM First Responder Bowl

Louisville vs Air Force

Gerald Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX

 ESPN TICKETS
5:00 PM Holiday Bowl

UCLA vs NC State

Petco Park, San Diego, CA

 FOX TICKETS
6:45 PM Liberty Bowl

Texas Tech vs Mississippi State

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN

 ESPN TICKETS
8:15 PM Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Minnesota vs West Virginia

Chase Field, Phoenix AZ

 ESPN TICKETS

Wednesday, December 29

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
11:00 AM Fenway Bowl

Virginia vs SMU

Fenway Park, Boston, MA

 ESPN TICKETS
2:15 PM Pinstripe Bowl

Virginia Tech vs Maryland

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

 ESPN TICKETS
5:45 PM Cheez-It Bowl

Clemson vs Iowa State

Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL

 ESPN TICKETS
9:15 PM Alamo Bowl

Oklaho,a vs Oregon

Alamodome, San Antonio, TX

 ESPN TICKETS

Thursday, December 30

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
11:30 AM Duke’s Mayo Bowl

North Carolina vs South Carolina

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

 ESPN TICKETS
3:00 PM Music City Bowl

Purdue vs Tennessee

Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

 ESPN TICKETS
7:00 PM Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Michigan State vs Pittsburgh

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

 ESPN TICKETS
10:30 PM Las Vegas Bowl

Wisconsin vs Arizona State

Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

 ESPN TICKETS

Friday, December 31

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
11:00 AM Gator Bowl

Wake Forest vs Texas A&M

TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL

 ESPN TICKETS
12:30 PM Sun Bowl

Miami vs Washington State

Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX

 CBS TICKETS
4:30 PM Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl 2021

C. Michigan vs Boise State

Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ

 Barstool TICKETS
3:30 PM or 

7:30 PM 

 Orange Bowl

Michigan vs Georgia

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

 ESPN TICKETS
3:30 PM or 

7:30 PM  

 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Alabama vs Cincinnati

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

 ESPN TICKETS

Saturday, January 1

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
12:00 PM Outback Bowl

Penn State vs Arkansas

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

 ESPN TICKETS
1:00 PM Citrus Bowl

Michigan State vs Pittsburgh

Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL

 ABC TICKETS
1:00 PM Fiesta Bowl

Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State

State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ

 ESPN TICKETS
5:00 PM Rose Bowl

Ohio State vs Utah

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

 ESPN TICKETS
8:45 PM Sugar Bowl

Baylor vs Ole Miss

Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

 ESPN TICKETS

Tuesday, January 4

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
9:00 PM Texas Bowl

Kansas State vs LSU

NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

 ESPN TICKETS

Monday, January 10

TIME (ET) BOWL & MATCHUP WATCH ON TV WATCH LIVE
8:00 PM National Championship

Semifinal winners

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

 ESPN TICKETS