This college football postseason lineup is full of familiar faces in the College Football Playoff and some newcomers to the field. The 11 games to decide the national champion will start with first-round games at campus sites on Dec. 19 and 20. Four winners will advance to face the four teams with first-round bye in quarterfinals on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
The semifinals will be played at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, respectively. The national championship game will be held Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
But there’s also more than just the chase for the national championship. A full lineup of bowl games will kickoff on Dec. 13 and run alongside all the playoff matchups
A look at the entire postseason schedule with dates, times and television details along with all the matchups that will take you through the holiday season and beyond:
LA Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 14, Inglewood, Calif., 8 p.m., ABC
MATCHUP: Boise State (9-4) vs. Washington (8-4)
This could be dubbed the Chris Petersen bowl with the Broncos and Huskies being the two final stops on his illustrious coaching career. Boise is off its third Mountain West title in row. Washington had a solid season in the Big Ten behind quarterback Demond Williams.
Salute to Veterans Bowl
DETAILS: Tuesday, Dec. 16, Montgomery, Ala., 9 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: MAC vs. Sun Belt
Cure Bowl
DETAILS: Wednesday, Dec. 17, Orlando, Fla., 5 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Old Dominion (9-3) vs. South Florida (9-3)
The Monarchs improved by four victories to earn their second bowl trip in three seasons. The Bulls were a favorite in the American until tough loss to Navy knocked them out. They’ll be without head coach Alex Golesh, who left to take the coaching vacancy at Auburn.
68 Ventures Bowl
DETAILS: Wednesday, Dec. 17, Mobile, Ala., 8:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Delaware (6-6) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6)
It was a successful first year in the Bowl Subdivision for the Blue Hens, who earned a postseason spot with narrow home wins against Louisiana Tech and Connecticut. The Ragin’ Cajuns are making their eight bowl appearance in a row.
Xbox Bowl
DETAILS: Thursday, Dec. 18, Frisco, Texas, 9 p.m., ESPN2
MATCHUP: Arkansas State (6-6) vs. Missouri State (7-5)
It’s the third consecutive trip to the postseason for the Red Wolves, who rely on quarterback Jaylen Raynor to power their offense. The Bears make their first bowl game in their first season the FBS.
Myrtle Beach Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 19, Conway, S.C., 11 a.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Conference USA/MAC/Sun Belt
Gasparilla Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 19, Tampa, Fla., 2:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: American/ACC/SEC
College Football Playoff
DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 19, , 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN
MATCHUP: Oklahoma (10-2) vs. Alabama (10-3)
The Sooners already beat the Crimson Tide earlier this season at Tuscaloosa. Now they’ll host the Tide in a game that should be electric on Friday night. The winner gets the task of facing Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
College Football Playoff
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 20, noon, ABC/ESPN
MATCHUP: Texas A&M (11-1) vs. Miami (10-2)
The Hurricanes were the last at-large team in the field and get the task of traveling to College Station. The Aggies will be looking to erase the bitter taste of losing to rival Texas in the regular-season finale that kept them out of the SEC title game.
College Football Playoff
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m., TNT/truTV
MATCHUP: Mississippi (10-2) vs. Tulane (11-2)
The is a rematch of a regular-season game also played in Oxford that the Rebels comfortably won. But Lane Kiffin won’t be on the sideline this time, and the Green Wave are off winning the American.
College Football Playoff
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m., TNT/truTV
MATCHUP: Oregon (11-1) vs. James Madison (12-1)
The Dukes benefitted from five-loss Duke winning the ACC to make the field as the fifth-rated conference champion. They’ll face a difficult task of traveling West to face the Ducks.
Idaho Potato Bowl
DETAILS: Monday, Dec. 22, Boise, Idaho, 2 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: MAC vs. Mountain West.
Boca Raton Bowl
DETAILS: Tuesday, Dec. 23, Boca Raton, Fla., 2 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Group of Five vs. Group of Five
New Orleans Bowl
DETAILS: Tuesday, Dec. 23, New Orleans, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Conference USA vs. Sun Belt
Frisco Bowl
DETAILS: Tuesday, Dec. 23, Frisco, Texas, 9 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Group of Five vs. Group of Five
Hawaii Bowl
DETAILS: Wednesday, Dec. 24, Honolulu., 8 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: California (7-5) vs. Hawaii (8-4)
The Bears are being led by former Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich, who serving as interim coach after the firing of Justin Wilcox. The Rainbow Warriors return to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
GameAbove Sports Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 26, Detroit, 1 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big Ten vs. MAC
Rate Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 26, Detroit, 1 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Minnesota vs. New Mexico
It was a great season for the Lobos in Jason Eck’s first year with the program. They’ll head North to face the Gophers, making an seventh trip to the postseason under P.J. Fleck.
First Responder Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 26, Dallas, 8 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: American/ACC/Big 12
Military Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Annapolis, Md., 11 a.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: ACC vs. American
Pinstripe Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Bronx, N.Y., noon, ABC
MATCHUP: ACC vs. Big Ten
Fenway Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Boston, 2:15 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: ACC vs. American
Pop-Tarts Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Orlando, Fla., 3:30 p.m., ABC
MATCHUP: ACC vs. Big 12
Arizona Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Tucson, Ariz., 4:30 p.m., CW
MATCHUP: MAC vs. Mountain West
New Mexico Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Albuquerque., 5:45 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Mountain West vs. Group of Five
Gator Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Jacksonville, Fla., 7:30 p.m., ABC
MATCHUP: ACC vs. American
Texas Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Houston, 9:15 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big 12 vs. SEC
Texas Bowl
DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 27, Houston, 9:15 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big 12 vs. SEC
Birmingham Bowl
DETAILS: Monday, Dec. 29, Birmingham, Ala., 2 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: ACC/American/SEC
Independence Bowl
DETAILS: Tuesday, Dec. 30, Shreveport, La., 2 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big 12 vs. Conference USA
Music City Bowl
DETAILS: Tuesday, Dec. 30, Nashville, Tenn., 5:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big Ten vs. SEC
Alamo Bowl
DETAILS: Tuesday, Dec. 30, San Antonio, Texas, 9 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big 12 vs. Pac-12
ReliaQuest Bowl
DETAILS: Wednesday, Dec. 31, Tampa, Fla., noon, ESPN
MATCHUP: Big Ten vs. SEC
Sun Bowl
DETAILS: Wednesday, Dec. 31, El Paso, Texas, 2 p.m., CBS
MATCHUP: ACC vs. Pac-12
Cheez-It Bowl
DETAILS: Wednesday, Dec. 31, Orlando, Fla., 3 p.m., ABC
MATCHUP: Big Ten vs. SEC
Las Vegas Bowl
DETAILS: Wednesday, Dec. 31, Las Vegas, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Cotton Bowl
DETAILS: Wednesday, Dec. 31, Arlington, Texas, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Ohio State vs. Texas A&M-Miami winner
Orange Bowl
DETAILS: Thursday, Jan. 1, Miami Gardens, Fla., noon, ESPN
MATCHUP: Texas Tech vs. Oregon-James Madison winner
Rose Bowl
DETAILS: Thursday, Jan. 1, Pasadena, Calif., 4 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Indiana vs. Oklahoma-Alabama winner
Sugar Bowl
DETAILS: Thursday, Jan. 1, New Orleans., 8 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Georgia vs. Mississippi-Tulane winner
Armed Forces Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Jan. 2, Fort Worth, Texas, 1 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big 12 vs. American/Mountain West/Sun Belt
Liberty Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Jan. 2, Memphis, Tenn., 4:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: Big 12 vs. SEC
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Jan. 2, Charlotte, N.C., 8 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: ACC vs. SEC
Holiday Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Jan. 2, San Diego, 8 p.m., Fox
MATCHUP: ACC vs. Pac-12
Fiesta Bowl
DETAILS: Thursday, Jan. 8, Glendale, Ariz., 7:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: College Football Playoff semifinal
Peach Bowl
DETAILS: Friday, Jan. 9, Atlanta, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: College Football Playoff semifinal
College Football Playoff championship game
DETAILS: Monday, Jan. 19, Miami Gardens, Fla., 7:30 p.m., ESPN
MATCHUP: College Football Playoff semifinal winners
