Complete Guide to Upcoming College Football Bowl Games: Matchups, Broadcast Info, and Kickoff Times

The college football bowl season for 2025-26 kicked off on December 13 and will extend to the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game on January 19. Fans can follow an exciting lineup of games across multiple stadiums nationwide, with a blend of traditional bowls and the highly anticipated CFP matchups.

Early games have set the tone, with South Carolina State edging Prairie View A&M 40-38 in the Celebration Bowl. Similarly, Washington dominated Boise State 38-10 in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium. These contests highlight the competitive spirit across different conferences and geographic regions.

Key Bowl Games on December 30 and 31

Several prominent bowl games are scheduled for December 30. The Independence Bowl concluded with Louisiana Tech defeating Coastal Carolina 23-14 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. Also, Illinois narrowly beat Tennessee 30-28 during the Music City Bowl at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.

The Alamo Bowl will feature the No. 16 USC facing TCU at 9 p.m. ET, broadcasted on ESPN from the Alamodome in San Antonio. The following day, December 31, will be packed with multiple games: the No. 23 Iowa versus No. 14 Vanderbilt at the ReliaQuest Bowl, followed by Arizona State vs. Duke in the Sun Bowl at 2 p.m. ET on CBS. The Citrus Bowl sees No. 13 Texas take on No. 18 Michigan at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, while Nebraska meets No. 15 Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, airing on ESPN.

The College Football Playoff quarterfinals commence on December 31 with No. 2 Ohio State battling No. 10 Miami (Fla.) at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, hosted at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. These matchups will determine the semifinal lineup for January.

New Year’s Day Quarterfinals

On January 1, the CFP quarterfinals continue with three games. Texas Tech (No. 4) faces No. 5 Oregon at noon ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, broadcasted on ESPN. At 4 p.m. ET, No. 1 Indiana takes on No. 9 Alabama at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The nightcap sees No. 3 Georgia compete against No. 6 Ole Miss at 8 p.m. ET in New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, also televised on ESPN.

Additional Bowl Games and Broadcast Information

January 2 hosts four more bowl games: the Armed Forces Bowl (Texas State vs. Rice) at 1 p.m. ET, Liberty Bowl (Navy vs. Cincinnati) at 4:30 p.m. ET, Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest) at 8 p.m. ET, and the Holiday Bowl featuring No. 17 Arizona against SMU at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

The College Football Playoff semifinals are set for early January. The Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, will be on January 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Peach Bowl follows on January 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Both games are broadcast on ESPN.

The CFP National Championship Game concludes the season on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, with live coverage on ESPN.

Summary of Key Dates and TV Channels

1. December 30: Multiple bowls including Alamo Bowl at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
2. December 31: CFP quarterfinal (Ohio State vs. Miami) at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
3. January 1: Three CFP quarterfinals spread throughout the day on ESPN
4. January 2: Four additional bowl games on ESPN and FOX
5. January 8 & 9: CFP semifinal games at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
6. January 19: CFP National Championship at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

The college football postseason clearly offers extensive TV coverage and diverse locations, catering to fans nationwide. Historic bowls and critical playoff contests are well spaced to maximize viewership and competitive fairness.

This season continues the tradition of thrilling postseason college football, with teams vying not only for bowl victories but also for playoff progression and ultimately the national title. The comprehensive schedule ensures fans will have many marquee matchups to enjoy through mid-January.