The 2024-25 college football bowl season has kicked off, bringing excitement to fans across the nation with eight thrilling games scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 28. This year's bowl games mark the first installment of the newly implemented 12-team College Football Playoff, which promises to add more drama and competitiveness to the postseason stage. With matchups taking place from morning until night, football aficionados are set for one of the busiest days on the college football calendar.
The action begins early with the Fenway Bowl featuring UConn taking on North Carolina at 11:00 AM ET, airing on ESPN from the historic Fenway Park. This game promises to be intriguing not only due to the matchup but also because it serves as the official debut for interim head coach Freddie Kitchens following North Carolina's hiring of legendary coach Bill Belichick.
At noon, the Pinstripe Bowl sees Boston College face off against Nebraska at Yankee Stadium, broadcast live on ABC. Both teams are capitalizing on the chance to showcase their talents after long postseason absences. Like Boston College, Nebraska is eager to redeem itself with aspirations for victory following years of rebuilding.
Next up is the New Mexico Bowl, scheduled for 2:15 PM ET, where TCU will battle Louisiana out of University Stadium, also on ESPN. The Ragin’ Cajuns have had their struggles but hope to end their season positively against the Horned Frogs, who have had success lately.
The highlight of the day is undoubtedly the Pop-Tarts Bowl, pitting the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes against the No. 18 Iowa State Cyclones at 3:30 PM ET, also on ABC. This game promises to be intense with both teams fielding strong rosters, including Miami's standout QB Cam Ward, poised to lead his squad against Iowa State's formidable Rocco Becht under the bright lights of Camping World Stadium.
Immediately following the Pop-Tarts Bowl, attention shifts to the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at 4:30 PM ET, where Colorado State will take on Miami (Ohio). A first for the bowl season, the Snoop Dogg sponsorship adds a unique twist which fans are equally excited about. This game will be broadcast on The CW Network and streamed via Fubo.
Later, the day continues with the Military Bowl featuring NC State versus East Carolina at 5:45 PM ET, before culminating with the Alamo Bowl at 7:30 PM ET, showcasing the No. 17 BYU against No. 22 Colorado. Fans are particularly eager for this matchup, especially with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders leading the Buffaloes.
Finally, the Independence Bowl will wrap up the day's festivities, starting at 9:15 PM ET featuring Louisiana Tech and Army, concluding what promises to be one of the most exciting days of college football.
Throughout the day, viewers can catch these thrilling clashes across several networks—ABC, ESPN, and The CW. Many options for streaming such as Fubo, which is currently offering free trials to entice new subscribers, make it easy to stay connected to the action.
The bowl season is not just signified by competitive matchups but also features quirky traditions like Pop-Tarts Bowl's fully functional toaster trophy awarded to the winners. The stakes are real, with both schools wanting to cap off the season successfully, highlighting the importance of these games.
For fans, this weekend marks the culmination of hard work, dedication, and excitement from the past football season. The hope is to see thrilling performances paired with unexpected outcomes, creating legendary moments.
Stay tuned as we continue to cover these bowl games, track scores, and provide updates on upcoming matchups throughout the college football playoff season, culminating on Jan. 20, 2025, at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
