The wild process of college football bowl game selections has now concluded with 56 of the 127 FBS teams that were active in the 2020 season filling slots in 28 postseason contests. It all started with the announcement of the four College Football Playoff teams and continued with the release of the final CFP Rankings and the rest of the New Year's Six games.
After that, every bowl game trickled in as some teams opted out and some games were canceled until every last spot was filled. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame -- in that order -- make up the playoff field. Texas A&M and Cincinnati were among the teams disappointed not to make it in, but both are in premier New Year's Six bowl games.
Oklahoma vs. Florida in the Cotton Bowl may be the best matchup of that New Year's Six grouping, while Auburn vs. Northwestern presents an intriguing matchup in the Citrus Bowl.
Check out the complete CFP field along with the New Year's Six bowls and the rest of the bowl games below.
| Date | Game / Loc. | Time (TV) | Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
Jan. 11 | National Championship | 8 p.m. (ESPN) | Semifinal winners |
Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl | 5 p.m. (ESPN) | (1) Alabama vs. (4) Notre Dame |
Jan. 1 | Sugar Bowl | 8:45 p.m. (ESPN) | (2) Clemson vs. (3) Ohio State |
| Date | Bowl / Location | Time (TV) | Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
Jan. 2 | Orange | 8 p.m. (ESPN) | (5) Texas A&M vs. (13) North Carolina |
Jan. 2 | Fiesta | 4 p.m. (ESPN) | (25) Oregon vs. (10) Iowa State |
Jan. 1 | Peach | 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) | (8) Cincinnati vs. (9) Georgia |
Dec. 30 | Cotton | 8 p.m. (ESPN) | (6) Oklahoma vs. (7) Florida |
| Date | Bowl | Time (TV) | Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 2 | Outback Tampa, Fla. | 12:30 p.m. (ABC) | Ole Miss vs. Indiana |
| Jan. 2 | Gator Jacksonville, Fla. | Noon (ESPN) | Kentucky vs. NC State |
| Jan. 1 | Citrus Orlando, Fla. | 1 p.m. (ABC) | Auburn vs. Northwestern |
| Dec. 31 | Texas Houston, Texas | 8 p.m. (ESPN) | TCU vs. Arkansas |
| Dec. 31 | Liberty Memphis, Tenn. | 4 p.m. (ESPN) | West Virginia vs. Army |
| Dec. 31 | Arizona Tucson, Ariz. | 2 p.m. (CBS) | Ball State vs. San Jose State |
| Dec. 31 | Armed Forces Fort Worth, Texas | Noon (ESPN) | Mississippi State vs. Tulsa |
| Dec. 30 | Music City Nashville, Tenn. | 4 p.m. (ESPN) | Iowa vs. Missouri |
| Dec. 30 | Duke's Mayo Charlotte, N.C. | Noon (ESPN) | Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin |
| Dec. 29 | Alamo San Antonio, Texas | 9 p.m. (ESPN) | Texas vs. Colorado |
| Dec. 29 | Cheez-It Phoenix, Ariz. | 5:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Miami (FL) vs. Oklahoma State |
| Dec. 26 | LendingTree Mobile, Ala. | 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State |
| Dec. 26 | First Responder Dallas, Texas | 3:30 p.m. p.m. (ABC) | Louisiana vs. UTSA |
| Dec. 26 | Gasparilla Tampa, Fla. | Noon (ABC) | UAB vs. TBD |
| Dec. 26 | Cure Orlando, Fla. | TBA (ESPN) | Coastal Carolina vs. Liberty |
| Dec. 25 | Camellia Montgomery, Ala. | 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Buffalo vs. Marshall |
| Dec. 24 | New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M. | 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Houston vs. Hawaii |
| Dec. 23 | Montgomery Montgomery, Ala. | 7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) | Memphis vs. FAU |
| Dec. 23 | New Orleans New Orleans | 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Louisiana Tech vs. Georgia Southern |
| Dec. 22 | Boca Raton Boca Raton, Fla. | 7 p.m. (ESPN) | UCF vs. BYU |
| Dec. 22 | Idaho Potato Boise, Idaho | 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Tulane vs. Nevada |
| Dec. 21 | Myrtle Beach Conway, S.C. | 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Appalachian State 56, North Texas 28 |
Canceled bowls (16): Bahamas, Birmingham, Celebration, Fenway, Frisco, Guaranteed Rate, Hawai'i, Holiday, Independence, LA, Las Vegas, Military, Pinstripe, Quick Lane, Redbox, Sun
Teams that opted out (22): Tennessee, South Carolina, Boise State, Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Louisville, LSU (self-imposed bowl ban), Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State, Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington, Washington State
You can never have enough of #BowlSeason and @DukesMayoBowl 🏈🎉@WakeFB takes on @BadgerFootball on 12.30.20 at @BofAstadium at 12 PM (ET)#GoDeacs #DeacsGoBowling #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/PUKB7k8AFO
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 21, 2020
— Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (@IndyBowl) December 20, 2020
🔒and ready to go @valeroalamobowl @TexasFootball will kick off against @CUBuffsFootball on 12.29.20 at 9 PM (ET) at the @Alamodome🏈🎉#BowlSeason #HookEm #CUlture pic.twitter.com/FlANB3czoZ
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 20, 2020
ICYMI: Here is the #CFBPlayoff top four:
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 20, 2020
1️⃣. Alabama // @AlabamaFTBL // #RollTide
2️⃣. Clemson // @ClemsonFB // #AllIn
3️⃣. Ohio State // @OhioStateFB // #GoBuckeyes
4️⃣. Notre Dame // @NDFootball // #GoIrish
Who'll make it to @HardRockStadium for the #NationalChampionship?
🏈🏆 pic.twitter.com/teot9PX0hR
Join the conversation on @Twitter!
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 20, 2020
Our full set of #CFBPlayoff Hashtag Emoji is here!#RollTide#AllIn#GoBuckeyes#GoIrish#NationalChampionship
Join the conversation on @Twitter!
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 20, 2020
Our full set of #CFBPlayoff Hashtag Emoji is here!#RollTide#AllIn#GoIrish#GoBuckeyes#NationalChampionship
Join the conversation on @Twitter!
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 20, 2020
Our full set of #CFBPlayoff Hashtag Emoji is here!#RollTide #GoIrish #ALLIN #GoBuckeyes #nationalchampionship
Get ready for this year's @CheezItBowl 🧀🏈@CanesFootball faces off against @CowboyFB on 12.29.20 at 5:30 PM (ET) at @CWStadium #BowlSeason #CheezItBowl #LetsGoCanes #LetsRide #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/JEAbOHDDmD
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 20, 2020
Next 🆙 for @RaginCajunsFB and @UTSAFTBL is Dallas, TX for the @FRBowl on 12.26.20!
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 20, 2020
📍Gerald J. Ford Stadium
⏰ 3:30 PM (ET)#BowlSeason #SFRB #EverydayHeroes #BowlSeason #GeauxCajuns #cULture #BirdsUp #BuiltByUTSA pic.twitter.com/w8EUqHf4IG
Guaranteed Rate bowl will not be played this year
Update on the @GuaranteedRate Bowl. pic.twitter.com/pzo7SkKAc8
— Guaranteed Rate Bowl (@RateBowl) December 20, 2020
Time for some football in the Sunshine State for @LibertyFootball and @CoastalFootball ☀️🏈#BowlSeason kickoff at the @CureBowl is set for 12.26.20 at 12 PM (ET) at @CWStadium!#RiseWithUs #BEL1EVE #BAM #STS #TEALNATION pic.twitter.com/K0kkvfW3O2
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 20, 2020
Boise State will opt out of a bowl game, according to Brett McMurphy. That puts the number of bowls potentially getting canceled today up to 2
The 8⃣5⃣th @CottonBowlGame is ready for kickoff with @GatorsFB and @OU_Football!
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 20, 2020
Get ready for a #BowlSeason game on 12.30.20 at @ATTStadium at 8 PM (ET) 🏈🎉#LikeNoOther #GoGators #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/4R2tCqgat8
could be costly for Notre Dame's defense
Report: Notre Dame star Kyle Hamilton suffered sprained ankle against Clemson, expected to be clear for CFP against Alabama.https://t.co/pCteJrHv8z pic.twitter.com/k09RkGv3cs
— 247Sports (@247Sports) December 20, 2020
🔜 @OrangeBowl 🍊🌴@AggieFootball vs. @TarHeelFootball
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 20, 2020
📍Hard Rock Stadium
⏰8 PM (ET)#BowlSeason #CapitalOneOrangeBowl #GigEm #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/rgL3nLOQf3
Atlanta are you ready? 🍑@GeorgiaFootball faces @GoBearcatsFB at the @CFAPeachBowl on 01.01.21 at @MBStadium 👏🎉#BowlSeason #ATD #GoDawgs #Bearcats pic.twitter.com/snm0Ejw1yL
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 20, 2020
The 50th @PlayStation @Fiesta_Bowl is set for #BowlSeason!@oregonfootball takes on @CycloneFB on 01.01.21 at 4 PM (ET) at @StateFarmStdm 🏈🎉#GoDucks #cyclONEnation pic.twitter.com/gEjspJ2ay5
— Bowl Season (@collegebowls) December 20, 2020
🍑 PEACH BOWL BOUND! 🍑
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) December 20, 2020
The #Bearcats will face Georgia in the @CFAPeachBowl on New Year’s Day. pic.twitter.com/h3HGLPFvLn
Miami will play Oklahoma State in the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando
OFFICIAL: This year's #CheezItBowl will be played between No. 18 @CanesFootball and No. 21 @CowboyFB on Dec. 29! https://t.co/LFYdmLJbAo
— Cheez-It Bowl (@CheezItBowl) December 20, 2020
Wake Forest making a short trip down I-85 to Charlotte for the Duke's Mayo Bowl
Deacs in Duke's! @WakeFB will play in the @DukesMayoBowl on December 30 🎩 pic.twitter.com/1sj4YmkSbr
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) December 20, 2020
NC State to the Gator Bowl
The Pack is headed to Jacksonville!
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) December 20, 2020
No. 23 @PackFootball is playing in the @taxslayerbowl on January 2 🐺 pic.twitter.com/byOv15lBQs
https://twitter.com/ACCFootbal...
No. 18 @CanesFootball is playing in the @CheezItBowl!
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) December 20, 2020
🙌🧀🙌 pic.twitter.com/OTHXFgkvS0
Maryland also opts out of the bowl season
Conference champions in CFP rankings
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) December 20, 2020
1. SEC
2. ACC
3. Big Ten
6. Big 12
8. AAC
12. Sun Belt
16. Top-ranked independent
22. Mountain West
25. Pac-12
Unranked: CUSA, MAC
sounds like it was an Iowa State vs. Indiana debate for the last at-large spot. Barta cites Iowa State's wins against Oklahoma and Texas as the reasons the Cyclones got a spot and Indiana did not.
Barta says that after the Orange Bowl, the other three games were decided by geography and "looking for matchups"
"statistics matter, but so does who is the better team" -- Gary Barta, CFP selection committee chair
Cincinnati over Coastal Carolina ... "We look at all the undefeated teams. Cincinnati won its conference championship and they played five teams above .500" cites "discipline" and "the quarterback" aka Desmond Ridder as the reasons the Bearcats got the edge. Says it was a "football judgement" that made up the gap with Coastal having one more ranked win than Cincinnati
now we've got Iowa AD Gary Barta, selection committee chair, answering questions
So, neither Indiana or Coastal Carolina made a New Year's Six bowl.
— Nicole Auerbach 😷 (@NicoleAuerbach) December 20, 2020
