- The 2024-25 Bowl Season is officially here with every matchup now set.
- A whopping 47 bowl games take place from December 14 to January 20.
- It all culminates in the inaugural 12-team college football playoff bracket.
Look no further for this year’s top college football bowl games guide. Be the hero in your Bowl Mania pool or earn some extra holiday cash using our in-depth breakdown and comprehensive predictions.
All 47 Bowl Games Analyzed & Predicted
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Celebration Bowl
Jackson State (11-2) vs SC State (9-2)
These two teams have faced off in this bowl before, in the Deion Sanders era. The new-look Jackson State team is equally as dangerous even without him, and should win this game.
Frisco Bowl
Memphis (10-2) vs West Virginia (6-6)
Memphis enters this game with a significant advantage over West Virginia. They finished the season red-hot and have no notable bowl opt outs. This one may not even be close.
LA Bowl
California (6-6) vs UNLV (10-3)
UNLV had a great season, going 10-1 against teams not in the CFP. The losses to Boise State limited the Rebels to the LA Bowl where they draw a matchup against a Cal team that lost their QB to the portal. UNLV wins a close one.
Cure Bowl
Ohio (10-3) vs Jacksonville State (9-4)
Ohio is one of the most consistent programs in the MAC and had another excellent year. As the only team with zero players in the portal, the Bobcats are well-positioned to claim their 11th win in this game against the Gamecocks.
CFP Round 1 – #10 vs #7
Indiana (11-1) vs Notre Dame (11-1)
The Hoosiers set a program record in wins in their first year under head-coach Curt Cignetti. Their overhaul was stunning, but they also played a very easy schedule and lost their toughest games. Notre Dame wins this one.
CFP Round 1 – #12 vs #5
Clemson (10-3) vs Texas (11-2)
Clemson was scrappier than many expected this year. They snuck into the CFP as the ACC champions, but draw a difficult matchup against Texas. While Clemson should keep it close, the Longhorns will win this matchup.
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Coastal Carolina (6-6) vs UTSA (6-6)
On paper, this matchup should be relatively balanced. Both the AAC and Sun Belt are strong G5 conferences. That being said, Coastal Carolina will be starting a freshman with zero snaps at QB because of the portal.
Hawai’i Bowl
South Florida (6-6) vs San Jose State (7-5)
San Jose State flew under the radar in the Mountain West this year, despite playing really solid football. Their capable offense has a good chance of running up the score in this game against USF, even if without WR Nick Nash.
Rate Bowl
Rutgers (7-5) vs Kansas State (8-4)
Kansas State posted another winning season but once again fell short of returning to the Big-12 title game. Even so, they should hold a major advantage in this game over Rutgers. The Wildcats’ body of work is far stronger.
Armed Forces Bowl
Oklahoma (6-6) vs Navy (9-3)
Navy stunned Army in their final game of the season, raising their odds of winning this bowl. That being said, they draw a game against an Oklahoma team that dominated Alabama not long ago. Their rushing attack isn’t enough.
Liberty Bowl
Texas Tech (8-4) vs Arkansas (6-6)
All eyes are on RB Tahj Brooks for this game. If he opts out, Tech is sure to lose. If he plays, they’ll have a much better chance to beat an Arkansas team down three starting offensive lineman. We do expect Brooks to opt-out.
Las Vegas Bowl
Texas A&M (8-4) vs USC (6-6)
USC barely made it to bowl eligibility in their first season in the Big-10. With some key transfers on offense, they’ll face a uphill battle to overcome a capable SEC team in Texas A&M. The Aggies should win this one easily.
Pinstripe Bowl
Boston College (7-5) vs Nebraska (6-6)
Nebraska watched Indiana’s resurgence in the Big-10 this year, wondering when it would be their time as they again remained mediocre. They’ll aim to stay above .500 in this bowl, but face a real challenge against Boston College.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Iowa State (10-3) vs Miami (10-2)
This is one of the most exciting non-CFP bowls, taking place between two 10-win teams. Heisman finalist Cam Ward intends to play in this game, which gives the Hurricanes a notable advantage. They’ll win this matchup.
Military Bowl
East Carolina (7-5) vs NC State (6-6)
NC State may hold the worse record, but their ACC schedule has tested them more than East Carolina’s schedule. Even so, the Pirates are scrappy and will likely keep this game very close. Ultimately, the Wolfpack should win.
Independence Bowl
Louisiana Tech (5-7) vs Army (11-2)
Army’s blowout loss to Navy was a bit of a surprise after they won the AAC title game. They’ll aim to right the ship against Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs replace Marshall who lost too many starters to play and dropped out.
ReliaQuest Bowl
Alabama (9-3) vs Michigan (7-5)
The defending champs had a down year as expected, but still reached bowl eligibility and upset rival Ohio State. Alabama will be a much tougher mountain to climb, especially if QB Jalen Milroe plays. The Tide should roll here.
Citrus Bowl
South Carolina (9-3) vs Illinois (9-3)
South Carolina would have made the CFP if only the second half of the season counted. No team enters their bowl hotter, though the Gamecocks have a long time to wait until this game. Even so, they should dominate Illinois.
Fiesta Bowl (CFP quarterfinal)
Penn State (12-2) vs Boise State (11-1)
Penn State proved the committee wrong for including SMU, blowing the breaks off of them in a 38-10 win. Boise State has a similar G5-adjacent program, but should be a tougher test. I like the Broncos to pull it off.
Rose Bowl (CFP quarterfinal)
Ohio State (11-2) vs Oregon (13-0)
Ohio State made my national championship pick look like a good bet with a dominant win over Tennessee. They lost to Oregon by just 1 on the road last time and have their roughest patch behind them. Ohio State wins big here.
Gator Bowl
Duke vs (9-3) vs Ole Miss (9-3)
The Blue Devils had a strong season but may find themselves out of their depth in this game. Ole Miss finished on the cusp of the CFP and has beaten some of the top teams. Duke also lost their starting QB to Auburn.
Mayo Bowl
Minnesota (7-5) vs Virginia Tech (6-6)
The two teams in this matchup both reached bowl eligibility, despite having rocky seasons. Both squads lost key players to the portal, but the Hokies were hit much harder. Minnesota’s defense should give them an edge in this one.
Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal)
Penn State (13-2) vs Notre Dame (13-1)
Both of these teams looked impressive in the quarterfinal round and now have a chance to make the finals. Notre Dame faced a tougher opponent in Georgia and has an excellent roster top to bottom. They should win this one.
Veterans Bowl
South Alabama (6-6) vs W. Michigan (6-6)
The Sun Belt is a considerably stronger league than the MAC, which favors South Alabama. The Jaguars have the same record but should be far more competitive. They’ll win this one.
Boca Raton Bowl
W. Kentucky (8-5) vs James Madison (8-4)
James Madison has consistently performed well since making the transition from FCS to FBS. They should win against a Hilltoppers team that lost 8 starters to the transfer portal.
New Orleans Bowl
Georgia Southern (8-4) vs Sam Houston (9-3)
Both of these teams had solid seasons, competing well with their strongest rivals. Sam Houston is at a disadvantage, though, with 8 starters entering the portal. Take the Eagles to win this game over the Bearkats.
Gasparilla Bowl
Tulane (9-4) vs Florida (7-5)
There weren’t very high expectations for Florida entering the season, but the Gators got better and better as the season went on. Tulane had another solid showing but faced a much easier schedule. Take Florida to win it.
CFP Round 1 – #11 vs #6
SMU (11-2) vs Penn State (11-2)
It was a bit surprising to see SMU make the CFP over Alabama after losing to Clemson in the title game. Their lack of quality wins puts them at a disadvantage against Penn State. This may be a blowout for the Nittany Lions.
CFP Round 1 – #9 vs #8
Tennessee (10-2) vs Ohio State (10-2)
This is the most intriguing of the first-round CFP games. It’ll be a test to see which conference is really stronger, the SEC or the Big-10. Ohio State got their bust game out of the way against Michigan. They’ll win here.
Potato Bowl
Northern Illinois (7-5) vs Fresno State (6-6)
In this game, both teams lost their starting QBs and more to the portal. That makes the result quite unpredictable. The most notable asset on either team is Northern Illinois’ defense. We see that leading them to victory.
Sports Bowl
Pittsburgh (7-5) vs Toledo (7-5)
Pittsburgh was in the CFP conversation last month before losing five straight games. They enter this game with zero momentum and some players transferring out. Toledo has had a lot of success in bowl games and should win.
68 Ventures Bowl
Arkansas State (7-5) vs Bowling Green (7-5)
On paper, Bowling Green is the better team, having competed closely with Penn State and Texas A&M. Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that picking them is a trap. Arkansas State plays well in bowl games and as the underdog.
Birmingham Bowl
Georgia Tech (7-5) vs Vanderbilt (6-6)
I’d typically favor an SEC team against an ACC one, but Georgia Tech has been red-hot. They nearly beat Georgia most recently. There’s a long time between that game and this one, though, and Vanderbilt is more complete.
Holiday Bowl
Syracuse (9-3) vs Washington State (8-4)
Washington State collapsed down the stretch and lost several key players to the transfer portal. Meanwhile, Syracuse improved quite a bit as the season progressed. The Orange should run away with this one, winning big.
Fenway Bowl
UConn (8-4) vs North Carolina (6-6)
The Huskies had their best season in a long time as their football program experiences an overhaul. They’ll be seeking their first bowl win since 2009 in this game. The Tar Heels cooled off late in the year and will likely lose again.
New Mexico Bowl
Louisiana (10-3) vs TCU (8-4)
Louisiana made it to 10 wins once again, remaining as one of the G5’s top programs. They draw the unpredictable Horned Frogs here. Not many transfers affect this game, giving a battle-tested TCU the advantage.
Arizona Bowl
Miami-OH (8-4) vs Colorado State (8-4)
The MAC is the weakest conference in the FBS, so even a stronger teams like Miami-Ohio will be at a disadvantage. Colorado State had and up-and-down season but finished strong. The Rams should win by double digits here.
Alamo Bowl
BYU (10-2) vs Colorado (9-3)
Head coach Deion Sanders has made it clear that Colorado will play all of their starters in this game. The talent of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will lead the Buffs to a win over a dejected BYU team that nearly made the CFP.
Music City Bowl
Iowa (8-4) vs Missouri (9-3)
The Music City Bowl is a classic game between SEC and Big-10 teams. Expect a great game between balanced squads here. The Tigers have a more impressive body of work, so I’d give them the edge over Iowa in a close one.
Sun Bowl
Louisville (8-4) vs Washington (6-6)
Washington had a down year after making the finals, but still earned a spot in a bowl game. They haven’t been all that impressive this season and are unlikely to upset Louisville, even if QB Tyler Shough decides to opt out.
Texas Bowl
Baylor (8-4) vs LSU (8-4)
This is a balanced matchup between two solid but not exceptional teams. LSU would usually have the advantage having played an SEC schedule. However, they got hit much harder than Baylor by the portal. Take the Bears here.
Peach Bowl (CFP quarterfinal)
Texas (12-2) vs Arizona State (11-2)
As expected, Texas looked a little suspect in the first half against Clemson, before finally pulling away. They continue to be graced with the most fortunate path, picking up yet another softer opponent. Texas moves on.
Sugar Bowl (CFP quarterfinal)
Notre Dame (12-1) vs Georgia (11-2)
Notre Dame had no trouble defeating an Indiana team that had no business being in the CFP. They’ll need to be careful to avoid a slow start against Georgia after sleepwalking through a soft schedule. Georgia should win.
First Responder Bowl
North Texas (6-6) vs Texas State (7-5)
In this interstate clash, Texas State has the advantage. North Texas lost their starting QB to the portal and had already lost their original starter. With the freshman Mestemaker under center for North Texas, Texas State will win.
Bahamas Bowl
Buffalo (8-4) vs Liberty (8-3)
These are two teams headed in different directions. While Buffalo is on a 4-game winning streak, Liberty fell apart down the stretch. Couple that with the Flames losing their QB to the portal, and Buffalo wins here.
Cotton Bowl (CFP semifinal)
Ohio State (12-2) vs Texas (13-2)
Nothing about Texas’ near-collapse against Arizona State inspires confidence that would have me take them over the Ohio State team I picked to win it all at the start. Ohio State has only solidified that prediction and then some.
College Football Playoff National Championship
Notre Dame (14-1) vs Ohio State (13-2)
Notre Dame and Ohio State face off in what should be an instant classic in the Midwest. Both teams have stacked rosters and excellent defenses, but somewhat shaky QB play. I trust Will Howard more than Riley Leonard and would also give the Buckeyes a slight edge on defense. Most importantly, I picked Ohio State at the beginning of the CFP to win it all and feel confident standing by that pick.
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