With 134 college football teams in Division I football, not all can make the historic bowl games that are part of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Teams that have had a strong -- but not quite playoff-strong -- season are still eligible to play in a bowl game to cap off their campaign.
If you're a college football fan, you surely know the significance of these games. For fans who aren't as familiar, let's delve into the history of bowl games.
When did bowl games begin?
The bowl game originated with what is known as the oldest bowl, the Rose Bowl, where the first matchup took place in 1902 between Michigan and Stanford. After Michigan blew out Stanford 49-0, the event would not return for another 14 years. In 1916, Washington State beat Brown 14-0, beginning an annual tradition. The ninth iteration of the game, in 1923, was the first to be played in the current Rose Bowl Stadium.
Since then, as more bowls entered the fray, these games have become cultural events for the cities that host them. Major bowl games such as the Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl and Rose Bowl were collectively known as the New Year's Six, representing the oldest bowl games in the sport. These bowls have featured college football's biggest moments and determined many national champions.
Where do bowl games stand now?
College football has evolved to include anywhere from 30 to over 40 bowl games a year, eligible for teams that finished the season with a .500 winning percentage or better. The New Year's Six bowls now serve as the quarterfinals and semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
What is the 2024-25 CFP and bowl game schedule?
In addition to the 12-game CFP slate, there will be 36 bowl games in all this year. Fans can check out the CFP and bowl game schedule for specific dates, times, and matchups.
Where and when are the College Football Playoff bowl games played?
The Fiesta Bowl, held in Glendale, Arizona, is the 10th-oldest bowl game and has been played annually since 1971. For many years, the Fiesta Bowl was played in Tempe, but it moved to Glendale in 2007. This year's game will be played on December 31st at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Peach Bowl, the ninth-oldest bowl game, is held in Atlanta, Georgia. It started in 1968. This year's game will be played on January 1st at 1 p.m. ET.
The Rose Bowl is played in Pasadena, California. This year's game will be played on January 1st at 5 p.m. ET.
The Sugar Bowl is held in New Orleans, Louisiana. It's tied for the second-oldest bowl game. It's been played since 1935. This year's game will be played on January 1st at 8:45 p.m. ET.
The Orange Bowl is played in Miami Gardens, Florida. It is tied for the second-oldest bowl game, starting in 1935. This year's game will be played on January 9th at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Cotton Bowl is played in Arlington, Texas. It's the fifth-oldest bowl game, first Cotton Bowl being played in 1937. This year's game will be played on January 10th at 7:30 p.m. ET.
List of other bowls throughout history
68 Ventures Bowl
Alamo Bowl
All-American Bowl
Aloha Bowl
Arizona Bowl
Armed Forces Bowl
Aviation Bowl
Bacardi Bowl
Bahamas Bowl
BBVA Compass Bowl
BCS Championship
Beef O'Brady's Bowl
Belk Bowl
Birmingham Bowl
Blockbuster Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluegrass Bowl
Boca Raton Bowl
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Cactus Bowl
California Bowl
Camellia Bowl
Camping World Bowl
Capital One Bowl
Carquest Bowl
Champs Sports Bowl
Cheez-It Bowl
Cherry Bowl
Citrus Bowl
Continental Tire Bowl
Copper Bowl
Cotton Bowl
Cure Bowl
Delta Bowl
Dixie Bowl
Dixie Classic
Dollar General Bowl
Duke's Mayo Bowl
EagleBank Bowl
Emerald Bowl
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Famous Toastery Bowl
Fenway Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
Fight Hunger Bowl
First Responder Bowl
Fort Worth Bowl
Fort Worth Classic
Foster Farms Bowl
Freedom Bowl
Frisco Bowl
Frisco Football Classic
Gallery Furniture Bowl
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Garden State Bowl
Gasparilla Bowl
Gator Bowl
GMAC Bowl
GoDaddy.com Bowl
GoDaddy Bowl
Gotham Bowl
Great Lakes Bowl
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Hall of Fame Bowl
Hall of Fame Classic
Harbor Bowl
Hawaii Bowl
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Holiday Bowl
Houston Bowl
Humanitarian Bowl
Independence Bowl
Insight Bowl
International Bowl
Junior Rose Bowl
LA Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
Lending Tree Bowl
Liberty Bowl
Little Caesers
Los Angeles Christmas Festival
Maaco Bowl
Meineke Car Care Bowl
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Miami Beach Bowl
Micron PC Bowl
Military Bowl
Mobile Alabama Bowl
Montgomery Bowl
Motor City Bowl
MPC Computers Bowl
Music City Bowl
Myrtle Beach Bowl
New Mexico Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
Oahu Classic
Oil Bowl
Outback Bowl
PapaJohns.com Bowl
Pasadena Bowl
Pinstripe Bowl
Poinsettia Bowl
Pop Tarts Bowl
Presidential Bowl
Quick Lane Bowl
Raisin Bowl
Rate Bowl
Redbox Bowl
ReliaQuest Bowl
Russell Athletic Bowl
Salad Bowl
Salute to Veterans Bowl
San Diego East-West Christmas Classic
San Francisco Bowl
Seattle Bowl
Shrine Bowl
Silicon Valley Bowl
St. Petersburg Bowl
Sun Bowl
Tangerine Bowl
TaxSlayer Bowl
Texas Bowl
Ticket City Bowl
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Where can I find more college football coverage?
Check out ESPN's college football coverage, including the latest rankings, in-depth analysis, bowl breakdowns, transfer news, recruiting content, and more.