Understanding the NCAAF Bowl System: College Football Bowl Games Explained

In this college football bowl games explained guide, we break down the structure and excitement surrounding college football’s bowl season. As Week 14 wraps up, teams are positioning themselves for a chance at postseason glory, and the official matchups are just around the corner. Whether it’s the early bowl games or the high-profile clashes later in the schedule, this season promises thrilling action as teams compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Guide to Understanding the NCAA Football Bowl System
Bowl Game Brainwave: Decode the Secrets of the College Football Postseason

2024 NCAA Division I FBS Football Season | 155th season of college football in the United States
Bowls: December 20th, 2024 – January 4th, 2024

College Football Bowl Games Explained

At first glance the College Football Bowl System may seem intimidating.

After all, there are 40 bowls this upcoming bowl season.

But although the 40 bowls, New Years Six Day Bowls, and 12-team College Football Playoff make the 2024-2025 NCAAF Season the most unique in college football history, understanding the bowl system is easy.

Check out a rundown of how the NCAA Football Bowl System works as well as a schedule of the bowl games that include the College Football Playoff quarterfinals and semifinals.

Writer’s Crack on Explaining the NCAA Football Bowl System

How Do Teams Become Bowl Eligible?

A team must finish with at least a .500 record.

6-6 is the record for most teams this season.

However, 86 teams are required for every bowl game, which means if there aren’t enough 6-6 teams, a few 5-7 teams my end up playing in a bowl game.

There doesn’t appear to be any situation where a 5-7 team will play in a bowl game this season.

There are enough 6-6 teams for plenty of intriguing bowl matchups.

For example, because Colorado is a former Pac-12 team, the Buffalos could end up playing against current Big 12 rival BYU in the Alamo Bowl on December 28.

BYU and Colorado didn’t play during the regular season.

So the game would be a great matchup.

Another great potential matchup may pit bowl eligible and Ohio State conqueror Michigan versus SEC squad Missouri in the Music City Bowl on December 30.

The Wolverines and Tigers both ranked in the top ten on the AP Poll at different times this season.

How do Bowl Selection Committees Choose the Teams That Participate in Their Bowl Games?

There are a total of 40 bowl games.

This season there is also the 12-Team College Football Playoff. (Check this post out for understanding College Football Playoff)

Every bowl game has a specific set of rules they follow to determine the team that plays in their bowl.

For example, the Los Angeles Bowl on Dec 18 chooses the second place finisher in the Mountain West Conference, either Boise State or UNLV this season, versus a former Pac-12 team, which most predict will be California.

The first bowl this season, the Camellia Bowl, chooses from a pool of eligible teams.

Bowl prediction experts believe the two teams will be Coastal Carolina versus Toledo.

How will the 12-Team College Football Playoff Effect the NCAA Bowl Season?

First round matchups won’t happen in bowl games.

Quarterfinals and semifinal CFP matchups will happen in bowl games.

Check out the NCAAF College Football Playoff Bowl schedule:

CFP Quarterfinals

• Fiesta – Dec 31
• Peach – Jan 1
• Rose – Jan 1
• Sugar – Jan 1

CFP Semifinals

• Orange – Jan 9
• Cotton – Jan 10

2025 National Championship Game

The National Championship on January 20 doesn’t happen in a bowl game.

The winners of the Orange Bowl on January 9 and the Cotton Bowl on January 10 play in the National Championship game on January 20.

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Using tonight’s rankings, here’s how a 12-team playoff would look based on the approved 6+6 format.

Format rules:
*6 auto bids to highest ranked conference champs
*6 at-large bids to next highest ranked teams
*top 4 champs get byes
*5-8 seeds host on-campus 1st round games pic.twitter.com/ONHhAiaLtr

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 29, 2023

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