NCAA college football
College football bowl games: Who plays today, Friday December 27? Times and matchups
There are no fewer than five bowl games in prospect on Friday, beginning with the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
Armed Forces Bowl: Navy vs Oklahoma
The Navy Midshipmen will be making their third appearance in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, having last featured in the game when they were beaten 48-45 by Louisiana Tech in 2016. Three years earlier, the Navy were Armed Forces Bowl winners, courtesy of a 24-6 victory over Middle Tennessee.
A team on a two-game winning run, Brian Newberry’s men head into the clash with Oklahoma with a 9-3 record in 2024 (6-2 in the American Athletic Conference).
The Sooners, meanwhile, will be making their debut in the Armed Forces Bowl - an event that has been running since 2003. In their third season under Brent Venables, Oklahoma are 6-6 (2-6 in the Southeastern Conference) after winning just two of their final seven games in the regular season.
The Sooners have only met the Midshipmen once previously, back in October 1965. The Navy earned a shutout win at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, triumphing 10-0.
When? 12:00 noon ET/9:00 a.m. PT
Where? Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas
TV: ESPN
Stream the 2024 Armed Forces Bowl on fubo (free trial available).
Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Tech vs Vanderbilt
In the 18th edition of the game, Vanderbilt will be chasing the second Birmingham Bowl triumph in their history. In their only previous appearance at the event, in 2014, the Commodores defeated the Houston Cougars 41-24.
Vanderbilt go into the Birmingham Bowl with a 6-6 record in 2024 (3-5 in the Southeastern Conference). The Tennesseans were 6-3 after nine games, but closed out the regular season with three straight losses.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who will be making their maiden appearance in the Birmingham Bowl, also finished the regular season with defeat: on November 29, Brent Key’s men down 44-42 to rivals the Georgia Bulldogs, in a dramatic game that went to eight overtimes. Unlike their opponents on Friday, however, the Yellow Jackets have a positive record this year, having gone 7-5 (5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference).
This will be the 39th meeting between Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. The Yellow Jackets have the upper hand in the head-to-head series, with a 20-15-3 record against the Commodores. The teams last met in 2016, when Georgia Tech triumphed 38-7 in Atlanta.
When? 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT
Where? Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama
TV: ESPN
Stream the 2024 Birmingham Bowl on fubo (free trial available).
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs Texas Tech
In the nearly seven-decade history of the Autozone Liberty Bowl, which was first played in 1959, Arkansas are the game’s most frequent appearance makers. The Razorbacks will be featuring in the Liberty Bowl for the seventh time in their history, having won the event on three occasions so far: in 2010, 2016 and 2022. Arkansas’s most recent Liberty Bowl triumph saw them beat the Kansas Jayhawks 55-53, in an epic clash that went to three overtimes.
After losing three of their last four games, the Razorbacks are now 6-6 in 2024 (3-5 in the Southeastern Conference). Sam Pittman’s team finished off the regular season with a 28-21 defeat to Battle Line rivals the Missouri Tigers.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech are making only their second appearance in the Liberty Bowl, having won it in 2021 with a 34-7 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Currently on a two-game winning streak - most recently, Texas Tech enjoyed a blowout, 52-15 triumph over the West Virginia Mountaineers - the Red Raiders are 8-4 this year (6-3 in the Big 12 Conference).
This will be the 38th meeting between Arkansas and Texas Tech, who were Southwest Conference rivals between 1957 and 1991. The Razorbacks lead the series 29-8, but were beaten 35-24 in their last matchup with the Red Raiders, in 2015.
When? 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT
Where? Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee
TV: ESPN
Stream the 2024 Liberty Bowl on fubo (free trial available).
Holiday Bowl: Syracuse vs Washington State
Now in its 45th year, the DirecTV Holiday Bowl is set to feature Washington State for the fifth time. The Cougars’ four previous appearances have yielded just the one win: a 28-20 victory over the Texas Longhorns in 2003.
Washington State are 8-4 in 2024 (0-1 in the Pac-12 Conference). Up until mid-November, however, the Cougars had lost only once this season. Under Jake Dickert, who has now left for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Washington State finished the regular season with three consecutive defeats - most recently a narrow, 15-14 loss to the Wyoming Cowboys on November 30. Pete Kaligis has taken interim charge following Dickert’s departure.
Syracuse are making their Holiday Bowl debut, in what will be the Orange’s second ever meeting with the Cougars. In the first, played back in 1979, Syracuse were 52-25 winners.
After completing the regular campaign with three victories in a row, Fran Brown’s men are 9-3 in 2024 (5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference). If they beat Washington State in San Diego, Syracuse will chalk up only the program’s third 10-win season since the turn of the millennium.
When? 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT
Where? Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California
TV: FOX
Stream the 2024 Holiday Bowl on fubo (free trial available).
Las Vegas Bowl: USC vs Texas A&M
In the 33rd annual SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, the USC Trojans are to make their third appearance in the game, having so far registered a 1-1 record. The Trojans’ sole Las Vegas Bowl win came in 2013, courtesy of a 45-20 victory over the Fresno State Bulldogs.
After losing 49-35 to Notre Dame on November 30, in the latest instalment of the Jeweled Shillelagh rivalry, USC are 6-6 in the 2024 season (4-5 in the Big Ten Conference).
Making their first appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl, Texas A&M head into the clash with an 8-4 record in 2024 - 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference - but were beaten in their final two games of the regular season (against Auburn and Texas).
This is the first meeting between USC and Texas A&M since 1977, when the Trojans claimed a 47-28 victory. Indeed, USC has won all three clashes so far between the two teams.
When? 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT
Where? Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: ESPN
Stream the 2024 Las Vegas Bowl on fubo (free trial available).
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