NCAA
College football bowl games: Who plays today Wednesday January 1? Times and matchups
New Year’s Day 2025 will only see two Bowl games instead of three, with the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans postponed.
It had promises to be a Happy New Year for college football fans, as 2025 had been due to begin with a triple-header of College Football Playoff games on January 1. However, the Sugar Bowl, scheduled for Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, has been postponed to January 2 following an attack in the city in which 15 people have reportedly died.
Penn State resoundingly defeated Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve, becoming the first team to qualify for the semifinals. The other three quarterfinals will now take place on New Year’s Day and January 2, with the following six teams hoping to join them in the last four.
Full bowl game schedule, Wednesday Jan. 1:
Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs No. 5 Texas
The Arizona State Sun Devils, who are making their first Peach Bowl appearance since 1970, go into Wednesday’s game on a six-game winning streak on the way to an 11-2 record and a Big 12 title.
The Texas Longhorns, playing in the Peach Bowl for the first time ever, are seen by many as marginal favourites after a 12-2 season. They have been inspired by star quarterback Quinn Ewers, who will be one of the top QB prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft if he enters.
When? 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
Where? Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
How to watch? ESPN
Stream the 2024 Peach Bowl live on fuboTV (free trial available.
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs No. 8 Ohio State
The Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes meet in the Rose Bowl for the third time after previous matchups in 1958 and 2010, both of which were won by Ohio.
The two teams also met earlier this season, with the Ducks winning a rollercoaster game, which saw the lead change hands six times, 32-31. That helped Oregon to a 13-0 record, which saw them crowned Big Ten champions in their first year in the conference. Ohio State, meanwhile, were 11-2, coming in fourth.
When? 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT
Where? Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
How to watch? ESPN
Stream the 2024 Rose Bowl live on fuboTV (free trial available.
Sugar Bowl postponed to Thursday Jan. 2
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs No. 7 Notre Dame
As mentioned, the Sugar Bowl will now go ahead 24 hours later than planned on January 2 after a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd of people in Bourbon Street in New Orleans earlier on Wednesday, killing 15 people.
The Georgia Bulldogs have won seven straight Bowl games since 2019, the year they last triumphed in the Sugar Bowl. However, their defense has dropped off and they will be fielding first-time starter Gunnar Stockton at quarterback.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been winning big all season, mainly thanks to their powerful rushing offense. Their own QB, Riley Leonard, is considerably more experienced, which they will hope proves vital.
The Bulldogs are 3-0 against the Fighting Irish, which includes a 17-10 in the 1980 Sugar Bowl.
When? 8:45 p.m. ET / 5:45 p.m. PT on Thursday, January 2.
Where? Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
How to watch? ESPN
Stream the 2024 Sugar Bowl live on fuboTV (free trial available.
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