• Loading stock data...
Monday, September 15, 2025
One Day till Tuned In! Get a Last Second Ticket!

CFP Era Redefines Bowl Season: Tradition Meets Transformation

The new era of the College Football Playoff is also changing the traditions of the sport’s annual slate of postseason bowl games. Some are benefitting, and some aren’t.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

While the fallout from the much-debated reveal of the first 12-team College Football Playoff continues, a new era for the sport’s traditional postseason bowl games is set to begin.

For the first time, the New Year’s Six bowl games—the most well-known contests each year—will all be part of the CFP. 

After first-round games are played on campuses, the four quarterfinal matchups will play out at the Fiesta, Peach, Rose, and Sugar bowls. The winners of those games will then square off in the semifinals at the Orange and Cotton bowls. In future years, which bowl games host quarterfinal matchups and which ones host semifinals will rotate.

While that’s great for those historic bowl games, what does the new move mean for the others? Bowl Season executive director Nick Carparelli, whose organization oversees the scheduling of bowl games, previously told Front Office Sports that he would like to see all CFP matchups played at neutral-site bowl games—including first-round games.

After the CFP bracket was announced Sunday, so were matchups for the other 36 non-Playoff bowl games to be played out during December and early January.

Winning Mentality

In addition to the CFP, Disney’s networks annually broadcast the majority of bowl games. This year, they’ll benefit from two matchups in particular that include teams with something left to prove on the field.  

The Reliaquest Bowl in Tampa on Dec. 31 will pit Alabama (9–3), the first team left out of the CFP, against Michigan (7–5) on ESPN. The Crimson Tide were at the center of debate after SMU (11–2) made things complicated by losing the ACC championship, giving Clemson (10–3) an automatic Playoff berth. Alabama’s exclusion gave the Big Ten a 4–3 edge over the SEC as the conference with the most CFP bids.

On Dec. 28, ABC will broadcast Deion Sanders’s first bowl game as a head coach when Colorado (9–3) takes on Big 12 rival BYU (10–2) in the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. The Buffaloes narrowly missed out on a Hollywood-esque, and potentially extremely lucrative, run to the CFP.

What’s in a Name?

Not every bowl features as intriguing matchups on the field, but for some games, the title sponsors end up being the stars of the show, anyway.

In 2023, snack brands were the big winners as over-the-top efforts generated tens of millions of dollars in marketing for bowl game sponsors.

This year, several of those wacky sponsors are back for more:

  • Pop-Tarts Bowl, Dec. 28: Iowa State (10–3) vs. Miami (10–2)
  • Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Dec. 31: South Carolina (9–3) vs. Illinois (9–3)
  • Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Jan. 3: Minnesota (7–5) vs. Virginia Tech (6–6)

Other bowl game names drawing attention include the Art of Sport LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk, the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, and the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, among others.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 27-18.

Amazon Shatters Previous Ratings High for 1st NFL Game

“TNF” viewership surges 35% compared to the 2024 season average.
Sep 12, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; New Mexico Lobos quarterback Jack Layne (2) reacts after his team scored a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl.

UCLA Paid New Mexico $1.2 Million for Friday’s Loss: Payout Game Tracker

The Bruins weren’t the only Power-4 school to lose a buy game and fire their coach.

Trump Push to End Quarterly Earnings Has Major Sports Ramifications

U.S. President Trump proposes moving to semi-annual reporting for public companies.
Sep 12, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) looks to pass during the first quarter against the New Mexico Lobos at Rose Bowl.

UCLA-Tennessee QB Trade Has Been Painful So Far

Iamaleava abruptly left Tennessee for UCLA this past offseason.

Featured Today

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.

College Football’s Costly Start for Virginia Tech, UCLA: Coaches Out

UCLA and Virginia Tech fire their coaches while Notre Dame slumps badly.
Jan 25, 2023; Langley, British Columbia, CAN; Highlights from the CHL Kubota Top Prospects game at the Langley Events Centre
September 10, 2025

NCAA Hockey Scouts Denied Passes for Crucial Recruiting League

The CHL won’t welcome scouts on passes: “It comes across as petty.”
Mar 4, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., ahead of President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025.
September 11, 2025

House Republicans Delay SCORE Act Vote Tentatively Planned for Next Week

They didn’t believe they had enough votes to pass the bill.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
Feb 17, 2024; Boise, Idaho, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs guard Jalen Weaver (5) during the first half against the Boise State Broncos at ExtraMile Arena.
September 10, 2025

NCAA Bans 3 Basketball Players for Violating Betting Rules Last Season

The former San Jose State and Fresno State players have lost eligibility.
NFL Congress
exclusive
September 10, 2025

College Sports ‘House of Cards’: Republicans, Lobbyists Work to Secure Votes to..

Several House Republicans criticized the SCORE Act on social media.
The cover of the College Football 25 video game.
exclusive
September 9, 2025

Group That Facilitated NIL Deal for Football Video Game Now Says It’s..

EA offered $1,500 and no royalties; it also deleted an opt-out clause.
Sep 6, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls place kicker Nico Gramatica (7), South Florida Bulls long snapper Turner McLaughlin (48) and teammates celebrate after a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
September 8, 2025

USF Is the Newest Financial Underdog in the AP Top 25

USF’s athletic department brings in half the amount Florida does.