How are College Football bowl games decided?

College Football Bowl Season is one of the most exciting traditions in American sports.

From mid-December to late January, 80+ college football teams and their dedicated fan bases get to enjoy a postseason of varying degrees. This month-long period marks the culmination of the NCAA Division I FBS football season. 

Have you ever wondered how these matchups are created? Here’s an in-depth look at the decision-making process behind College Football bowl games, from the committees to the rules that determine eligibility.

Who decides College Football bowl game matchups?

The selection of bowl game matchups is a collaborative process involving several key players, including bowl committees, conferences, and – at the top tier – the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee.

For the CFP, a panel of experts ranks the top 25 teams in the nation during the final six weeks of the regular season. These rankings determine the teams that participate in the 12-team playoff format, expanded for the 2024-25 season.

The top five conference champions and seven highest-ranked at-large teams qualify, with the four highest-ranked conference champions receiving a first-round bye.

For non-CFP bowl games, the process is more nuanced. Bowl committees, in partnership with conferences, select teams based on factors like team performance, geographic proximity, fan interest and avoiding repeat matchups from prior years.

Certain bowls also have tie-ins with specific conferences, such as the Big Ten’s relationship with the Citrus Bowl or the ACC’s ties to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

How many College Football bowl games are there per year?

The 2024/25 Bowl Season will feature a record-setting 44 bowl games, beginning on December 14, 2024, and ending with the CFP National Championship on January 20, 2025.

This number includes traditional marquee bowl games like the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl, as well as newer additions that continue to grow the sport’s postseason footprint.

The games provide opportunities for 88 teams over 44 games, creating a nationwide celebration of College Football.

Bowl selection process

1. CFP matchups

The College Football Playoff games are the centerpiece of Bowl Season.

The 12 teams in the CFP are seeded based on their rankings, with the top four conference champions earning a bye into the quarterfinals. First-round games are hosted at campus sites, while the quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among the New Year’s Six bowl games:

• Quarterfinals: Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl
• Semifinals: Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl

The winners advance to the CFP National Championship, which will be held in Atlanta in January 2025.

2. Non-CFP bowls

For the remaining bowl games, committees work with conferences to determine matchups. These decisions are influenced by:

• Conference tie-ins: Many bowls have pre-existing agreements with specific conferences. For example, the Alamo Bowl features teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12, while the Pinstripe Bowl matches the Big Ten with the ACC.
• Team records and rankings: Teams must generally have a .500 record or better to qualify. Higher-ranked teams are often prioritized for marquee bowls.
• Geography and fan travel: Bowls aim to maximize attendance and fan engagement by keeping games regionally relevant when possible.
• Avoiding repeat matchups: To maintain fresh and exciting matchups, bowl committees try to avoid pairing teams that played each other in recent bowl games.
• Academic progress rate (APR): If there are fewer bowl-eligible six-win teams than available slots, teams with the best APR scores may fill the gaps.

3. Conference representation

Bowl committees also consider the balance of representation among conferences. Power 4 conferences – the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC – dominate the selection process, but Group of Five conferences like the AAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt also have dedicated bowl slots.

Bowl eligibility rules

To qualify for a bowl game, a team must typically win at least six games during the regular season. With a 12-game schedule, that equates to a .500 record. However, exceptions exist:

• Transition teams: Programs moving from FCS to FBS status, like Delaware and Missouri State in 2024, may become eligible if there are not enough six-win teams.
• Five-win teams: If necessary, five-win teams can fill vacancies based on their APR scores, which measure academic success and retention.

Bowl eligibility ensures a high standard of competition while rewarding teams for their success both on and off the field.

With the expansion of the College Football Playoff and the continued growth of Bowl Season, the future of College Football’s postseason promises even greater excitement and opportunities for teams across the country.

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