2021–22 NCAA football bowl games

2021–22 NCAA football bowl games
Season2021
Number of bowls39[a]
All-star games6
Bowl gamesDecember 17, 2021 (2021-12-17) – January 10, 2022 (2022-01-10)[b]
National Championship2022 College Football Playoff
National Championship
Location of ChampionshipLucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
ChampionsGeorgia Bulldogs
Bowl Challenge Cup winnerMountain West[1]
Bowl record by conference
Conference Bowls Record Final AP Poll
AAC 4 3–1 (0.750) 2
ACC 6 2–4 (0.333) 4
Big 12 7 5–2 (0.714) 3
Big Ten 10 6–4 (0.600) 4
C–USA 8 3–5 (0.375) 0
MAC 8 3–5 (0.375) 0
Mountain West 6 5–1 (0.833) 2
Pac-12 5 0–5 (0.000) 2
SEC 14 6–8 (0.429) 5
Sun Belt 4 3–1 (0.750) 1
Independent 4 2–2 (0.500) 2

The 2021–22 NCAA football bowl games were a series of college football games scheduled to complete the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The main games concluded with the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship played on January 10, 2022, while the all-star portion of the schedule concluded February 19, 2022.[2]

Schedule

[edit]

The schedule for the 2021–22 bowl games is below. All times are EST (UTC−5). Note that Division II bowls and Division III bowls are not included here. The bowl schedule was released on May 27, 2021.[3]

College Football Playoff and National Championship Game

[edit]

The College Football Playoff system is used to determine a national championship of Division I FBS college football. A 13-member committee of experts ranked the top 25 teams in the nation after each of the last seven weeks of the regular season. The top four teams in the final ranking were then seeded in a single-elimination semifinal round, with the winners advancing to the National Championship game.

The semifinal games for the 2021 season were the Cotton Bowl Classic and the Orange Bowl. Both were played December 31, 2021, as part of a yearly rotation of three pairs of two bowls, commonly referred to as the New Year's Six bowl games. The winners advanced to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 10, 2022.

Lucas Oil Stadium, site of the National Championship game
Semifinals Championship
December 31 – Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium, Arlington
  1   Alabama 27  
  4   Cincinnati 6   January 10 – National Championship
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
 
      1   Alabama 18
December 31 – Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
    3   Georgia 33
 
  2   Michigan 11
  3   Georgia 34  

Each of the games in the following table was televised by ESPN.

Date Time (EST) Game Site Teams Affiliations Results
Dec. 30 7:00 p.m. Peach Bowl Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
No. 10 Michigan State Spartans (10–2)
No. 12 Pittsburgh Panthers (11–2)
Big Ten
ACC
Michigan State 31
Pittsburgh 21
Dec. 31 3:30 p.m. Cotton Bowl Classic
(Playoff Semifinal Game)
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12–1)
No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats (13–0)
SEC
American
Alabama 27
Cincinnati 6
7:30 p.m. Orange Bowl
(Playoff Semifinal Game)
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (12–1)
No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (12–1)
SEC
Big Ten
Georgia 34
Michigan 11
Jan. 1 1:00 p.m. Fiesta Bowl State Farm Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (11–2)
No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11–1)
Big 12
Independent
Oklahoma State 37
Notre Dame 35
5:00 p.m. Rose Bowl Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (10–2)
No. 11 Utah Utes (10–3)
Big Ten
Pac-12
Ohio State 48
Utah 45
9:00 p.m. Sugar Bowl Caesars Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 7 Baylor Bears (11–2)
No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels (10–2)
Big 12
SEC
Baylor 21
Ole Miss 7
Jan. 10 8:00 p.m. College Football Playoff National Championship
(Cotton Bowl Winner vs. Orange Bowl Winner)
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (13–1)
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (13–1)
SEC Georgia 33
Alabama 18

Non CFP bowl games

[edit]

Bowl changes

[edit]

Two bowls, which had originally planned to debut during the 2020–21 bowl season but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, planned to make their debuts during the 2021–22 bowl season; the Fenway Bowl (Boston, Massachusetts) and the LA Bowl (Inglewood, California). The LA Bowl made its debut, while the Fenway Bowl was again canceled due to COVID-19 issues.

The Montgomery Bowl, played in December 2020 as a one-off substitute for the Fenway Bowl, did not return. The San Francisco Bowl (formerly the Redbox Bowl) was canceled for a second straight season when organizers could not come to terms with all parties involved with the game.[4]

On December 2, 2021, the NCAA approved a 42nd bowl game, later named the Frisco Football Classic, in order to accommodate all 84 bowl-eligible teams.[5]

On December 22, Texas A&M withdrew from the Gator Bowl, citing a breakout of positive COVID-19 cases and season-ending injuries limiting them to too few players.[6] Rutgers was subsequently announced as a replacement team.[7]

On December 23, Hawaii withdrew from the Hawaii Bowl, similarly citing season-ending injuries, transfers, and COVID-19 cases within the program, and the game was ultimately cancelled.[8]

On December 26, Boston College withdrew from the Military Bowl and Virginia withdrew from the Fenway Bowl due to COVID-19 cases; both games were canceled.[9]

On December 26, the Miami (FL) Hurricanes announced that they would not be able to play in the Sun Bowl due to COVID-19 issues; organizers stated that they would try to secure a replacement team to face the Washington State Cougars.[10]

On December 27, the Boise State Broncos withdrew from the Arizona Bowl due to COVID-19 issues; organizers stated that they would attempt to secure a replacement team.[11] Later in the day, the Arizona Bowl was canceled,[12] and the bowl's remaining team, the Central Michigan Chippewas, was named as the replacement team for the Sun Bowl.[13]

On December 28, the Holiday Bowl was called off hours before game time, due to COVID-19 issues within the UCLA Bruins program,[14] and officially canceled the next morning, after organizers could not secure a replacement team to face the NC State Wolfpack.[15]

Bowl schedule / results

[edit]

In the below table, affiliations for confirmed teams reflect their actual conferences, and rankings are per the final CFP rankings that were released on December 5.[16]

Date Time (EST) Game Site Television Teams Affiliations Results
Dec. 17 12:00 p.m. Bahamas Bowl Thomas Robinson Stadium
Nassau, Bahamas
ESPN Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (6–6)
Toledo Rockets (7–5)
C–USA
MAC
Middle Tennessee 31
Toledo 24
6:00 p.m. Cure Bowl Exploria Stadium
Orlando, Florida
ESPN2 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (10–2)
Northern Illinois Huskies (9–4)
Sun Belt
MAC
Coastal Carolina 47
Northern Illinois 41
Dec. 18 11:00 a.m. Boca Raton Bowl FAU Stadium
Boca Raton, Florida
ESPN Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8–5)
Appalachian State Mountaineers (10–3)
C–USA
Sun Belt
Western Kentucky 59
Appalachian State 38
2:15 p.m. New Mexico Bowl University Stadium
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Fresno State Bulldogs (9–3)
UTEP Miners (7–5)
MWC
C–USA
Fresno State 31
UTEP 24
3:30 p.m. Independence Bowl Independence Stadium
Shreveport, Louisiana
ABC UAB Blazers (8–4)
No. 13 BYU Cougars (10–2)
C–USA
Independent
UAB 31
BYU 28
5:45 p.m. LendingTree Bowl Hancock Whitney Stadium[17]
Mobile, Alabama
ESPN Liberty Flames (7–5)
Eastern Michigan Eagles (7–5)
Independent
MAC
Liberty 56
Eastern Michigan 20
7:30 p.m. LA Bowl SoFi Stadium
Inglewood, California
ABC Utah State Aggies (10–3)
Oregon State Beavers (7–5)
MWC
Pac-12
Utah State 24
Oregon State 13
9:15 p.m. New Orleans Bowl Caesars Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
ESPN No. 23 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (12–1)
Marshall Thundering Herd (7–5)
Sun Belt
C–USA
Louisiana 36
Marshall 21
Dec. 20 2:30 p.m. Myrtle Beach Bowl Brooks Stadium
Conway, South Carolina
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (6–6)
Old Dominion Monarchs (6–6)
American
C–USA
Tulsa 30
Old Dominion 17
Dec. 21 3:30 p.m. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Albertsons Stadium
Boise, Idaho
Wyoming Cowboys (6–6)
Kent State Golden Flashes (7-6)
MWC
MAC
Wyoming 52
Kent State 38
7:30 p.m. Frisco Bowl Toyota Stadium
Frisco, Texas
No. 24 San Diego State Aztecs (11–2)
UTSA Roadrunners (12–1)
MWC
C–USA
San Diego State 38
UTSA 24
Dec. 22 8:00 p.m. Armed Forces Bowl Amon G. Carter Stadium
Fort Worth, Texas
Army Black Knights (8–4)
Missouri Tigers (6–6)
Independent
SEC
Army 24
Missouri 22
Dec. 23 3:30 p.m. Frisco Football Classic Toyota Stadium
Frisco, Texas
Miami (OH) RedHawks (6–6)
North Texas Mean Green (6–6)
MAC
C–USA
Miami (OH) 27
North Texas 14
7:00 p.m. Gasparilla Bowl Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
UCF Knights (8–4)
Florida Gators (6–6)
American
SEC
UCF 29
Florida 17
Dec. 24 8:00 p.m. Hawaii Bowl Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex
Honolulu, Hawaii
Memphis Tigers (6–6)
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (6–7)
American
MWC
Canceled
Dec. 25 2:30 p.m. Camellia Bowl Cramton Bowl
Montgomery, Alabama
Georgia State Panthers (7–5)
Ball State Cardinals (6–6)
Sun Belt
MAC
Georgia State 51
Ball State 20
Dec. 27 11:00 a.m. Quick Lane Bowl Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos (7–5)
Nevada Wolf Pack (8–4)
MAC
MWC
Western Michigan 52
Nevada 24
2:30 p.m. Military Bowl Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Annapolis, Maryland
Boston College Eagles (6–6)
East Carolina Pirates (7–5)
ACC
American
Canceled
Dec. 28 12:00 p.m. Birmingham Bowl Protective Stadium
Birmingham, Alabama
No. 20 Houston Cougars (11–2)
Auburn Tigers (6–6)
American
SEC
Houston 17
Auburn 13
3:15 p.m. First Responder Bowl Gerald J. Ford Stadium
University Park, Texas
Air Force Falcons (9–3)
Louisville Cardinals (6–6)
MWC
ACC
Air Force 31
Louisville 28
6:45 p.m. Liberty Bowl Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, Tennessee
Texas Tech Red Raiders (6–6)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (7–5)
Big 12
SEC
Texas Tech 34
Mississippi State 7
8:00 p.m. Holiday Bowl Petco Park
San Diego, California
Fox UCLA Bruins (8–4)
No. 18 NC State Wolfpack (9–3)
Pac-12
ACC
Canceled
10:15 p.m. Guaranteed Rate Bowl Chase Field
Phoenix, Arizona
ESPN Minnesota Golden Gophers (8–4)
West Virginia Mountaineers (6–6)
Big Ten
Big 12
Minnesota 18
West Virginia 6
Dec. 29 11:00 a.m. Fenway Bowl Fenway Park
Boston, Massachusetts
SMU Mustangs (8–4)
Virginia Cavaliers (6–6)
American
ACC
Canceled
2:15 p.m. Pinstripe Bowl Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, New York
Maryland Terrapins (6–6)
Virginia Tech Hokies (6–6)
Big Ten
ACC
Maryland 54
Virginia Tech 10
5:45 p.m. Cheez-It Bowl Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
No. 19 Clemson Tigers (9–3)
Iowa State Cyclones (7–5)
ACC
Big 12
Clemson 20
Iowa State 13
9:15 p.m. Alamo Bowl Alamodome
San Antonio, Texas
No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners (10–2)
No. 14 Oregon Ducks (10–3)
Big 12
Pac-12
Oklahoma 47
Oregon 32
Dec. 30 11:30 a.m. Duke's Mayo Bowl Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks (6–6)
North Carolina Tar Heels (6–6)
SEC
ACC
South Carolina 38
North Carolina 21
3:00 p.m. Music City Bowl Nissan Stadium
Nashville, Tennessee
Purdue Boilermakers (8–4)
Tennessee Volunteers (7–5)
Big Ten
SEC
Purdue 48
Tennessee 45
10:30 p.m. Las Vegas Bowl Allegiant Stadium
Paradise, Nevada
Wisconsin Badgers (8–4)
Arizona State Sun Devils (8–4)
Big Ten
Pac-12
Wisconsin 20
Arizona State 13
Dec. 31 11:00 a.m. Gator Bowl TIAA Bank Field
Jacksonville, Florida
No. 17 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10–3)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5−7)[c]
ACC
Big Ten
Wake Forest 38
Rutgers 10
12:00 p.m. Sun Bowl Sun Bowl
El Paso, Texas
CBS Central Michigan Chippewas (8–4)[d]
Washington State Cougars (7–5)
MAC
Pac-12
Central Michigan 24
Washington State 21
2:00 p.m. Arizona Bowl Arizona Stadium
Tucson, Arizona
Barstool
Sports
[e]
Boise State Broncos (7–5)
Central Michigan Chippewas (8–4)
MWC
MAC
Canceled
Jan. 1 12:00 p.m. Outback Bowl Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
ESPN2 No. 21 Arkansas Razorbacks (8–4)
Penn State Nittany Lions (7–5)
SEC
Big Ten
Arkansas 24
Penn State 10
1:00 p.m. Citrus Bowl Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
ABC No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats (9–3)
No. 15 Iowa Hawkeyes (10–3)
SEC
Big Ten
Kentucky 20
Iowa 17
Jan. 4 9:00 p.m. Texas Bowl NRG Stadium
Houston, Texas
ESPN Kansas State Wildcats (7–5)
LSU Tigers (6–6)
Big 12
SEC
Kansas State 42
LSU 20

Source:[3][19]

FCS bowl game

[edit]

The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) has one bowl game. The FCS also has a postseason bracket tournament that culminates in the 2022 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game.

Date Time (EST) Game Site Television Participants Affiliations Results References
Dec. 18 12:00 p.m. Celebration Bowl Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
ABC South Carolina State Bulldogs (6–5)
Jackson State Tigers (11–1)
MEAC
SWAC
South Carolina State 31
Jackson State 10
[20][21]

All-star games

[edit]

Each of these games features college seniors, or players whose college football eligibility is ending, who are individually invited by game organizers. These games are scheduled to follow the team-competitive bowls, to allow players selected from bowl teams to participate. The all-star games may include some players from non-FBS programs.

A new all-star game, the HBCU Legacy Bowl, was announced in March 2021, and concluded the overall college football post-season on February 19, 2022.[22] All times are EST.

Date Time (EST) Game Site Television Participants Results Ref.
Jan. 15 12:00 p.m. Hula Bowl Bounce House
Orlando, Florida
CBS Sports Network Team Kai
Team Aina
Kai 21
Aina 20
[23]
Jan. 15 4:00 p.m. Tropical Bowl Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
Varsity Sports Network American Team
National Team
American 24
National 14
[24][25]
Jan. 29 6:00 p.m. NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
NFL Network National Team
American Team
National 25
American 24
[26][27]
Feb. 3 8:30 p.m. East–West Shrine Bowl Allegiant Stadium
Paradise, Nevada
West Team
East Team
West 25
East 24
[28]
Feb. 5 2:30 p.m. Senior Bowl Hancock Whitney Stadium
Mobile, Alabama
National Team
American Team
National 20
American 10
[29]
Feb. 19 4:00 p.m. HBCU Legacy Bowl Yulman Stadium
New Orleans, Louisiana
Team Gaither
Team Robinson
Gaither 22
Robinson 6
[30]

Team selections

[edit]

CFP top 25 standings and bowl games

[edit]

On December 5, 2021, the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee announced its final team rankings for the year. This was the eighth year of the CFP era. Cincinnati became the first team from the Group of Five conferences to reach the playoffs.[31] Michigan became the first team to make the playoffs after starting the season unranked in the AP Poll.[31]

Rank Team W–L Conference and standing Bowl game
1 Alabama Crimson Tide 12–1 SEC champions Cotton Bowl (CFP semifinal)
2 Michigan Wolverines 12–1 Big Ten champions Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal)
3 Georgia Bulldogs 12–1 SEC East Division champions Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal)
4 Cincinnati Bearcats 13–0 AAC champions Cotton Bowl (CFP semifinal)
5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 11–1 Independent Fiesta Bowl (NY6)
6 Ohio State Buckeyes 10–2 Big Ten East Division co-champions Rose Bowl (NY6)
7 Baylor Bears 11–2 Big 12 champions Sugar Bowl (NY6)
8 Ole Miss Rebels 10–2 SEC West Division second place Sugar Bowl (NY6)
9 Oklahoma State Cowboys 11–2 Big 12 first place Fiesta Bowl (NY6)
10 Michigan State Spartans 10–2 Big Ten East Division third place Peach Bowl (NY6)
11 Utah Utes 10–3 Pac-12 champions Rose Bowl (NY6)
12 Pittsburgh Panthers 11–2 ACC champions Peach Bowl (NY6)
13 BYU Cougars 10–2 Independent Independence Bowl
14 Oregon Ducks 10–3 Pac-12 North Division champions Alamo Bowl
15 Iowa Hawkeyes 10–3 Big Ten West Division champions Citrus Bowl
16 Oklahoma Sooners 10–2 Big 12 second place (tie) Alamo Bowl
17 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 10–3 ACC Atlantic Division champions Gator Bowl
18 NC State Wolfpack 9–3 ACC Atlantic Division second place (tie) Holiday Bowl canceled
19 Clemson Tigers 9–3 ACC Atlantic Division second place (tie) Cheez-It Bowl
20 Houston Cougars 11–2 AAC first place (tie) Birmingham Bowl
21 Arkansas Razorbacks 8–4 SEC West Division third place (tie) Outback Bowl
22 Kentucky Wildcats 9–3 SEC East Division second place Citrus Bowl
23 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 12–1 Sun Belt champions New Orleans Bowl
24 San Diego State Aztecs 11–2 Mountain West West Division champions Frisco Bowl
25 Texas A&M Aggies 8–4 SEC West Division third place (tie) Gator Bowl withdrew

Conference champions' bowl games

[edit]

Ranks are per the final CFP rankings, released on December 5, with win–loss records at that time. One bowl will feature a matchup of conference champions – the Cotton Bowl. Champions of the Power Five conferences were assured of a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game.

Conference Champion W–L Rank Bowl game
AAC Cincinnati Bearcats 13–0 4 Cotton Bowl (semifinal)
ACC Pittsburgh Panthers 11–2 12 Peach Bowl (NY6)
Big 12 Baylor Bears 11–2 7 Sugar Bowl (NY6)
Big Ten Michigan Wolverines 12–1 2 Orange Bowl (semifinal)
C-USA UTSA Roadrunners 12–1 Frisco Bowl
MAC Northern Illinois Huskies 9–4 Cure Bowl
Mountain West Utah State Aggies 10–3 LA Bowl
Pac-12 Utah Utes 10–3 11 Rose Bowl (NY6)
SEC Alabama Crimson Tide 12–1 1 Cotton Bowl (semifinal)
Sun Belt Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 12–1 23 New Orleans Bowl

Bowl-eligible teams

[edit]

Generally, a team must have at least six wins to be considered bowl eligible, with at least five of those wins being against FBS opponents. The College Football Playoff semi-final games are determined based on the top four seeds in the playoff committee's final rankings. The remainder of the bowl eligible teams are selected by each respective bowl based on conference tie-ins, order of selection, match-up considerations, and other factors.

Number of bowl berths available: 84
Number of bowl-eligible teams: 84

Bowl-ineligible teams

[edit]

Number of bowl-ineligible teams: 46

* Rutgers had the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) of five-win teams. The NCAA announced on December 23 that Rutgers was the first eligible team, under APR regulations, to replace Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl. Rutgers accepted the bid.[32]

Venues

[edit]

A total of thirty-seven venues were utilized, with seven of them in particular for the CFP National Championship and New Year's Six (NY6).[33] The number of venues increased from twenty, primarily due to the relaxation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of venues for bowl games typically was around forty.[34] Prestige and capacity of venues usually increases as the schedule progresses towards to NY6 bowls and the national championship, in large part due to scheduling Top 25 teams late into the bowl games' time frame, while bowl games before Christmas Day typically involve schools in Group of Five conferences.[35] Televising at the venues of bowl games is largely run by ESPN and joint networks (ABC & ESPN2), with only three bowl games run by a non-affiliated network (Holiday Bowl on Fox, Sun Bowl on CBS and Arizona Bowl on Barstool Sports).[36] With the exception of the Bahamas Bowl in The Bahamas,[37] all bowls were played within the United States.

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A map of all hosts of bowl games and their locations in the United States and The Bahamas.
Venues with a number and an x host multiple bowl games.

CFP bowls

[edit]

The College Football Playoff committee elected to continue with the six venues for this postseason—including two as the semifinals for the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship—as outlined below:[33]

The National Championship was played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, marking the first time that a state in the U.S. midwest hosted the national championship game in the CFP era.[33]

Glendale
(Phoenix area)
Atlanta New Orleans
State Farm Stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium Caesars Superdome
Capacity: 78,600 Capacity: 75,000 Capacity: 76,468
Exterior of the stadium, 2006 Near completion in August 2017 The Superdome on July 26, 2021, between removal of Mercedes-Benz branding and installation of Caesars branding.
Pasadena
(Los Angeles area)
Venues of the 2021 New Year's Six Bowls
Source: College Football Playoff[33]
Rose Bowl
Capacity: 92,542
Aerial view from south in 2018
Arlington
(Dallas/Fort Worth area)
IndianapolisNC Miami Gardens
(Miami area)
AT&T Stadium Lucas Oil Stadium Hard Rock Stadium
Capacity: 105,000 Capacity: 70,000 Capacity: 64,767
Exterior, June 2020 Aerial photograph of Lucas Oil Stadium (2016). Exterior view, January 2020

Television ratings

[edit]

All times Eastern. CFP Rankings.

Non-CFP bowl games

[edit]
Rank Date Matchup Network Viewers (millions) TV Rating Game Location
1 January 1, 2022, 1:00 p.m. No. 15 Iowa 17 No. 22 Kentucky 20 ABC 6.5 3.5 Citrus Bowl Camping World Stadium, Orlando FL
2 December 30, 2021, 3:00 p.m. Tennessee 45 Purdue 48 5.6 3.1 Music City Bowl Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
3 December 29, 2021, 5:45 p.m. No. 19 Clemson 20 Iowa State 13 4.9 2.8 Cheez-It Bowl Camping World Stadium, Orlando FL
4 December 29, 2021, 9:15 p.m. No. 14 Oregon 32 No. 16 Oklahoma 47 4.7 2.7 Alamo Bowl Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
5 January 1, 2022, 12:00 p.m. Penn State 10 No. 21 Arkansas 24 ESPN2 3.9 2.2 Outback Bowl Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
6 December 28, 2021, 6:45 p.m Mississippi State 7 Texas Tech 34 ESPN 3.9 2.3 Liberty Bowl Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
7 December 30, 2021, 10:30 p.m. Wisconsin 20 Arizona St. 13 3.6 1.8 Las Vegas Bowl Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
8 December 31, 2021, 11:00 a.m. No. 17 Wake Forest 38 Rutgers 10 3.5 2.1 Gator Bowl TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL
9 December 18, 2021, 3:30 p.m. UAB 31 No. 13 BYU 28 ABC 3.2 1.9 Independence Bowl Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
10 December 23, 2021, 7:00 p.m. UCF 29 Florida 17 ESPN 3.2[38] 1.8 Gasparilla Bowl Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

New Year Six and College Football Playoff semifinal games

[edit]

All times Eastern. Rankings are from the CFP Rankings.

Rank Date Time Matchup Network Viewers (millions) TV ratings Game Location
1 January 10, 2022 8:00 p.m. No. 3 Georgia 33 No. 1 Alabama 18 ESPN 22.6 12.1 National Championship Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
2 December 31, 2021 7:30 p.m. No. 3 Georgia 34 No. 2 Michigan 11 17.2 8.1 Orange Bowl (semifinal) Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
3 December 31, 2021 3:30 p.m. No. 4 Cincinnati 6 No. 1 Alabama 27 16.6 8.6 Cotton Bowl (semifinal) AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
4 January 1, 2022 5:00 pm No. 11 Utah 45 No. 6 Ohio State 48 16.6 8.2 Rose Bowl Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
5 January 1, 2022 8:45 p.m. No. 8 Ole Miss 7 No. 7 Baylor 21 9.8 5.1 Sugar Bowl Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
6 January 1, 2022 1:00 pm No. 9 Oklahoma State 37 No. 5 Notre Dame 35 8.0 4.2 Fiesta Bowl State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
7 December 30, 2021 7:00 pm No. 12 Pittsburgh 21 No. 10 Michigan State 31 7.6 4.0 Peach Bowl Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 44 total bowl games were scheduled; 43 in FBS (including the College Football Playoff National Championship Game) and 1 in FCS. The Hawaii Bowl, Military Bowl, Fenway Bowl, Arizona Bowl, and Holiday Bowl were subsequently canceled.
  2. ^ Dates exclude all-star games.
  3. ^ Rutgers replaced Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl.
  4. ^ Central Michigan replaced Miami (FL) in the Sun Bowl.
  5. ^ The Arizona Bowl was to be broadcast via Barstool Sports' website, app, and social media platforms.[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Newton, Matt (January 2022). "College Football Bowl Challenge Cup Standings". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Dates Announced for College Football Playoff Games through 2026". College Football Playoff. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "2021 College Football Bowl Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "San Francisco Bowl canceled for second straight season, eyeing 2022 return". Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  5. ^ McMurphy, Brett (December 2, 2021). "Sources: NCAA to Add New Bowl Game in Texas". Action Network. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Li, David K. (December 22, 2021). "Texas A&M backs out of Gator Bowl after Covid outbreak leaves team without enough players". NBC News. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "Rutgers receives Gator Bowl bid". Chicago Sun-Times. AP. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "Hawai'i Bowl canceled after Hawai'i withdraws". ESPN.com. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
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Further reading

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