The college football postseason is here, and while that means the season is drawing to a close, it also means another month of football thanks to bowl games happening nearly every day for the next few weeks. Bowl season culminates with the College Football Playoff National Championship, which will crown the first champion of the new 12-team playoff on Monday, January 20. First, the field of 12 has to be narrowed to two teams. That all begins Friday with the start of the first round (plus a few pre-CFP appetizer games).
For the full schedule of bowl games through January, including the CFP first round, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the national championship game, click here. Keep reading for the rundown of what college football action is on tap for today.
What college football bowl games are on today?
Friday, December 20
12 p.m. - StaffDNA Cure Bowl (ESPN)
Ohio vs. Jacksonville State
3:30 p.m. - Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (ESPN)
Tulane vs. Florida
8 p.m. - CFP First Round Game (ESPN/ABC)
#10 Indiana @ #7 Notre Dame
When is the College Football Playoff?
The College Football Playoff will kick off with first round games on December 20 and 21 (see below for full schedule). The winners of those matchups will move on to the quarterfinals, set for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The semifinals will be January 9 and 10, and the national championship will be January 20.
2024-25 College Football Playoff schedule: List of matchups, dates, times, and TV channels
Best bets for Friday’s college football bowl games
The team at NBC Sports has you covered for the entirety of bowl season, where the betting picture is complicated by player opt-outs and transfer portal moves. Below are odds, picks and more for the StaffDNA Cure Bowl and CFP first round game between Indiana and Notre Dame:
