How Many Bowl Games Are There in College Football?

By Sarah Miller · July 17, 2032

As of the 2024 college football season, there are 43 bowl games in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), including the College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals and national championship game. These games span December and January, offering postseason opportunities for 86 teams—exactly half of the 172 FBS programs.

Understanding the College Football Bowl System

The NCAA FBS bowl system is a postseason structure that pairs eligible teams based on conference affiliations, rankings, and performance. Unlike playoff-driven sports, college football uses a combination of tradition, contracts, and competitive balance to organize its post-regular season matchups.

What Qualifies as a Bowl Game?

An officially sanctioned postseason game involving two FBS teams.
Must be approved by the NCAA and meet minimum attendance and financial standards.
Games must offer team payouts and media exposure.
Bowl games do not include conference championships or the College Football Playoff National Championship when held separately.

Breakdown of the 2024–2025 Bowl Season

The current bowl lineup consists of 43 games, a number that has stabilized after fluctuations due to realignment and CFP expansion. The format now accommodates 12-team playoff participants while still preserving traditional bowl matchups.

Key Features of the 2024 Bowl Lineup

Total Games: 43 (including CFP Semifinals)
Teams Participating: 86 (out of 172 FBS teams)
Bowl Season Duration: Mid-December to January 20, 2025
New Additions: None for 2024; last addition was the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl moving to Raymond James Stadium full-time.
Minimum Eligibility: 6 wins (with some exceptions using APR scores).

Bowl Game	Date	Location	Teams (Projected/Traditional)	Payout (2024)
Arizona Bowl	Dec 31	Tucson, AZ	MWC vs MAC	$1.2M
Frisco Bowl	Dec 17	Frisco, TX	AAC vs MWC	$1.2M
Cure Bowl	Dec 14	Orlando, FL	AAC vs Sun Belt	$1.2M
LA Bowl	Dec 18	Inglewood, CA	MWC vs Pac-12	$1.2M
Armed Forces Bowl	Dec 27	Fort Worth, TX	AAC vs MWC	$1.75M
Hawai'i Bowl	Dec 23	Honolulu, HI	AAC vs MWC	$1.2M
Guaranteed Rate Bowl	Dec 27	Phoenix, AZ	Big Ten vs ACC	$2.2M
Music City Bowl	Dec 30	Nashville, TN	SEC vs Big Ten	$3.9M
Cotton Bowl Classic	Jan 9	Dallas, TX	CFP Semifinal	$7M+
Rose Bowl Game	Jan 1	Pasadena, CA	Big Ten vs Pac-12 (or CFP)	$7M+
Sugar Bowl	Jan 1	New Orleans, LA	CFP Semifinal	$7M+
Orange Bowl	Dec 31	Miami Gardens, FL	ACC vs SEC/Clemson Pool	$7M+
College Football Playoff National Championship	Jan 20	Atlanta, GA	#1 vs #2	~$30M total

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The data shows a clear tiered payout structure, with non-CFP bowls averaging $1.2M–$2.5M per team and major CFP-affiliated bowls exceeding $7 million. The Rose, Sugar, and Cotton Bowls serve dual roles—hosting both traditional tie-ins and CFP semifinals depending on the year. Atlanta hosts the 2025 National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, marking the fifth time the city has hosted the title game.

How Teams Are Selected for Bowl Games

Bowl eligibility requires a minimum of six wins, though teams with winning records may be selected if not enough eligible teams exist. The NCAA allows up to four teams with sub-.500 records to participate based on Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores.

Bowl Selection Process Overview

Conference Tie-Ins: Most bowls have agreements with specific conferences (e.g., Citrus Bowl: SEC vs Big Ten).
CFP Rankings: Top 12 teams qualify for the playoff; semifinal winners advance to the national title game.
Bowl Committees: Each game's organizing body negotiates team selections within contractual limits.
At-Large Bids: Highly ranked teams without tie-ins may be chosen for premium bowls.
TV & Geography: Networks and fan travel influence final matchups.

Impact of the 12-Team College Football Playoff

Starting in 2024, the expanded 12-team playoff integrates six top-ranked conference champions and six at-large teams. The five highest-ranked conference champs earn first-round byes. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate among New Year’s Six bowls.

This expansion preserved the bowl system’s integrity while increasing access to the postseason. Notably, the number of standalone bowl games decreased slightly as some were repurposed as playoff venues, but the total count remains stable at 43.

Frequently Asked Questions About College Football Bowl Games

How many teams play in bowl games in 2024?

86 teams will participate in the 2024–2025 bowl season, representing exactly half of the 172 FBS programs. This includes 12 teams in the College Football Playoff and 74 in traditional bowl matchups.

What is the minimum record to qualify for a bowl game?

Teams must win at least six games to be bowl-eligible. However, if there are not enough 6-win teams, the NCAA selects the best available teams based on APR scores, sometimes allowing 5–7 teams to participate.

Which bowl games are part of the College Football Playoff?

The New Year’s Six bowls—Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta, and Peach—are used for the CFP. In 2024, the Cotton and Sugar Bowls host semifinals, while others host quarterfinals or high-ranked at-large matchups.

Do all bowl games pay teams the same amount?

No. Payouts vary significantly. Smaller bowls pay around $1.2 million per team, while major bowls like the Rose and Sugar exceed $7 million. Playoff games generate even higher distributions, with national championship participants receiving shares from a ~$30M pool.

Has the number of bowl games changed recently?

The total has stabilized at 43 since 2020. After rapid growth from 2000–2019 (peaking at 41), the number increased to 43 in 2020 and remained consistent. The 2024 season maintains this count despite CFP expansion, thanks to strategic reuse of existing venues.