Move over, NFL. College football is taking the spotlight. As we Google the words for “Auld Lang Syne” or nurse a hangover from celebrating the end of 2023 a bit too vigorously, bowl season is underway.
And there’s a lot at stake this year, with the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s choice of the four teams in the playoffs leaving a lot of fans disgruntled, especially those in Florida State—which went undefeated this year but won’t have a shot at the National Championship.
Bowl season started 11 days ago and there have already been some big matchups, but it’s the games right before and on New Year’s Day that have the biggest impact.
If you’re ready to absorb some end of year college football, here’s a look at who’s playing in which bowl games in 2023 and early 2024—and some options to watch them if your current TV setup proves insufficient.
What is the 2023-2024 college bowl schedule?
Here’s who’s playing in the later games this year.
Saturday, Dec. 30
Peach Bowl – Penn State (10) vs. Ole Miss (11), 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Music City Bowl – Auburn vs. Maryland, 2:00 p.m. ET on ABC
Orange Bowl – Florida State (5) vs. Georgia (6), 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Arizona Bowl – Wyoming vs. Toledo, 8:00 p.m. ET on Barstool
Monday, Jan. 1
Reliaquest Bowl – LSU vs. Wisconsin, 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Citrus Bowl – Iowa (17) vs. Tennessee (21), 1:00 p.m. ET on ABC
Fiesta Bowl – Oregon (8) vs. Liberty (23), 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Rose Bowl (College Football Semifinal) – Michigan (1) vs. Alabama (4), 5:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Rose Bowl (College Football Semifinal) – Washington (2) vs. Texas (3), 8:45 p.m. ET on ESPN
Monday, Jan. 8
College Football Playoff National Championship – TBD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
How can I watch college bowl games for free?
Only a select few are broadcast over the air on ABC, so you’re going to have a rough time. To catch those, the best way to watch is with a good HD antenna. Be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home to find the most reliable signal.
Can I watch college bowl games online?
Yes, easily. If you’re not near a TV, you can log into ESPN.com or the ESPN app in many cases, but will need a cable login. Prefer another option? Here are a few that will work.
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $15 per month for all three combined (or $25 per month for no ads on Hulu).
Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).
YouTubeTV
After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73. YouTube is also now the home of Sunday Ticket. Prices on that service initially ranged from $300 to $439 for the season, with the current discounts. YouTube, however, recently kicked off a mid-season special, dropping the price for the rest of the year to $174.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, but the cord-cutting service is offering 50% off of the first month’s bill.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $75 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $75 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch college bowl games on Amazon Prime Video?
You cannot. No college bowl games are scheduled to stream on Amazon this year.
