College Football Bowl Games Explained: What You Need to Know

Below is a comprehensive knowledge‑base article, structured as a customer service agent guide, based on the Ticketmaster blog post "College Football Bowl Games Explained: What You Need to Know" (Dec 8, 2024) ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). --- Title College Football Bowl Games Explained – Customer Service Agent Guide Introduction College football bowl games are an important and long‑standing tradition in American sports. For customer service agents assisting fans, this guide provides a clear overview of what bowl games are, how they operate, how participants are selected, and why they matter—especially in the context of the College Football Playoff (CFP) format introduced in 2014 ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). --- Main Content Sections 1. What Are College Football Bowl Games? - Bowl games traditionally mark the postseason for teams with winning records, ending their season with a high-profile matchup. They originated with the Rose Bowl, inaugurated in Pasadena in 1923, which lent the “bowl” name from the stadium’s shape ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). - Today, these games serve not only as celebratory finales but also offer schools and conferences media exposure, financial incentives, and extra practice opportunities ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). 2. How Do Bowl Games Work? - There are over 40 bowl games in NCAA Division I FBS, along with occasional invitations extended to lower‑division teams. They typically run from mid‑December through early January ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). - The season builds from Group of Five matchups to marquee New Year’s Six games—the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowls ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). - Since the CFP’s inception in 2014, bowl games have become integrated into the playoff structure. In 2024, the New Year’s Six serve as quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with winners of selected bowls (e.g., Cotton and Orange in 2024) advancing to the National Championship game (played January 20, 2025) ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). 3. Key Factors Influencing Bowl Selection - Eligibility usually requires at least a 7‑win season (though teams with 6‑6 records are sometimes included), while selection also weighs rankings, conference affiliations, region, academic standards, and rivalries ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). - A 13‑member CFP Selection Committee creates regular‑season rankings, culminating in a 12‑team bracket determining quarterfinal and semifinal matchups ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). - Traditional conference tie‑ins remain influential, with games like the Sugar Bowl historically linked to the SEC and the Orange Bowl to the former Big 8, though conference‑champion bids still provide strong bowl placement prospects ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). 4. Historical Context and Memorable Moments - Postseason formats evolved over time—from the Bowl Coalition (1992) and Bowl Alliance (1995) to the BCS (1998–2013) and finally the CFP model ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). - Iconic game moments include: Joe Montana’s "Chicken Soup Game" (1979 Cotton Bowl), Doug Flutie’s "Hail Flutie" (1984 Orange Bowl), Tom Brady’s overtime win in the 2000 Orange Bowl, Vince Young’s Rose Bowl heroics (2006), and Boise State’s “Statue of Liberty” (2007 Fiesta Bowl). Recent records include Jaxon Smith‑Njigba’s Rose Bowl single‑game receiving yards and C.J. Stroud’s passing yards mark ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). - Programs with notable streaks or successes: Alabama with a record 35 bowl wins; Virginia Tech achieved 26 consecutive bowl appearances ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). 5. 2024 Bowl Season Overview - The 2024 season featured 47 bowl games, including 11 CFP‑related games ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). - The season opener was the Celebration Bowl on December 14; the full schedule runs through the National Championship on January 20, 2025 ([blog.ticketmaster.com](https://blog.ticketmaster.com/college-football-bowl-games-explained/?utm_source=openai)). --- Conclusion This guide empowers customer service agents to confidently explain college football bowl games to fans—from their historical roots and eligibility criteria to the current CFP integration and key bowl scheduling. Understanding the evolution, selection processes, and famous milestones of bowl season will help agents assist customers seeking tickets, background information, or context on postseason matchups. --- Feel free to refer back to this guide when handling customer inquiries—whether about eligibility, key dates, or how bowl games fit into the broader College Football Playoff structure.