The College Football Playoff pairings were released Sunday, and that included the New Year's Day Six bowls that will start on Dec. 29.
The College Football Playoff semifinals will be on Jan. 1, 2018, and those matchups are set with Oklahoma and Georgia in the Rose Bowl Game and Clemson and Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
MORE: Watch college football live and on-demand with fuboTV
What about the rest of the matchups? Here’s a closer look (all times Eastern):
New Year's Day Six
Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs. USC
Date: Dec. 29
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Lowdown: Jerry World is a great spot for the two Power 5 conference champions that were left out of the playoff. There’s a ton of history between the Buckeyes and Trojans, and it’s a proper sendoff for J.T. Barrett, and perhaps Sam Darnold.
Fiesta Bowl: Penn State vs. Washington
Date: Dec. 30
Time: 4 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Lowdown: A pair of two loss-teams that hovered in the playoff discussion meet in Glendale. Chris Petersen and James Franklin can build some serious momentum — even after both programs lost their offensive coordinators in the coaching carousel. We still think Jake Browning and Saquon Barkley will put on a show.
Orange Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Miami
Date: Dec. 30
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Lowdown: The ACC and Big Ten runners-up meet in a contrast of styles on both sides of the ball. Will Wisconsin’s offensive line be able to push around the Hurricanes up front? How will Malik Rosier fare against a sound Badgers defense? It’s a close-to-home-party for Miami and Mark Richt, however.
Peach Bowl: UCF vs. Auburn
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 12:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Lowdown: Scott Frost will stay to coach the Knights, who are looking to complete a perfect 13-0 season as the Group of 5 representative. Auburn finished 10-3 and runner-up in the SEC, and Gus Malzahn’s future will be a topic of discussion leading up to the game. (UPDATE: Malzahn reportedly is staying at Auburn.) This will be highest-scoring game of the New Year's Day Six.
MORE: Like it or not, committee chose Alabama over Ohio State for right reasons
College Football Playoff semifinals
Rose Bowl Game: Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 5 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Lowdown: Heisman Trophy favorite Baker Mayfield led Oklahoma to its second playoff appearance under first-year coach Lincoln Riley, and it will get to prove it against a nasty Georgia team coming off the SEC championship. There will be All-American and future NFL talent on the field. If the Bulldogs win, then they will get back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the College Football Playoff championship game.
Sugar Bowl: Clemson vs. Alabama
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 8:45 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Lowdown: Alabama-Clemson III is here, and the trilogy continues in the semifinals this time. The Tigers and Crimson Tide have been the two most dominant programs of the College Football Playoff era, and Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney will clash again. It’s a blockbuster matchup.
MORE: Complete 2017-18 college football bowl tracker
College Football Playoff championship
Date: Jan. 8
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Lowdown: It’s the fourth College Football Playoff championship, and either Alabama or Clemson will play for a national championship for the third straight season. Oklahoma or Georgia will be a first-time participant in the championship game.
