Bowl season is officially in full swing, with four matchups — including the first two ranked showdowns — highlighting Thursday’s slate.
No. 18 NC State and No. 25 Kansas State are set to clash in the inaugural Pop-Tarts Bowl, which promises a memorable postgame scene, at the very least.
In the nightcap, two dynamic offenses collide when No. 14 Arizona takes on No. 12 Oklahoma.
The slate begins on the early side, with an 11:00 a.m. kickoff between No. 24 SMU and Boston College playing at the Fenway Bowl. And then Rutgers and Miami go head-to-head at the Pinstripe Bowl to hold everyone over before the ranked matchups commence.
Here’s how you can get your college football fix on a busy Thursday in the thick of an exciting bowl season.
College football schedule: What bowl games are on today?
Thursday, December 28
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Fenway Bowl | No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College | 11:00 a.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
| Pinstripe Bowl | Rutgers vs. Miami | 2:15 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
| Pop-Tarts Bowl | No. 18 NC State vs. No. 25 Kansas State | 5:45 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
| Alamo Bowl | No. 14 Arizona vs. No. 12 Oklahoma | 9:15 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College
SMU ships up to Boston riding high with a nine-game win streak, punctuated by an upset victory over Tulane in the AAC Championship Game. The Mustangs prevailed even without star quarterback Preston Stone, who suffered a broken leg in the regular season finale, handing the reigns to dual-threat freshman Kevin Jennings.
A 6-6 season earned Boston College its first bowl appearance in four years under head coach Jeff Hafley, as well as quasi-home field advantage. Sophomore quarterback Thomas Castellanos, a UCF transfer, is a potent threat with both his arm and his legs.
Rutgers vs. Miami
Greg Schiano’s Scarlet Knights reached the six-win plateau for the first time since 2014. Behind 1,000-yard rusher Kyle Monangai, Rutgers will look to capture its early-season mojo after dropping four straight games to finish the regular season.
The Hurricanes arrive at Yankee Stadium on the heels of a disappointing season under second-year head coach Mario Cristobal, as a 4-0 start fizzled to a 3-5 finish. Starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke transferred to Wisconsin earlier this month, leaving true freshman Emory Williams in line to start.
No. 18 NC State vs. No. 25 Kansas State
Kansas State didn’t quite capture its 2022 success, but the Wildcats finished at a respectable mark, tying for fourth place in a crowded Big 12. Quarterback Will Howard set career-highs in both passing yards and touchdowns, while running back DJ Giddens surpassed the 1,000 yard mark as a sophomore.
The Wolfpack won their final five regular season games to surge to a 9-3 mark. Sixth-year senior Brennan Armstrong, a Virginia transfer, started the last three games; Armstrong is NC State’s leading passer and leading rusher.
No. 14 Arizona vs. No. 12 Oklahoma
Two of the nation’s top offenses go head-to-head when Arizona battles Oklahoma at the Alamo Bowl. The Sooners rank fifth in total offense at 502.4 yards per game, but they will have to persist without star quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who transferred to Oregon. That leaves five-star freshman Jackson Arnold to draw his first collegiate start.
The Wildcats are bowling just two years removed from a 1-11 season. Buoyed by freshman quarterback Noah Fifita, Arizona ranks 18th in total offense and ripped off a six-game win streak to close the regular season.
How to watch, live stream college football bowl games
There are four games poised to be played on December 28. All four are on ESPN, beginning with an 11:00 a.m. kickoff at the Fenway Bowl.
Cord cutters, have no fear. You can stream all four bowl games for free on fuboTV.
Fubo offers a free trial, so you can try it before you buy.
College football scores
| Game |
| No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College |
| Rutgers vs. Miami |
| No. 18 NC State vs. No. 25 Kansas State |
| No. 14 Arizona vs. No. 12 Oklahoma |
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