The College Football Playoff is finally here.
Alabama vs. Michigan. Texas vs. Washington. The winner of each will face off a week later on Jan. 8.
Three other bowl games will be played earlier in the day before the CFP afternoon and primetime matchups on New Year's Day.
Wisconsin will take on No. 13 LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl to open the day's slate of games. The game won't feature the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner in Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, who opted out of the bowl game to focus on the 2024 NFL Draft. The Badgers will be without running back Braelon Allen, who also declared for the draft. Wisconsin also lost 13 players to the transfer portal, while LSU will be without 10 players.
No. 23 Liberty will face the Pac-12 runner-up in No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Both schools feature high-scoring offenses as Liberty averages 40.8 points per game (fifth in the country) and Oregon averages 44.2 points per game (second in the country).
At the same time, No. 17 Iowa faces No. 21 Tennessee in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Iowa is one of the lowest scoring teams in the nation as the Hawkeyes average just 16.6 points per game this season. However, Iowa's defense keeps them in games as they allowed the fourth-fewest points per game – 13.2. Tennessee, meanwhile, averages almost double the amount of points as Iowa – 31.5. The Volunteers allow 22.0 points per game. This game will been even more interesting because Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton opted out of the game to focus on the draft, leaving true freshman Nico Iamaleava as the starter for the Volunteers.
No. 4 Alabama, fresh of its tremendous SEC championship win over Georgia, takes on No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines boast the best scoring defense in the country and allow just 9.5 points per game this season. The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, scores in bunches – 35.1 points per game – and put up 27 points in consecutive games over Auburn and Georgia.
No. 3 Texas takes on undefeated No. 2 Washington in the night cap. The two sides are similar offensively, with Texas averaging 36.2 points per game and Washington averaging 37.7 points per game. That's all thanks to the play of Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers and Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Both complete more than 65 percent of their passes and have thrown fewer than 10 interceptions this season.
Here's everything you need to know about all five of Monday's college football bowl games, including kickoff times, broadcast information and historical facts on each matchup and school.
College football schedule: What bowl games are on today?
Monday, Jan. 1
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| ReliaQuest Bowl | Wisconsin vs. No. 13 LSU | 12 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV |
| Vrbo Fiesta Bowl | No. 23 Liberty vs. No. 8 Oregon | 1 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
| Cheez-It Citrus Bowl | No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee | 1 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV |
| CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game | No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan | 5 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
| CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl | No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington | 8:45 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
Wisconsin vs. No. 13 LSU
Garrett Nussmeier will start at quarterback for LSU with Jayden Daniels headed to the NFL. The Tigers will have just one starter from their regular season in this matchup.
Neither team has played in the ReliaQuest Bowl, but LSU holds a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Wisconsin. The two sides last played each other in the first game of the 2014 season at NRG Stadium, where LSU won in a tight, 28-24 game. The Tigers are 29-24-1 all-time in bowl games, while the Badgers are 19-15.
No. 23 Liberty vs. No. 8 Oregon
This is Liberty’s fifth consecutive bowl appearance since joining the FBS in 2018. The Flames are 3-1 in bowl games but haven't played a Power 5 school. Oregon, meanwhile, is 2-1 in the Fiesta Bowl but hasn't won since the 2012 season.
The Ducks are 16-20 all time in bowl games. Unsurprisingly, this is also the first meeting between the two schools.
No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee
Iowa and Tennessee have played each other three times in their school's respective histories, with the Volunteers owning the 2-1 advantage. The two sides last played in the 2014 TaxSlayer Bowl, where Tennessee won, 45-28, with Joshua Dobbs at quarterback.
This is Iowa's second Citrus Bowl appearance in three years; the Hawkeyes lost to Kentucky during the 2021 season, 20-17. Iowa is 18-16-1 in bowl games all time. Tennessee, meanwhile, has played in five other Citrus Bowl games and gone 4-1. The Volunteers are 30-25 all time in bowl games.
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan
Neither side is a stranger to the Rose Bowl. Alabama is 6-2 all time in the game, having last won against Notre Dame during the 2020 season. Michigan is 9-12 in the game but hasn't won since the 1997 season.
The Wolverines are 21-29 all time in bowl games, while the Crimson Tide is 46-27-3. The two schools have played five games against each other; Alabama holds the slim 3-2 head-to-head advantage. They last played each other in the Citrus Bowl after the 2019 season; Alabama won, 35-16, behind the arm of Mac Jones and his three passing touchdowns.
No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington
This is a rematch of last season's Alamo Bowl where Washington held on to win, 27-20, over Texas. Ewers and Penix both played in that matchup; Ewers finished with 369 yards and one touchdown while Penix Jr. threw for 287 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
How to watch, live stream today's college football bowl games
There are five games poised to be played on Jan. 1. Three are on ESPN, one is on ESPN2 and one is on ABC.
Cord cutters, have no fear. You can stream all five bowl games on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
College football scores
| Game |
| Wisconsin vs. No. 13 LSU |
| No. 23 Liberty vs. No. 8 Oregon |
| No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee |
| No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan |
| No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington |
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