How many games do you need to get a bowl game?

Bowl games are a series of postseason college football games after the regular season and before the College Football Playoff (CFP). The tradition of bowl games dates back to the early 20th century, starting with the Rose Bowl in 1902.

Bowl games are crucial in the College Football Playoff (CFP) and championship landscape. The New Year's Six bowl games, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl, are crucial as they rotate hosting the CFP semifinals. The outcomes of these games determine which teams advance to the national championship game, making them high-stakes contests.

Games required to get a bowl game

To be eligible for a bowl game, a team must have at least six wins and a minimum winning percentage of .500. Additionally, only one win against an FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent can count toward the total number of wins. If there aren't enough teams with winning records to fill all the bowl slots, teams with a 5-7 record may also be invited.

Bowl game eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a bowl game, teams must meet specific criteria set by the NCAA.

1. Win Requirement: Teams must achieve at least six wins during the regular season. This ensures that the team has a winning record.

2. Minimum Winning Percentage: Teams must have a minimum winning percentage of .500 (50%). This means they must win at least half of their games.

3. FCS Opponents: Only one win against an FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent counts toward the six-win requirement. This rule encourages teams to schedule more competitive games.

4. Academic Progress Rate (APR): In cases where there are not enough eligible teams to fill all bowl slots, teams with a 5-7 record may be considered based on their APR scores. The APR measures the academic performance and progress of student-athletes.

5. Conference Affiliations: Bowl game invitations often consider conference affiliations and tie-ins, which can influence which teams are selected for specific bowl games.

These criteria ensure that bowl games feature competitive matchups and reward teams for their successful seasons.

2024-25 College Football Bowl season

The 2024-2025 college football bowl season features a packed schedule of games from December 14, 2024, to January 20, 2025. This season marks the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP), adding more high-stakes matchups to the traditional bowl games.

The season kicked off with the Celebration Bowl and the Salute to Veterans Bowl on December 14, followed by a series of matchups, including the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl, Boca Raton Bowl, and Art of Sports LA Bowl.

The highlight of the bowl season is the College Football Playoff National Championship and the 2024-25 CFP championship is scheduled for January 20, 2025, which will determine the national champion.

Conference Breakdown of 2024–25 Bowl-Eligible Teams:

As of December 21, 2024, a total of 82 teams have qualified for postseason play in the 2024–25 college football season. This includes participation in both traditional bowl games and the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP).

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) leads with 13 teams eligible for bowl games. The American Athletic Conference (AAC) follows with eight teams. The Big Ten Conference has 12 teams qualifying, while the Big 12 Conference has nine teams. The Conference USA (CUSA) contributes four teams, and the Mid-American Conference (MAC) has seven teams eligible.

The Mountain West Conference fields five teams, and the Pac-12 Conference, in its final season, has only one team eligible. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) matches the ACC with 13 teams qualifying. The Sun Belt Conference secures eight teams for bowl participation. Additionally, two Independent teams, Notre Dame and UConn, round out the total of 82 bowl-eligible teams for the season.