College football bowl games are postseason matchups held in December and January, featuring teams that have performed well during the regular season. These games provide additional playing opportunities and a festive conclusion to the season for participating teams. Each bowl game has its own unique traditions, sponsorships, and histories, ranging from historic events like the Rose Bowl, which began in 1902, to newer additions.
The CFP semifinals are held as part of major bowl games, such as the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, and Cotton Bowls, with the winners advancing to the national championship. For the 2024-25 college football season, there are 47 bowl games in total. This includes the four College Football Playoff first-round games, four quarterfinal games, two semifinals, and the national championship game.
Teams with the most college football bowl wins
The college football team with the most bowl game wins is Alabama. The Crimson Tide has a record of 45 wins in bowl games, as of the 2024-25 season. Alabama has consistently performed well in postseason play, contributing to its status as one of the most successful programs in college football history. The Alabama Crimson Tide have played bowl games 77 times and have won 45 out of them and lost in 29 games and 3 ties, according to which they have a win percentage of 60.4%.
Following Alabama, Georgia holds the second spot with 38 bowl wins. Their most recent bowl game victory occurred on January 2, 2025, when they lost to Notre Dame 23-10 in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia has made 63 bowl game appearances throughout their history, showcasing their competitiveness in postseason play.
Southern California (USC) is next with 36 bowl wins. Texas rounds out the top tier with 33 bowl wins. Here is the list of college football teams who have won the most bowl games, as of 2024 Bowl games:
| University | Wins | Losses | Ties | Bowl Games Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 45 | 29 | 3 | 77 |
| Georgia | 38 | 22 | 3 | 63 |
| USC | 36 | 20 | 0 | 56 |
| Texas | 33 | 27 | 2 | 62 |
| Penn State | 33 | 21 | 2 | 56 |
| Oklahoma | 31 | 26 | 1 | 58 |
| Tennessee | 31 | 26 | 0 | 57 |
| LSU | 31 | 24 | 1 | 56 |
| Ohio State | 29 | 29 | 0 | 58 |
| Florida State | 29 | 18 | 2 | 49 |
| Nebraska | 27 | 27 | 0 | 54 |
| Clemson | 27 | 24 | 0 | 51 |
| Florida | 26 | 24 | 0 | 50 |
| Georgia Tech | 26 | 21 | 0 | 47 |
| Ole Miss | 26 | 15 | 0 | 41 |
| Michigan | 24 | 29 | 0 | 53 |
| Auburn | 24 | 21 | 2 | 47 |
| Notre Dame | 23 | 21 | 0 | 44 |
| Oklahoma State | 22 | 12 | 0 | 34 |
| Texas A&M | 20 | 24 | 0 | 44 |
| Washington | 20 | 22 | 1 | 43 |
| Miami (Florida) | 19 | 25 | 0 | 44 |
| TCU | 19 | 17 | 1 | 37 |
| Wisconsin | 19 | 16 | 0 | 35 |
| Arkansas | 18 | 24 | 3 | 45 |
| BYU | 18 | 22 | 1 | 41 |
| Iowa | 18 | 18 | 1 | 36 |
| Texas Tech | 17 | 24 | 1 | 42 |
| West Virginia | 17 | 24 | 0 | 41 |
| Oregon | 17 | 21 | 0 | 38 |
| UCLA | 17 | 20 | 1 | 38 |
| Missouri | 17 | 20 | 0 | 37 |
| North Carolina State | 17 | 18 | 1 | 36 |
| Syracuse | 17 | 11 | 1 | 29 |
| Utah | 17 | 10 | 0 | 27 |
| Air Force | 16 | 13 | 1 | 30 |
| North Carolina | 15 | 24 | 0 | 39 |
| Pittsburgh | 15 | 23 | 0 | 38 |
| Arizona State | 15 | 18 | 1 | 34 |
| Stanford | 15 | 14 | 1 | 30 |
| Boston College | 15 | 14 | 0 | 29 |
| Fresno State | 15 | 14 | 0 | 29 |
| Mississippi State | 15 | 11 | 0 | 26 |
| Virginia Tech | 14 | 22 | 0 | 36 |
| Michigan State | 14 | 16 | 0 | 30 |
| Maryland | 14 | 14 | 2 | 30 |
| Baylor | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Houston | 13 | 16 | 1 | 30 |
| Louisville | 13 | 13 | 1 | 27 |
| Minnesota | 13 | 12 | 0 | 25 |
| Navy | 13 | 11 | 1 | 25 |
| Southern Miss | 13 | 12 | 0 | 25 |
| Boise State | 13 | 9 | 0 | 22 |
| Marshall | 13 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| Colorado | 12 | 19 | 0 | 31 |
| California | 12 | 13 | 1 | 26 |
| Kansas State | 12 | 14 | 0 | 26 |
| Kentucky | 12 | 11 | 0 | 23 |
| Toledo | 12 | 10 | 0 | 22 |
| Tulsa | 11 | 12 | 0 | 23 |
| Purdue | 11 | 10 | 0 | 21 |
| Wake Forest | 11 | 6 | 0 | 17 |
| South Carolina | 10 | 16 | 0 | 26 |
| Arizona | 10 | 11 | 1 | 22 |
| Wyoming | 10 | 9 | 0 | 19 |
| Oregon State | 10 | 8 | 0 | 18 |
Conferences with the most Bowl Challenge Cup championships wins
The Bowl Challenge Cup is an annual competition among NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences, based on their win-loss records in bowl games. The conference with the highest winning percentage in bowl games wins the Cup. The competition was created by ESPN in 2002 and is sponsored by Progressive since 2015. The Bowl Challenge Cup adds an extra layer of excitement to the bowl season, as conferences vie for the title by supporting their teams to perform well in their respective bowl games.
| Conference | Times | Championships |
| Mountain West | 5 | 2004–05, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2021–22 |
| Conference USA (C-USA) | 3 + 1⁄2 | 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2018–19 |
| Big Ten | 3 | 2002–03, 2017–18, 2023–24 |
| Southeastern (SEC) | 3 | 2013–14, 2015–16, 2019–20 |
| Atlantic Coast (ACC) | 2 + 1⁄2 | 2003–04, 2005–06, 2016–17 |
| Big 12 | 1 + 1⁄2 | 2005–06, 2020–21 |
| Mid-American (MAC) | 1 + 1⁄2 | 2011–12, 2022–23 |
| American (Big East to 2013) | 1 | 2006–07 |
| Pac-12 (Pacific-10 to 2010) | 1 | 2008–09 |
| Sun Belt | 0 | - |
FAQs on college football
A. There are 47 bowl games scheduled for the 2024-25 season.
A. The Rose Bowl, often called "The Granddaddy of Them All," is the oldest college football bowl game, first played in 1902.
A. Some major bowl games include the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Peach Bowl.
A. Teams are selected for bowl games based on their regular-season performance, conference standings, and rankings.
A. Alabama made 7 appearances in the CFP Playoff, as of January 2025.
