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 an impressive record with 45 wins in bowl games, as of the 2024 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 76 times and have won 45 out of them and lost in 28 games and 3 ties, according to which they have a win percentage of 61.2%.
Following Alabama, Georgia holds the second spot with 38 bowl wins. Their most recent bowl game victory occurred on December 30, 2023, when they decisively defeated Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl. Georgia has made 62 bowl game appearances throughout their history, showcasing their consistent presence and competitiveness in postseason play.
Southern California (USC) is next with 35 bowl wins, showcasing its rich history of success and tradition in college football. Oklahoma rounds out the top tier with 31 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 | 28 | 3 | 76 |
| Georgia | 38 | 21 | 3 | 62 |
| USC | 35 | 20 | 0 | 55 |
| Oklahoma | 31 | 25 | 1 | 57 |
| Penn State | 31 | 20 | 2 | 53 |
| Tennessee | 31 | 25 | 0 | 56 |
| Texas | 31 | 26 | 2 | 59 |
| LSU | 30 | 24 | 1 | 55 |
| Florida State | 29 | 18 | 2 | 49 |
| Clemson | 27 | 23 | 0 | 50 |
| Georgia Tech | 26 | 20 | 0 | 46 |
| Nebraska | 26 | 27 | 0 | 53 |
| Ohio State | 26 | 29 | 0 | 55 |
| Florida | 25 | 24 | 0 | 49 |
| Ole Miss | 25 | 15 | 0 | 40 |
| Auburn | 24 | 21 | 2 | 47 |
| Michigan | 23 | 29 | 0 | 52 |
| Oklahoma State | 22 | 12 | 0 | 34 |
| Notre Dame | 20 | 21 | 0 | 41 |
| Texas A&M | 20 | 23 | 0 | 43 |
| Washington | 20 | 21 | 1 | 42 |
| Miami (Florida) | 19 | 24 | 0 | 43 |
| Wisconsin | 19 | 16 | 0 | 35 |
| Iowa | 18 | 17 | 1 | 35 |
| TCU | 18 | 17 | 1 | 36 |
| Arkansas | 17 | 24 | 3 | 44 |
| BYU | 17 | 22 | 1 | 40 |
| North Carolina State | 17 | 17 | 1 | 35 |
| Oregon | 17 | 20 | 0 | 37 |
| Texas Tech | 17 | 23 | 1 | 41 |
| UCLA | 17 | 20 | 1 | 38 |
| Utah | 17 | 10 | 0 | 27 |
| West Virginia | 17 | 23 | 0 | 40 |
| Air Force | 16 | 13 | 1 | 30 |
| Missouri | 16 | 20 | 0 | 36 |
| Syracuse | 16 | 11 | 1 | 28 |
| Arizona State | 15 | 17 | 1 | 33 |
| Boston College | 15 | 13 | 0 | 28 |
| Fresno State | 15 | 13 | 0 | 28 |
| Mississippi State | 15 | 11 | 0 | 26 |
| North Carolina | 15 | 23 | 0 | 38 |
| Pittsburgh | 15 | 22 | 0 | 37 |
| Stanford | 15 | 14 | 1 | 30 |
| Baylor | 14 | 13 | 0 | 27 |
| Maryland | 14 | 14 | 2 | 30 |
| Michigan State | 14 | 16 | 0 | 30 |
| Virginia Tech | 14 | 21 | 0 | 35 |
| Boise State | 13 | 8 | 0 | 21 |
| Houston | 13 | 16 | 1 | 30 |
| Marshall | 13 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| Southern Miss | 13 | 12 | 0 | 25 |
| California | 12 | 12 | 1 | 25 |
| Colorado | 12 | 18 | 0 | 30 |
| Kentucky | 12 | 11 | 0 | 23 |
| Louisville | 12 | 13 | 1 | 26 |
| Minnesota | 12 | 12 | 0 | 24 |
| Navy | 12 | 11 | 1 | 24 |
| Kansas State | 11 | 14 | 0 | 25 |
| Purdue | 11 | 10 | 0 | 21 |
| Toledo | 11 | 10 | 0 | 21 |
| Tulsa | 11 | 12 | 0 | 23 |
| Wake Forest | 11 | 6 | 0 | 17 |
| Arizona | 10 | 10 | 1 | 21 |
| Oregon State | 10 | 8 | 0 | 18 |
| South Carolina | 10 | 15 | 0 | 25 |
| Wyoming | 10 | 9 | 0 | 19 |
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.
