The 2024–25 college football bowl season was marked by significant changes and memorable performances. This season introduced the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP), a shift from the previous four-team format, aiming to provide more teams with a pathway to the national championship.
College Football Playoff Highlights:
- First Round: The inaugural first-round games were held on December 20 and 21, 2024, at campus sites. Notable outcomes included:
- Notre Dame defeating Indiana 27–17 at Notre Dame Stadium.
- Penn State securing a 38–10 victory over SMU at Beaver Stadium.
- Texas overcoming Clemson with a 38–24 win at Texas Memorial Stadium.
- Ohio State dominating Tennessee 42–17 at Ohio Stadium.
- Quarterfinals: The quarterfinals took place from December 31, 2024, through January 2, 2025, at traditional bowl venues:
- Penn State defeated Boise State 31–14 in the Fiesta Bowl.
- Texas edged out Arizona State 39–31 in a double-overtime thriller at the Peach Bowl.
- Ohio State upset the previously undefeated Oregon 41–21 in the Rose Bowl.
- Notre Dame triumphed over Georgia 23–10 in the Sugar Bowl.
- Semifinals: The semifinals were held on January 9 and 10, 2025:
- In the Orange Bowl, Notre Dame secured a spot in the championship by defeating Penn State 27–24, with a late interception setting up the game-winning field goal.
- At the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State earned their championship berth by overcoming Texas 28–14, bolstered by a key defensive stop and a fumble return for a touchdown.
- Championship Game: The national championship is scheduled for January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, featuring a historic matchup between Notre Dame and Ohio State. This game marks the first time these storied programs will face each other for the title in the CFP era.
Notable Storylines:
- Coaching Movements: The season witnessed significant coaching changes, most notably Bill Belichick’s unexpected move to the University of North Carolina, signaling a trend of high-profile coaches transitioning to the college ranks.
- Transfer Portal Dynamics: Player mobility increased, exemplified by quarterback Darian Mensah’s $8 million transfer from Tulane to Duke, highlighting the evolving landscape of player compensation and movement.
- Viewership Trends: Despite the expanded playoff format, the CFP semifinals experienced a 17% drop in television ratings compared to the previous season, averaging 19.2 million viewers. This decline raises questions about viewer engagement with the new structure.
Conference Performances:
The bowl season also showcased varying performances across conferences. For instance, the Big Ten had a strong showing with multiple teams advancing deep into the CFP, while Conference USA faced challenges, recording a 1–4 bowl record.
As the season concludes, the college football landscape continues to evolve, balancing tradition with modern dynamics, setting the stage for future developments in the sport.