2021-22 NCAA football bowl games

The 2021-22 NCAA football bowl games are a series of college football bowl games scheduled to complete the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The games will begin on December 17, 2021, and, aside from the all-star games scheduled to follow, will conclude with the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship played on January 10, 2022.
== Schedule ==
The schedule for the 2021–22 bowl games is below. All times are EST (UTC−5). Note that Division II bowls and Division III bowls are not included here. The bowl schedule was released on May 27, 2021.
Conferences listed in the Affiliations column reflect agreements between bowl organizers and athletic conferences, often referred to as "tie-ins". These are subject to change, due to bowl eligibility and other considerations.
=== College Football Playoff and National Championship Game ===
The College Football Playoff system is used to determine a national championship of Division I FBS college football. A 13-member committee of experts will rank the top 25 teams in the nation after each of the last seven weeks of the regular season. The top four teams in the final ranking will be seeded in a single-elimination semifinal round, with the winners advancing to the National Championship game.
The semifinal games for the 2021 season are the Cotton Bowl Classic and the Orange Bowl. Both are scheduled for December 31, 2021, as part of a yearly rotation of three pairs of two bowls, commonly referred to as the New Year's Six bowl games. The winners will advance to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship, scheduled for January 10, 2022.
Date 	Game 	Site	Teams	Affiliations
Dec. 30	Peach Bowl 	Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia	Pittsburgh Panthers (11-2)
Ole Miss Rebels (10-2)	ACC
SEC
Dec. 31	Cotton Bowl Classic
(Playoff Semifinal Game)	AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas	No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (12-1)
No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-1)	Big Ten
Big 12
Dec. 31	Orange Bowl 
(Playoff Semifinal Game)	Hard Rock Stadium 
Miami Gardens, Florida	No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (13-0)
No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats (13-0)	SEC
American
Jan. 1 	Fiesta Bowl	State Farm Stadium
Glendale, Arizona	Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) 
Michigan State Spartans (10-2)	Independent
Big Ten
Jan. 1 	Rose Bowl 	Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California	Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2)
Utah Utes (9-3)	Big Ten
Pac-12
Jan. 1 	Sugar Bowl 	Caesars Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana	Alabama Crimson Tide (11-2)
Baylor Bears (10-3)	SEC
Big 12
Jan. 10	College Football Playoff National Championship
(Cotton Bowl Winner vs. Orange Bowl Winner)	Lucas Oil Stadium 
Indianapolis, Indiana	No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (14-0)
No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (13-1)	SEC
Big Ten
=== Non CFP bowl games ===
Two bowls, which had originally planned to debut during the 2020–21 bowl season but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are due to debut during the 2021–22 bowl season; the Fenway Bowl (Boston, Massachusetts) and the LA Bowl (Inglewood, California). The Montgomery Bowl, played as a substitute for the Fenway Bowl, is not due to return. The San Francisco Bowl, formerly the Redbox Bowl, was cancelled for a second straight season when organizers could not come to terms with all parties involved with the game.
Date 	Game 	Site	Teams	Affiliations
Dec. 17	Bahamas Bowl 	Thomas Robinson Stadium
Nassau, Bahamas	Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (6-6)
Toledo Rockets (7-5)	C-USA
MAC
Dec. 17	Cure Bowl 	Camping World Stadium 
Orlando, Florida	Georgia State Panthers (7-5)
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (6-6)	Sun Belt
American
Dec. 18	Boca Raton Bowl 	FAU Stadium
Boca Raton, Florida	Old Dominion Monarchs (6-6)
Wyoming Cowboys (6-6)	C-USA
MWC
Dec. 18	New Mexico Bowl 	University Stadium
Albuquerque, New Mexico	Fresno State Bulldogs (9-3)
UAB Blazers (8-4)	MWC
C-USA
Dec. 18	Independence Bowl 	Independence Stadium
Shreveport, Louisiana	UTSA Roadrunners (11-2)
BYU Cougars (10-2)	C-USA
Independent
Dec. 18	LendingTree Bowl 	Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Mobile, Alabama	Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-5)
Appalachian State Mountaineers (10-3)	MAC
Sun Belt
Dec. 18	LA Bowl 	SoFi Stadium
Inglewood, California	San Diego State Aztecs (12-1)
Washington State Cougars (7-5)	MWC
Pac-12
Dec. 18	New Orleans Bowl 	Caesars Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana	Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (10-2)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (9-4)	Sun Belt
C-USA
Dec. 20	Myrtle Beach Bowl 	Brooks Stadium
Conway, South Carolina	Miami RedHawks (6-6)
UTEP Miners (7-5)	MAC
C-USA
Dec. 21	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl	Albertsons Stadium
Boise, Idaho	Nevada Wolf Pack (8-4)
Kent State Golden Flashes (7-6)	MWC
MAC
Dec. 21	Frisco Bowl 	Toyota Stadium
Frisco, Texas	Boise State Broncos (7-5)
Ball State Cardinals (6-6)	MWC
MAC
Dec. 22	Armed Forces Bowl 	Amon G. Carter Stadium
Fort Worth, Texas	Army Black Knights (9-3)
Marshall Thundering Herd (7-5)	Independent
C-USA
Dec. 23	Gasparilla Bowl 	Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida	Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6)
Florida Gators (6-6)	ACC
SEC
Dec. 24	Hawaii Bowl 	Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex
Honolulu, Hawaii	Memphis Tigers (6-6)
Utah State Aggies (9-4)	American
MWC
Dec. 25	Camellia Bowl 	Cramton Bowl
Montgomery, Alabama	Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (12-1)
Western Michigan Broncos (7-5)	Sun Belt
MAC
Dec. 27	Quick Lane Bowl 	Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan	Liberty Flames (7-5)
Northern Illinois Huskies (9-4)	Independent
MAC
Dec. 27	Military Bowl 	Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Annapolis, Maryland	East Carolina Pirates (7-5)
Boston College Eagles (6-6)	American
ACC
Dec. 28	Birmingham Bowl 	Protective Stadium
Birmingham, Alabama	Houston Cougars (11-2)
LSU Tigers (6-6)	American
SEC
Dec. 28	First Responder Bowl 	Gerald J. Ford Stadium
University Park, Texas	UCF Knights (8-4)
South Carolina Gamecocks (6-6)	American
SEC
Dec. 28	Liberty Bowl 	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, Tennessee	Missouri Tigers (6-6)
West Virginia Mountaineers (6-6)	SEC
Big 12
Dec. 28	Holiday Bowl 	Petco Park
San Diego, California	Virginia Cavaliers (6-6)
UCLA Bruins (8-4)	ACC
Pac-12
Dec. 28	Guaranteed Rate Bowl 	Chase Field
Phoenix, Arizona	Maryland Terrapins (6-6)
Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-6)	Big Ten
Big 12
Dec. 29	Fenway Bowl 	Fenway Park
Boston, Massachusetts	Louisville Cardinals (6-6)
SMU Mustangs (8-4)	ACC
American
Dec. 29	Pinstripe Bowl 	Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, New York	Miami Hurricanes (7-5)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4)	ACC
Big Ten
Dec. 29	Cheez-It Bowl 	Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida	Iowa State Cyclones (7-5)
Clemson Tigers (9-3)	Big 12
ACC
Dec. 29	Alamo Bowl 	Alamodome
San Antonio, Texas	Oklahoma Sooners (10-2)
Oregon Ducks (10-3)	Big 12
Pac-12
Dec. 30	Duke's Mayo Bowl 	Bank of American Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina	Auburn Tigers (6-6)
NC State Wolfpack (9-3)	SEC
ACC
Dec. 30	Music City Bowl 	Nissan Stadium
Nashville, Tennessee	Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-5)
Purdue Boilermakers (8-4)	SEC
Big Ten
Dec. 30	Las Vegas Bowl 	Allegiant Stadium
Paradise, Nevada	Arizona State Sun Devils (8-4)
Penn State Nittany Lions (7-5)	Pac-12
Big Ten
Dec. 31	Gator Bowl 	TIAA Bank Field
Jacksonville, Florida	Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-3)
Arkansas Razorbacks (8-4)	ACC
SEC
Dec. 31	Sun Bowl 	Sun Bowl
El Paso, Texas	North Carolina Tar Heels (6-6)
Oregon State Beavers (7-5)	ACC
Pac-12
Dec. 31	Arizona Bowl 	Arizona Stadium
Tucson, Arizona	Air Force Falcons (9-3)
Central Michigan Chippewas (8-4)	MWC
MAC
Jan. 1 	Outback Bowl 	Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida	Texas A&M Aggies (8-4)
Wisconsin Badgers (8-4)	SEC
Big Ten
Jan. 1 	Citrus Bowl 	Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida	Iowa Hawkeyes (10-3)
Kentucky Wildcats (9-3)	Big Ten
SEC
Jan. 4 	Texas Bowl 	NRG Stadium
Houston, Texas	Kansas State Wildcats (7-5)
Tennessee Volunteers (7-5)	Big 12
SEC
=== FCS Bowl game ===
The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) has one bowl game. The FCS also has a postseason bracket tournament that culminates in the 2022 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game.
Date 	Game 	Site	Participants	Affiliations
Dec. 18	Celebration Bowl	Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia	South Carolina State Bulldogs (6-5)
Jackson State (11-1)	MEAC
SEAC
=== All-star games ===
Each of these games features college seniors, or players whose college football eligibility is ending, who are individually invited by game organizers. These games are scheduled to follow the team-competitive bowls, to allow players selected from bowl teams to participate. The all-star games may include some players from non-FBS programs.
A new all-star game, the HBCU Legacy Bowl, was announced in March 2021.
Date 	Game 	Site	Participants
Jan. 15	Hula Bowl 	Bounce House
Orlando, Florida	Team Aina
Team Kai
Jan. 22	NFLPA Collegiate Bowl	Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California	National
American
Feb. 3 	East-West Shrine Bowl	Allegiant Stadium
Paradise, Nevada	East Team
West Team
Feb. 5 	Senior Bowl 	Hancock Whitney Stadium
Mobile, Alabama	National
American
Feb. 19	HBCU Legacy Bowl 	Yulman Stadium
New Orleans, Louisiana	
== Team selections ==
Generally, a team must have at least six wins to be considered bowl eligible, with at least five of those wins being against FBS opponents. The College Football Playoff semi-final games are determined based on the top four seeds in the playoff committee's final rankings. The remainder of the bowl eligible teams are selected by each respective bowl based on conference tie-ins, order of selection, match-up considerations, and other factors.
=== Bowl-eligible teams ===
* ACC (10): Boston College, Clemson, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
* American (7): Cincinnati, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, SMU, UCF, Tulsa
* Big Ten (9): Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
* Big 12 (7): Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, West Virginia 
* C-USA (8): Marshall, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion, UAB, UTEP, UTSA, Western Kentucky
* MAC (8): Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan
* Mountain West (7): Air Force, Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State, Utah State, Wyoming 
* Pac-12 (6): Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah, Washington State
* SEC (13): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M
* Sun Belt (4): Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Louisiana 
* Independent (4): Army, BYU, Liberty, Notre Dame
Number of bowl berths available: 82
Number of bowl-eligible teams: 83
=== Bowl-eligible team that did not receive a berth ===
As there were more bowl-eligible teams than there were bowl berths available, one team that was bowl-eligible (North Texas, 6-6) did not receive an invitation. 
=== Bowl-ineligble teams ===
* ACC (4): Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Syracuse 
* American (4): Navy, South Florida, Temple, Tulane
* Big Ten (5): Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers
* Big 12 (3): Kansas, TCU, Texas
* C-USA (6): Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Louisiana Tech, Rice, Southern Miss
* MAC (4): Akron, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Ohio
* Mountain West (5): Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV
* Pac-12 (6): Arizona, California, Colorado, Stanford, USC, Washington 
* SEC (1): Vanderbilt 
* Sun Belt (6): Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy
* Independent (3): New Mexico State, UConn, UMass
Number of bowl-ineligible teams: 47