So it seems that College Football Playoff thing actually lived up to the hype.
In the inaugural four-team playoff to determine college football’s national champion back in January, the 13-member selection committee took some heat for choosing Ohio State as the fourth entrant over equally deserving TCU. But the Buckeyes bucked conventional wisdom and upset No. 1 Alabama 42-35 in the Sugar Bowl semifinal, then handed it to No. 2 Oregon 42-20 in the title game. The selection committee looked like geniuses, the playoff was a phenomenal success and the championship game became the highest-rated program in the history of cable TV.
What will the College Football Playoff do for an encore? The parade of bowl games begins Dec. 19, but the games that really matter start on New Year’s Eve with playoff semifinals on ESPN: No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Clemson in the Orange Bowl (4pm ET) followed by No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl (8pm ET). The National Championship game is Jan. 11 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., also on ESPN.
2015-16 College Football Bowl Game Highlights
Saturday, Dec. 26
Hyundai Sun Bowl, CBS
Camping World Independence Bowl, ESPN
Thursday, Dec. 31
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, ESPN
Friday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl, ESPN2
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, ABC
Fiesta Bowl, ESPN
Rose Bowl, ESPN
Allstate Sugar Bowl, ESPN
Saturday, Jan. 2
Valero Alamo Bowl, ESPN
College Football Playoff
Thursday, Dec. 31
Semifinal: Goodyear Cotton Bowl, ESPN
Semifinal: Capital One Orange Bowl, ESPN
Monday, Jan. 11
National Championship (Glendale, Ariz.), ESPN
Full bowl schedules from ESPN below:
ESPN’s New Year’s Six Coverage Schedule
|
Date |
Time |
Game, Matchup and Commentators |
Networks |
|
Thu, Dec. 31 |
Noon |
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 18 Houston vs. No. 9 Florida State TV: Dave Pasch, Brian Griese, Tom Luginbill Radio: Dave Flemming, Mike Bellotti, Allison Williams |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
4 p.m. |
Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Clemson TV: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie, Joe Schad |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
|
8 p.m. |
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 Alabama TV: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox Radio: Brad Sham, Danny Kanell, Ian Fitzsimmons |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio Radio |
|
|
Fri, Jan 1 |
1 p.m. |
BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl: No. 8 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Ohio State TV: Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Todd McShay Radio: Adam Amin, Kelly Stouffer, Olivia Harlan |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
5 p.m. |
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual: No. 6 Stanford vs. No. 5 Iowa TV: Brent Musburger, Jesse Palmer, Maria Taylor Radio: Dave Pasch, Brian Griese |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
|
8:30 p.m. |
Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 16 Oklahoma State vs. No. 12 Ole Miss TV: Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Shannon Spake Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie, Joe Schad |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
National Championship Presented by AT&T
|
Date |
Time |
Game and Commentators |
Networks |
|
Mon, Jan 11 |
8:30 p.m. |
National Championship Presented by AT&T TV: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox, Tom Rinaldi Radio: Mike Tirico, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe, Joe Schad, Bill Lemmonier |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN Radio |
2015-16 ESPN/ABC Bowl Coverage Schedule
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Game, Matchup and Commentators |
Network(s) |
|
Sat, Dec. 19 |
Noon |
Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl: Alcorn State at North Carolina A&T Mark Neely, Jay Walker, Tiffany Greene |
ABC |
|
2 p.m. |
Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Arizona vs. New Mexico TV: Eamon McAnaney, Rocky Boiman, Laura Rutledge Radio: Drew Goodman and TBD |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
|
3:30 p.m. |
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. No. 22 Utah Brent Musburger, Jesse Palmer, Maria Taylor |
ABC and ESPN Deportes |
|
|
5:30 p.m. |
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Ohio vs. Appalachian State TV: Dave Neal, Anthony Becht, Paul Carcaterra Radio: TBD, Cole Cubelic, Dawn Davenport |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
|
9 p.m. |
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Louisiana Tech TV: Adam Amin, Kelly Stouffer, Dr. Jerry Punch Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie, Joe Schad |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
|
Mon, Dec. 21 |
2:30 p.m. |
Miami Beach Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. South Florida Dave Lamont, Desmond Howard, Quint Kessenich |
ESPN |
|
Tue, Dec. 22 |
3:30 p.m. |
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Akron vs. Utah State TV: Mark Neely, Mike Bellotti, Kevin Weidl Radio: TBD |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
7 p.m. |
Marmot Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. No. 24 Temple TV: Allen Bestwick, Dan Hawkins, Tiffany Greene Radio: Dave Lamont, John Congemi, Brett McMurphy |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
|
Wed, Dec. 23 |
4:30 p.m. |
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: Boise State vs. Northern Illinois TV: Beth Mowins, David Diaz-Infante, Shelley Smith Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie, Joe Schad |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
8 p.m. |
GoDaddy Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green Tom Hart, Andre Ware, Laura Rutledge |
ESPN |
|
|
Thu, Dec. 24 |
Noon |
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Western Michigan Steve Levy, Mack Brown, Mark May, Kaylee Hartung |
ESPN |
|
8 p.m. |
Hawai’i Bowl: San Diego State vs. Cincinnati TV: Adam Amin, Greg McElroy, Holly Rowe Radio: TBD, Mike Golic Sr., Mike Golic, Jr. |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
|
Sat, Dec. 26 |
11 a.m. |
St. Petersburg Bowl: Connecticut vs. Marshall TV: Tom Hart, Anthony Becht, Tiffany Greene Radio: TBD, Rene Ingoglia, Brett McMurphy |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
2:20 p.m. |
Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl: Washington vs. Southern Mississippi Mike Corey, Ahmad Brooks, Kayce Smith |
ESPN |
|
|
3:30 p.m. |
New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Indiana vs. Duke TV: Rece Davis, Danny Kanell, Joey Galloway, Paul Carcaterra Radio: TBD |
ABC and ESPN Radio |
|
|
5:45 p.m. |
Camping World Independence Bowl: Tulsa vs. Virginia Tech Dave Lamont, Ray Bentley, Jane Slater |
ESPN and ESPN Deportes |
|
|
9:15 p.m. |
Foster Farms Bowl: UCLA vs. Nebraska TV: Jason Benetti, Rod Gilmore, Shelley Smith Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie, Joe Schad |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
|
Mon, Dec. 28 |
2:30 p.m. |
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman: Pittsburgh vs. No. 21 Navy TV: Eamon McAnaney,Rocky Boiman, Quint Kessenich Radio: TBD, Mike Golic Sr., Mike Golic, Jr. |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN Radio |
|
5 p.m. |
Quick Lane Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Minnesota Dave Neal, Matt Stinchcomb, Kayce Smith |
ESPN2 |
|
|
Tue, Dec. 29 |
2 p.m. |
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: California vs. Air Force Dave Flemming, Mike Bellotti, Allison Williams |
ESPN |
|
5:30 p.m. |
Russell Athletic Bowl: No. 10 North Carolina vs. No. 17 Baylor TV: Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Dr. Jerry Punch Radio: Bill Rosinski, David Norrie, Joe Schad |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
|
9 p.m. |
AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl: No. 20 LSU vs. Texas Tech TV: Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, David Pollack, Maria Taylor Radio: Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Shannon Spake |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
|
Wed, Dec. 30 |
Noon |
Birmingham Bowl: Auburn vs. Memphis TV: Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Paul Carcaterra Radio: Allen Bestwick, Dan Hawkins, Tiffany Greene |
ESPN and ESPN Radio |
|
3:30 p.m. |
Belk Bowl: NC State vs. Mississippi State TV: Clay Matvick, John Congemi, Dawn Davenport Radio: Taylor Zarzour, Charles Arbuckle, and Quint Kessenich |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN Radio |
|
|
7 p.m. |
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Louisville TV: Tom Hart, Andre Ware, Laura Rutledge Radio: Mike Corey, Rene Ingoglia |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN Radio |
|
|
10:30 p.m. |
Holiday Bowl: No. 25 USC vs. Wisconsin TV: Adam Amin, Kelly Stouffer, Olivia Harlan Radio: Drew Goodman and TBD |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN Radio |
|
|
Fri, Jan 1 |
Noon |
Outback Bowl: No. 13 Northwestern vs. No. 23 Tennessee TV: Mark Jones, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich |
ESPN2 |
|
1 p.m. |
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl: No. 14 Michigan vs. No. 19 Florida TV: Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Dr. Jerry Punch Radio: Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Paul Carcaterra |
ABC and ESPN Radio |
|
|
Sat, Jan 2 |
Noon |
TaxSlayer Bowl: Penn State vs. Georgia TV: Allen Bestwick, Dan Hawkins, Tiffany Greene Radio: Eamon McAnaney, John Congemi, |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
3:20 p.m. |
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Kansas State vs. Arkansas TV: Anish Shroff, Ahmad Brooks, Dawn Davenport Radio: Mark Neely, Jay Walker, Kevin Weidl |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
|
6:45 p.m. |
Valero Alamo Bowl: No. 15 Oregon vs. No. 11 TCU TV: Dave Flemming, Mack Brown, Allison Williams Radio: Tom Hart, Andre Ware, Laura Rutledge |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
|
|
10:15 p.m. |
Motel 6 Cactus Bowl: West Virginia vs. Arizona State TV: Dave Neal, Matt Stinchcomb, Kayce Smith Radio: Drew Goodman, David Diaz-Infante, Olivia Harlan |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio |
Every bowl game on ESPN, ABC and ESPN2 will also be streamed live through WatchESPN, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
