That pair, and others like it, became part of notable trend in the 2024-25 bowl season: 21 of the 30 non-Playoff bowls that aired on an ESPN network through Jan. 2 saw year-over-year viewership increases, the majority of them by 20 percent or more.

The Fighting Irish and Nittany Lions face off in the Orange Bowl with a national championship berth on the line.

The College Football Playoff denied a request made by Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey to flip the times and dates for the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl, a committee spokesman confirmed Friday.

Soak it in, college football fans. We have just three games left before heading off into the longest offseason in major U.S. sports. But we're also down to the

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit joined the On3Sports podcast with Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman on Tuesday ahead of the semifinal slate of the College Football Playoff. During the live show on YouTube, Herbstreit appeared to have leaked the plans for " College GameDay ."

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 2: Fireworks go off during the playing of the National Anthem before the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 2, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

The College Football Playoff semifinals feature classic brands in rare matchups that should make for riveting games leading up to the CFP championship game on Jan. 20. It also features four of the top-five scoring defenses in the FBS.