The 2019–20 NCAA football games were a series of college football bowl games played to complete the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The games began on December 20, 2019, and, aside from the all-star games that followed, ended with the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship played on January 13, 2020.
The total of 40 team-competitive bowls in FBS, including the national championship game, was unchanged from the previous season. With the first staging of the Hula Bowl since January 2008, the number of all-star games increased from three to four.
Schedule The schedule for the 2019–20 bowl games is below. All times are EST (UTC−5). The schedule consists of 40 bowl games in FBS (the New Year's Six bowl games, 33 additional bowl games, and the National Championship game) and one bowl game in FCS (the Celebration Bowl). Division II bowls and Division III bowls are not included here. After the National Championship game, there are additionally four all-star games scheduled.
College Football Playoff and 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 ranked 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 were seeded in a single-elimination semifinal round, with the winners advancing to the National Championship game.
The semifinal games for the 2019–20 season were the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl. Both were played on December 28, 2019, as part of a yearly rotation of three pairs of six bowls, commonly referred to as the New Year's Six bowl games. The winners advanced to the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, scheduled for January 13, 2020.
Each of the games in the following table was televised by ESPN. DateTime (EST)GameSiteTeamsAffiliationsResultsDec. 2812:00 p.m.Cotton Bowl ClassicAT&T StadiumArlington, TexasNo. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions (10–2)No. 17 Memphis Tigers (12–1)Big TenAmericanPenn State 53Memphis 394:00 p.m.Peach Bowl (Playoff Semifinal Game)Mercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GeorgiaNo. 1 LSU Tigers (13–0)No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners (12–1)SECBig 12LSU 63Oklahoma 288:00 p.m.Fiesta Bowl (Playoff Semifinal Game)State Farm StadiumGlendale, ArizonaNo. 3 Clemson Tigers (13–0)No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (13–0)ACCBig TenClemson 29Ohio State 23Dec. 308:00 p.m.Orange BowlHard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FloridaNo. 9 Florida Gators (10–2)No. 24 Virginia Cavaliers (9–4)SECACCFlorida 36Virginia 28Jan. 15:00 p.m.Rose BowlRose BowlPasadena, CaliforniaNo. 6 Oregon Ducks (11–2)No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers (10–3)Pac-12Big TenOregon 28Wisconsin 278:45 p.m.Sugar BowlMercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LouisianaNo. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (11–2)No. 7 Baylor Bears (11–2)SECBig 12Georgia 26Baylor 14Jan. 138:00 p.m.College Football Playoff National Championship (Peach Bowl Winner vs. Fiesta Bowl Winner)Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LouisianaNo. 1 LSU Tigers (14–0)No. 3 Clemson Tigers (14–0)SECACCLSU 42Clemson 25
Non CFP bowl games For the 2019–20 bowl season, the Dollar General Bowl changed sponsors to become the LendingTree Bowl. The Cure Bowl, previously held at Camping World Stadium, changed venues to Exploria Stadium—both are in Orlando, Florida. As the First Responder Bowl's usual venue of the Cotton Bowl in Dallas was unavailable due to a scheduling conflict with the 2020 NHL Winter Classic, the 2019 edition was played at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in nearby University Park, Texas.
DateTime (EST)GameSiteTelevisionTeams Affiliations ResultsDec. 202:00 p.m.Bahamas BowlThomas Robinson StadiumNassau, BahamasESPNBuffalo Bulls (7–5)Charlotte 49ers (7–5)MACC–USABuffalo 31Charlotte 97:30 p.m.Frisco BowlToyota StadiumFrisco, TexasESPN2Kent State Golden Flashes (6–6)Utah State Aggies (7–5)MACMWCKent State 51Utah State 41Dec. 212:00 p.m.New Mexico BowlDreamstyle StadiumAlbuquerque, New MexicoESPNSan Diego State Aztecs (9–3)Central Michigan Chippewas (8–5)MWCMACSan Diego State 48Central Michigan 112:30 p.m.Cure BowlExploria StadiumOrlando, FloridaCBSSNLiberty Flames (7–5)Georgia Southern Eagles (7–5)IndependentSun BeltLiberty 23Georgia Southern 163:30 p.m.Boca Raton BowlFAU StadiumBoca Raton, FloridaABCFlorida Atlantic Owls (10–3)SMU Mustangs (10–2)C–USAAmericanFlorida Atlantic 52SMU 285:30 p.m.Camellia BowlCramton BowlMontgomery, AlabamaESPNArkansas State Red Wolves (7–5)FIU Panthers (6–6)Sun BeltC–USAArkansas State 34FIU 267:30 p.m.Las Vegas BowlSam Boyd StadiumWhitney, NevadaABCWashington Huskies (7–5)No. 19 Boise State Broncos (12–1)Pac-12MWCWashington 38Boise State 79:00 p.m.New Orleans BowlMercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LouisianaESPNNo. 20 Appalachian State Mountaineers (12–1)UAB Blazers (9–4)Sun BeltC–USAAppalachian State 31UAB 17Dec. 232:30 p.m.Gasparilla BowlRaymond James StadiumTampa, FloridaUCF Knights (9–3)Marshall Thundering Herd (8–4)AmericanC–USAUCF 48Marshall 25Dec. 248:00 p.m.Hawaii BowlAloha StadiumHonolulu, HawaiiHawaii Rainbow Warriors (9–5)BYU Cougars (7–5)MWCIndependentHawaii 38BYU 34Dec. 264:00 p.m.Independence BowlIndependence StadiumShreveport, LouisianaLouisiana Tech Bulldogs (9–3)Miami (FL) Hurricanes (6–6)C–USAACCLouisiana Tech 14Miami (FL) 08:00 p.m.Quick Lane BowlFord FieldDetroit, MichiganPittsburgh Panthers (7–5)Eastern Michigan Eagles (6–6)ACCMACPittsburgh 34Eastern Michigan 30Dec. 2712:00 p.m.Military BowlNavy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MarylandNorth Carolina Tar Heels (6–6)Temple Owls (8–4)ACCAmericanNorth Carolina 55Temple 133:20 p.m.Pinstripe BowlYankee StadiumThe Bronx, New YorkMichigan State Spartans (6–6)Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8–4)Big TenACCMichigan State 27Wake Forest 216:45 p.m.Texas BowlNRG StadiumHouston, TexasTexas A&M Aggies (7–5)No. 25 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8–4)SECBig 12Texas A&M 24Oklahoma State 218:00 p.m.Holiday BowlSDCCU StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaFS1No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes (9–3)No. 22 USC Trojans (8–4)Big TenPac-12Iowa 49USC 2410:15 p.m.Cheez-It BowlChase FieldPhoenix, ArizonaESPNAir Force Falcons (10–2) Washington State Cougars (6–6)MWCPac-12Air Force 31Washington State 21Dec. 2812:00 p.m.Camping World BowlCamping World StadiumOrlando, FloridaABCNo. 15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10–2)Iowa State Cyclones (7–5)IndependentBig 12Notre Dame 33Iowa State 9Dec. 3012:30 p.m.First Responder BowlGerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TexasESPNWestern Kentucky Hilltoppers (8–4)Western Michigan Broncos (7–5)C–USAMACWestern Kentucky 23Western Michigan 204:00 p.m.Music City BowlNissan StadiumNashville, TennesseeLouisville Cardinals (7–5)Mississippi State Bulldogs (6–6)ACCSECLouisville 38Mississippi State 284:00 p.m.Redbox BowlLevi's StadiumSanta Clara, CaliforniaFoxCalifornia Golden Bears (7–5)Illinois Fighting Illini (6–6)Pac-12Big TenCalifornia 35Illinois 20Dec. 3112:00 p.m.Belk BowlBank of America StadiumCharlotte, North CarolinaESPNKentucky Wildcats (7–5)Virginia Tech Hokies (8–4)SECACCKentucky 37Virginia Tech 302:00 p.m.Sun BowlSun BowlEl Paso, TexasCBSArizona State Sun Devils (7–5)Florida State Seminoles (6–6)Pac-12ACCArizona State 20Florida State 143:45 p.m.Liberty BowlLiberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TennesseeESPNNo. 23 Navy Midshipmen (10–2)Kansas State Wildcats (8–4)AmericanBig 12Navy 20Kansas State 174:30 p.m.Arizona BowlArizona StadiumTucson, ArizonaCBSSNWyoming Cowboys (7–5)Georgia State Panthers (7–5)MWCSun BeltWyoming 38Georgia State 177:30 p.m.Alamo BowlAlamodomeSan Antonio, TexasESPNTexas Longhorns (7–5)No. 11 Utah Utes (11–2)Big 12Pac-12Texas 38Utah 10Jan. 11:00 p.m.Citrus BowlCamping World StadiumOrlando, FloridaABCNo. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide (10–2)No. 14 Michigan Wolverines (9–3)SECBig TenAlabama 35Michigan 161:00 p.m.Outback BowlRaymond James StadiumTampa, FloridaESPNNo. 18 Minnesota Golden Gophers (10–2)No. 12 Auburn Tigers (9–3)Big TenSECMinnesota 31Auburn 24Jan. 23:00 p.m.Birmingham BowlLegion FieldBirmingham, AlabamaNo. 21 Cincinnati Bearcats (10–3)Boston College Eagles (6–6)AmericanACCCincinnati 38Boston College 67:00 p.m.Gator BowlTIAA Bank FieldJacksonville, FloridaTennessee Volunteers (7–5)Indiana Hoosiers (8–4)SECBig TenTennessee 23Indiana 22Jan. 33:30 p.m.Famous Idaho Potato BowlAlbertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoOhio Bobcats (6–6)Nevada Wolf Pack (7–5)MACMWCOhio 30Nevada 21Jan. 411:30 a.m.Armed Forces BowlAmon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TexasTulane Green Wave (6–6)Southern Miss Golden Eagles (7–5)AmericanC–USATulane 30Southern Miss 13Jan. 67:30 p.m.LendingTree BowlLadd–Peebles StadiumMobile, AlabamaLouisiana Ragin' Cajuns (10–3)Miami (OH) RedHawks (8–5)Sun BeltMACLouisiana 27Miami (OH) 17
FCS bowl game The FCS has one bowl game. They also had a championship bracket that culminated in the 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. DateTime (EST)GameSiteTelevisionParticipantsAffiliationsResultsDec. 2112:00 p.m.Celebration Bowl Mercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GeorgiaABCNorth Carolina A&T Aggies (8–3)Alcorn State Braves (9–3)MEACSWACNorth Carolina A&T 64Alcorn State 44
All-star games Organizers renamed the East–West Shrine Game to East–West Shrine Bowl. The Hula Bowl returned for its first playing since January 2008.
DateTime (EST)GameSiteTelevisionParticipantsResultsJan. 12Tropical BowlSpec Martin StadiumDeLand, FloridaNational TeamAmerican TeamNational 35American 7Jan. 183:00 p.m.East–West Shrine BowlTropicana FieldSt. Petersburg, FloridaNFL NetworkEast TeamWest TeamEast 31West 277:00 p.m.NFLPA Collegiate BowlRose BowlPasadena, CaliforniaNational TeamAmerican TeamNational 30American 20Jan. 252:30 p.m.Senior BowlLadd–Peebles StadiumMobile, AlabamaNorth TeamSouth TeamNorth 34South 17Jan. 2610:30 p.m.Hula BowlAloha StadiumHonolulu, HawaiiCBS Sports NetworkTeam KaiTeam AinaKai 23Aina 7
Team selections
CFP top 25 standings and bowl games
On December 8, 2019, the College Football Playoff selection committee announced its final team rankings for the year. Two of the four semifinalists – Clemson and Oklahoma – had also been semifinalists the previous season. This was the sixth year of the College Football Playoff era, and the first year that Alabama was not in the semifinals.
Rank Team W–L Conference and standing Bowl game LSU Tigers 13–0 SEC champions Peach Bowl (CFP semifinal) Ohio State Buckeyes Big Ten champions Fiesta Bowl (CFP semifinal) Clemson Tigers ACC champions Fiesta Bowl (CFP semifinal) Oklahoma Sooners Big 12 champions Peach Bowl (CFP semifinal) Georgia Bulldogs SEC East Division champions Sugar Bowl (NY6) Oregon Ducks Pac-12 champions Rose Bowl (NY6) Baylor Bears Big 12 first place (tie) Sugar Bowl (NY6) Wisconsin Badgers Big Ten West Division co-champions Rose Bowl (NY6) Florida Gators SEC East division second place Orange Bowl (NY6) Penn State Nittany Lions Big Ten East Division second place Cotton Bowl (NY6) Utah Utes Pac-12 South Division champions Alamo Bowl Auburn Tigers SEC West Division third place Outback Bowl Alabama Crimson Tide SEC West Division second place Citrus Bowl Michigan Wolverines Big Ten East Division third place Citrus Bowl Notre Dame Fighting Irish Independent Camping World Bowl Iowa Hawkeyes Big Ten West Division third place Holiday Bowl Memphis Tigers American champions Cotton Bowl (NY6) Minnesota Golden Gophers Big Ten West Division co-champions Outback Bowl Boise State Broncos Mountain West champions Las Vegas Bowl Appalachian State Mountaineers Sun Belt champions New Orleans Bowl Cincinnati Bearcats American East Division champions Birmingham Bowl USC Trojans Pac-12 South Division second place Holiday Bowl Navy Midshipmen American West Division co-champions Liberty Bowl Virginia Cavaliers ACC Coastal Division champions Orange Bowl (NY6) Oklahoma State Cowboys Big 12 third place (tie) Texas Bowl
Conference champions' bowl games Two bowls featured a matchup of conference champions—the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl. Rankings are per the above CFP standings.