No list of top bowl games is complete without the legendary Rose Bowl, and once the final college football playoff rankings are released its time to gear up for the legendary bowl games. As one of college football’s oldest bowl games dating back to 1902, the Rose Bowl carries major tradition and pageantry as a New Year’s Day staple. The game pits a Pac-12 team against a Big Ten team in picturesque Pasadena at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium, with mountain vistas in the background. Over the decades, the Rose Bowl has delivered countless memorable moments and provided a postseason home for Pac-12 and Big Ten conference champions.

From Vince Young’s last-second touchdown scramble to lead Texas over USC to Michigan’s interception on the final play to seal their first bowl win since 1998, the Rose Bowl game seems to have a special knack for coming down to the wire. Even blowouts like Stanford’s 45-16 drubbing of Iowa often entertain based on the tradition alone. The 2024 Rose Bowl game will mark the 100th edition of “The Granddaddy of Them All” which stands alone as the most revered bowl on any college football fan’s list.

Find your exclusive discounted Rose Bowl Hotel room here.

Hosted in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl often features two highly ranked teams from the SEC and ACC or Big Ten. Recently, the Peach Bowl has served as a College Football Playoff semifinal game with stellar matchups like Alabama vs Washington and LSU vs Oklahoma. The SEC has dominated this game for over a decade, but ACC teams like Miami, Florida State , Penn State and Clemson have pulled some upsets.

As high-powered offenses thrive now in college football thanks to tempo and spread schemes, the Peach Bowl continually provides plenty of scoring and excitement. A game like LSU and Oklahoma’s 2019 semifinal duel that ended 63-28 makes it nearly impossible to turn the channel. When two Top 10 teams meet in Atlanta with elite skill players all over the field, fans expect a wildly entertaining shootout of the semifinal games to match all the tailgating revelry.  In 2023 expect to watch Ole Miss vs Penn State.

Reserve your specially discounted hotel here.

Now sponsored by VRBO, the vrbo Fiesta Bowl takes place in Glendale, Arizona at State Farm Stadium and provides great matchups at the end of bowl season. As one of the New Year’s Six bowls with premium matchups, the Fiesta Bowl will rotate as a CFP semifinal game as well. Outside of the playoffs, expect to see top teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12 battle it out in the desert.

The Fiesta Bowl made a name delivering wild finishes and surprises over the years. Boise State introduced the world to trick plays with their overtime shocker win over Oklahoma. Just a few years ago Ohio State’s unexpected shootout win over Notre Dame jumpstarted their push towards a national title. Even without bearing on the championship, the vrbo Fiesta Bowl ranks among the best bowl viewing every year.  Liberty and Oregon will be playing each other for the first time ever. The historic matchup will kick off in Glendale at 11 a.m. MST and be broadcast live on ESPN and its digital platforms.

Want to see The Fiesta Bowl live? Secure your exclusive hotel deal today here.

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic takes place at the spectacular AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. This game typically matches up the best non-playoff teams from the Big 12 and SEC conferences. Recently, Jerry’s World also hosted a College Football Playoff semifinals between Clemson and Notre Dame which became an instant classic. The shiny new NFL venue and its giant video board perfectly match the blockbuster matchups this bowl produces year after year.

When top 10 teams square off on New Year’s Day in Dallas, fans are sure to be entertained by this afternoon tradition. Iconic moments like Texas A&M finally toppling Oklahoma State after years of defeats make the Cotton Bowl stand out even among the other New Year’s Six games. Between the venue, crowd and elite SEC vs Big 12 showdowns, the Cotton Bowl is always must-see TV for serious college football fans. Expect to see Ohio State vs Missouri in this years Cotton Bowl.

Snag your discounted hotel reservation to see The Cotton Bowl live here.

Miami hosts the Capital One Orange Bowl each year, showcasing elite ACC and SEC squads. The Orange Bowl Committee plans events all week for fans leading up to the game at Hard Rock Stadium. As part of the New Year’s Six bowls with premium matchups, the Orange Bowl concludes an exciting slate of games right before the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Tailgating under palm trees and warm Florida weather provides quite the setting for passionate SEC and ACC fanbases.

Like the other major bowls, the Orange Bowl has provided several iconic college bowl moments over the years. From national championship consequences to stellar quarterback play, this game often exceeds the already high expectations. Even with the pressure of CFP implications, QBs like Baker Mayfield continue to shine on this big stage. Outside the four-team playoff, the Orange Bowl still draws elite ACC vs SEC matchups. Teams recognize the history and revel in crossing this bowl off their bucket list.  This years Orange Bowl is set to face Florida State vs Georgia.

Claim your exclusive Orange Bowl hotel discount here.

The Myrtle Beach bowl, a newcomer in 2020 takes place the week before Christmas on the Grand Strand along South Carolina’s coastline. Featuring fun shootouts between Group of 5 teams and hungry Sun Belt squads, the Myrtle Beach Bowl looks to establish itself as a new bowl tradition for fans seeking late season action alongside vacation festivities.  This year Watch The Ohio Bobcats vs Georgia Southern Eagles on the Coastal Carolina University campus.

Book now for an exclusive hotel discount on your Myrtle Beach bowl hotel here.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl is one of the premier New Year’s Six bowl games with a primetime slot on January 1st. A longtime tradition since 1935, the Sugar Bowl pits top SEC and Big 12 teams against one another in New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome with Louisiana flavor both inside the stadium and at iconic pregame fan events on Bourbon Street. Wanna watch the bowl game live?

See the Texas Longhorns vs Washington Huskies on January 1st, and get your perfect Allstate Sugar Bowl hotel room here with the best event rates.

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl takes place in cold Boise right before Christmas on the iconic blue turf of Albertsons Stadium. Usually showcasing a matchup between a Mid American Conference or Mountain West team against staple second tier squads like from the Utah State Aggies and Georgia State Panthers, the Potato Bowl offers fans unique game viewing along with plenty of famous Idaho spuds.

Book your perfect hotel for The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl here.

Another delightful New Year’s Day tradition takes place in sunny Orlando at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Usually featuring an intriguing matchup between an SEC school against a Big Ten squad, the Citrus Bowl delivers a competitive clash within one of college football’s premier conferences. In recent years, matchups like Kentucky battling Iowa and Alabama taking on Michigan State mean the Citrus Bowl draws elite SEC programs. With Disney World nearby to enhance any family bowl trip, the fast-paced Citrus Bowl never fails to entertain before hitting the theme parks. While just short of the New Year’s Six prestige level, the Citrus Bowl remains a second tier college football bowl games gem at the turn of the calendar.

The Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama provides a nice kickoff to bowl season every December. Fun Belt vs MACtion matchups never fail to entertain diehard fans and bettors clamoring for football before the NFL playoffs.

The Las Vegas Bowl also reliably delivers late game drama well into the nightcap during bowl season’s opening weekend. Featuring Pac-12 vs SEC or Big Ten matchups with commentary teams broadcasting live from The Strip makes for wonderful entertainment.

The Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth pops around the holidays when military academies square off in close contests with pride on the line. Option attacks and disciplined defense entertain fans looking for something different than typical spread attacks. This year in December 2023 James Madison will be facing off the Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Down south, the early Birmingham Bowl mixes hungry American Conference teams against SEC castoffs with everything to prove. Underdogs like BYU often trade blows with powerhouses here in wildly entertaining fashion.

To cap off the lower tier bowls, Tampa’s Gasparilla Bowl in December provides comfort viewing while top tier American Conference squads face off yearly.