There are plenty of college football games on TV today for New Year’s Eve, but NFL fans will have to rely on the collegiate bowl schedule. College football offers a hefty five-game schedule on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, ahead of New Year’s Day.
As for the NFL, the league is off until this weekend with a marquee double-header on Saturday, January 3, kicking off the Week 18 schedule. There are no NFL games on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
The next set of NFL games are on January 3, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers on 4:30 p.m. Eastern, while the Seattle Seahawks take on the San Francisco 49ers at 8 p.m.
Both of these contests are on ABC and ESPN and have major NFL playoff implications. College football takes center stage as fans begin 2026. There are four College Football Playoff matchups on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
The first CFP matchup features the Ohio State Buckeyes taking on the Miami Hurricanes tonight at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN in the Cotton Bowl.
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming college football schedule.
College Football TV Schedule for New Year’s Eve: CFP Game Between Miami & Ohio State Headlines the Bowl Matchups on December 31
Here’s a look at the full college football schedule for New Year’s Eve. The College Football Playoff matchup between Ohio State and Miami headlines the bowl schedule for December 31. All times listed are in Eastern.
| DATE | BOWL GAME | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
| January 1 | Vanderbilt vs. Iowa | 12 p.m. | ESPN |
| January 1 | Duke vs. Arizona State | 2 p.m. | CBS |
| January 1 | Texas vs. Michigan | 3 p.m. | ABC |
| January 1 | Utah vs. Nebraska | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| January 1 | Ohio State vs. Miami | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Miami vs. Ohio State Odds: The Buckeyes Are 9.5-Point Favorites Over the Canes in the College Football Spread
The Cotton Bowl kicks off the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups as the field will be narrowed to four teams by the end of New Year’s Day. Ohio State is a 9.5-point favorite versus Miami in the college football odds, per DraftKings.
The Buckeyes enter the CFP contest rested having not played since losing 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship on December 6. We have seen this extended time away from football have mixed results on teams in the past.
College Football Schedule for New Year’s Day: There Are 3 College Football Playoff Games on TV Today
Here’s a look at the college football schedule for New Year’s Day. All times listed are in Eastern.
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | CHANNEL |
| January 1 | No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech | 12 p.m. | ESPN |
| January 1 | No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| January 1 | No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
Miami awaits the winner of the Sugar Bowl clash between Georgia and Ole Miss. A Dawgs’ win would create a massive storyline of Miami quarterback Carson Beck facing his former team in the Fiesta Bowl.
By the end of New Year’s Day, only four teams will remain in the College Football Playoff. All games are leading to the national championship on Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Football Games Today on New Year’s Eve: What NFL & College Football Bowls Are on TV?