College bowl season is here! This is the best time to cheer on your favorite college football teams as they go head-to-head across the country. There are lots of bowl games going on this year, so you might wonder which games to watch and how to watch them. Luckily, the major bowls don’t overlap, so you can watch all of them. Keep reading to find out about some of the most exciting bowl games happening this winter, with information about how to watch each game and where to find officially licensed sports apparel for bowl-bound teams.
Sugar Bowl
Date and time: Dec. 31, 2022, at noon EST
Network: ESPN
This year, New Orleans will host Alabama and Kansas State as they face off in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The fifth-ranked Crimson Tide and the ninth-ranked Wildcats haven’t ever met in a bowl game before, let alone one this large. Alabama recently lost the chance at the College Football Playoff, but with a 10-2 season, the Crimson Tide will still put up a strong fight. Kansas State’s 10-3 season included a victory over top-ranked TCU, so they’ll be a team to watch as well.
If you’re heading to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve, remember the cardinal rule of winter wear in the Southern states: layers. You can roll tide with an Alabama T-shirt or roar for the Wildcats in a Kansas State baseball cap, which will keep your face safe from the Louisiana sun during the afternoon game.
Fiesta Bowl
Date and time: Dec. 31, 2022, at 4 p.m. EST
Network: ESPN
One of two semifinal games before the Jan. 9 College Football Playoff championship match, the Fiesta Bowl will take place in Glendale, Arizona, and features No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU. This is the first year TCU has competed in the College Football Playoff games and the Horned Frogs have had an impressive season, losing just a single game to Kansas State in early December. They’ll be going up against the Wolverines, who ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten East and have had a stellar no-loss season.
Fans at home in Texas or Michigan might be seeing very different temperatures for their bowl parties, but grilling is perfect in any weather. Hot dogs, burgers, and sausages are the perfect accompaniment to a bowl game. Whether you’re cooking out in the Texas heat or the Michigan chill, you can show your team spirit with signature grilling accessories.
Peach Bowl
Date and time: Dec. 31, 2022, at 8 p.m. EST
Network: ESPN
The Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl is the second semifinal match for the College Football Playoff series and will determine who goes up against the victor of the Fiesta Bowl. This year, Georgia’s own No. 1 Bulldogs will head to Atlanta from their home in Athens to take on No. 4 Ohio State. The Bulldogs have had a great season, winning every single game and ranking first in the SEC East. Ranked second in the Big Ten East, the Buckeyes have had an 11-1 season, only losing to Michigan, who’ll be playing TCU the same day in the Fiesta Bowl.
Winning the Peach Bowl would give Georgia the chance at a second playoff win, while Ohio could score the chance to face off against their main rivals, Michigan, in the final. If you’re a Buckeyes or Bulldogs fan, this game will have you yelling from the sidelines or your sofa. Whether you’re in Georgia or Ohio, you can have the perfect Peach Bowl party for your guests with Buckeyes or Bulldogs party supplies and favors.
Cotton Bowl
Date and time: Jan. 2, 2023, at 1 p.m. EST
Network: ESPN
The 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl will pit No. 10 USC against No. 16 Tulane in Arlington, Texas. While USC has been a powerhouse this season, Tulane’s 11-win season and meteoric rise through the ranks has made it the story to watch over the past few months. It’s also the biggest bowl game the Green Wave has played in since the Sugar Bowl back in 1940. A wild card in this matchup is USC’s Caleb Williams, the ace quarterback whose recent hamstring injury has endangered his chances of suiting up for the Cotton Bowl.
USC and Tulane players are no strangers to the heat, but the dryness in Arlington, Texas, might be a surprise to some fans who are visiting the city for the first time. The key to beating the heat, especially if you’re outside in the sun for hours, is drinking lots of water. Stay hydrated with a Trojans or Green Wave water bottle before and during the game.
Rose Bowl
Date and time: Jan. 2, 2023, at 5 p.m. EST
Network: ESPN
This year, the Rose Bowl will feature the No. 8 Utah State Utes against the No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions. Both teams have had fantastic seasons so far, and this Rose Bowl might turn out to be an exciting clash of college football titans. The Utes are coming into this fight as Pac-12 champions who beat USC twice, with star Cam Rising playing his last game ever for Utah State. Last year, they narrowly lost the Rose Bowl to the Buckeyes, and they might take the bowl this year. On the other side, the Nittany Lions have had a 10-2 season where they only lost to Ohio State and Michigan.
The 108th Rose Bowl will take place in balmy Pasadena, California, just like it has for the past century. While visitors might enjoy the warm temperatures, the home crowds in Utah and Pennsylvania might need some warmer gear for their cookouts and tailgates. Throw on a Utes sweatshirt before joining your friends around the grill or curl up in front of the fire under a Penn State blanket as you watch the game.
These are just a few of the dozens of bowl games happening in December and January. Whether you’re flying across the country to root for your team in person or tuning in from the comfort of your own home, Fanatics has the tailgate supplies, apparel, and sports memorabilia to help you support your team. Get your orders in today so you can enjoy them on game day.
