Honestly, there’s nothing quite like the chaos of December 31st. Between the frantic appetizer prep and finding enough champagne flutes, trying to track down exactly what football games are on New Year's Eve can feel like a sport in itself.
2025 has been a weird year for the gridiron. If you’re looking for the NFL today, I’ve got some bad news: the pros are taking the night off. But don’t throw the remote just yet. College football is picking up the slack with a massive five-game slate that basically turns your living room into a stadium from noon until the ball drops.
The Big One: College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
This is the game everyone is actually talking about. The 12-team playoff format is still relatively new, and having a quarterfinal matchup on New Year’s Eve is a vibe.
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl features the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes taking on the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
It’s a classic matchup. You’ve got the flashy Hurricanes offense trying to handle that brutal Buckeyes defense in Arlington, Texas. If you only watch one game while waiting for the countdown, this is the one. Most analysts have Ohio State as a heavy favorite—about 9.5 points—but Miami has been scrappy all season.
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The Afternoon Grind: Bowl Games Galore
Before the playoff drama starts, we’ve got a full afternoon of "Traditional Bowl Magic" (which is code for: "I’m staying on the couch all day").
- ReliaQuest Bowl (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN): (23) Iowa vs. (14) Vanderbilt. This is your appetizer. Expect a lot of punting and high-level defense. It’s for the purists.
- Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (2:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Arizona State vs. Duke. A classic cross-country clash in El Paso. Grab some cereal and enjoy the weirdness of the Sun Bowl.
- Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC): (18) Michigan vs. (13) Texas. Wait, these two aren’t in the playoffs? Nope, but this is easily the best non-playoff matchup of the day. Two massive brands playing in Orlando.
- SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): Nebraska vs. (15) Utah. Utah is always tough, and Nebraska fans travel like crazy.
Basically, from noon until about 11:00 p.m., there isn't a single minute without live football.
Why Aren't There Any NFL Games Today?
It’s a common question. People expect the NFL to own every holiday, but the league usually avoids New Year's Eve unless it falls on a Sunday or Monday.
Since today is a Wednesday, the NFL is letting the college kids have the spotlight. They’re saving the "real" drama for the upcoming weekend. Week 18 kicks off on Saturday, January 3, with a double-header that includes the Bucs vs. Panthers and Seahawks vs. 49ers.
If you're a fantasy manager or just a degenerate gambler, you'll have to wait a few more days for the pro action.
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Setting Up Your Viewing Strategy
Don't just wing it.
If you have a multi-screen setup, the 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. window is the danger zone. You’ll have the Citrus Bowl and the Las Vegas Bowl overlapping.
Pro tip: Keep the main TV on ABC for Michigan vs. Texas. It's going to be the more physical, high-stakes game of the two. Use a tablet or laptop for the Nebraska game.
When 7:30 p.m. hits, everything else is secondary. The Cotton Bowl is the only thing that matters.
What’s Coming Next?
Once the New Year’s Eve dust settles, the party doesn’t stop. New Year’s Day 2026 is actually even bigger.
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The triple-header on January 1st is all College Football Playoff Quarterfinals:
- Orange Bowl: (5) Oregon vs. (4) Texas Tech at noon.
- Rose Bowl: (9) Alabama vs. (1) Indiana at 3:30 p.m.
- Sugar Bowl: (6) Ole Miss vs. (3) Georgia at 8:30 p.m.
It’s a gauntlet.
Make sure your streaming apps are updated. There's nothing worse than the ESPN app crashing right as Miami tries a Hail Mary to save their season.
Your New Year’s Eve Game Plan
- Sync your clock: Games usually run 15 minutes behind the listed "start time" due to pre-game hype.
- Check your local listings: If you’re a cord-cutter, make sure you have access to ABC, CBS, and ESPN via Fubo, Hulu Live, or YouTube TV.
- Prioritize the Cotton Bowl: If you're going to a party, try to find the host with the biggest TV and the best snacks.
Enjoy the games and good luck with the hangover tomorrow. You'll need it for those three playoff games on New Year's Day.