However, for college football fans, the entrance into 2025 has been more of a challenge than in years past. Why? Because gone are the days when the national champion was decided on a single-digit January date.

That pair, and others like it, became part of notable trend in the 2024-25 bowl season: 21 of the 30 non-Playoff bowls that aired on an ESPN network through Jan. 2 saw year-over-year viewership increases, the majority of them by 20 percent or more.

What bowl games are playing out in college football Friday? Here's what you need to know, including start times, how to watch and scores:

Notre Dame outlasted Penn State in a 27-24 thriller to reach the program's first national championship game since 2012 in the Orange Bowl. Thanks to the 12-team College Football Playoff format, the Fighting Irish officially became the first team to win multiple bowl games in the same season.

College football's bowl schedule continues on with one game on Thursday. Check out the scores from today's action here:

What bowl games are playing out in college football Thursday? Here's what you need to know, including start times, how to watch and scores:

The College Football Playoff National Championship, No. 8 Ohio State (13-2) against No. 7 Notre Dame (14-1), is set. The game will held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on January 20, 2025.