2021–22 NCAA football bowl games
The 2021–22 NCAA football bowl games were a series of college football games scheduled to complete the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The main games concluded with the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship played on January 10, 2022, while the all-star portion of the schedule concluded February 19, 2022.
Schedule
The schedule for the 2021–22 bowl games is below. All times are EST. Note that Division II bowls and Division III bowls are not included here. The bowl schedule was released on May 27, 2021.College Football Playoff and National Championship Game
The College Football Playoff system is used to determine a national championship of Division I FBS college football. A 13-member committee of experts ranked the top 25 teams in the nation after each of the last seven weeks of the regular season. The top four teams in the final ranking were then seeded in a single-elimination semifinal round, with the winners advancing to the National Championship game.The semifinal games for the 2021 season were the Cotton Bowl Classic and the Orange Bowl. Both were played December 31, 2021, as part of a yearly rotation of three pairs of two bowls, commonly referred to as the New Year's Six bowl games. The winners advanced to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 10, 2022.
Each of the games in the following table was televised by ESPN.
| Date | Time | Game | Site | Teams | Affiliations | Results |
| Dec. 30 | 7:00 p.m. | Peach Bowl | Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Georgia | No. 10 [2021 2021 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State Spartans] No. 12 [2021 2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|Pittsburgh Panthers football team|Pittsburgh Panthers] | Big Ten ACC | Michigan State 31 Pittsburgh 21 |
| 3:30 p.m. | Cotton Bowl Classic | AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas | No. 1 [2021 2021 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama Crimson Tide] No. 4 [2021 2021 Cincinnati Bearcats football team|Cincinnati Bearcats football team|Cincinnati Bearcats] | SEC [2021 2021 American Athletic Conference football season|American Athletic Conference football season|American] | Alabama 27 Cincinnati 6 | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Orange Bowl | Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida | No. 3 [2021 2021 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia Bulldogs] No. 2 Michigan Wolverines | SEC Big Ten | Georgia 34 Michigan 11 | |
| Jan. 1 | 1:00 p.m. | Fiesta Bowl | State Farm Stadium Glendale, Arizona | No. 9 [2021 2021 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team|Oklahoma State Cowboys football team|Oklahoma State Cowboys] No. 5 [2021 2021 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame Fighting Irish] | [2021 Big 12 Conference|Big 12 Conference football season|Big 12] Independent | Oklahoma State 37 Notre Dame 35 |
| Jan. 1 | 5:00 p.m. | Rose Bowl | Rose Bowl Pasadena, California | No. 6 [2021 2021 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State Buckeyes] No. 11 [2021 2021 Utah Utes football team|Utah Utes football team|Utah Utes] | Big Ten [2021 Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12 Conference football season|Pac-12] | Ohio State 48 Utah 45 |
| Jan. 1 | 9:00 p.m. | Sugar Bowl | Caesars Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana | No. 7 [2021 2021 Baylor Bears football team|Baylor Bears football team|Baylor Bears] No. 8 [2021 2021 Ole Miss Rebels football team|Ole Miss Rebels football team|Ole Miss Rebels] | Big 12 SEC | Baylor 21 Ole Miss 7 |
| Jan. 10 | 8:00 p.m. | College Football Playoff National Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana | No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide | SEC | Georgia 33 Alabama 18 |
Non CFP bowl games
Bowl changes
Two bowls, which had originally planned to debut during the 2020–21 bowl season but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, planned to make their debuts during the 2021–22 bowl season; the Fenway Bowl and the LA Bowl. The LA Bowl made its debut, while the Fenway Bowl was again canceled due to COVID-19 issues.The Montgomery Bowl, played in December 2020 as a one-off substitute for the Fenway Bowl, did not return. The San Francisco Bowl was canceled for a second straight season when organizers could not come to terms with all parties involved with the game.
On December 2, 2021, the NCAA approved a 42nd bowl game, later named the Frisco Football Classic, in order to accommodate all 84 bowl-eligible teams.
On December 22, [2021 2021 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas A&M Aggies football team|Texas A&M] withdrew from the Gator Bowl, citing a breakout of positive COVID-19 cases and season-ending injuries limiting them to too few players. [2021 2021 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team|Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team|Rutgers] was subsequently announced as a replacement team.
On December 23, Hawaii withdrew from the Hawaii Bowl, similarly citing season-ending injuries, transfers, and COVID-19 cases within the program, and the game was ultimately cancelled.
On December 26, Boston College withdrew from the Military Bowl and [2021 2021 Virginia Cavaliers football team|Virginia Cavaliers football team|Virginia] withdrew from the Fenway Bowl due to COVID-19 cases; both games were canceled.
On December 26, the Miami (FL) Hurricanes announced that they would not be able to play in the Sun Bowl due to COVID-19 issues; organizers stated that they would try to secure a replacement team to face the [2021 2021 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State Cougars].
On December 27, the Boise State Broncos withdrew from the [2021 2021 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona Bowl|Arizona Bowl] due to COVID-19 issues; organizers stated that they would attempt to secure a replacement team. Later in the day, the Arizona Bowl was canceled, and the bowl's remaining team, the [2021 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team|Central Michigan Chippewas football team|Central Michigan Chippewas], was named as the replacement team for the Sun Bowl.
On December 28, the Holiday Bowl was called off hours before game time, due to COVID-19 issues within the UCLA Bruins program, and officially canceled the next morning, after organizers could not secure a replacement team to face the NC State Wolfpack.
Bowl schedule / results
In the below table, affiliations for confirmed teams reflect their actual conferences, and rankings are per the final CFP rankings that were released on December 5.| Date | Time | Game | Site | Television | Teams | Affiliations | Results |
| 12:00 p.m. | Bahamas Bowl | Thomas Robinson Stadium Nassau, Bahamas | ESPN | [2021 2021 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team|Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team|Middle 2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee Blue Raiders] [2021 2021 Toledo Rockets football team|Toledo Rockets football team|Toledo Rockets] | C–USA MAC | Middle Tennessee 31 Toledo 24 | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Cure Bowl | Exploria Stadium Orlando, Florida | ESPN2 | [2021 2021 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team|Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team|Coastal Carolina Chanticleers] [2021 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team|Northern Illinois Huskies football team|Northern 2021 Illinois Fighting Illini football team|Illinois Huskies] | [2021 2021 Sun Belt Conference football season|Sun Belt Conference football season|Sun Belt] MAC | Coastal Carolina 47 Northern Illinois 41 | |
| Dec. 18 | 11:00 a.m. | Boca Raton Bowl | FAU Stadium Boca Raton, Florida | ESPN | [2021 2021 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team|Western 2021 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky Hilltoppers] [2021 2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team|Appalachian State Mountaineers football team|Appalachian State Mountaineers] | C–USA Sun Belt | Western Kentucky 59 Appalachian State 38 |
| Dec. 18 | 2:15 p.m. | New Mexico Bowl | University Stadium Albuquerque, New Mexico | ESPN | [2021 2021 Fresno State Bulldogs football team|Fresno State Bulldogs football team|Fresno State Bulldogs] [2021 2021 UTEP Miners football team|UTEP Miners football team|UTEP Miners] | [2021 2021 Mountain West Conference football season|Mountain West Conference football season|MWC] C–USA | Fresno State 31 UTEP 24 |
| Dec. 18 | 3:30 p.m. | Independence Bowl | Independence Stadium Shreveport, Louisiana | ABC | [2021 2021 UAB Blazers football team|UAB Blazers football team|UAB Blazers] No. 13 [2021 2021 BYU Cougars football team|BYU Cougars football team|BYU Cougars] | C–USA Independent | UAB 31 BYU 28 |
| Dec. 18 | 5:45 p.m. | LendingTree Bowl | Hancock Whitney Stadium Mobile, Alabama | ESPN | [2021 2021 Liberty Flames football team|Liberty Flames football team|Liberty Flames] [2021 2021 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team|Eastern Michigan Eagles football team|Eastern Michigan Eagles] | Independent MAC | Liberty 56 Eastern Michigan 20 |
| Dec. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | LA Bowl | SoFi Stadium Inglewood, California | ABC | [2021 2021 Utah State Aggies football team|Utah State Aggies football team|Utah State Aggies] [2021 2021 Oregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State Beavers] | MWC Pac-12 | Utah State 24 Oregon State 13 |
| Dec. 18 | 9:15 p.m. | New Orleans Bowl | Caesars Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana | ESPN | No. 23 [2021 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team|Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team|Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns] [2021 2021 Marshall Thundering Herd football team|Marshall Thundering Herd football team|Marshall Thundering Herd] | Sun Belt C–USA | Louisiana 36 Marshall 21 |
| Dec. 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Myrtle Beach Bowl | Brooks Stadium Conway, South Carolina | ESPN | [2021 2021 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa Golden Hurricane] [2021 2021 Old Dominion Monarchs football team|Old Dominion Monarchs football team|Old Dominion Monarchs] | American C–USA | Tulsa 30 Old Dominion 17 |
| Dec. 21 | 3:30 p.m. | Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | Albertsons Stadium Boise, Idaho | ESPN | [2021 2021 Wyoming Cowboys football team|Wyoming Cowboys football team|Wyoming Cowboys] [2021 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team|Kent State Golden Flashes football team|Kent State Golden Flashes] | MWC MAC | Wyoming 52 Kent State 38 |
| Dec. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Frisco Bowl | Toyota Stadium Frisco, Texas | ESPN | No. 24 [2021 2021 San Diego State Aztecs football team|San Diego State Aztecs football team|San Diego State Aztecs] [2021 2021 UTSA Roadrunners football team|UTSA Roadrunners football team|UTSA Roadrunners] | MWC C–USA | San Diego State 38 UTSA 24 |
| Dec. 22 | 8:00 p.m. | Armed Forces Bowl | Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, Texas | ESPN | [2021 2021 Army Black Knights football team|Army Black Knights football team|Army Black Knights] [2021 2021 Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri Tigers] | Independent SEC | Army 24 Missouri 22 |
| Dec. 23 | 3:30 p.m. | Frisco Football Classic | Toyota Stadium Frisco, Texas | ESPN | Miami (OH) RedHawks [2021 2021 North Texas Mean Green football team|North Texas Mean Green football team|North Texas Mean Green] | MAC C–USA | Miami 27 North Texas 14 |
| Dec. 23 | 7:00 p.m. | Gasparilla Bowl | Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida | ESPN | [2021 2021 UCF Knights football team|UCF Knights football team|UCF Knights] [2021 2021 Florida Gators football team|Florida Gators football team|Florida Gators] | American SEC | UCF 29 Florida 17 |
| Dec. 24 | 8:00 p.m. | Hawaii Bowl | Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex Honolulu, Hawaii | ESPN | Memphis Tigers Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | American MWC | Canceled |
| Dec. 25 | 2:30 p.m. | Camellia Bowl | Cramton Bowl Montgomery, Alabama | ESPN | [2021 2021 Georgia State Panthers football team|Georgia State Panthers football team|Georgia State Panthers] [2021 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team|Ball State Cardinals football team|Ball State Cardinals] | Sun Belt MAC | Georgia State 51 Ball State 20 |
| Dec. 27 | 11:00 a.m. | Quick Lane Bowl | Ford Field Detroit, Michigan | ESPN | [2021 2021 Western Michigan Broncos football team|Western Michigan Broncos football team|Western Michigan Broncos] [2021 2021 Nevada Wolf Pack football team|Nevada Wolf Pack football team|Nevada Wolf Pack] | MAC MWC | Western Michigan 52 Nevada 24 |
| Dec. 27 | 2:30 p.m. | Military Bowl | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, Maryland | ESPN | Boston College Eagles East Carolina Pirates | ACC American | Canceled |
| Dec. 28 | 12:00 p.m. | Birmingham Bowl | Protective Stadium Birmingham, Alabama | ESPN | No. 20 [2021 2021 Houston Cougars football team|Houston Cougars football team|Houston Cougars] [2021 2021 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn Tigers] | American SEC | Houston 17 Auburn 13 |
| Dec. 28 | 3:15 p.m. | First Responder Bowl | Gerald J. Ford Stadium University Park, Texas | ESPN | [2021 2021 Air Force Falcons football team|Air Force Falcons football team|Air Force Falcons] [2021 2021 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville Cardinals] | MWC ACC | Air Force 31 Louisville 28 |
| Dec. 28 | 6:45 p.m. | Liberty Bowl | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, Tennessee | ESPN | [2021 2021 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech Red Raiders] [2021 2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team|Mississippi State Bulldogs football team|Mississippi State Bulldogs] | Big 12 SEC | Texas Tech 34 Mississippi State 7 |
| Dec. 28 | 8:00 p.m. | Holiday Bowl | Petco Park San Diego, California | Fox | UCLA Bruins No. 18 NC State Wolfpack | Pac-12 ACC | Canceled |
| Dec. 28 | 10:15 p.m. | Guaranteed Rate Bowl | Chase Field Phoenix, Arizona | ESPN | [2021 2021 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota Golden Gophers] [2021 2021 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia Mountaineers] | Big Ten Big 12 | Minnesota 18 West Virginia 6 |
| Dec. 29 | 11:00 a.m. | Fenway Bowl | Fenway Park Boston, Massachusetts | ESPN | SMU Mustangs Virginia Cavaliers | American ACC | Canceled |
| Dec. 29 | 2:15 p.m. | Pinstripe Bowl | Yankee Stadium The Bronx, New York | ESPN | [2021 2021 Maryland Terrapins football team|Maryland Terrapins football team|Maryland Terrapins] [2021 2021 Virginia Tech Hokies football team|Virginia Tech Hokies football team|Virginia Tech Hokies] | Big Ten ACC | Maryland 54 Virginia Tech 10 |
| Dec. 29 | 5:45 p.m. | Cheez-It Bowl | Camping World Stadium Orlando, Florida | ESPN | No. 19 [2021 2021 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson Tigers] [2021 2021 Iowa State Cyclones football team|Iowa State Cyclones football team|Iowa State Cyclones] | ACC Big 12 | Clemson 20 Iowa State 13 |
| Dec. 29 | 9:15 p.m. | Alamo Bowl | Alamodome San Antonio, Texas | ESPN | No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners No. 14 Oregon Ducks | Big 12 Pac-12 | Oklahoma 47 Oregon 32 |
| Dec. 30 | 11:30 a.m. | Duke's Mayo Bowl | Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, North Carolina | ESPN | [2021 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football team|South Carolina Gamecocks football team|South Carolina Gamecocks] [2021 2021 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina Tar Heels] | SEC ACC | South Carolina 38 North Carolina 21 |
| Dec. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Music City Bowl | Nissan Stadium Nashville, Tennessee | ESPN | [2021 2021 Purdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue Boilermakers] Tennessee Volunteers | Big Ten SEC | Purdue 48 Tennessee 45 |
| Dec. 30 | 10:30 p.m. | Las Vegas Bowl | Allegiant Stadium Paradise, Nevada | ESPN | [2021 2021 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin Badgers] [2021 2021 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State Sun Devils] | Big Ten Pac-12 | Wisconsin 20 Arizona State 13 |
| Dec. 31 | 11:00 a.m. | Gator Bowl | TIAA Bank Field Jacksonville, Florida | ESPN | No. 17 [2021 2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team|Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team|Wake Forest Demon Deacons] Rutgers Scarlet Knights | ACC Big Ten | Wake Forest 38 Rutgers 10 |
| Dec. 31 | 12:00 p.m. | Sun Bowl | Sun Bowl El Paso, Texas | CBS | Central Michigan Chippewas [2021 2021 Washington Huskies football team|Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State Cougars] | MAC Pac-12 | Central Michigan 24 Washington State 21 |
| Dec. 31 | 2:00 p.m. | Arizona Bowl | Arizona Stadium Tucson, Arizona | Barstool Sports | Boise State Broncos Central Michigan Chippewas | MWC MAC | Canceled |
| Jan. 1 | 12:00 p.m. | Outback Bowl | Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida | ESPN2 | No. 21 [2021 2021 Arkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas Razorbacks] [2021 2021 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State Nittany Lions] | SEC Big Ten | Arkansas 24 Penn State 10 |
| Jan. 1 | 1:00 p.m. | Citrus Bowl | Camping World Stadium Orlando, Florida | ABC | No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats No. 15 Iowa Hawkeyes | SEC Big Ten | Kentucky 20 Iowa 17 |
| Jan. 4 | 9:00 p.m. | Texas Bowl | NRG Stadium Houston, Texas | ESPN | [2021 2021 Kansas State Wildcats football team|Kansas State Wildcats football team|Kansas State Wildcats] [2021 2021 LSU Tigers football team|LSU Tigers football team|LSU Tigers] | Big 12 SEC | Kansas State 42 LSU 20 |
Source:
FCS bowl game
The Football Championship Subdivision has one bowl game. The FCS also has a postseason bracket tournament that culminates in the 2022 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game.| Date | Time | Game | Site | Television | Participants | Affiliations | Results | References |
| Dec. 18 | 12:00 p.m. | Celebration Bowl | Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Georgia | ABC | South Carolina State Bulldogs Jackson State Tigers | MEAC SWAC | South Carolina State 31 Jackson State 10 |
All-star games
Each of these games features college seniors, or players whose college football eligibility is ending, who are individually invited by game organizers. These games are scheduled to follow the team-competitive bowls, to allow players selected from bowl teams to participate. The all-star games may include some players from non-FBS programs.A new all-star game, the HBCU Legacy Bowl, was announced in March 2021, and concluded the overall college football post-season on February 19, 2022.
| Date | Time | Game | Site | Television | Participants | Results | Ref. |
| Jan. 15 | 12:00 p.m. | Hula Bowl | Bounce House Orlando, Florida | CBS Sports Network | Team Kai Team Aina | Kai 21 Aina 20 | |
| Jan. 15 | 4:00 p.m. | Tropical Bowl | Camping World Stadium Orlando, Florida | Varsity Sports Network | American Team National Team | American 24 National 14 | |
| Jan. 29 | 6:00 p.m. | NFLPA Collegiate Bowl | Rose Bowl Pasadena, California | NFL Network | National Team American Team | National 25 American 24 | |
| Feb. 3 | 8:30 p.m. | East–West Shrine Bowl | Allegiant Stadium Paradise, Nevada | NFL Network | West Team East Team | West 25 East 24 | |
| Feb. 5 | 2:30 p.m. | Senior Bowl | Hancock Whitney Stadium Mobile, Alabama | NFL Network | National Team American Team | National 20 American 10 | |
| Feb. 19 | 4:00 p.m. | HBCU Legacy Bowl | Yulman Stadium New Orleans, Louisiana | NFL Network | Team Gaither Team Robinson | Gaither 22 Robinson 6 |
The HBCU Legacy Bowl features players from historically black colleges and universities. Most HBCU football programs compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference or the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which are part of FCS.
Team selections
CFP top 25 standings and bowl games
On December 5, 2021, the College Football Playoff selection committee announced its final team rankings for the year. This was the eighth year of the CFP era. Cincinnati became the first team from the Group of Five conferences to reach the playoffs. Michigan became the first team to make the playoffs after starting the season unranked in the AP Poll.Conference champions' bowl games
Ranks are per the final CFP rankings, released on December 5, with win–loss records at that time. One bowl will feature a matchup of conference champions – the Cotton Bowl. Champions of the Power Five conferences were assured of a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game.Bowl-eligible teams
Generally, a team must have at least six wins to be considered bowl eligible, with at least five of those wins being against FBS opponents. The College Football Playoff semi-final games are determined based on the top four seeds in the playoff committee's final rankings. The remainder of the bowl eligible teams are selected by each respective bowl based on conference tie-ins, order of selection, match-up considerations, and other factors.- ACC : Boston College, Clemson, Louisville, Miami (FL), NC State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
- American : Cincinnati, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulsa, UCF
- Big Ten : Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
- Big 12 : Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, West Virginia
- C-USA : Marshall, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion, UAB, UTEP, UTSA, Western Kentucky
- MAC : Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan
- Mountain West : Air Force, Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego State, Utah State, Wyoming
- Pac-12 : Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah, Washington State
- SEC : Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M
- Sun Belt : Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Louisiana
- Independent : Army, BYU, Liberty, Notre Dame
'''Number of bowl-eligible teams: 84'''
Bowl-ineligible teams
- ACC : Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Syracuse
- American : Navy, South Florida, Temple, Tulane
- Big Ten : Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers
- Big 12 : Kansas, TCU, Texas
- C-USA : Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Rice, Southern Miss
- MAC : Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Ohio
- Mountain West : Colorado State, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV
- Pac-12 : Arizona, California, Colorado, Stanford, USC, Washington
- SEC : Vanderbilt
- Sun Belt : Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Louisiana–Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy
- Independent : New Mexico State, UConn, UMass
Rutgers had the highest Academic Progress Rate of five-win teams. The NCAA announced on December 23 that Rutgers was the first eligible team, under APR regulations, to replace Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl. Rutgers accepted the bid.
Venues
A total of thirty-seven venues were utilized, with seven of them in particular for the CFP National Championship and New Year's Six. The number of venues increased from twenty, primarily due to the relaxation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of venues for bowl games typically was around forty. Prestige and capacity of venues usually increases as the schedule progresses towards to NY6 bowls and the national championship, in large part due to scheduling Top 25 teams late into the bowl games' time frame, while bowl games before Christmas Day typically involve schools in Group of Five conferences. Televising at the venues of bowl games is largely run by ESPN and joint networks, with only three bowl games run by a non-affiliated network. With the exception of the Bahamas Bowl in The Bahamas, all bowls were played within the United States.CFP bowls
The College Football Playoff committee elected to continue with the six venues for this postseason—including two as the semifinals for the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship—as outlined below:- AT&T Stadium in Arlington: Venue for the 2021 Cotton Bowl Classic that featured one of the semi-final pairings.
- State Farm Stadium in Glendale: Venue for the 2022 Fiesta Bowl that featured two of the four highest non-Top 4 and non-NY6 bid conference affiliated.
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta: Venue for the 2021 Peach Bowl that featured two of the four highest non-Top 4 and non-NY6 bid conference affiliated.
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens: Venue for the 2021 Orange Bowl that featured one of the semi-final pairings.
- Rose Bowl in Pasadena: Venue for the 2022 Rose Bowl that featured the highest non-top 4 conference finishers from the Big Ten and Pac-12.
- Caesars Superdome in New Orleans: Venue for the 2022 Sugar Bowl that featured the highest non-top 4 conference finishers from the SEC and Big 12.
Television ratings
All times Eastern.CFP Rankings.