College football fans, the bowl season is finally here! With the matchups set, it’s time for our yearly challenge to rank all the postseason games based on their entertainment value.

To start, we want to highlight two points. First, we assume that all the initial playoff games, along with the quarterfinal and semifinal bowl tournaments, will be must-see events and will not be included in this ranking. Additionally, while some games may look appealing based on teams’ records and rankings, the actual enjoyment of the game relies on key players showing up. We also understand that your personal interest in specific games may vary depending on your team preferences.

With these factors in mind, we will arrange the matchups in terms of expected entertainment value, acknowledging that things can change before kickoff. So, here are our rankings for all 35 non-playoff bowl games.

1. Pop-Tarts Bowl – No. 16 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 19 Iowa State

Date, time, TV: Dec. 28, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. Location: Orlando, Fla.

Despite the quirky giant toaster theme, this game features two teams known for their high-scoring capability — and defensive lapses. If key players like Miami’s quarterback Cam Ward participate, it promises to be an exciting matchup.

2. Alamo Bowl – No. 17 Brigham Young vs. No. 22 Colorado

Date, time, TV: Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC. Location: San Antonio, Texas.

This game has the potential to feel like a conference championship if a few details had aligned differently. Nevertheless, it’s a prominent matchup that should see both teams fielding key players, including Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter for Colorado in their last game.

3. Citrus Bowl – No. 14 South Carolina vs. No. 21 Illinois

Date, time, TV: Dec. 31, 3 p.m. ET, ABC. Location: Orlando, Fla.

The Gamecocks were closer to playoff contention than the Fighting Illini, who performed well but struggled against the top teams in the Big Ten. Expect some exciting ground plays, which can be just as entertaining.

4. Independence Bowl – No. 18 Army vs. Marshall

Date, time, TV: Dec. 28, 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Shreveport, La.

This game features two conference champions. The Black Knights will have had a hectic month leading up to this match, leaving some uncertainty about their stamina. Meanwhile, Marshall will be looking to prove that their Sun Belt win wasn’t a fluke.

5. Cure Bowl – Jacksonville State vs. Ohio

Date, time, TV: Dec. 20, noon ET, ESPN. Location: Orlando, Fla.

This matchup between Group of Five champions kicks off our bowl season, featuring two dual-threat quarterbacks, Logan Smothers for Jacksonville State and Parker Navarro for Ohio, signaling a potentially run-heavy game.

6. Birmingham Bowl – Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt

Date, time, TV: Dec. 27, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Birmingham, Ala.

This matchup features two teams that have enjoyed moments as playoff spoilers this season. While the running game will likely be a focal point, don’t expect a shortage of scoring opportunities.

7. Music City Bowl – No. 20 Missouri vs. Iowa

Date, time, TV: Dec. 30, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Nashville, Tenn.

Iowa’s unique playing style makes them fascinating to watch as they often find unconventional ways to secure victories. Although some star players will be absent due to NFL draft decisions, the game should still be fiercely competitive.

8. ReliaQuest Bowl – No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan

Date, time, TV: Dec. 31, noon ET, ESPN. Location: Tampa, Fla.

Although you might expect a rematch of last year’s playoff to rank higher, changes within both teams have been significant. The Wolverines faced a steeper decline than Alabama, but both squads possess enough talent to deliver an exciting game.

9. Liberty Bowl – Arkansas vs. Texas Tech

Date, time, TV: Dec. 27, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Memphis, Tenn.

In previous conference alignments, this could have been a regular-season matchup. It still holds a lot of entertainment prospects, even though Arkansas struggled during the latter part of their season.

10. Military Bowl – East Carolina vs. North Carolina State

Date, time, TV: December 28, 5:45 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Annapolis, Maryland.

The Wolfpack began the season as a contender in the ACC and secured a postseason berth by defeating North Carolina in their last game. They will compete against the Pirates, who turned their season around after a coaching change, finishing with a four-game winning streak to qualify for postseason play.

11. Sun Bowl – Louisville vs. Washington

Date, time, TV: December 31, 2 p.m. ET, CBS. Location: El Paso, Texas.

The Cardinals were on the verge of fighting for the ACC championship but find themselves far from home in this matchup against the Huskies, who faced challenges during their first season in the Big Ten.

12. Hawaii Bowl – San Jose State vs. South Florida

Date, time, TV: December 24, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Honolulu.

Spending Christmas Eve in Hawaii isn’t the worst option. While both teams struggled against the top performers in their leagues, they are excited about this holiday trip to the islands.

13. LA Bowl – No. 24 UNLV vs. California

Date, time, TV: December 18, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Inglewood, California.

UNLV’s coach and Cal’s quarterback both left, impacting the appeal of this matchup. However, players who remain may be vying for future positions with their teams, so there’s hope for an exciting game.

14. Texas Bowl – Baylor vs. LSU

Date, time, TV: December 31, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Houston.

Both teams had greater aspirations at the season’s start, making it tough to gauge their enthusiasm for this game. The Tigers are expected to have an advantage in offensive talent, but the Bears are riding a six-game winning streak.

15. GameAbove Sports Bowl – Pittsburgh vs. Toledo

Date, time, TV: December 26, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Detroit.

The Panthers’ season was marked by highs and lows, starting off as contenders in the ACC with a 7-0 record before finishing with a five-game losing streak. The Rockets, who didn’t claim the MAC title, had a notable win against Mississippi State, presenting an opportunity for another power-five victory.

16. Armed Forces Bowl – Navy vs. Oklahoma

Date, time, TV: December 27, noon ET, ESPN. Location: Fort Worth, Texas.

While the Sooners had a tumultuous first season in the SEC, preparing for an academy option offense is always a daunting task. The Midshipmen could keep things challenging, provided they maintain possession of the ball.

17. Idaho Potato Bowl – Fresno State vs. Northern Illinois

Date, time, TV: December 23, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Boise, Idaho.

Both teams have some impressive victories, particularly the Huskies’ notable win over Notre Dame, yet overall seasons were disappointing. The Bulldogs will be close to home for this game, while the Northern Illinois offense struggled during MAC play.

18. Duke’s Mayo Bowl – Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech

Date, time, TV: January 3, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Charlotte, North Carolina.

This game presents a potential mismatch; the Golden Gophers have secured stronger wins while the Hokies needed to break a three-game losing streak in November to qualify. On a lighter note, fans may want to stay until the end for the chance to see a coach get a tub of mayonnaise dumped on him.

19. Pinstripe Bowl – Boston College vs. Nebraska

Date, time, TV: December 28, noon ET, ABC. Location: Bronx, New York.

The Cornhuskers’ bowl drought has ended, bringing relief to their fans. However, facing another team in a cold-weather game might not provide the most pleasant experience.

20. Rate Bowl – Kansas State vs. Rutgers

Date, time, TV: December 26, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Phoenix.

The Wildcats expected to be at the top of the Big 12 standings, making it unclear how motivated they will be for this matchup. The Scarlet Knights hope to secure a second consecutive bowl victory.

21. Myrtle Beach Bowl – Coastal Carolina vs. Texas-San Antonio

Date, time, TV: December 23, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Conway, South Carolina.

Playing this game amounts to a quasi home game for the Chanticleers, even though they’ve slipped in the Sun Belt rankings. Similarly, the Roadrunners didn’t meet expectations in the American Athletic Conference, leaving questions about who will show up ready to compete.

22. Boca Raton Bowl – James Madison vs. Western Kentucky

Date, time, TV: December 18, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Boca Raton, Florida.

After an impressive start, the Dukes struggled during Sun Belt play following a significant win against North Carolina. The Hilltoppers may not be fully invested in the game after a tough last match in the C-USA.

23. Salute to Veterans Bowl – South Alabama vs. Western Michigan

Date, time, TV: December 14, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Montgomery, Alabama.

Being the first bowl game of the season is the highlight here, as both teams ended with 6-6 records. Interestingly, each team fell on the road to the eventual champion of the opposing league.

24. First Responder Bowl – North Texas vs. Texas State

Date, time, TV: January 3, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Dallas.

This game may not garner much attention amid the semifinal week buildup, but it has the potential to attract dedicated fans from Texas. Both teams can score effectively but have also had their share of off games.

25. Holiday Bowl in San Diego – No. 25 Syracuse vs. Washington State

Date, time, TV: December 27, 8 p.m. ET, Fox. Location: San Diego.

A few weeks back, this matchup looked promising for the Top 25. However, although the Orange concluded the season on a strong note, the Cougars stumbled to the finish with three straight losses and a departure of their offensive coordinator.

Ben Arbuckle is headed to Oklahoma.

26. Arizona Bowl – Colorado State vs. Miami (Ohio)

Date, time, TV: Dec. 28, 4:30 p.m. ET, The CW. Location: Tucson, Arizona.

Though neither team is particularly flashy, Miami (Ohio) deserves credit for bouncing back from a rocky 1-4 start to reach the MAC championship game. Meanwhile, Colorado State’s recent defeat to Fresno State kept them out of the Mountain West title game. However, they are pleased to be playing in a bowl for the first time since 2017.

27. Frisco Bowl – No. 22 Memphis vs. West Virginia

Date, time, TV: Dec. 17, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Frisco, Texas.

Memphis made a late-season surge to re-enter the Top 25, highlighted by a Thanksgiving victory over Tulane, while West Virginia is navigating a coaching change. This could lead to one team feeling motivated and the other being less engaged.

28. Gasparilla Bowl – Florida vs. Tulane

Date, time, TV: Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Tampa, Florida.

This matchup falls short of excitement, considering both teams’ recent disappointments. Tulane faced struggles due to player transfers, while Florida managed to end their season on a high note, hoping to carry that into the offseason.

29. New Orleans Bowl – Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston State

Date, time, TV: Dec. 19, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2. Location: New Orleans.

This game might be more intriguing than it appears. Sam Houston State is participating in their first bowl game after transitioning up from the FCS, ready to compete against Georgia Southern, which has a strong FCS background.

30. Las Vegas Bowl – Southern California vs. Texas A&M

Date, time, TV: Dec. 27, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Las Vegas.

While both programs have massive followings, neither is particularly thrilled to be in this bowl. Texas A&M has been more established in the SEC, but both teams could potentially deliver a lackluster performance.

31. 68 Ventures Bowl – Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green

Date, time, TV: Dec. 26, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Mobile, Alabama.

This game may not attract a wide audience unless you have a personal connection to the teams. Bowling Green has competed well against some solid opponents, while Arkansas State experienced several heavy losses throughout the season.

32. New Mexico Bowl – TCU vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

Date, time, TV: Dec. 28, 2:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Albuquerque.

Louisiana-Lafayette had a solid season but faced a disappointing end in the Sun Belt championship. TCU might not be overly happy about their bowl destination, but hopefully, the game will exceed expectations.

33. Gator Bowl – No. 15 Mississippi vs. Duke

Date, time, TV: Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Jacksonville, Florida.

Duke has been affected by player transfers, specifically with QB Maalik Murphy leaving. Unfortunately, the new players likely won’t suffice to fill the gaps for this game. Meanwhile, Mississippi expects major contributions from their key players, making a decisive victory likely.

34. Bahamas Bowl – Buffalo vs. Liberty

Date, time, TV: Jan. 4, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Nassau, Bahamas.

There’s no denying that the Bahamas is a much more appealing location than Buffalo in December. Buffalo secured this bowl by winning their last four games. On the other hand, Liberty’s destination is a step down from last year’s Fiesta Bowl, particularly with their quarterback Kaidon Salter absent.

35. Fenway Bowl – Connecticut vs. North Carolina

Date, time, TV: Dec. 28, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN. Location: Boston.

The Tar Heels bring an element of curiosity as they enter a new era with a notable coaching hire. However, despite the attention, this matchup may not draw a crowd on what is already a packed day for bowl games.