Bowl Games 2012: Complete Schedule for Every Matchup
While many complain about the format of the college football postseason, there is nothing quite like 35 intense bowl games that take place of the course of just a few weeks.
The most interesting games, as always, will take place at the end of the bowl season. The BCS games are the most prestigious and usually feature the best teams in the country, but there is some debate this year.
There is some controversy over the inclusion of certain teams in the biggest games of the year.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Northern Illinois earned its way into the Orange Bowl with a win over Kent State in the MAC Championship. The Huskies finished in the Top 16 of the BCS Standings and by rule automatically qualify for one of the top games.
They will face the ACC Champion Florida State, who took care of business against Georgia Tech in its final game.
While some will argue about the merits of these teams being in this game, it will still pit a Top 10 offense against a Top 10 defense and should be very exciting from beginning to end.
Florida also caused some discussion by earning its way into the Sugar Bowl. Many believe that it was unfair that the Gators will get a better spot than Georgia after the Bulldogs won the SEC East, but reaching the No. 3 spot in the BCS was not a fluke.
The Gators had a better resume than anyone else in the country, including wins over Florida State, LSU, Texas A&M and South Carolina.
Unless Big East champion Louisville pulls off a big upset, Florida should be able to add the Cardinals to this year's list of victims.
The two other BCS games have much more support from the college football world. Wisconsin will play in a third straight Rose Bowl, this time trying to beat Stanford.
In the Fiesta Bowl, the Big 12 Champion Kansas State will have to step up on defense against high-powered Oregon. The Ducks entered as an at large team after an 11-1 season.
Of course, the main event is the national championship between Alabama and Notre Dame.
This is not only a battle of two of the best defenses in the country but also two of the biggest fanbases. Hopefully, it will be a thrilling end to an outstanding year of college football.
Although these games do not take place until January, there are a number of quality games throughout the month to keep fans engaged.
Bowl Schedule
Note: All times are ET and p.m. unless noted otherwise. All games (except for the Sun Bowl and Cotton Bowl) can be streamed live at WatchESPN.
| Bowl | Team 1 | Team 2 | Stadium: Location | Date: Time | TV |
| New Mexico | Nevada | Arizona | University Stadium: Albuquerque, NM | 12/15: 1:00 | ESPN |
| Famous Idaho Potato | Toledo | Utah State | Bronco Stadium: Boise, ID | 12/15: 4:30 | ESPN |
| Poinsettia | BYU | San Diego State | Qualcomm Stadium: San Diego, CA | 12/20: 8:00 | ESPN |
| Beef 'O' Brady's | Ball State | UCF | Tropicana Field: St. Petersburg, FL | 12/21: 7:30 | ESPN |
| New Orleans | East Carolina | Louisiana-Lafayette | Superdome: New Orleans, LA | 12/22: Noon | ESPN |
| Las Vegas | Boise State | Washington | Sam Boyd Stadium: Las Vegas, NV | 12/22: 3:30 | ESPN |
| Hawaii | SMU | Fresno State | Aloha Stadium: Honolulu, HI | 12/24: 8:00 | ESPN |
| Little Caesars | Central Michigan | Western Kentucky | Ford Field: Detroit, MI | 12/26: 7:30 | ESPN |
| Military | Bowling Green | San Jose State | RFK Stadium: Washington, DC | 12/27: 3:00 | ESPN |
| Belk | Duke | Cincinnati | Bank of America Stadium: Charlotte, NC | 12/27: 6:30 | ESPN |
| Holiday | Baylor | UCLA | Qualcomm Stadium: San Diego, CA | 12/27: 9:45 | ESPN |
| Independence | Lousiana-Monroe | Ohio | Independence Stadium: Shreveport, LA | 12/28: 2:00 | ESPN |
| Russell Athletic | Virginia Tech | Rutgers | Florida Citrus Bowl: Orlando, FL | 12/28: 5:30 | ESPN |
| Meineke Car Care | Minnesota | Texas Tech | Reliant Stadium: Houston, TX | 12/28: 9:00 | ESPN |
| Armed Forces | Rice | Air Force | Amon G. Carter Stadium: Fort Worth, TX | 12/29: 11:45 a.m. | ESPN |
| Pinstripe | Syracuse | West Virginia | Yankee Stadium: Bronx, NY | 12/29: 3:15 | ESPN |
| Kraft | Navy | Arizona State | AT&T Park: San Francisco, CA | 12/29: 4:00 | ESPN2 |
| Alamo | Texas | Oregon State | Alamodome: San Antonio, TX | 12/29: 6:45 | ESPN |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | TCU | Michigan State | Sun Devil Stadium: Tempe, AZ | 12/29: 10:15 | ESPN |
| Music City | NC State | Vanderbilt | LP Field: Nashville, TN | 12/31: Noon | ESPN |
| Sun | Georgia Tech | USC | Sun Bowl: El Paso, TX | 12/31: 2:00 | CBS |
| Liberty | Tulsa | Iowa State | Liberty Bowl: Memphis, TN | 12/31: 3:30 | ESPN |
| Chick-fil-A | Clemson | LSU | Georgia Dome: Atlanta, GA | 12/31: 7:30 | ESPN |
| Gator | Northwestern | Mississippi State | Everbank Field: Jacksonville, FL | 1/1: Noon | ESPN2 |
| Heart of Dallas | Oklahoma State | Purdue | Cotton Bowl: Dallas, TX | 1/1: Noon | ESPNU |
| Outback | Michigan | South Carolina | Raymond James Stadium: Tampa, FL | 1/1: 1:00 | ESPN |
Capital One | Nebraska | Georgia | Florida Citrus Bowl: Orlando, FL | 1/1: 1:00 | ABC |
| Rose | Stanford | Wisconsin | Rose Bowl: Pasadena, CA | 1/1: 5:00 | ESPN |
| Orange | Northern Illinois | Florida State | Sun Life Stadium: Miami, FL | 1/1: 8:30 | ESPN |
| Sugar | Florida | Louisville | Superdome: New Orleans, LA | 1/2: 8:30 | ESPN |
| Fiesta | Oregon | Kansas State | U. of Phoenix Stadium: Glendale, AZ | 1/3: 8:30 | ESPN |
| Cotton | Oklahoma | Texas A&M | Cowboys Stadium: Arlington, TX | 1/4: 8:00 | FOX |
| Compass | Pittsburgh | Ole Miss | Legion Field: Birmingham, AL | 1/5: 1:00 | ESPN |
| GoDaddy.com | Kent State | Arkansas State | Ladd-Peebles Stadium: Mobile, AL | 1/6: 9:00 | ESPN |
| BCS National Championship | Notre Dame | Alabama | Sun Life Stadium: Miami, FL | 1/7: 8:30 | ESPN |
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
