Why aren't there college football bowl games on New Year's Day?
The college football season wraps up with three weeks of bowl games beginning Dec. 16 and ending with the College Football Playoff championship game Jan. 9.
But one tradition is missing: There's not a single bowl game happening on New Year's Day 2023, usually the prime slot for the best matchups.
There's an explanation.
Why aren't bowl games happening on New Year's Day?
It's all about timing.
Although Jan. 1 is traditionally dedicated to the most prestigious bowl games, the date lands on a Sunday this year − and Sundays belong to the NFL.
That means college football will forgo the day this year and play its premier bowls on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2. (Tennessee fans, you can watch the Volunteers take on the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl at 8 p.m, on Dec. 30.)
Games played Dec. 31 (times are Eastern):
Dec. 31 - Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky, ABC, noon
Dec. 31 - Sugar Bowl: Kansas State vs. Alabama, ESPN, noon
Dec. 31 - Fiesta Bowl: Michigan vs. TCU, ESPN, 4 p.m.
Dec. 31 - Peach Bowl: Georgia vs. Ohio State , ESPN, 8 p.m.
On Jan. 2, there are four bowl games (times are Eastern):
Jan. 2 - ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois vs. Mississippi State, ESPN2, noon
Jan. 2 - Cotton Bowl: Tulane vs. Southern California, ESPN, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2 - Citrus Bowl: Purdue vs. LSU, ABC, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2 - Rose Bowl: Utah vs. Penn State, ESPN, 5 p.m.
The college football season culminates at 8 p.m. Jan. 9 with the College Football Playoff championship game.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: No college football bowl games on New Year's Day? Here's why
