How to watch today's college football games, including Oklahoma, USC, Texas A&M, and more
The heart of the college football bowl season is upon us, and the next few days are loaded with action. Grab some beverages and leftovers and prepare for the season's final few matchups. With any luck, the early slate of games is a sign of great entertainment to come. Here's a preview of the games […]
The heart of the college football bowl season is upon us, and the next few days are loaded with action. Grab some beverages and leftovers and prepare for the season's final few matchups. With any luck, the early slate of games is a sign of great entertainment to come.
Here's a preview of the games on Friday, December 27.
College Football Games on Friday
Here's each matchup and how you can watch them.
Oklahoma vs. Navy
Where: Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
When: 12 p.m. ET, December 27, 2024
Channel: ESPN
The Sooners made their entrance into the SEC and started strong with a 4-1 record after securing their first conference victory at Auburn on September 28th. However, the team faced a setback, losing to Texas 34-3 in their following game, which triggered a phase where they dropped four out of five matches.
Fortunately, Oklahoma bounced back with a win against Maine, and then achieved bowl eligibility with an impressive 24-3 victory over Alabama. In that game, Oklahoma amassed 257 rushing yards and effectively shut down Alabama's offense, limiting them to just 237 yards while forcing three turnovers.
Freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. shared playing time with Arnold this season, participating in six games and starting two. He is seen as a capable contender who will be eager to prove himself, especially after Oklahoma recently added top-ranked transfer quarterback John Mateer from Washington State for the upcoming season.
Under the guidance of Brian Newberry, the Midshipmen reached bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019, also claiming the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time in five years. The service academies are less affected by the transfer portal and player opt-outs compared to other programs, and it appears Navy's roster is fully intact for this matchup.
Quarterback Blake Horvath played a crucial role in the victories over Army and Air Force this season. He threw for 134 yards and rushed for 115 yards with two touchdowns against Air Force, while also throwing for 107 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 196 yards with two additional scores against Army.
Horvath even recorded a six-touchdown game against Memphis. He accounted for a total of 28 touchdowns and surpassed 1,000 yards both as a runner and receiver. The Midshipmen have relied on their impressive ground game, averaging 249.3 rushing yards per game, to dominate contests and have gone 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 games.
Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt
Where: Birmingham Bowl, Birmingham, AL
When: 3:30 p.m. ET, December 27, 2024
Channel: ESPN
Starting quarterback Haynes King, who has confirmed his availability, has been performing well for the Yellow Jackets, amassing 1,910 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and only one interception, despite managing a shoulder injury during the season's final stretch. In the regular-season finale on November 29, he recorded 303 passing yards and added 110 rushing yards in a dramatic 44-42 8OT defeat to Georgia.
Georgia Tech concluded the season with a 6-5-1 record against the spread, successfully covering in two of their last three games. The Yellow Jackets have a strong track record, going 6-1 in their last seven outings as the favorite.
Meanwhile, the Commodores posted an 8-4-0 record against the spread this year, achieving an impressive 7-2-0 record as underdogs in 2024. In their last seven regular-season games as underdogs, Vanderbilt managed to cover five times, including in each of their final three road games. Vanderbilt's defense ranked 62nd in the nation this season, allowing an average of 25.2 points per game.
On the offensive front, quarterback Diego Pavia aims to continue his impressive 2024 season. The New Mexico State transfer has thrown for 2,133 yards, 17 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He also led the Commodores to a remarkable upset victory over Alabama this season. Georgia Tech is facing some roster changes, with leading receiver Eric Singleton Jr. being one of the key players entering the transfer portal.
Texas Tech vs. Arkansas
Where: AutoZone Liberty Bowl,
When: 7 p.m. ET, December 27, 2024
Channel: ESPN
The Red Raiders are explosive on offense, scoring an impressive average of 38.6 points per game—ranking them among the top four teams in all of FBS. They have recently tallied over 50 points in consecutive games, including 56 against Oklahoma State in late November, showcasing their ability to perform well away from home.
Their offense is versatile, with four players each contributing at least five receiving touchdowns, while running back Tahj Brooks has crossed the goal line 17 times on the ground.
Coach Sam Pittman consistently prepares his teams well for road games, which is evident from their 9-2 record against the spread in their last 11 outings away from Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Furthermore, the Razorbacks have successfully covered the spread in four of the five bowl games they've played in the past decade and have triumphed in their last three Liberty Bowl appearances. Historically, Arkansas has held a strong advantage over their opponent with a 29-8 all-time series lead, including a 16-2 record in games played at neutral sites or on the road.
Syracuse vs. Washington State
Where: DirecTV Holiday Bowl
When: 8 p.m. ET, December 27, 2024
Channel: FOX
Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord played a key role in making Fran Brown's inaugural season as head coach at Syracuse one to remember. The former Buckeyes quarterback topped the ACC with 4,326 passing yards, throwing 29 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. In addition, McCord rushed for three touchdowns and delivered a standout performance in the impressive victory over Miami.
He completed 26 of 36 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns during the surprising upset win as 12-point underdogs. This marked the fifth outright victory for the Orange this season as underdogs, with the team covering the spread in three of their last four games. Syracuse's offense has remained largely unaffected by the college football transfer portal.
On a different note, the Cougars found themselves in a tough spot due to conference realignment, being one of only two remaining schools from the former Pac-12, which forced them to play an independent schedule this season.
Despite this, Dickert's team persevered, securing an early-season Apple Cup victory against Washington and also defeating Texas Tech and Fresno State. However, Coach Dickert recently accepted the Wake Forest position, significantly affecting the Cougars due to the transfer portal.
In the past two weeks, dozens of Washington State players have entered the portal, including starting quarterback John Mateer, who contributed nearly 4,000 yards of offense and 44 touchdowns this season.
Interim head coach Pete Kalgis will guide the program through the bowl game, while senior defensive lineman Andrew Edson hopes to support the team after four years in Pullman.
USC vs. Texas A&M
Where: SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, Las Vegas, NV
When: 10:30 p.m. ET, December 27, 2024
Channel: ESPN
The Aggies have clinched their 14th winning season in the last 15 years, thanks to first-year head coach Mike Elko, who led the team to a top-10 ranking. Following a 23-13 defeat to Notre Dame in their season opener, Texas A&M went on a remarkable seven-game winning streak, highlighted by a 38-23 victory over LSU and a win against Missouri.
During this impressive stretch, the Aggies averaged 35 points per game, finishing the season with an average of 28.4 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Trojans concluded the regular season with a 2-1 record after transitioning to sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava. The UNLV transfer threw for an average of 280 yards per game, recording 10 touchdowns (seven passing) against three interceptions over his three starts.
In the final week of the regular season against Notre Dame, Maiava delivered a standout performance with 360 passing yards, three touchdown passes, and rushed for two additional scores, leading USC to score 35 points—the most the Fighting Irish have allowed this season.
