Unmissable Showdowns Await: Which College Football Bowl Game Will Define December 17?

Wednesday ushers in a fresh batch of college football bowl games, spotlighting two intriguing matchups that shine a light on the Sun Belt Conference’s postseason presence. First up, Old Dominion takes a trip down to Florida, clashing with a nearby American Conference rival, setting the stage for a compelling early bout. Later on, Alabama’s Gulf Coast hosts a newcomer eager to make a splash against seasoned Sun Belt competitor Louisiana-Lafayette. Both games feature teams with identical records — a neat coincidence that stirs hopes for evenly matched contests, even if the final outcomes remain anyone’s guess. So, buckle up, because this day’s slate promises a blend of emerging talent, strategic backups, and regional rivalries in full bloom. LEARN MORE

College football’s postseason continues Wednesday, beginning the stretch of days with multiple bowl offerings. There are in fact two on the slate, with the Sun Belt Conference represented in both.

In the early contest, the Old Dominion heads down to the Sunshine State to meet an opponent from the American playing much closer to home. In the nightcap down on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, it will be a bowl newcomer challenging one of the Sun Belt postseason regular Louisiana-Lafayette.

For what it’s worth, both games managed to pair opponents with matching records. That doesn’t guarantee an even contest, of course, but we can hope. Here are the particulars.

Time/TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN, in Orlando, Fla.

Why watch: This first of several contests at Camping World Stadium kicks things off as the home-state Bulls, a Top 25 squad at times this season, square off with the Monarchs, who are seeking their first bowl victory since 2016. Both teams will be led by backup QBs. South Florida’s Byrum Brown is likely NFL bound but will serve as a student coach, handing the reins to journeyman Gaston Moore. Old Dominion’s Colton Joseph is in the portal, but equally dynamic freshman Quinn Henicle will direct the attack. Names to know on the defensive side include Monarchs DB Jerome Carter and Bulls LB Mac Harris.

Why it could disappoint: Though both squads have 9-3 records, the Bulls enter as favorites after negotiating a more challenging slate in an overall stronger conference. Brown’s absence could serve as an equalizer, but the Monarchs still figure to be at a depth disadvantage.

Time/TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, in in Mobile, Ala.

Why watch: The Blue Hens, long-time powers of the Championship Subdivision, needed just one year at this level to qualify for a bowl game. They’ll take on the Ragin’ Cajuns, who are usually in the Sun Belt championship mix but struggled through the first half of the season in 2025. Leading the way for Louisiana-Lafayette is dual-threat QB Lunch Winfield, not his given name but a fitting moniker as he feasts on opposing defenses. RBs Bill Davis and Zylan Perry lend plenty of ground support. Delaware counters with QB Nick Minicucci, who isn’t as explosive but still has 10 rushing scores to go with his 22 TD passes. His primary targets are WRs Sean Wilson and Kyre Duplessis.

Why it could disappoint: The Hens are still new to the FBS landscape, and they were on the short end of a blowout or two. This shouldn’t be a mismatch of that magnitude, but the Ragin’ Cajuns won their last four games to get here and will therefore arrive with a high degree of confidence.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football bowl games today: Schedule features two matchups