How to survive college football bowl season

Starting in the Bahamas on December 20, college bowl season features a 40-game slate of football matchups that won't be over until mid-January.

To get your fill of the nearly month-long marathon, we’ve compiled a survival guide to maximize your football intake leading up to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on January 13.

How to load up on snacks

You could go the route of the staples—like pizza, nachos and spicy wings—but to get extra into the spirit of bowl season, there’s no better place to start for inspiration than the title sponsors of each postseason game.

Morning

For breakfast pour a gigantic bowl of Frosted Flakes in honor of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on December 31. Add a side of fruit slices, too, for the Vrbo Citrus Bowl featuring Michigan and Alabama January 1.

Afternoon

Lunch is prime time to Postmate some Chick-fil-A sandwiches (Peach Bowl sponsor reference here), and a heaping pile of waffle fries on account of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on January 3.

You’ll be hungry again by mid-afternoon, so keep some Cheez-Its nearby as you check the score on Air Force vs. Washington State on December 27, but leave room for dinner, because Outback is catering—and sponsoring a Big Ten-SEC clash on January 1.

Evening

Round it all out with anything sugary for dessert, as Georgia and Baylor square off at 8:45 p.m. ET in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Maybe you don’t have to be that literal about bowl game meal plans, but it’s an option. No one is judging, and that’s the beauty of bowl season. We’re counting points here, not calories, so dig in and indulge.

How to stay hydrated

I’m not going to suggest loading up on Cheribundi cherry juice or blending a tropical smoothie to stay with the theme of bowl game title sponsors. You could totally do that, but let’s keep it simple here. 

Water and Gatorade will keep you hydrated the most, but beer and soda are excellent choices during football season, too.

How to pace yourself

On certain dates, like December 23, the bowl schedule is light, so missing out on the action is hardly a concern. Yet on December 27, seven different matchups air on TV, and some overlap throughout the day.

You should be able to enjoy most of the Celebration Bowl at noon ET before the New Mexico Bowl’s 2 p.m. kickoff. But then the Cure Bowl comes on at 2:30, followed by the 3:30 Cheribundi Bowl, the Camellia Bowl at 5:30 and the Las Vegas Bowl and New Orleans Bowl at 7:30 and 9 p.m., respectively.

With so much football happening, it’s difficult to know where to look. You could set up an extra monitor, or vigorously flip back and forth between ABC, CBS and ESPN. The best bet is to just pick your favorite teams in each time slot and dive into the drama.

You can find the highlights later. Bowl season is about the thrill of the final contest for many players and some coaches, and you’ll skip out on some memorable moments if you’re occupied by too many games at once.

How to slip in time with the relatives

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for a diehard football fan, but don’t forget to make time for the family. Halftime in college football is generally 15 minutes long, but with live performances scheduled during many of the marquee bowl games, you’ll get a longer break to catch up with your relatives in between halves.

Christmas Day is also football-free (the focus shifts to the NBA), so settle in with family and friends, celebrate the season and if someone tries to turn the conversation political, just change the subject to bowl season and boast about all the excitement college football has to offer.

Happy holidays, and happy bowl season!

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Find lines on all 40 bowl games scheduled throughout the season at BetAmerica!