Watchability Index: Ranking all bowl games by interest level

All bowl games are not created equal. We rank all 40 scheduled postseason contests this season by watchability so that you know what you absolutely can’t miss.

Bowl season is rapidly approaching, and with it the last 40 games of the college football season are just over the horizon. With 39 bowl games taking place over the holidays and into the new year, there is going to be plenty of action to watch over the next three weeks leading into the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 7.

With the football season almost in the books before another long offseason, the impulse for many is to try to overload on as much football as possible over this period. Because it is the holiday season, though, only the rarest of fans have the time and the ability to watch all 39 games before the championship game.

But one doesn’t have to catch every game to earn their fan credentials. And while the most passionate fans of college football desire to catch every possible action with the opportunities closing fast, they also know that not every bowl game is equal in quality. The fear of missing out, though, will lead people to try to cram as many games as possible into their bowl-watching over the holidays.

Many different things define what makes a game watchable, and there is no hard and fast rule about what constitutes watchability. This list is by nature subjective, and there are always allowances for alumni and the most fanatical.

In general, though, certain things help define watchability. Sometimes there is a tradition of enmity between the two schools. Maybe it is the venue itself, the history behind the game, or the broader settings of the host location. How a game compares to the others both on the same day and of similar competitive stakes also makes a big difference.

Yes, football is always a fun thing to watch. And even the least-heralded games can sometimes produce the most exciting action. But if you can’t watch everything, what should you watch? Here’s a breakdown of every bowl game this season by watchability: