The competition couldn't be hotter for the New Year's Day college football bowl games.

New Year's Day has a completely different meaning to college football fans, who tend to think of it more like the Christmas Day of sports.

After taking a break from fan attendance at sporting events in 2020, the 2021 NCAA college football season saw stadiums packed to the brim with fans beaming with excitement.

While the 10 teams that made New Year's Day bowl games didn't quite make it to the playoffs, each clearly won enough to go bowling in the post-season.

NFL NFL issues security alert after Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's homes are robbed

Despite the fact that the National Championship title isn't on the line, there are still trophies and bragging rights to be had, not to mention die-hard fans waiting to cheer their teams on for one last time until the fall.

Hunker down and treat your hangover with some college football and tune into one of the five New Year's Day bowl games.

Outback Bowl

This game marks the Arkansas Razorbacks' first time going bowling since 2016, and the team looking for a win against the 7-5 Penn State Nittany Lions.

After getting to a hot start this season with a massive victory over the Texas Longhorns, the Razorbacks managed to end 8-4, a much better outcome than its 3-7 record during the 2020 season.

The Razorbacks will take on the Nittany Lions on ESPN2 at 12 PM EST.

VRBO Citrus Bowl

The Kentucky Wildcats have found themselves at the Citrus Bowl for the second time in the last four years, and the team is out for blood. Luckily for the sake of viewers at home, the Iowa Hawkeyes have just as much to prove.

Having not played in the Citrus Bowl since its 2004 victory against LSU, Iowa's best chance at taking the trophy depends on how well its defense plays, and if quarterback Alex Padilla can keep the ball in his teammates' hands – not the opponent's.

The Hawkeyes will go head-to-head with the Wildcats at 1 PM on ABC.

PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

After falling to Baylor in the Big 12 Championship, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are hoping to end its impressive 11-2 season with one final win.

Meanwhile, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are looking to cap off its one-loss season at the reins of its new head coach in Marcus Freeman after Brian Kelly B-lined it for LSU at the beginning of December.

The Cowboys will face off with the Fighting Irish at 1 PM on ESPN.

Rose Bowl

After defeating Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship game to land a spot in the Rose Bowl, the Utah Utes are looking to end things on a high note, and head into the off-season motivated to dominate in the fall.

But The Ohio State Buckeyes are out for vengeance after failing to make the playoffs one year after barely falling short of the national championship game during the 2020 season.

The Buckeyes will battle it out with the Utes at 5 PM on ESPN.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

This will be the 11-2 Baylor Bear's second time at the Sugar Bowl within the last three years, and the Bears are hoping for a similar outcome as its last appearance.

As for the Ole Miss Rebels, this game will mark quarterback Matt Corral's last CFB game as the QB for the 10-2 Ole Miss Rebels, expected to enter the 2022 NFL draft.

The Rebels will take on the Bears at 8:45 PM on ESPN.