Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Ole Miss vs. TCU. 12:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Georgia Dome, 1 Georgia Dome Drive, Atlanta. gadome.com.
Tickets: $110-$285. Available at chick-fil-apeachbowl.com or ticketmaster.com.
Getting there: Fans are encouraged to take MARTA.
Television: Live on ESPN with coverage by Joe Tessitore, Brock Huard and Shannon Spake.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Fast Facts
• Now in its 47th year, it is college football’s ninth oldest bowl game.
• The Chick-fil-A Peach is college football’s most charitable bowl game. A record $1.6 million contribution to organizations in need was made in 2013. Since 2002, the total charitable payout is more than $17 million.
• Thousands of Chick-fil-A plush cows parachute from the top of the Georgia Dome as the two teams make their entrance on the field to begin the game.
• Ole Miss is making its second Peach Bowl appearance. The Rebels defeated Georgia Tech 41-18 in 1971. TCU is making its Peach Bowl debut.
• Ole Miss and TCU have met six times, with Ole Miss holding a 5-1 head-to-head advantage. The two teams first met in 1948 in the Delta Bowl and last played in 1983.
• TCU has five players from the state of Georgia on its roster, Ole Miss has 10.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl may have a new look and time, but true football fans also will notice the added importance that the Dec. 31 tilt at the Georgia Dome has in the college football world this year as part of the top tier of bowl games.
The No. 9 ranked Ole Miss Rebels will take on the No. 6 TCU Horned Frogs at 12:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve. And, in 2016, the bowl will play host to its first College Football Playoff semifinal (No. 1 vs. No. 4 or No. 2 vs. No. 3). All the “New Year’s Six” games will be televised on ESPN.
“We consider it a privilege to host the first New Year’s Six bowl game, and we couldn’t think of a better matchup to kick off this new era of post-season college football than the Rebels and Horned Frogs,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl president and CEO. “This is a power-packed game of Top 10 teams.”
Tickets are still available at chick-fil-apeachbowl.com or ticketmaster.com. The game has sold out 17 straight years.
The game is Wednesday afternoon, but the fun and activities begin in earnest Monday. Note that some events require a ticket.
No ticket required:
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade
This annual parade celebrates football in Atlanta and the two teams competing later that day. The parade features floats, antique cars, marching bands and cheerleaders.
8 a.m. Dec. 31, launching from the intersection of Peachtree and Baker streets and ending at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Ole Miss Alumni Gamewatch
Are you an Ole Miss fan? The school’s official game-watching headquarters all season has been the Black Bear Tavern in Buckhead. Come join fellow Rebels who won’t be in the Georgia Dome.
11 a.m. Dec. 31. Black Bear Tavern, 1931 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. blackbeartavern.net.
Tickets required:
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast
Started by the late Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A founder, this long-standing event features current and former coaches, players and football dignitaries. Determination and teamwork are the themes this year, as former NFL All-Pro player Aeneas Williams will deliver the keynote speech.
7:30 a.m. Dec. 29. $30. Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Ave. N.E., Atlanta. chick-fil-apeachbowl.com.
Georgia Power Chalk Talk & Football Feud
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze and TCU coach Gary Patterson will talk about their seasons and teams and players from the two teams will square off in a game show-like event.
11:30 a.m. Dec. 30. $75. Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Ave. N.E., Atlanta. chick-fil-apeachbowl.com.
College Football Hall of Fame
Tuesday is College Football Hall of Fame T-shirt Day at the hall. Fans wearing Ole Miss or TCU gear will receive a free College Football Hall of Fame T-shirt when they purchase their ticket. Special Ole Miss and TCU football artifacts will be featured.
College Football Hall of Fame and Fan Experience. Opens at 10 a.m. Sundays-Fridays, 9 a.m. Saturdays. $19.99 adults, $16.99 kids (3-12), $17.99 seniors (65-plus), military and students, kids under 3 free. 250 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta. www.cfbhall.com.
Fan Night at Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is inviting football fans for a special party Tuesday, with food and beverages and the run of the world’s largest aquarium. Ole Miss and TCU fans also will be able to see appearances by their teams’ cheerleaders and mascots.
5-9 p.m. Dec. 30. Ticket for this event only is $28.95. Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St., Atlanta. www.georgiaaquarium.org.
FanFest
A one-day interactive FanFest runs Wednesday in the Georgia World Congress Center. You can buy official merchandise, enjoy food and beverages, and participate in pep rallies and team walks.
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesday. $10 with a game ticket, $15 without. Georgia World Congress Center, Halls C1-C3, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta. chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/events.
PrimeSport MVP Tailgate
This tailgate event will run right up to kickoff Wednesday in the Georgia Ballroom of the GWCC. Besides a pep rally, there’ll be a concert by country music singer Angela Reign and guitarist Barry Richman.
10 a.m.-noon Wednesday. $75. Georgia Ballroom, Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta. primesport.com/d/chick-fil-a-bowl-tickets.
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