ESPN has reportedly locked up rights to the new ‘Champions’ Bowl for the duration of the new college football playoff system. Sports Business Journal reported Monday that ESPN has acquired rights to the Champions Bowl from the 2014-15 season through the 2025-26 season. The new bowl game, which will pit teams from the SEC and Big 12 conferences, will air in primetime on New Year’s Day each year. According to the report, ESPN will pay $80 million per year for rights to the game, matching the rights fee the network will pay for the Rose Bowl over the same period. Along with the Orange Bowl and the aforementioned Rose Bowl, the Champions Bowl has a separate television contract from the overall college football playoff package. Each of the three bowls could serve as a venue for the national semifinals in a given year. ESPN is now one step closer to owning rights to the complete college football playoff system. The network now only needs to acquire rights to the Orange Bowl and the overall playoff package, reports Sports Media Watch.