The 2025-26 college football bowl season marks the second year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and another year of adjustment after sweeping conference realignment. Traditional bowl tie-ins remain in place, but flexibility and compelling matchups are now the priority.
Expect fewer predictable matchups and more creative pairings as bowl executives, conferences, and networks aim to generate maximum appeal. Geography, rankings, and program prestige will again play major roles in how this postseason unfolds.
As we continue into this new era, one thing is clear: this will be the most dynamic, meaningful bowl season yet for college football fans.
*Note: Bowl ties and affiliations are fluid and may change depending on CFP selections and conference availability.*
Keep track of North Carolina teams using our NCCFB Bowl Tracker:
2025-26 College Football Playoff Format
- The 5 highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids
- The 4 highest-ranked of those 5 get a first-round bye
- Remaining 8 teams play in first-round games on campus sites
- First Round: Dec. 19 (1 game), Dec. 20 (3 games)
- Quarterfinals: Dec. 31–Jan. 1 at Cotton, Orange, Rose, and Sugar Bowls
- Semifinals: Jan. 8 (Fiesta Bowl) and Jan. 9 (Peach Bowl)
- Championship: Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, FL
- If available:
- Big Ten champ → Rose Bowl
- SEC or Big 12 champ → Sugar Bowl
- ACC champ → Orange Bowl
2025-26 Bowl Tie-Ins and Conference Affiliations
*Note: Bowl tie-ins remain fluid due to the 12-team College Football Playoff and conference realignment. ESPN and bowl partners will prioritize competitive matchups and avoid repeat appearances where possible.*
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
- ACC Champion is likely in the CFP. Orange Bowl if top 4 seed; otherwise available to another ACC team.
- Primary Tie-Ins: Duke’s Mayo (vs SEC), Fenway (vs American), Holiday (vs former Pac-12), Military (vs American), Pinstripe (vs Big Ten), Pop-Tarts (vs Big 12), ReliaQuest (vs SEC), TaxSlayer Gator (vs SEC), Sun Bowl (vs former Pac-12)
- Alternate Affiliations: Birmingham, Gasparilla, First Responder
- Notre Dame is eligible for ACC bowls, but not considered ACC in the CFP.
American Conference
- Top-ranked G5 conference champion could reach the CFP.
- Primary Tie-Ins: Fenway (vs ACC), Independence (vs Big 12 or former Pac-12), Military (vs ACC)
- Rotating Tie-Ins: Armed Forces or Hawai’i
- Other Potential Bowls: Birmingham, Boca Raton, Cure, Frisco, Gasparilla, Myrtle Beach, New Mexico, First Responder
Big Ten Conference
- Big Ten Champion expected in CFP, often in Rose Bowl.
- Primary Tie-Ins: Rose (vs CFP), Citrus (vs SEC), Guaranteed Rate (vs Big 12), GameAbove Sports (vs MAC), Las Vegas (vs former Pac-12), Music City (vs SEC), Pinstripe (vs ACC), ReliaQuest (vs SEC)
- Former Pac-12 teams (USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington) remain eligible for legacy Pac-12 bowls one more season.
Big 12 Conference
- Champion likely in CFP. Sugar Bowl if top 4 conference champ.
- Primary Tie-Ins: Alamo (vs Pac-12), Pop-Tarts (vs ACC), Texas (vs SEC), Liberty (vs SEC), Guaranteed Rate (vs Big Ten), Independence (vs American)
- Alternate Affiliations: Armed Forces, First Responder
- Former Pac-12 members (Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah) eligible for former Pac-12 bowl ties.
Southeastern Conference (SEC)
- Champion expected in CFP. Sugar Bowl for top 4 seed.
- Primary Tie-Ins: Citrus (vs Big Ten), Liberty (vs Big 12), Duke’s Mayo (vs ACC), ReliaQuest (vs Big Ten or ACC), TaxSlayer Gator (vs ACC), Texas (vs Big 12), Music City (vs Big Ten)
- Alternate Affiliations: Birmingham, Gasparilla, First Responder
- SEC alternates between Duke’s Mayo and Las Vegas Bowl (2025 is expected to be Duke’s Mayo year).
Sun Belt Conference
- Top-ranked SBC champ could reach CFP.
- Primary Tie-Ins: New Orleans (vs CUSA), 68 Ventures (vs MAC)
- Other Possible Bowls: Boca Raton, Camellia, Cure, Frisco, Myrtle Beach, Famous Idaho Potato, New Mexico
Conference USA (CUSA)
- Top-ranked CUSA champ could reach CFP. Few guaranteed slots.
- Primary Tie-Ins: Bahamas (vs MAC), Frisco, Hawai’i, New Orleans (vs Sun Belt)
- Other Bowl Options: 68 Ventures, Boca Raton, Camellia, Cure, Gasparilla, Armed Forces, Myrtle Beach, New Mexico, Independence, First Responder
Mid-American Conference (MAC)
- Top-ranked MAC champ could reach CFP.
- Primary Tie-Ins: Bahamas (vs CUSA), Arizona Bowl (vs MWC), Potato Bowl (vs MWC), GameAbove Sports (vs Big Ten)
- Other Options: Boca Raton, Cure, Frisco, Camellia, Myrtle Beach, New Mexico
Mountain West Conference (MWC)
- Top-ranked MWC champ could reach CFP.
- Primary Tie-Ins: Arizona Bowl (vs MAC), Potato Bowl (vs MAC), Hawai’i Bowl (vs CUSA), LA Bowl (vs former Pac-12), New Mexico Bowl (vs CUSA)
- Other Options: Boca Raton, Cure, Frisco, First Responder, Guaranteed Rate
Pac-12 (Legacy Ties for 2025-26)
- Remaining former Pac-12 teams still eligible for legacy bowls.
- Legacy Bowl Access: Holiday (vs ACC), LA (vs MWC), Las Vegas (vs Big Ten), Independence (vs Big 12), Sun Bowl (vs ACC), Alamo (vs Big 12)
- Wazzu and Oregon State still working with MWC and eligible for these bowls.
Independents
- Notre Dame is eligible for ACC-affiliated bowls if not in CFP.
- UConn has no direct affiliations but may be selected as an at-large.
2025–26 College Football Bowl Schedule
Cricket Celebration Bowl
🗓️ Dec 13 (Sat)
⏰ 12:00 PM ET
📍 Atlanta, GA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
📺 ABC
🏈 Matchup: South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&M
Bucked Up LA Bowl
🗓️ Dec 13 (Sat)
⏰ 8:00 PM ET
📍 Inglewood, CA (SoFi Stadium)
📺 ABC
🏈 Matchup: Boise State vs. Washington
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
🗓️ Dec 16 (Tue)
⏰ 9:00 PM ET
📍 Montgomery, AL (Cramton Bowl)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Troy vs. Jacksonville State
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
🗓️ Dec 17 (Wed)
⏰ 5:00 PM ET
📍 Orlando, FL (Camping World Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Old Dominion vs. South Florida
68 Ventures Bowl
🗓️ Dec 17 (Wed)
⏰ 8:30 PM ET
📍 Mobile, AL (Hancock Whitney Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Louisiana vs. Delaware
XBox Bowl
🗓️ Dec 18 (Thu)
⏰ 12:00 PM ET
📍 Frisco, TX (Ford Center at The Star)
📺 ESPN 2
🏈 Matchup: Missouri State vs. Arkansas State
Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by Engine
🗓️ Dec 19 (Fri)
⏰ 12:00 AM ET
📍 Conway, SC (Brooks Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
🗓️ Dec 19 (Fri)
⏰ 2:30 PM ET
📍 Tampa, FL (Raymond James Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Memphis vs. NC State
College Football Playoff (First Round)
🗓️ Dec 19 (Fri)
⏰ 8:00 PM ET
📍 Norman, OK (Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: #8 Oklahoma vs. #9 Alabama
College Football Playoff (First Round)
🗓️ Dec 20 (Sat)
⏰ 12:00 PM ET
📍 College Station, TX (Kyle Field)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: #7 Texas A&M vs. #10 Miami
College Football Playoff (First Round)
🗓️ Dec 20 (Sat)
⏰ 3:30 PM ET
📍 Oxford, MS (Vaught-Hemingway Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: #6 Ole Miss vs. #11 Tulane
College Football Playoff (First Round)
🗓️ Dec 20 (Sat)
⏰ 7:30 PM ET
📍 Eugene, OR (Autzen Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: #5 Oregon vs. #12 James Madison
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
🗓️ Dec 22 (Mon)
⏰ 2:00 PM ET
📍 Boise, ID (Albertsons Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Washington State vs. Utah State
Bush's Boca Raton Bowl
🗓️ Dec 23 (Tue)
⏰ 2:00 PM ET
📍 Boca Raton, FL (Flagler Credit Union Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Toledo vs. Louisville
New Orleans Bowl
🗓️ Dec 23 (Tue)
⏰ 5:30 PM ET
📍 New Orleans, LA (Caesars Superdome)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
🗓️ Dec 23 (Tue)
⏰ 9:00 PM ET
📍 Frisco, TX (Ford Center at The Star)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: UNLV vs. Ohio
Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl
🗓️ Dec 24 (Wed)
⏰ 8:00 PM ET
📍 Honolulu, HI (Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: California vs. Hawaii
GameAbove Sports Bowl
🗓️ Dec 26 (Fri)
⏰ 1:00 PM ET
📍 Detroit, MI (Ford Field)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Central Michigan vs. Nortwestern
Rate Bowl
🗓️ Dec 26 (Fri)
⏰ 4:30 PM ET
📍 Phoenix, AZ (Chase Field)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: New Mexico vs. Minnesota
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
🗓️ Dec 26 (Fri)
⏰ 8:00 PM ET
📍 Dallas, TX (Gerald J. Ford Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: FIU vs. UTSA
Go Bowling Military Bowl
🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)
⏰ 11:00 AM ET
📍 Annapolis, MD (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Pitt vs. East Carolina
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)
⏰ 12:00 PM ET
📍 Bronx, NY (Yankee Stadium)
📺 ABC
🏈 Matchup: Penn State vs. Clemson
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)
⏰ 2:15 PM ET
📍 Boston, MA (Fenway Park)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: UConn vs. Army
Pop-Tarts Bowl
🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)
⏰ 3:30 PM ET
📍 Orlando, FL (Camping World Stadium)
📺 ABC
🏈 Matchup: Georgia Tech vs. BYU
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop
🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)
⏰ 4:30 PM ET
📍 Tucson, AZ (Arizona Stadium)
📺 CW Network
🏈 Matchup: Miami (OH) vs. Frenso State
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)
⏰ 5:45 PM ET
📍 Albuquerque, NM (Branch Field at University Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: North Texas vs. San Diego State
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)
⏰ 7:30 PM ET
📍 Jacksonville, FL (EverBank Stadium)
📺 ABC
🏈 Matchup: Virginia vs. Missouri
Kinder's Texas Bowl
🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)
⏰ 9:15 PM ET
📍 Houston, TX (NRG Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: LSU vs. Houston
JLAB Birmingham Bowl
🗓️ Dec 29 (Mon)
⏰ 2:00 PM ET
📍 Birmingham, AL (Protective Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Georgia Southern vs. App State
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
🗓️ Dec 30 (Tue)
⏰ 2:00 PM ET
📍 Shreveport, LA (Independence Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl
🗓️ Dec 30 (Tue)
⏰ 5:30 PM ET
📍 Nashville, TN (Nissan Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Tennessee vs. Illinois
Valero Alamo Bowl
🗓️ Dec 30 (Tue)
⏰ 9:00 PM ET
📍 San Antonio, TX (Alamodome)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: USC vs. TCU
ReliaQuest Bowl
🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)
⏰ 12:00 PM ET
📍 Tampa, FL (Raymond James Stadium)
📺 TBA
🏈 Matchup: Iowa vs. Vanderbilt
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)
⏰ 2:00 PM ET
📍 El Paso, TX (Sun Bowl Stadium)
📺 CBS
🏈 Matchup: Arizona State vs. Duke
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)
⏰ 3:00 PM ET
📍 Orlando, FL (Camping World Stadium)
📺 ABC
🏈 Matchup: Michigan vs. Texas
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)
⏰ 3:30 PM ET
📍 Las Vegas, NV (Allegiant Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Nebraska vs. Utah
Goodyear Cotton Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)
🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)
⏰ 7:30 PM ET
📍 Arlington, TX (AT&T Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: #2 Ohio State vs. #7 Texas A&M/#10 Miami
Capital One Orange Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)
🗓️ Jan 1 (Thu)
⏰ 12:00 PM ET
📍 Miami Gardens, FL (Hard Rock Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: #4 Texas Tech vs. #5 Oregon/#12 James Madison
Rose Bowl Game (CFP Quarterfinal)
🗓️ Jan 1 (Thu)
⏰ 4:00 PM ET
📍 Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: #1 Indiana vs. #8 Oklahoma/#9 Alabama
Allstate Sugar Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)
🗓️ Jan 1 (Thu)
⏰ 8:00 PM ET
📍 New Orleans, LA (Caesars Superdome)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: #3 Georgia vs. #6 Ole Miss/#11 Tulane
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
🗓️ Jan 2 (Fri)
⏰ 1:00 PM ET
📍 Fort Worth, TX (Amon G. Carter Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Rice vs. Texas State
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
🗓️ Jan 2 (Fri)
⏰ 4:30 PM ET
📍 Memphis, TN (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Navy vs. Cincinati
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
🗓️ Jan 2 (Fri)
⏰ 8:00 PM ET
📍 Charlotte, NC (Bank of America Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State
Trust and Will Holiday Bowl
🗓️ Jan 2 (Fri)
⏰ 8:00 PM ET
📍 San Diego, CA (Snapdragon Stadium)
📺 Fox
🏈 Matchup: Arizona vs. SMU
VRBO Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
🗓️ Jan 8 (Thu)
⏰ 7:30 PM ET
📍 Glendale, AZ (State Farm Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: TBA
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
🗓️ Jan 9 (Fri)
⏰ 7:30 PM ET
📍 Atlanta, GA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: TBA
CFP National Championship
🗓️ Jan 19 (Mon)
⏰ 7:30 PM ET
📍 Miami Gardens, FL (Hard Rock Stadium)
📺 ESPN
🏈 Matchup: TBA
*All times Eastern and subject to change. Check back for final matchups and score updates.*
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