Bowl Season

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)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk

🗓️ Dec 13 (Sat)

⏰ 9:00 PM ET

📍 Inglewood, CA (SoFi Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl

🗓️ Dec 16 (Tue)

⏰ 9:00 PM ET

📍 Montgomery, AL (Cramton Bowl)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

StaffDNA Cure Bowl

🗓️ Dec 17 (Wed)

⏰ 5:00 PM ET

📍 Orlando, FL (Camping World Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

68 Ventures Bowl

🗓️ Dec 17 (Wed)

⏰ 8:30 PM ET

📍 Mobile, AL (Hancock Whitney Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Myrtle Beach Bowl

🗓️ Dec 19 (Fri)

⏰ 12:00 PM ET

📍 Conway, SC (Brooks Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl

🗓️ Dec 19 (Fri)

⏰ 3:30 PM ET

📍 Tampa, FL (Raymond James Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

🗓️ Dec 22 (Mon)

⏰ 2:00 PM ET

📍 Boise, ID (Albertsons Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Boca Raton Bowl

🗓️ Dec 23 (Tue)

⏰ 2:00 PM ET

📍 Boca Raton, FL (Flagler Credit Union Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

New Orleans Bowl

🗓️ Dec 23 (Tue)

⏰ 5:30 PM ET

📍 New Orleans, LA (Caesars Superdome)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl

🗓️ Dec 23 (Tue)

⏰ 9:00 PM ET

📍 Frisco, TX (TBD)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl

🗓️ Dec 24 (Wed)

⏰ 8:00 or 9:00 PM ET

📍 Honolulu, HI (Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Servpro First Responder Bowl

🗓️ Dec 26 (Fri)

⏰ 8:00 PM ET

📍 Dallas, TX (Gerald J. Ford Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Go Bowling Military Bowl

🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)

⏰ 11:00 AM ET

📍 Annapolis, MD (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)

⏰ 12:00 PM ET

📍 Bronx, NY (Yankee Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Wasabi Fenway Bowl

🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)

⏰ 2:15 PM ET

📍 Boston, MA (Fenway Park)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Pop-Tarts Bowl

🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)

⏰ 3:30 PM ET

📍 Orlando, FL (Camping World Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop

🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)

⏰ 4:30 PM ET

📍 Tucson, AZ (Arizona Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)

⏰ 5:45 PM ET

📍 Albuquerque, NM (Branch Field at University Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)

⏰ 7:30 PM ET

📍 Jacksonville, FL (EverBank Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Kinder's Texas Bowl

🗓️ Dec 27 (Sat)

⏰ 9:15 PM ET

📍 Houston, TX (NRG Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Birmingham Bowl

🗓️ Dec 29 (Mon)

⏰ 2:00 PM ET

📍 Birmingham, AL (Protective Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

🗓️ Dec 30 (Tue)

⏰ 2:00 PM ET

📍 Shreveport, LA (Independence Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Music City Bowl

🗓️ Dec 30 (Tue)

⏰ 5:30 PM ET

📍 Nashville, TN (Nissan Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Valero Alamo Bowl

🗓️ Dec 30 (Tue)

⏰ 9:00 PM ET

📍 San Antonio, TX (Alamodome)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

ReliaQuest Bowl

🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)

⏰ 12:00 PM ET

📍 Tampa, FL (Raymond James Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)

⏰ 2:00 PM ET

📍 El Paso, TX (Sun Bowl Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)

⏰ 3:00 PM ET

📍 Orlando, FL (Camping World Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Goodyear Cotton Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)

🗓️ Dec 31 (Wed)

⏰ 4:00 PM ET

📍 Arlington, TX (AT&T Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Capital One Orange Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)

🗓️ Jan 1 (Thu)

⏰ 1:00 PM ET

📍 Miami Gardens, FL (Hard Rock Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Rose Bowl Game (CFP Quarterfinal)

🗓️ Jan 1 (Thu)

⏰ 5:00 PM ET

📍 Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Allstate Sugar Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal)

🗓️ Jan 1 (Thu)

⏰ 8:45 PM ET

📍 New Orleans, LA (Caesars Superdome)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

VRBO Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)

🗓️ Jan 8 (Thu)

⏰ 7:30 PM ET

📍 Glendale, AZ (State Farm Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal)

🗓️ Jan 9 (Fri)

⏰ 7:30 PM ET

📍 Atlanta, GA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

CFP National Championship

🗓️ Jan 19 (Mon)

⏰ 7:30 PM ET

📍 Miami Gardens, FL (Hard Rock Stadium)

📺 TBA

🏈 Matchup: TBA

*All times Eastern and subject to change. Check back for final matchups and score updates.*