The 2025-26 college football bowl schedule is long, detailed, and packed with matchups that could redefine perceptions of the season. If you’re trying to get oriented quickly, here’s a fresh, comprehensive rewrite that preserves every key bit of information while adding clarity and context. And yes, we’ll kick off with a strong hook to pull you in, then walk you through the schedule, the playoff structure, and a quick look back at CFP results through the years.
A bold reality check: the bowl lineup this year spans venues from sunlit Florida to snowy Idaho, and the playoff field features several programs that could flip title expectations on their heads. But here’s where it gets controversial: the balance between traditional powerhouses and rising programs in these bowls often sparks debate about which games truly crown the season’s best. As we work through the schedule, you’ll see a mix of marquee showdowns and sleeper contests that could reshape early power rankings for 2026.
2025-26 Bowl Schedule (All times in ET; updated as games finalize)
Saturday, Dec 13
- Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&M — 12:00 p.m., ABC, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- LA Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington — 8:00 p.m., ABC, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Tuesday, Dec 16
- Salute to Veterans Bowl: Troy vs. Jacksonville State — 9:00 p.m., ESPN, Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Wednesday, Dec 17
- Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs. South Florida — 5:00 p.m., ESPN, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
- 68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana vs. Delaware — 8:30 p.m., ESPN, Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
Thursday, Dec 18
- Xbox Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Missouri State — 9:00 p.m., ESPN2, Ford Center, Frisco, TX
Friday, Dec 19
- Myrtle Beach Bowl: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan — 11:00 a.m., ESPN, Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
- Gasparilla Bowl: Memphis vs. NC State — 2:30 p.m., ESPN, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
- College Football Playoff First Round Game: No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama — 8:00 p.m., ESPN, ABC, Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK
Saturday, Dec 20
- College Football Playoff First Round: No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) — 12:00 p.m., ESPN, ABC, Kyle Field, College Station, TX
- College Football Playoff First Round: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 20 Tulane — 3:30 p.m., TNT, HBO Max, truTV, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
- College Football Playoff First Round: No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 24 James Madison — 7:30 p.m., TNT, HBO Max, truTV, Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Monday, Dec 22
- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Washington State vs. Utah State — 2:00 p.m., ESPN, Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Tuesday, Dec 23
- Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss — 5:30 p.m., ESPN, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
- Frisco Bowl: UNLV vs. Ohio — 9:00 p.m., ESPN, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, TX
Wednesday, Dec 24
- Hawai'i Bowl: Cal vs. Hawai'i — 8:00 p.m., ESPN, Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
Friday, Dec 26
- GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern — 1:00 p.m., ESPN, Ford Field, Detroit, MI
- Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota — 4:30 p.m., ESPN, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
- First Responder Bowl: FIU vs. UTSA — 8:00 p.m., ESPN, Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
Saturday, Dec 27
- Military Bowl: Pitt vs. East Carolina — 11:00 a.m., ESPN, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
- Pinstripe Bowl: Clemson vs. Penn State — 12:00 p.m., ABC, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
- Fenway Bowl: UConn vs. Army — 2:15 p.m., ESPN, Fenway Park, Boston, MA
- Pop-Tarts Bowl: No. 12 BYU vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech — 3:30 p.m., ABC, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
- Arizona Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Fresno State — 4:30 p.m., The CW, Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
- New Mexico Bowl: No. 25 North Texas vs. San Diego State — 5:45 p.m., ESPN, University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
- Gator Bowl: Missouri vs. No. 19 Virginia — 7:30 p.m., ABC, EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
- Texas Bowl: LSU vs. No. 21 Houston — 9:15 p.m., ESPN, NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Monday, Dec 29
- Birmingham Bowl: (teams to be announced)
Tuesday, Dec 30
- Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech — 2:00 p.m., ESPN, Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
- Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs. Illinois — 5:30 p.m., ESPN, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
- Alamo Bowl: No. 16 USC vs. TCU — 9:00 p.m., ESPN, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Wednesday, Dec 31
- ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 23 Iowa vs. No. 14 Vanderbilt — 12:00 p.m., ESPN, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
- Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke — 2:00 p.m., CBS, Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
- Citrus Bowl: No. 13 Texas vs. No. 18 Michigan — 3:00 p.m., ABC, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
- Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. No. 15 Utah — 3:30 p.m., ESPN, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
- College Football Playoff Quarterfinal: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Fla.) winner — 7:30 p.m., ESPN, WatchESPN, AT&T Stadium (Cotton Bowl), Arlington, TX
Thursday, Jan 1
- College Football Playoff Quarterfinal: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 24 James Madison winner — 12:00 p.m., ESPN, WatchESPN, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
- College Football Playoff Quarterfinal: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama winner — 4:00 p.m., ESPN, WatchESPN, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
- College Football Playoff Quarterfinal: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 20 Tulane winner — 8:00 p.m., ESPN, WatchESPN, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Friday, Jan 2
- Armed Forces Bowl: Texas State vs. Rice — 1:00 p.m., ESPN, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
- Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Cincinnati — 4:30 p.m., ESPN, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN
- Duke's Mayo Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest — 8:00 p.m., ESPN, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
- Holiday Bowl: No. 17 Arizona vs. SMU — 8:00 p.m., FOX, Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Thursday, Jan 8
- College Football Playoff Semifinal: 7:30 p.m., ESPN, State Farm Stadium (Fiesta Bowl), Glendale, AZ
Friday, Jan 9
- College Football Playoff Semifinal: 7:30 p.m., ESPN, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Peach Bowl), Atlanta, GA
Monday, Jan 19
- College Football Playoff National Championship Game: 7:30 p.m., ESPN, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL
Playoff History recap (CFP since 2014):
- The College Football Playoff began in 2014, introducing a four-team knockout to determine the national champion. Here’s a quick snapshot of CFP results across the years to give you a sense of how the championship picture has evolved.
- 2014: No. 2 Oregon def. No. 1 Florida State in the championship after the Rose Bowl/ Sugar Bowl semis; Ohio State won the title that year in a dramatic finish.
- 2015–2024: The pattern shows repeated appearances by Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, and others, with multiple champions and several near-misses. The most notable trend is how the playoff format has shifted perceptions of what constitutes a “deserving” champion, sometimes elevating teams that peaked late in the season over those who started strong.
A few thoughts to spark discussion
- Which bowl games do you expect to be the sleepers that quietly decide the season’s momentum?
- Do you think the playoff matchups are sufficiently balanced this year, or will we see an upset that disrupts conventional power rankings?
- How would you interpret a controversial outcome in the semifinals or finals—does it reflect scheduling, seeding, or pure on-field performance?
If you’d like, I can add team-by-team previews for each bowl, projected starters, or historical rivalries that add extra flavor to specific games. Would you prefer a more data-driven breakdown with win probabilities and key stat matchups, or a narrative-style overview highlighting storylines and sleeper picks?
