Non-Playoff Bowls
December 12
Celebration Bowl
- Matchup: Howard vs. Alabama A&M
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Time: 12 PM ET | ABC
- Tie-in: MEAC Champion vs. SWAC Champion
December 15
Salute to Veterans Bowl
- Matchup: UConn vs. Middle Tennessee
- Location: Montgomery, AL
- Time: 5:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Group of Five vs. Group of Five
Frisco Football Classic
- Matchup: Louisiana vs. Wyoming
- Location: Frisco, TX
- Time: 9 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Group of Five vs. Group of Five
December 16
San Juan Bowl
- Matchup: Appalachian State vs. NC State
- Location: San Juan, PR
- Time: 1:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Sun Belt vs. ACC
This could get messy. As of now, there are two bowls in Puerto Rico. The San Juan Bowl will pair the ACC with the Sun Belt. This is an outstanding opportunity for in-state bragging rights for multiple schools. This week, I give Appalachian State the nod and a chance to play NC State.
December 18
Boca Raton Bowl
- Matchup: Ohio vs. FAU
- Location: Boca Raton, FL
- Time: 11 AM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Group of Five vs. Group of Five
Gasparilla Bowl
- Matchup: USF vs. Virginia Tech
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Time: 12 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Group of Five vs. Group of Five
December 21
Myrtle Beach Bowl
- Matchup: Liberty vs. Toledo
- Location: Conway, SC
- Time: 11 AM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-large vs. At-Large
Once again, I project the Conference USA and MAC champions to play in Myrtle Beach. Liberty being a more northern school in Conference USA makes this a more attractive destination for them. Toledo never playing in this bowl also aids this matchup.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
- Matchup: North Texas vs. North Dakota State
- Location: Boise, ID
- Time: 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-large vs. At-Large
With North Dakota State’ second loss, this goes from being a game between the Mountain West champion and Sun Belt champion, to one simply featuring strong non-champions. North Texas is a logical opponent here. The Mean Green could use a change of scenery. They appeared in DFW bowls in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The New Mexico Bowl would have been a logical destination if they had not appeared last year.
December 22
Puerto Rico Bowl
- Matchup: FIU vs. Eastern Michigan
- Location: San Juan, PR
- Time: 1:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-large vs. MAC
Cure Bowl
- Matchup: South Alabama vs. Western Michigan
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Time: 5 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Group of Five vs. Group of Five
Independence Bowl
- Matchup: Oregon State vs. Cincinnati
- Location: Shreveport, LA
- Time: 8:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Legacy PAC-12 #6 vs. Big 12 (Sun Belt backup tie-in)
December 23
New Orleans Bowl
- Matchup: Middle Tennessee vs. Louisiana Tech
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Time: 2 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Conference USA vs. Sun Belt
Armed Forces Bowl
- Matchup: West Virginia vs. Army
- Location: Fort Worth, TX
- Time: 5:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Group of Five vs. At-large
This is a rematch of the 2020 Liberty Bowl, which West Virginia won 24-21.
Poinsettia Bowl
- Matchup: Washington vs. Fresno State
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Time: 7:30 PM ET | The CW
- Tie-in: New PAC-12 Member #2 vs. Former PAC-12 school #7
Frisco Bowl
- Matchup: Georgia Southern vs. Tulsa
- Location: Frisco, TX
- Time: 9 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-Large vs. At-Large
December 24
New Mexico Bowl
- Matchup: UTSA vs. New Mexico
- Location: Albuquerque, NM
- Time: 2:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Mountain West vs. At-Large
Hawai’i Bowl
- Matchup: Texas State vs. Air Force
- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Time: 8 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: New PAC-12 member #2 vs. Mountain West
After appearing in the DFW for their last three bowls from 2021 to 2023, the Falcons get an island reprieve. This would be Air Force’s first appearance on the island for a bowl game since 1998, when they went 12-1 and won the WAC. They capped their dream year with a 45-25 win in the Oahu Bowl over Washington.
December 26
Pinstripe Bowl
- Matchup: Duke vs. Minnesota
- Location: Bronx, NY
- Time: 12 PM ET | ABC
- Tie-in: ACC vs. Big 10 non-CFP #5
Fenway Bowl
- Matchup: Delaware vs. UMass
- Location: Boston, MA
- Time: 2 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: AAC vs. At-Large
These two former Yankee Conference/Atlantic 10/CAA rivals have not met since 2011. Delaware leads the series 25-7.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
- Matchup: Michigan vs. Clemson
- Location: Charlotte, NC
- Time: 3:30 PM ET | ABC
- Tie-in: ACC vs. Big 10 non-CFP #3
68 Ventures Bowl
- Matchup: Ohio vs. Louisiana
- Location: Mobile, AL
- Time: 5:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-Large vs. At-Large
Cactus Bowl
- Matchup: Cincinnati vs. Nebraska
- Location: Tempe, AZ
- Time: 7:30 PM ET | ABC
- Tie-in: Big 12 vs. Big Ten non-CFP #6
December 28
Military Bowl
- Matchup: UTSA vs. North Carolina
- Location: Annapolis, MD
- Time: 2 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: American vs. ACC
Holiday Bowl
- Matchup: USC vs. Clemson
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Time: 5 PM ET | The CW
- Tie-in: ACC vs. Legacy PAC-12 member #3
December 29
Birmingham Bowl
- Matchup: Jacksonville State vs. UAB
- Location: Birmingham, AL
- Time: 2 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-Large vs. At-Large
This would be the seventh meeting between these two Yellowhammer State schools. UAB leads the series 4-2.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
- Matchup: Houston vs. Wake Forest
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Time: 5:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: ACC vs. Big 12
Alamo Bowl
- Matchup: Texas Tech vs. Oregon
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Time: 9 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Legacy PAC-12 member #1 vs. Big 12
December 30
Gator Bowl
- Matchup: Florida State vs. LSU
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
- Time: 11:30 AM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: SEC vs. ACC
Music City Bowl
- Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Kentucky
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Time: 2 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Big 10 non-CFP #4 vs. SEC
December 31
Reliaquest Bowl
- Matchup: Florida vs. Northwestern
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Time: 3 PM ET | ABC
- Tie-in: SEC vs. Big Ten non-CFP #2
Sun Bowl
- Matchup: SMU vs. USC
- Location: El Paso, TX
- Time: 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Former PAC-12 member #4 vs. ACC
SMU would be the first Texas team to play in the Sun Bowl since 1999. SMU has not appeared in the Sun Bowl since 1982.
Las Vegas Bowl
- Matchup: Mississippi State vs. Arizona
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Time: 3:45 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Legacy PAC-12 member #2 vs. SEC
Texas Bowl
- Matchup: Auburn vs. Oklahoma State
- Location: Houston, TX
- Time: 7.30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: SEC vs. Big 12
January 2
Citrus Bowl
- Matchup: Iowa vs. Tennessee
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Time: 12 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Big Ten non-CFP #1 vs. SEC
First Responder Bowl
- Matchup: Memphis vs. Louisville
- Location: College Park, TX
- Time: 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-Large vs. At-Large
Liberty Bowl
- Matchup: Missouri vs. Kansas State
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Time: 7 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: SEC vs. Big 12 (American Conference Backup)
This would be the 100th meeting between these former Big 8 and Big 12 rivals. The series dates back to 1909 and Missouri leads 61-33-5.
Arizona Bowl
- Matchup: Buffalo vs. UNLV
- Location: Tucson, AZ
- Time: TBD | The CW
- Tie-in: MAC vs. Mountain West
College Football Playoff
First Round
- #5 Georgia vs. #12 Boise State
- #6 Notre Dame vs. #11 Mississippi
- #7 Indiana vs. #10 BYU
- #8 Alabama vs. #9 Texas
Quarterfinals
Fiesta Bowl
- Matchup: #2 Ohio State vs. #7 Indiana
- Location: Glendale, AZ
- Date: December 30th
Peach Bowl
- Matchup: #1 Miami vs. #8 Alabama
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Date: January 1st | 12 PM ET
Rose Bowl
- Matchup: #3 UCLA vs. #6 Notre Dame
- Location: Pasadena, CA
- Date: January 1st | 4 PM ET
Cotton Bowl
- Matchup: #4 Utah vs. #5 Georgia
- Location: Arlington, TX
- Date: January 1st | 8 PM ET
Semifinals
Orange Bowl
- Matchup: #1 Miami vs. #5 Utah
- Location: Miami Gardens, FL
- Date: January 14th | 7:30 PM ET
Sugar Bowl
- Matchup: #6 Notre Dame vs. #2 Ohio State
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Date: January 15th | 7:30 PM ET
National Championship Game
- Matchup: #6 Notre Dame vs. #1 Miami
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Date: January 19th | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN
