Omar-Rashon Borja’s 2026 Week Ten Bowl Projections
Explore college football bowl projections, from December matchups to the playoff bracket, semifinals and a Notre Dame–Miami national championship.
Non-Playoff Bowls
December 12
Celebration Bowl
- Matchup: South Carolina State 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: Miami (OH) vs. Marshall
- Location: Montgomery, AL
- Time: 5:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Group of Five vs. Group of Five
These two MAC rivals would meet for the first time since 2018. Miami leads the series 30-14-1.
Frisco Football Classic
- Matchup: NC State 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. North Carolina
- 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 North Carolina.
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. Penn State
- 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: Washington vs. Baylor
- 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. James Madison
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Time: 2 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Conference USA vs. Sun Belt
This would represent the New Orleans Bowl’s last chance to invite James Madison before they go to the American. Dukes fans would enjoy a trip to the Big Easy and the Superdome.
Armed Forces Bowl
- Matchup: Arkansas State vs. Army
- Location: Fort Worth, TX
- Time: 5:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Group of Five vs. At-large
Poinsettia Bowl
- Matchup: UConn 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
Since the Poinsettia Bowl is in its first year, there is no clear idea of what the league’s backup plan would be. I do not expect the PAC-12’s legacy schools to play in the bowl since I project UCLA and Utah to make the Playoff.
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: Louisiana Tech 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: UAB vs. Jacksonville State
- Location: Mobile, AL
- Time: 5:30 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.
Cactus Bowl
- Matchup: West Virginia vs. Penn State
- 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. Syracuse
- Location: Annapolis, MD
- Time: 2 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: American vs. ACC
Holiday Bowl
- Matchup: USC vs. Virginia Tech
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Time: 5 PM ET | The CW
- Tie-in: ACC vs. Legacy PAC-12 member #3
December 29
Birmingham Bowl
- Matchup: Illinois vs. Memphis
- Location: Birmingham, AL
- Time: 2 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-Large vs. At-Large
Pop-Tarts Bowl
- Matchup: Houston vs. Notre Dame
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Time: 5:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: ACC vs. Big 12
This game is a rematch of the famous 1979 Cotton Bowl “Chicken Soup Game”, where Joe Montana led the Irish in a comeback 35-34 victory.
Alamo Bowl
- Matchup: BYU 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: Pitt vs. LSU
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
- Time: 11:30 AM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: SEC vs. ACC
Music City Bowl
- Matchup: Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
- 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. Oregon State
- Location: El Paso, TX
- Time: 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: Former PAC-12 member #4 vs. ACC
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: Louisiana vs. Louisville
- Location: College Park, TX
- Time: 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: At-Large vs. At-Large
Liberty Bowl
- Matchup: Missouri vs. UCF
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Time: 7 PM ET | ESPN
- Tie-in: SEC vs. Big 12 (American Conference Backup)
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 Alabama vs. #12 Boise State
- #6 Texas vs. #11 Wake Forest
- #7 Kentucky vs. #10 Texas Tech
- #8 UCLA vs. #9 Ohio State
Quarterfinals
Fiesta Bowl
- Matchup: #2 Utah vs. #7 Kentucky
- Location: Glendale, AZ
- Date: December 30th
Peach Bowl
- Matchup: #1 Miami vs. #8 UCLA
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Date: January 1st | 12 PM ET
Rose Bowl
- Matchup: #3 Indiana vs. #6 Texas
- Location: Pasadena, CA
- Date: January 1st | 4 PM ET
Cotton Bowl
- Matchup: #4 Georgia vs. #5 Alabama
- Location: Arlington, TX
- Date: January 1st | 8 PM ET
Semifinals
Orange Bowl
- Matchup: #1 Miami vs. #5 Alabama
- Location: Miami Gardens, FL
- Date: January 14th | 7:30 PM ET
Sugar Bowl
- Matchup: #2 Utah vs. #3 Indiana
- 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
