2025-26 FBS bowl games and all-star games
| Division I regular season |
|---|
| FBS bowl and all-star games |
| Lower divisions |
The FBS postseason was again headlined by the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The major change this year is that the top seeds and byes to major bowl games were given to the four best teams, as deemed by the committee, not necessarily to conference champions.
TV coverage for the CFP was similar to that of 2024-25, with ESPN and ABC simulcasting two first-round games, TNT showing the others via sublicense, and ESPN showing exclusively the rest of the way. Games shown on ESPN and/or ABC returned with the MegaCast element, with supplemental feeds and talk shows. Please note that MegaCast was not available for the games on TNT Sports.
As for the rest of the schedule, it once again began early on the same date as the Army-Navy Game and Heisman Trophy ceremony. The Xbox Bowl was introduced, while the Bahamas Bowl was not played, keeping the total number of postseason games the same. The Xbox Bowl took place at the stadium at the Cowboys' training facility, where the Frisco Bowl had been relocated due to renovations at Toyota Stadium.
The Sun Bowl was to be Gary Danielson's last telecast as an analyst after 38 seasons at CBS and ESPN.
In the following CFP listings, the seed is the small number, but the actual final rankings are in parentheses. (In a shocking development, Notre Dame, ranked 11th in the final CFP panel and the first at-large candidate eliminated, declined an invitation to appear in any bowls.)
Television
College Football Playoff
In all games shown by ESPN and/or ABC, audio feeds from the participating teams were synced to video and put on the ESPN app.
Friday 12/19
*1st rd.: 9(9)Alabama @ 8(8)Oklahoma, 8:00, ESPN/ABC - Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, Laura Rutledge
MegaCast: "Command center" on ESPNews, "SkyCast" feeds on ESPNU (OKLA radio) and SECN (ALA radio)
Saturday 12/20
*1st rd.: 10(10)Miami @ 7(7)Texas A&M, 12:00, ESPN/ABC - Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath, Taylor McGregor
MegaCast: The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN2, "SkyCast" feeds on ESPNU (natural sound), SECN (A&M radio), and ACCN (MIA radio)
1st rd.: 11(20)Tulane @ 6(6)Ole Miss, 3:30, TNT/TruTV - Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, Katie George, Quint Kessenich
1st rd.: 12(24)James Madison @ 5(5)Oregon, 7:30, TNT/TruTV - Bob Wischusen, Louis Reddick, Kris Budden, Stormy Buonantony
Wednesday 12/31
Qtr.: Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington, TX): MIA/A&M winner vs. 2(2)Ohio State, 7:30, ESPN
Thursday 1/1
Qtr.: Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, FL): JMU/ORE winner vs. 4(4)Texas Tech, 12:00, ESPN
Qtr.: Rose Bowl Game (Pasadena, CA): ALA/OKLA winner vs. 1(1)Indiana, 4:00, ESPN - Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, Laura Rutledge
Qtr.: Sugar Bowl (New Orleans): TLN/MISS winner vs. 3(3)Georgia, 8:00, ESPN
Thursday 1/8
Semi.: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ): Sugar winner vs. Cotton winner, 7:30, ESPN
Friday 1/9
Semi.: Peach Bowl (Atlanta): Orange winner vs. Rose winner, 7:30, ESPN
Monday 1/19
CFP Natl. Champ. (Miami Gardens), 7:30, ESPN - Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, Laura Rutledge
*College GameDay site
Remaining schedule
Saturday 12/13
[1][2]LA Bowl (Inglewood, CA): Washington vs. Boise State, 8:00, ABC - Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor
Tuesday 12/16
[3]Salute to Veterans Bowl (Montgomery, AL): Troy vs. Jacksonville State, 9:00, ESPNU/ESPN(JIP) - Matt Barrie, Tom Luginbill, Harry Lyles Jr.
ESPN JIP'ed at 9:22 ET and with 7:38 to go in the 1st quarter.
Wednesday 12/17
[3]Cure Bowl (Orlando, FL): Old Dominion vs. South Florida, 5:00, ESPN - Dave Neal, Fozzy Whitaker, Morgan Uber
68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, AL): Delaware vs. Louisiana, 8:30, ESPNews/ESPN(JIP) - Clay Matvick, Max Browne, Alyssa Lang
ESPN JIP'ed at 8:47 ET and with 10:16 to go in the 1st quarter.
Thursday 12/18
Xbox Bowl (Frisco, TX): Missouri State vs. Arkansas State, 9:00, ESPN2 - Jorge Sedano, Rodney McLeod, Victoria Arlen
Friday 12/19
[4]Myrtle Beach Bowl: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan, 11:00AM, ESPN - Matt Schumacker, Dustin Fox, Marilyn Payne
[5]Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, FL): Memphis vs. NC State, 2:30, ESPN - Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra
Monday 12/22
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, ID): Washington State vs. Utah State, 2:00, ESPN - Chuckie Kempf, Darius Walker, Tori Petry
Tuesday 12/23
Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville vs. Toledo, 2:00, ESPN - Jay Alter, Rocky Boiman, Ashley Stroehlein
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss, 5:30, ESPN - Courtney Lyle, Rene Ingoglia, Ian Fitzsimmons
Frisco Bowl: UNLV vs. Ohio, 9:00, ESPN - Wes Durham, Steve Addazio, Dana Boyle
Wednesday 12/24
Hawaii Bowl: California vs. Hawaii, 8:00, ESPN - Chris Cotter, Max Browne, Harry Lyles Jr.
Friday 12/26
GameAbove Sports Bowl (Detroit): Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, 1:00, ESPN - Matt Schumacker, Dustin Fox, Ashley Stroehlein
Rate Bowl (Phoenix, AZ): New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 4:30, ESPN - Mike Monaco, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport
[3]First Responder Bowl (Dallas): Florida Intl. vs. UTSA, 8:00, ESPN - Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra
Saturday 12/27
Military Bowl (Annapolis, MD): East Carolina vs. Pittsburgh, 11:00AM, ESPN - Jay Alter, Rocky Boiman, Madison Fitzpatrick
Pinstripe Bowl (The Bronx): Clemson vs. Penn State, 12:00, ABC - Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor
Fenway Bowl (Boston): UConn vs. Army, 2:15, ESPN - Wes Durham, Steve Addazio, Dana Boyle
Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando): 22 Georgia Tech[6] vs. 12 BYU, 3:30, ABC - Mark Jones, Roddy Jones, Quint Kessenich
Arizona Bowl (Tucson): Fresno State vs. Miami [OH], 4:30, The CW - Thom Brennaman, Will Blackmon, Wes Bryant
[3]New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque): San Diego State vs. North Texas, 5:45, ESPN - Lowell Galindo, Aaron Murray, Lauren Sisler
Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, FL): Missouri vs. 19 Virginia, 7:30, ABC - Bob Wischusen, Louis Reddick, Kris Budden
Texas Bowl (Houston): 21 Houston vs. LSU, 9:15, ESPN - Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic(f)
Monday 12/29
[3]Birmingham Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Georgia Southern, 2:00, ESPN - Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Alyssa Lang
Tuesday 12/30
Independence Bowl (Shreveport, LA): Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech, 2:00, ESPN - Clay Matvick, Chase Daniel, Harry Lyles Jr.
Music City Bowl (Nashville, TN): Illinois vs. Tennessee, 5:30, ESPN - Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic(f)
Alamo Bowl (San Antonio): TCU vs. 16 USC, 9:00, ESPN - Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick, Paul Carcaterra
Wednesday 12/31
ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa): 14 Vanderbilt vs. 23 Iowa, 12:00, ESPN - Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, Taylor Davis
Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX): Duke vs. Arizona State, 2:00, CBS - Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Jenny Dell
Citrus Bowl (Orlando): 18 Michigan vs. 13 Texas, 3:00, ABC - Mark Jones, Roddy Jones, Alyssa Lang
Las Vegas Bowl (Paradise, NV): Nebraska vs. 15 Utah, 3:30, ESPN - Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, Dawn Davenport
Friday 1/2
Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, TX): Texas State vs. Rice, 1:00, ESPN - Lowell Galindo, Aaron Murray, Lauren Sisler
Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN): Navy vs. Cincinnati, 4:30, ESPN - Mike Monaco, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport
Holiday Bowl (San Diego): 17 Arizona vs. SMU, 8:00, FOX - Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft
Duke's Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, NC): Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State, 8:00, ESPN - Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra
Radio
College Football Playoff
Friday 12/19
1st rd.: 9(9)Alabama @ 8(8)Oklahoma, 8:00, ESPN - Mike Couzens, Max Starks, Cole Cubelic
Saturday 12/20
1st rd.: 10(10)Miami @ 7(7)Texas A&M, 12:00, ESPN - Marc Kestecher, Kelly Stouffer, Ian Fitzsimmons
1st rd.: 11(20)Tulane @ 6(6)Ole Miss, 3:30, ESPN - Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, Alyssa Lang
1st rd.: 12(24)James Madison @ 5(5)Oregon, 7:30, ESPN - Mike Monaco, Tom Luginbill, Dana Boyle
Wednesday 12/31
Qtr.: Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington, TX): MIA/A&M winner vs. 2(2)Ohio State, 7:30, ESPN
Thursday 1/1
Qtr.: Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, FL): JMU/ORE winner vs. 4(4)Texas Tech, 12:00, ESPN
Qtr.: Rose Bowl Game (Pasadena, CA): ALA/OKLA winner vs. 1(1)Indiana, 4:00, ESPN
Qtr.: Sugar Bowl (New Orleans): TLN/MISS winner vs. 3(3)Georgia, 8:00, ESPN
Thursday 1/8
Semi.: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ): Sugar winner vs. Cotton winner, 7:30, ESPN - Mark Kestecher, Kelly Stouffer, Ian Fitzsimmons; Blaze
Friday 1/9
Semi.: Peach Bowl (Atlanta): Orange winner vs. Rose winner, 7:30, ESPN - Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor
Monday 1/19
CFP Natl. Champ. (Miami Gardens), 7:30, ESPN - Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Ian Fitzsimmons
Remaining schedule
Saturday 12/13
LA Bowl (Inglewood, CA): Washington vs. Boise State, 8:00, ESPN - Mike Couzens, Max Browne
Tuesday 12/16
Salute to Veterans Bowl (Montgomery, AL): Troy vs. Jacksonville State, 9:00, BwlSzn - Travis Jones, Chad Pilcher, Maria Martin
Wednesday 12/17
Cure Bowl (Orlando, FL): Old Dominion vs. South Florida, 5:00, BwlSzn - Jamie Seh, Rene Ingoglia, Bridget Howard
68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, AL): Delaware vs. Louisiana, 8:30, BwlSzn - Mike Grace, Chad Pilcher, Randy Kennedy
Thursday 12/18
Xbox Bowl (Frisco, TX): Missouri State vs. Arkansas State, 9:00, BwlSzn - Kyle Youmans, Elvis Gallegos, Chris Mycoskie
Friday 12/19
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan, 11:00AM, BwlSzn - Travis Jones, Jay Sonnhalter, Molly Cotten
Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, FL): Memphis vs. NC State, 2:30, BwlSzn - Bill Roth, John Denton, Breanna Sorensen
Monday 12/22
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, ID): Washington State vs. Utah State, 2:00, BwlSzn - Paul Loeffler, Hans Olsen, Tim Murray
Tuesday 12/23
Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville vs. Toledo, 2:00, ESPN - Chris Carino, Freddie Coleman, Evan Cohen
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss, 5:30, ESPN - Matt Jones, Myron Medcalf
Frisco Bowl: UNLV vs. Ohio, 9:00, BwlSzn - Brian Estridge, Elvis Gallegos, Chris Mycoskie
Wednesday 12/24
Hawaii Bowl: California vs. Hawaii, 8:00, ESPN - Chris Cotter, Max Browne, Harry Lyles Jr. (simulcast)
Friday 12/26
GameAbove Sports Bowl (Detroit): Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, 1:00, BwlSzn - Kyle Wiggs, John Denton
Rate Bowl (Phoenix, AZ): New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 4:30, ESPN - Roxy Bernstein, Max Starks; Blaze
First Responder Bowl (Dallas): Florida Intl. vs. UTSA, 8:00, BwlSzn - Brian Estridge, Marshall Newhouse, Chris Mycoskie
Saturday 12/27
Military Bowl (Annapolis, MD): East Carolina vs. Pittsburgh, 11:00AM, BwlSzn - Travis Jones, Jay Sonnhalter, Meg Bulger
Pinstripe Bowl (The Bronx): Clemson vs. Penn State, 12:00, ESPN - Jorge Sedano, Trevor Matich, Caroline Hendershot
Fenway Bowl (Boston): UConn vs. Army, 2:15, BwlSzn - Kevin Gehl, John Denton, Molly Cotten
Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando): 22 Georgia Tech vs. 12 BYU, 3:30, ESPN - Sean Kelley, Rene Ingoglia, Mike Peasley
Arizona Bowl (Tucson): Fresno State vs. Miami [OH], 4:30, BwlSzn - Brian Roth, Mike Sanford, Tim Murray
New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque): San Diego State vs. North Texas, 5:45, BwlSzn - JJ Buck, LaDarrin McLane
Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, FL): Missouri vs. 19 Virginia, 7:30, Touchdown - J.P. Shadrick, Gino Torretta, K.C. Jones(f)
Texas Bowl (Houston): 21 Houston vs. LSU, 9:15, BwlSzn - Brian Estridge, Marshall Newhouse, Kyle Crews
Monday 12/29
Birmingham Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Georgia Southern, 2:00, BwlSzn - Andy Demetra, Chad Pilcher, Marilyn Payne
Tuesday 12/30
Independence Bowl (Shreveport, LA): Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech, 2:00, BwlSzn - Bruce Howard, John Denton, Chris Mycoskie
Music City Bowl (Nashville, TN): Illinois vs. Tennessee, 5:30, ESPN - Chris Cotter, Rocky Boiman, Stephanie Otey
Alamo Bowl (San Antonio): TCU vs. 16 USC, 9:00, ESPN - Jorge Sedano, Trevor Matich, Victoria Arlen
Wednesday 12/31
ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa): 14 Vanderbilt vs. 23 Iowa, 12:00, ESPN - Sean Kelley, Rene Ingoglia, Mike Peasley
Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX): Duke vs. Arizona State, 2:00, BwlSzn - Wyatt Thompson, Elvis Gallegos, Andy Morgan; Blaze
Citrus Bowl (Orlando): 18 Michigan vs. 13 Texas, 3:00, ESPN - Troy Clardy, Je'Rod Cherry, Marilyn Payne
Las Vegas Bowl (Paradise, NV): Nebraska vs. 15 Utah, 3:30, BwlSzn - Paul Loeffler, Marshall Newhouse, Tim Murray
Friday 1/2
Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, TX): Texas State vs. Rice, 1:00, BwlSzn - Brian Estridge, Marshall Newhouse, Elvis Gallegos
Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN): Navy vs. Cincinnati, 4:30, ESPN - Chris Carlin, Rocky Boiman, Marion Crowder
Holiday Bowl (San Diego): 17 Arizona vs. SMU, 8:00, Sirius XM84
Duke's Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, NC): Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State, 8:00, ESPN - Mike Couzens, Max Starks, Marilyn Payne
All-star games
- ↑ These bowl games were able to choose from any school that was in the Pac-12 before it was reduced to only two teams in 2024.
- ↑ Original start time and network were 9:00 and ESPN
- ↑ a b c d e At least one team in this game was chosen by ESPN Events from a pool of all "Group of 5" teams except Oregon State and Washington State.
- ↑ Original start time was 12:00
- ↑ Original start time was 3:30
- ↑ According to an unconfirmed report, Notre Dame was the original opponent for BYU.