The 2025–26 NCAA football bowl games were a series of college football bowl games in the United States, most of which were played to complete the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Team-competitive bowl games in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) began on December 13, 2025, and concluded with the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 19, 2026. Several all-star games followed.
Schedule
Division I FBS bowl games College Football Playoff bowl games
The College Football Playoff system was used to determine a national champion of DivisionI FBS college football. This was the 12th year of the College Football Playoff era, and the second year using an expanded, 12-team format.
A committee of experts ranked the top25 FBS teams after each of the final six weeks of the regular season. Upon release of the final rankings, the top five ranked conference champions were selected to compete in the playoff, along with the seven highest ranked remaining teams. The top four ranked teams received a first-round bye.
The first round of games were played at campus sites on December19 and 20, 2025. The quarterfinal and semifinal rounds were played at the New Year's Six bowl games. The quarterfinal games were played on December31, 2025, and January1, 2026, at the Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. The semifinal games were played on January8 and 9, 2026, at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl. The winners advanced to the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship, played on January19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
All times are EST (UTC−5). + College Football Playoff gamesDateTime GameSiteTeamsAffiliationsResultsAttendanceTelevisionNetworkU.S.viewers(millions)Dec198:00pm On-campus(First round)Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OklahomaNo. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (10–3)No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (10–2)SECSECAlabama 34Oklahoma 2483,550ABC, ESPN,ESPN2, ESPNews 14.94Dec20NoonKyle FieldCollege Station, TexasNo. 10 Miami Hurricanes (10–2)No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies (11–1)ACCSECMiami (FL) 10Texas A&M 3104,122ABC, ESPN,ESPN2, ESPNU 14.723:30pmVaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MississippiNo. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (11–1)No. 20 Tulane Green Wave (11–2)SECAmericanOle Miss 41Tulane 10 68,251TNT Sports(TNT, TBS,TruTV, HBO Max) 6.207:30pmAutzen StadiumEugene, OregonNo. 5 Oregon Ducks (11–1)No. 24 James Madison Dukes (12–1)Big TenSun Belt55,124 4.36Dec317:30pmCotton Bowl(Quarterfinal)AT&T StadiumArlington, Texas No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (11–2)No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (12–1)ACCBig TenMiami (FL) 24Ohio State 1471,323ESPN, ESPN2,ESPNU, ESPNews 19.02Jan1NoonOrange Bowl(Quarterfinal)Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FloridaNo. 5 Oregon Ducks (12–1)No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12–1)Big TenBig 12Oregon 23Texas Tech 0 65,021 15.904:00pmRose Bowl(Quarterfinal)Rose BowlPasadena, CaliforniaNo. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (13–0)No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (11–3)Big TenSECIndiana 38Alabama 3 90,278 23.908:00pmSugar Bowl(Quarterfinal)Caesars SuperdomeNew Orleans, LouisianaNo. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (12–1)No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (12–1)SECSECOle Miss 39Georgia 34 68,371 18.66Jan87:30pmFiesta Bowl(Semifinal)State Farm StadiumGlendale, Arizona No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (12–2)No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (13–1)ACCSECMiami (FL) 31Ole Miss 27 67,928 15.8Jan97:30pmPeach Bowl(Semifinal)Mercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GeorgiaNo. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (14–0)No. 5 Oregon Ducks (13–1)Big TenBig TenIndiana 56Oregon 22 75,604 18.0Jan197:30pmCollege Football PlayoffNational ChampionshipHard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FloridaNo. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (15–0)No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (13–2)Big TenACCIndiana 27Miami (FL) 21 67,227 30.1
Non-CFP bowl games The 2025–26 bowl game lineup had one change from the previous season: the Bahamas Bowl was replaced with the Xbox Bowl. The Frisco Bowl was temporarily relocated to the Ford Center at The Star to accommodate renovations at Toyota Stadium.
Bowl games that were not part of the College Football Playoff are listed below. Final CFP rankings, issued before these games were played, are listed where applicable.
+ Non-College Football Playoff gamesDateTimeGameSiteTeamsAffiliationsResultsAttendanceTelevisionNetworkU.S.viewers(millions)Dec 138:00 pmLA BowlSoFi StadiumInglewood, CaliforniaWashington Huskies (8–4)Boise State Broncos (9–4)Big TenMWWashington 38Boise State: 10 23,269ABC3.79Dec 169:00 pmSalute to Veterans BowlCramton BowlMontgomery, AlabamaJacksonville State Gamecocks (8–5)Troy Trojans (8–5)CUSASun BeltJacksonville State 17Troy: 1315,721ESPN0.96Dec 175:00 pmCure BowlCamping World StadiumOrlando, FloridaOld Dominion Monarchs (9–3)South Florida Bulls (9–3)Sun BeltAmericanOld Dominion 24South Florida: 1015,0361.188:30 pm68 Ventures BowlHancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AlabamaDelaware Fightin' Blue Hens (6–6)Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (6–6)CUSASun BeltDelaware: 20Louisiana: 1317,2341.19Dec 189:00 pmXbox BowlFord Center at The StarFrisco, TexasArkansas State Red Wolves (6–6)Missouri State Bears (7–5)Sun BeltCUSAArkansas State 34Missouri State 287,782ESPN20.46Dec 1911:00 amMyrtle Beach BowlBrooks StadiumConway, South CarolinaWestern Michigan Broncos (9–4)Kennesaw State Owls (10–3)MACCUSAWestern Michigan 41Kennesaw State 69,139ESPN0.812:30 pmGasparilla BowlRaymond James StadiumTampa, FloridaNC State Wolfpack (7–5)Memphis Tigers (8–4)ACCAmericanNC State 31Memphis 713,3361.51Dec 222:00 pmFamous Idaho Potato BowlAlbertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoWashington State Cougars (6–6)Utah State Aggies (6–6)Pac-12MWWashington State 34Utah State 2117,0311.25Dec 232:00 pmBoca Raton BowlFlagler Credit Union StadiumBoca Raton, FloridaLouisville Cardinals (8–4)Toledo Rockets (8–4)ACCMACLouisville 27Toledo 2215,3291.645:30 pmNew Orleans BowlCaesars SuperdomeNew Orleans, LouisianaWestern Kentucky Hilltoppers (8–4)Southern Miss Golden Eagles (7–5)CUSASun Belt16,6932.059:00 pmFrisco BowlFord Center at The StarFrisco, TexasOhio Bobcats (8–4)UNLV Rebels (10–3)MACMW Ohio 17UNLV 106,5211.70Dec 248:00 pmHawaii BowlChing Athletics ComplexHonolulu, HawaiiHawaii Rainbow Warriors (8–4)California Golden Bears (7–5)MWACCHawaii 35California 3115,1942.70Dec 261:00 pmGameAbove Sports BowlFord FieldDetroit, MichiganNorthwestern Wildcats (6–6)Central Michigan Chippewas (7–5)Big TenMACNorthwestern 34Central Michigan 727,8572.394:30 pmRate BowlChase FieldPhoenix, ArizonaMinnesota Golden Gophers (7–5)New Mexico Lobos (9–3)Big TenMWMinnesota 20New Mexico 1727,4394.438:00 pmFirst Responder BowlGerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TexasUTSA Roadrunners (6–6)FIU Panthers (7–5)AmericanCUSAUTSA 57FIU 208,6713.13Dec 2711:00 amMilitary BowlNavy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MarylandEast Carolina Pirates (8–4)Pittsburgh Panthers (8–4)AmericanACCEast Carolina 23Pittsburgh 1717,0162.51NoonPinstripe BowlYankee StadiumBronx, New YorkPenn State Nittany Lions (6–6)Clemson Tigers (7–5)Big TenACCPenn State 22Clemson 1041,101ABC7.602:15 pmFenway BowlFenway ParkBoston, MassachusettsArmy Black Knights (6–6)UConn Huskies (9–3)AmericanIndependentArmy 41UConn 1622,461ESPN1.813:30 pmPop-Tarts BowlCamping World StadiumOrlando, FloridaNo. 12 BYU Cougars (11–2)No. 24 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9–3)Big 12ACCBYU 25Georgia Tech 21 34,126ABC8.704:30 pmArizona BowlCasino Del Sol StadiumTucson, ArizonaFresno State Bulldogs (8–4)Miami (OH) RedHawks (7–6)MWMACFresno State 18Miami (OH) 337,232The CW0.645:45 pmNew Mexico BowlUniversity StadiumAlbuquerque, New MexicoNo. 25 North Texas Mean Green (11–2)San Diego State Aztecs (9–3)AmericanMWNorth Texas 49San Diego State 4718,867ESPN1.397:30 pmGator BowlEverBank StadiumJacksonville, FloridaNo. 19 Virginia Cavaliers (10–3)Missouri Tigers (8–4)ACCSECVirginia 13Missouri 731,802ABC5.979:15 pmTexas BowlNRG StadiumHouston, TexasNo. 21 Houston Cougars (9–3)LSU Tigers (7–5)Big 12SECHouston 38LSU 3563,867ESPN2.92Dec 292:00 pmBirmingham BowlProtective StadiumBirmingham, AlabamaGeorgia Southern Eagles (6–6)Appalachian State Mountaineers (5–7)Sun BeltSun BeltGeorgia Southern 29Appalachian State 1012,0921.20Dec 302:00 pmIndependence BowlIndependence StadiumShreveport, LouisianaLouisiana Tech Bulldogs (7–5)Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (6–6)CUSASun BeltLouisiana Tech 23Coastal Carolina 1430,2981.755:30 pmMusic City BowlNissan StadiumNashville, TennesseeIllinois Fighting Illini (8–4)Tennessee Volunteers (8–4)Big TenSECIllinois 30Tennessee 2852,8155.389:00 pmAlamo BowlAlamodomeSan Antonio, TexasTCU Horned Frogs (8–4)No. 16 USC Trojans (9–3) Big 12Big TenTCU 30USC 2754,7514.92Dec31NoonReliaQuest BowlRaymond James StadiumTampa, FloridaNo. 23 Iowa Hawkeyes (8–4)No. 14 Vanderbilt Commodores (10–2)Big TenSECIowa 34Vanderbilt 2735,3824.602:00 pmSun BowlSun BowlEl Paso, TexasDuke Blue Devils (8–5)Arizona State Sun Devils (8–4) ACCBig 12Duke 42Arizona State 3944,975CBS2.343:00 pmCitrus BowlCamping World StadiumOrlando, FloridaNo. 13 Texas Longhorns (9–3)No. 18 Michigan Wolverines (9–3)SECBig TenTexas 41Michigan 2747,316ABC9.053:30 pmLas Vegas BowlAllegiant StadiumParadise, Nevada No. 15 Utah Utes (10–2)Nebraska Cornhuskers (7–5)Big 12Big TenUtah 44Nebraska 2238,879ESPN3.02Jan 21:00 pmArmed Forces BowlAmon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TexasTexas State Bobcats (6–6)Rice Owls (5–7)Sun BeltAmericanTexas State 41Rice 1028,2431.804:30 pmLiberty BowlSimmons Bank Liberty StadiumMemphis, TennesseeNavy Midshipmen (10–2)Cincinnati Bearcats (7–5)AmericanBig 12Navy 35Cincinnati 1321,9083.448:00 pmDuke's Mayo BowlBank of America StadiumCharlotte, North CarolinaWake Forest Demon Deacons (8–4)Mississippi State Bulldogs (5–7)ACCSECWake Forest 43Mississippi State 2929,3282.618:00 pm Holiday BowlSnapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaSMU Mustangs (8–4)No. 17 Arizona Wildcats (9–3)ACCBig 12SMU 24Arizona 1930,602FOX2.17
Division I FCS bowl game
The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) had one bowl game, the Celebration Bowl. Played between HBCUs, it served as a de facto Black college football national championship. The FCS also had a postseason bracket tournament that culminated in the 2026 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game, won by Montana State.
DateTime (EST)GameSiteTelevisionTeamsAffiliationsResultsAttendanceDec13NoonCelebration BowlMercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GeorgiaABCSouth Carolina State Bulldogs (9–3)Prairie View A&M Panthers (10–3)MEACSWAC26,703
Division II bowl games
Division III bowl games
All-star games The Tropical Bowl was canceled due to "unforeseen circumstances" outside of the control of the organizers. The FCS Bowl was postponed indefinitely for similar reasons. The American Bowl was added to the all-star slate.
DateTime (EST)Game SiteTelevisionParticipantsResultsRef.Jan 10NoonHula BowlSpec Martin StadiumDeLand, FloridaCBS Sports NetworkTeam KaiTeam AinaKai 38Aina 21 Jan 228:00 pmThe American BowlVictory FieldLakeland, FloridaNFL NetworkTeam WarhawksTeam GuardiansWarhawks 7Guardians 6 Jan 277:00 pmEast–West Shrine BowlFord Center at The StarFrisco, TexasWest TeamEast TeamWest 21East 17 Jan 312:30 pmSenior BowlHancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AlabamaAmerican TeamNational TeamAmerican 17National 9 Feb 214:00 pmHBCU Legacy BowlYulman StadiumNew Orleans, LouisianaTeam GaitherTeam RobinsonGaither 27Robinson 23
The HBCU Legacy Bowl features players from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). Most HBCU football programs compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) or the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), which are part of FCS.
Team selections
CFP top 25 standings and bowl games
The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee announced its final team rankings for the season on December 7, 2025.
The top five ranked conference champions, along with the seven highest ranked remaining teams, were selected to compete in the College Football Playoff. The top four ranked teams received a first-round bye. This was a change from the 2024–25 season, when the top four ranked conference champions were given a first-round bye.