“2025 College Football Playoff and Bowl Game Schedule Revealed”

The 2025-26 college football bowl season is shaping up to be one of the wildest in recent memory. There are just so many intriguing matchups and, honestly, a few curveballs that nobody saw coming.

From the College Football Playoff (CFP) to the rest of the bowl slate, fans are in for a wild ride. Let’s take a look at what’s got everyone buzzing this year.

College Football Playoff Controversies and Highlights

The unveiling of the College Football Playoff field always gets folks talking, and this year, the debates were as loud as ever. Two big storylines dominated the selection process.

First, Alabama somehow held onto its No. 9 spot even after getting thumped by Georgia in the SEC Championship. Then there was Miami, which jumped ahead of Notre Dame to take the 10-seed—leaving a lot of people scratching their heads.

So, what does that mean for the first round? Some genuinely eye-catching matchups:

• Alabama at Oklahoma – Can Alabama redeem itself in a rematch full of drama?
• James Madison at Oregon – The underdog story everyone’s been talking about.
• Tulane at Ole Miss – Another rematch with plenty on the line.
• Miami at Texas A&M – Will Miami prove it deserved that controversial ranking?

Championship Game and Semifinals

The road to the title game, set for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, runs through the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl semifinals. Here’s a rundown of the big dates and games:

• Peach Bowl Semifinal – January 9
• Fiesta Bowl Semifinal – January 8
• Rose Bowl – January 1: (1) Indiana vs. (8/9) Winner
• Cotton Bowl – December 31: (2) Ohio State vs. (7/10) Winner
• Sugar Bowl – January 1: (3) Georgia vs. (6/11) Winner
• Orange Bowl – January 1: (4) Texas Tech vs. (5/12) Winner

Notable Bowl Game Matchups

Outside the CFP, this bowl season is loaded with games that have their own wild storylines and upset potential. Check out some of the headliners:

• Citrus Bowl – Michigan vs. Texas
• ReliaQuest Bowl – Vanderbilt vs. Iowa
• Music City Bowl – Tennessee vs. Illinois
• New Mexico Bowl – North Texas vs. San Diego State
• Pinstripe Bowl – Clemson vs. Penn State

Notre Dame’s Surprising Decision

Here’s a twist: Notre Dame announced it would skip a bowl game after being left out of the CFP. The Irish were supposed to face BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Instead, after Notre Dame bailed, Georgia Tech got the call to play BYU. This last-minute shuffle sent other bowls scrambling to fill matchups. It’s the kind of chaos that only college football can deliver.

Complete Bowl Game Schedule

Here’s the full bowl game schedule—dates, times, matchups, all of it:

• Cricket Celebration Bowl – Dec. 13, 12 p.m. (ABC): South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&M
• LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk – Dec. 13, 8 p.m. (ESPN): Boise State vs. Washington
• Salute to Veterans Bowl – Dec. 16, 9 p.m. (ESPN): Troy vs. Jacksonville State
• Cure Bowl – Dec. 17, 5 p.m. (ESPN): Old Dominion vs. South Florida
• 68 Ventures Bowl – Dec. 17, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN): Louisiana vs. Delaware
• Xbox Bowl – Dec. 18, 9 p.m. (ESPN2): Arkansas State vs. Missouri State
• Myrtle Beach Bowl – Dec. 19, 11 a.m. (ESPN): Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan
• Gasparilla Bowl – Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN): Memphis vs. NC State
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Dec. 22, 2 p.m. (ESPN): Utah State vs. Washington State
• Boca Raton Bowl – Dec. 23, 2 p.m. (ESPN): Toledo vs. Louisville
• New Orleans Bowl – Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN): Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss
• Frisco Bowl – Dec. 23, 9 p.m. (ESPN): UNLV vs. Ohio
• Hawai’i Bowl – Dec. 24, 8 p.m. (ESPN): Cal vs. Hawai’i
• GameAbove Sports Bowl – Dec. 26, 1 p.m. (ESPN): Central Michigan vs. Northwestern
• Rate Bowl – Dec. 26, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN): New Mexico vs. Minnesota
• First Responder Bowl – Dec. 26, 8 p.m. (ESPN): FIU vs. UTSA
• Military Bowl – Dec. 27, 11 a.m. (ESPN): Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina
• Pinstripe Bowl – Dec. 27, 12 p.m. (ABC): Penn State vs. Clemson
• Fenway Bowl – Dec. 27, 2:15 p.m. (ESPN): UConn vs. Army
• Pop-Tarts Bowl – Dec. 27, 3:30 p.m. (ABC): Georgia Tech vs. BYU
• Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented By Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop – Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m. (The CW): Fresno State vs. Miami (OH)
• New Mexico Bowl – Dec. 27, 5:45 p.m. (ESPN): North Texas vs. San Diego State
• Gator Bowl – Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m. (ABC): Missouri vs. Virginia
• Texas Bowl – Dec. 27, 9:15 p.m. (ESPN): LSU vs. Houston
• Birmingham Bowl – Dec. 29, 2 p.m. (ESPN): Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State
• Independence Bowl – Dec. 30, 2 p.m. (ESPN): Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech
• Music City Bowl – Dec. 30, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN): Tennessee vs. Illinois
• Alamo Bowl – Dec. 30, 9 p.m. (ESPN): USC vs. TCU
• ReliaQuest Bowl – Dec. 31, 12 p.m. (ESPN): Vanderbilt vs. Iowa
• Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl – Dec. 31, 2 p.m. (CBS): Duke vs. Arizona State
• Citrus Bowl – Dec. 31, 3 p.m. (ABC): Michigan vs. Texas
• Las Vegas Bowl – Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN): Nebraska vs. Utah
• Armed Forces Bowl – Jan. 2, 1 p.m. (ESPN): Texas State vs. Rice
• Liberty Bowl – Jan. 2, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN): Navy vs. Cincinnati
• Mayo Bowl – Jan. 2, 8 p.m. (ESPN): Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest
• Holiday Bowl – Jan. 2, 8 p.m. (FOX): Arizona vs. SMU

Conclusion

The 2025-26 college football bowl season is shaping up to be an unforgettable experience for fans and players alike. With the College Football Playoff field set, there’s a wild mix of matchups on the horizon.

Whether you’re glued to the high-stakes playoff games or just curious about some of the lesser-known bowls, this season’s got something for everyone. If you’re after more details or want to follow along live, check out the full coverage here.