ESPN Announces 32-Game College Football Bowl Season for 2026-27
ESPN has finally dropped its full lineup for the 2026-27 college football bowl season, and it’s looking stacked. There are 32 games spread out across ESPN, ABC, and the ESPN App.
The action starts December 12 and runs through January 2. Tripleheaders, doubleheaders—you name it, it’s on the schedule, and it should be a wild ride for fans who can’t get enough football.
This year’s schedule throws in some new games alongside the classics. It’s shaping up to be a can’t-miss stretch for college football junkies.
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ESPN’s Bowl Season: A Comprehensive Overview
The bowl season gets underway on Saturday, December 12, with the Cricket Celebration Bowl at noon ET on ABC. It’s the kickoff to a whole string of games that will keep people glued to their TVs through the New Year.
Coverage runs across all of ESPN’s platforms. If you can’t catch it on TV, you’ll find it online or in the app somewhere—no excuse to miss out.
Key Dates and Highlights
Here are some dates you might want to scribble down:
- December 12: The Cricket Celebration Bowl at noon ET on ABC.
- December 22: The first-ever Puerto Rico Bowl at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
- December 24: Christmas Eve brings a doubleheader: Isleta New Mexico Bowl at 2:30 p.m. ET and Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
- December 29: Tripleheader day: JLab Birmingham Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl, and Valero Alamo Bowl.
- January 2: The last hurrah with the Citrus Bowl, SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, and AutoZone Liberty Bowl on ABC.
Tripleheaders and Doubleheaders: A Feast for Football Fans
There are a bunch of tripleheaders and doubleheaders packed into this bowl season. It’s basically football overload—just the way it should be.
December 26 Tripleheader
December 26 is a big one. ABC will roll out three games: Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at noon ET, Duke’s Mayo Bowl at 3:30 p.m. ET, and Cactus Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET, all on the same channel.
December 29 Tripleheader
On December 29, ESPN takes the tripleheader baton. JLab Birmingham Bowl at 2 p.m. ET, Pop-Tarts Bowl at 5:30 p.m. ET, and Valero Alamo Bowl at 9 p.m. ET.
December 31 Tripleheader
And then there’s December 31. ESPN’s got the ReliaQuest Bowl at noon ET, Las Vegas Bowl at 3:45 p.m. ET, and Kinder’s Texas Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET.
New Additions to the Bowl Lineup
This year brings some fresh faces to the bowl game roster. New matchups mean new storylines, which is always good for the sport.
Inaugural Puerto Rico Bowl
The Puerto Rico Bowl is making its debut on December 22 at 1:30 p.m. ET. They’ll play at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and it’ll be on ESPN.
Christmas Eve Doubleheader
December 24 has a little extra holiday cheer. The Isleta New Mexico Bowl kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET, and then the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl takes over at 7 p.m. ET, both on ESPN.
College Football Playoff Coverage
ESPN will also show two of the four College Football Playoff quarterfinal bowl games on New Year’s Day. The road to the title continues with the CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Friday, January 15.
New Year’s Day Quarterfinals
New Year’s Day is always a big one. Two quarterfinals will showcase some of the top teams fighting for a shot at the title game.
CFP Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl
The Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 15 is set to be a huge moment. Stakes will be sky-high—should be one to remember.
Comprehensive Coverage Across ESPN Platforms
ESPN’s coverage isn’t just about what’s on cable. The ESPN App is loaded with features, so you can watch how you want, where you want.
ESPN App Features
Some of the perks:
- Multiview: Watch several games at once. (Because why not?)
- Synchronized Two-Screen Viewing: Flip between devices without missing a beat.
- Integrated Game Stats: Real-time stats right there in the app.
- Personalized SportsCenter: Get highlights and updates tuned to your interests.
Additional Streaming Options
If you’re into bundling, there are options with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN for a pretty complete streaming package. You get sports and a bunch of other stuff, all in one place. More details are available in the official ESPN press release.
Conclusion
There are 32 games lined up for the 2026-27 college football bowl season, and they’re spread across a bunch of platforms. ESPN’s coverage is shaping up to be pretty memorable, at least if you’re a fan.
There’s the new Puerto Rico Bowl, plus all the big College Football Playoff games. Honestly, there’s a little something for everyone—no matter how intense (or casual) your football obsession might be.
If you care about the sport at all, you might want to check out a few games. ESPN’s bringing the action, and who knows—maybe this will be the year something wild happens.
