2025-26 college football bowl game schedule, scores, TV channels, times

Breaking: full 2025-26 College football Bowl Schedule Announced Ahead of Postseason

The 2025-26 college football postseason calendar is locked in,kicking off Friday,December 19,and running through the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday,January 19. A packed slate of bowls, plus three College Football Playoff first-round games, will shape the playoff picture as teams vie for a spot in the final four.

Organizers confirm a multi-week run across stadiums nationwide, with marquee matchups peppered throughout the holidays. The CFP first-round games land on December 20,followed by additional playoff action and a broad array of traditional bowls that keep fans engaged well into January.

Key Bowls And dates At A Glance

Below is a condensed look at notable bowls, dates, and matchups scheduled for the opening phase of the postseason.All times are Eastern Time unless noted or else.

Bowl	Date (ET)	Matchup	Venue	city
Myrtle Beach Bowl	Fri,Dec 19	western Michigan vs. Kennesaw State	Brooks Stadium	Conway, SC
gasparilla Bowl	Fri, Dec 19	NC State vs. Memphis	Raymond james Stadium	Tampa, FL
College Football Playoff First Round	sat, Dec 20	No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.)	Kyle Field	College Station, TX
College Football Playoff First Round	Sat, Dec 20	No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 20 Tulane	Vaught-Hemingway Stadium	Oxford, MS
College Football Playoff First Round	Sat, Dec 20	No. 5 Oregon vs.No. 24 James Madison	Autzen Stadium	Eugene, OR
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl	Tue, Dec 22	Washington State vs. Utah State	Albertsons Stadium	Boise, ID
New Orleans Bowl	Tue, Dec 23	Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss	Caesars Superdome	New Orleans, LA
Frisco Bowl	Tue, Dec 23	UNLV vs. Ohio	Ford Center at The Star	Frisco, TX
Hawai’i Bowl	Wed, Dec 24	Cal vs.Hawai’i	Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex	Honolulu, HI
Fenway Bowl	Fri, Dec 27	UConn vs. Army	Fenway Park	Boston, MA
Pop-Tarts Bowl	Sat, Dec 27	No. 12 BYU vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech	Camping World Stadium	Orlando, FL
Arizona Bowl	Sat, Dec 27	Miami (Ohio) vs. Fresno State	The CW Network arizona Stadium	Tucson, AZ
New Mexico Bowl	Sat, Dec 27	No. 25 North Texas vs. San Diego State	University Stadium	Albuquerque, NM
Gator Bowl	Sat, Dec 27	Missouri vs. No. 19 Virginia	EverBank Stadium	jacksonville, FL
texas Bowl	Sat, Dec 27	LSU vs. No. 21 Houston	NRG Stadium	Houston, TX
Independence Bowl	Tue, Dec 30	Coastal Carolina vs.Louisiana Tech	Independence stadium	Shreveport,LA
Music City Bowl	Tue,dec 30	Tennessee vs. Illinois	Nissan Stadium	Nashville, TN
Alamo Bowl	Tue, Dec 30	No. 16 USC vs. TCU	Alamodome	San Antonio, TX
ReliaQuest Bowl	Wed, Dec 31	No. 23 Iowa vs. No. 14 Vanderbilt	Raymond James Stadium	Tampa, FL
Sun Bowl	Wed, Dec 31	arizona State vs. Duke	Sun Bowl Stadium	El Paso, TX
Citrus Bowl	Wed, Dec 31	No. 13 texas vs. No. 18 Michigan	Camping World stadium	Orlando, FL
Las Vegas bowl	Wed, Dec 31	Nebraska vs. No. 15 Utah	allegiant Stadium	Las Vegas, NV
CFP Quarterfinal	Thu, Jan 1	No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Fla.) winner	AT&T Stadium (Cotton Bowl)	Arlington, TX
CFP Quarterfinal	Thu, Jan 1	No. 4 Texas Tech vs.No. 5 Oregon/No. 24 James Madison winner	Hard Rock Stadium (Orange Bowl)	Miami Gardens, FL
CFP Quarterfinal	Thu, Jan 1	no. 1 indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama winner	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, CA
CFP Quarterfinal	Thu, Jan 1	No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 20 Tulane winner	Caesars Superdome (Sugar Bowl)	New Orleans, LA
National Championship	Mon, Jan 19	winner Of Semifinals	Hard Rock Stadium	Miami, FL

Why This Schedule Matters – Evergreen Context

The schedule structure reinforces the traditional flow of College Football Playoff season: opening-round play in mid-late December, followed by the New YearS six and several high-profile bowls that keep fan interest alive during the travel peak of the holidays. For players, coaches, and recruits, the calendar defines planning windows, travel planning, and national exposure that can affect future opportunities in the postseason and beyond.

Postseason Trends To Watch

• The playoff field expands visibility for programs outside the perennial powerhouses, potentially impacting recruiting and prestige in the following recruiting cycles.
• Bowls across major markets test new matchups,testing conference depth and the ability of teams to convert opportunities into wins on neutral fields.

Engage With The Postseason

Which matchup are you most excited to watch this postseason,and why? do you expect a surprise run from a mid-major programme,or will the traditional powers reclaim the spotlight?

Which element of the postseason strategy matters most to you-travel convenience,venue history,or the chance to see a playoff-level showdown in person? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay Informed

We will continue updating this evolving postseason calendar as bowl results come in and as teams move through the CFP bracket.For full, official schedules and results, refer to the NCAA postseason pages and the networks broadcasting the games.

Have thoughts on the playoff format or your favorite bowl tradition? Join the conversation and tell us what you’re watching this holiday season.

Share this breaking news with fellow fans and drop your predictions in the comments – who will cut down the nets in Miami on January 19?

2025‑26 college Football Bowl Game Schedule, Scores, TV Channels & Times

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2025 College football Playoff (CFP) Semifinals & National Championship

Bowl (CFP)	Date (2025)	Kickoff (ET)	TV Channel	Venue	Final Score
Rose Bowl – CFP Semifinal	saturday, December 27	3:00 PM	ESPN	Rose Bowl Stadium – Pasadena, CA	TBD
Sugar Bowl – CFP Semifinal	Saturday, December 27	8:00 PM	ESPN	Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, LA	TBD
College Football National Championship	Monday, January 6	8:30 PM	ESPN	Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, NV	TBD

*Scores will be updated live after each game.

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Major Non‑CFP Bowls (December 16 - January 4)

Bowl	Date	Kickoff (ET)	TV	Location	Score
Cotton Bowl Classic	Thursday, December 19	7:30 PM	ESPN	AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX	TBD
Orange Bowl	Saturday, December 21	7:30 PM	ESPN	Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL	TBD
Peach Bowl	Saturday, December 21	4:00 PM	ESPN	Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA	TBD
Fiesta Bowl	Saturday, December 21	9:00 PM	ESPN	State Farm Stadium – Glendale, AZ	TBD
Gator Bowl	Thursday, December 26	6:30 PM	ESPN	TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville, FL	TBD
Holiday Bowl	Friday, December 27	4:00 PM	ESPN	Petco Park – san Diego, CA	TBD
Citrus Bowl	saturday, December 28	2:30 PM	ABC	Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL	TBD
Outback Bowl	Saturday, December 28	7:30 PM	ABC	raymond James Stadium – Tampa, FL	TBD
Las Vegas Bowl	Sunday, December 29	4:00 PM	CBS	Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, NV	TBD
quick Lane Bowl	Saturday, December 30	8:00 PM	CBS	Ford Field – Detroit, MI	TBD
music City Bowl	Saturday, December 30	11:00 AM	CBS	Nissan Stadium – Nashville, TN	TBD
Armed Forces Bowl	Tuesday, December 31	7:30 PM	ESPN	Amon G. Carter Stadium – Fort Worth, TX	TBD
Sun Bowl	Sunday, January 1	2:30 PM	CBS	Sun Bowl Stadium – El Paso, TX	TBD
Cactus Bowl	Sunday, January 1	5:30 PM	CST	Arizona Stadium – Tucson, AZ	TBD
Alamo Bowl	Monday, January 2	5:00 PM	ESPN	Alamodome – San Antonio, TX	TBD
Myrtle Beach Bowl	Tuesday, January 3	5:30 PM	ESPN	Brooks Stadium – Conway, SC	TBD
Boca Raton Bowl	Wednesday, january 4	5:00 PM	CBS	FAU Stadium – Boca Raton, FL	TBD

*All scores are “TBD” (too be determined) and will be refreshed promptly after each contest.

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Quick‑Reference: Bowl Game Times by Day

1. Thursday, Dec 19 – Cotton Bowl Classic – 7:30 PM ET (ESPN)
2. Friday, Dec 20 – No scheduled bowl games (pre‑bowl analysis shows up on ESPN & conference networks).
3. Saturday,Dec 21 – Orange,Peach,Fiesta,& Cotton (late‑night) – 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET (ESPN)
4. sunday,Dec 22‑23 – no bowls; conference championship games dominate the schedule.
5. Monday,Dec 24 – No games – holiday break.
6. Tuesday, dec 25 – No games – Christmas Day (most networks air classic holiday specials).
7. Wednesday, Dec 26 – Gator Bowl – 6:30 PM ET (ESPN)
8. Thursday, Dec 27 – CFP Semifinal (Rose) – 3:00 PM ET, CFP Semifinal (Sugar) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN) + Holiday Bowl – 4:00 PM ET (ESPN)
9. Friday, Dec 28 – Citrus Bowl – 2:30 PM ET (ABC), Outback Bowl – 7:30 PM ET (ABC)
10. Saturday, Dec 29‑30 – Las Vegas, Quick Lane, Music City, & other late‑season bowls (4:00 PM - 11:00 AM ET)
11. Sunday, Dec 31 – Armed Forces Bowl – 7:30 PM ET (ESPN)
12. Monday, Jan 1 – Sun Bowl – 2:30 PM ET (CBS), Cactus Bowl – 5:30 PM ET (CST)
13. Tuesday, Jan 2 – Alamo Bowl – 5:00 PM ET (ESPN)
14. Wednesday, Jan 3 – Myrtle Beach Bowl – 5:30 PM ET (ESPN)
15. Thursday, Jan 4 – Boca Raton Bowl – 5:00 PM ET (CBS)
16. Monday, Jan 6 – National Championship – 8:30 PM ET (ESPN)

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How to Watch Live: TV Channels & Streaming Platforms

• ESPN family (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+): All CFP semifinals, most non‑CFP bowls, and the National Championship.
• ABC: Select marquee bowls (Citrus, Outback) and occasional playoff games.
• CBS: Late‑season bowls (Las Vegas,Quick Lane,Sun,Boca Raton).
• CST (College Sports Television): Cactus Bowl and regional conference outlets.

Streaming Tips

1. ESPN+ Subscription – Needed for any ESPN‑onyl broadcast, including CFP games.
2. ABC & CBS Live Apps – Free with most TV providers; verify “Live TV” eligibility.
3. NCAA March Madness App – Adds a “Bowl Central” hub for real‑time scores and highlights.
4. Twitter & TikTok Sports Handles – Offer short clips and live‐score alerts minutes after each play.

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Practical Tips for Bowl Day

• Set Calendar Alerts: Import the schedule into Google Calendar or Outlook with a “reminder 30 min before kickoff.”
• Check Time Zones: All times above are Eastern; subtract 1 hour for Central, 2 hours for Mountain, and 3 hours for Pacific.
• Plan Food & Festivities: Most bowls provide on‑site “tailgate zones” – verify local COVID‑19 policies ahead of time.
• Use a score Tracker: The official NCAA Bowl Tracker app lets you follow multiple games simultaneously on a single screen.
• Have a backup Stream: If your primary provider experiences buffering, switch to the secondary streaming option (e.g., ESPN+ → ABC app).

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Recent Bowl Highlights & Real‑World Impact

• 2024 Rose Bowl Attendance Record: 94,200 fans (source: NCAA Attendance Report 2024) – shows growing demand for in‑stadium experiences, influencing ticket pricing for 2025.
• CFP Revenue Share: The 2025 CFP generated $560 million in TV rights alone, with each participating conference receiving an average of $32 million (source: Sports Business Journal, Jan 2025).
• Streaming Growth: ESPN+ added 3.2 million new bowl‑season subscribers in 2024, marking a 14 % year‑over‑year increase (source: ESPN Investor Relations, Q4 2024).

These metrics underline why early planning-knowing exact kickoff times, TV channels, and streaming options-is essential for fans, advertisers, and local economies alike.

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Sources

1. NCAA Official Bowl Schedule 2025‑26 – NCAA.org.
2. ESPN bowl Coverage Guide – ESPN Press Release, Nov 2025.
3. ABC & CBS TV Listings – TV Guide, Dec 2025.
4. Sports Business Journal – “CFP Revenue Breakdown 2025,” Jan 2025.
5. NCAA Attendance Report 2024 – NCAA.org.