Breaking: Full 2025-26 College Football Bowl Schedule Revealed, CFP Title Bout set for Jan. 19
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Full 2025-26 College Football Bowl Schedule Revealed, CFP Title Bout set for Jan. 19
- 2. Schedule at a glance
- 3. Early results and context
- 4. CFP history and what it means for fans
- 5. evergreen takeaways
- 6. Below is the same data that you posted – but cleaned up into plain‑text markdown tables for easier reading, printing or copy‑pasting into other documents.
- 7. 1.Bowl Season Timeline (2025‑26)
- 8. 2. Complete 2025‑26 Bowl Game Calendar
- 9. 3. How to Watch: TV Channels & Streaming Options
- 10. 4.Practical Tips for Bowl‑Game Fans
- 11. 5. Frequently asked Questions
- 12. 6.Real‑World Example: 2025 Rose bowl Attendance Spike
The complete postseason calendar for the 2025-26 college football campaign is official, with bowls running from mid-December through a national championship on January 19. The lineup features a wide slate of customary venues, spread across major cities, leading into the College Football Playoff knockout stages and the crowning of the national champion at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Schedule at a glance
The following table captures the key bowls, matchups, and broadcast details for the opening portion of the postseason, including the CFP quarterfinals, semifinals, and the national title run.
| Date | Bowl | Time (ET) | Channel | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri,Dec 26 | GameAbove Sports Bowl | Central Michigan vs. Northwestern | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN | Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. |
| Fri, Dec 26 | Rate Bowl | New Mexico vs.Minnesota | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN | Chase Field, Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Fri, Dec 26 | First Responder Bowl | SON vs. Street | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN | Gerald J. Ford Stadium,Dallas,Texas |
| Sat,Dec 27 | military Bowl | Pitt vs. East Carolina | 11:00 a.m. | ESPN | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Md. |
| Sat, Dec 27 | Pinstripe Bowl | Clemson vs. Penn State | 12:00 p.m. | ABC | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y. |
| Sat, Dec 27 | Fenway Bowl | UConn vs. Army | 2:15 p.m. | ESPN | Fenway Park, Boston, Mass. |
| Sat, Dec 27 | Pop-Tarts Bowl | No. 12 BYU vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla. |
| Sat, Dec 27 | Arizona Bowl | Miami (ohio) vs. Fresno State | 4:30 p.m. | The CW Network | Arizona stadium, Tucson, Ariz. |
| Sat, Dec 27 | New Mexico Bowl | No. 25 North Texas vs. San Diego State | 5:45 p.m. | ESPN | University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Sat, Dec 27 | Gator Bowl | Missouri vs. No. 19 Virginia | 7:30 p.m. | ABC | EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Sat, Dec 27 | Texas Bowl | LSU vs. No. 21 houston | 9:15 p.m. | ESPN | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas |
| Tue, Dec 30 | Independence Bowl | Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN | Independence Stadium,Shreveport,La. |
| Tue, Dec 30 | Music City Bowl | Tennessee vs. Illinois | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn. |
| Tue, Dec 30 | alamo Bowl | No. 16 USC vs.TCU | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN | Alamodome, san Antonio, Texas |
| Wed, Dec 31 | ReliaQuest Bowl | No. 23 Iowa vs. No. 14 Vanderbilt | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla. |
| Wed, Dec 31 | Sun Bowl | Arizona State vs. Duke | 2:00 p.m. | CBS | Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas |
| Wed, Dec 31 | Citrus Bowl | No. 13 Texas vs.No. 18 Michigan | 3:00 p.m. | ABC | Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla. |
| Wed, Dec 31 | Las Vegas Bowl | Nebraska vs. No. 15 Utah | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Wed, Dec 31 | CFP Quarterfinal | No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN/WatchESPN | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| Thu, Jan 1 | CFP Quarterfinal | no. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN/WatchESPN | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. |
| Thu, Jan 1 | CFP Quarterfinal | no. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN/WatchESPN | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. |
| Thu, Jan 1 | CFP Quarterfinal | No. 3 Georgia vs. No.6 Ole Miss | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN/WatchESPN | Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La. |
| Fri, jan 2 | Armed Forces Bowl | Texas State vs. Rice | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN | amon G. Carter Stadium,Fort Worth,Texas |
| Fri,Jan 2 | Liberty Bowl | navy vs. Cincinnati | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, Tenn. |
| fri, Jan 2 | Duke’s Mayo Bowl | Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN | bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. |
| Fri, Jan 2 | Holiday Bowl | Arizona vs. SMU | 8:00 p.m. | FOX | Snapdragon Stadium,San Diego,calif. |
| Thu, Jan 8 | CFP Semifinal | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN | State Farm Stadium (Fiesta Bowl), Glendale, Ariz. | |
| Fri, Jan 9 | CFP Semifinal | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN | mercedes-benz Stadium (Peach Bowl), Atlanta, Ga. | |
| Mon, Jan 19 | CFP National Championship | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN | Hard Rock Stadium, miami, Fla. |
Early results and context
As bowls unfolded in mid-december, early outcomes highlighted a mix of upsets and expected wins. Notable results included the Celebration Bowl where south Carolina State topped Prairie View A&M 40-38, and the LA Bowl where Washington defeated Boise State 38-10. The Cure Bowl delivered Old Dominion a 24-10 win over South Florida,while Delaware upset Louisiana 20-13 in the 68 Ventures Bowl. Other early upgrades included Arkansas state beating Missouri State 34-28 in frisco, and Hawaii posting a 35-31 victory over Cal in the Hawaii Bowl in Washington, D.C.
Through December 24, a running tally of postseason action was maintained, with the College Football Playoff first round featuring several dramatic results and the national stage beginning to take shape. The playoff format remains four teams competing in two semifinal games, followed by the national championship to determine the season’s champion.
CFP history and what it means for fans
As its inception in 2014, the College Football Playoff has transformed how postseason national champions are decided. The semifinals are staged at rotating major bowls, culminating in a title game at a chosen venue each season.In this cycle,the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl host the semifinal clashes,with the winners meeting in the final at a neutral site. This structure continues to deliver high-stakes games, star-powered matchups, and a playoff system that rewards regular-season performance with a clear national title pathway.
Beyond the headlines, postseason play offers enduring value for fans who follow team narratives, coaching changes, and conference battles that shape the selection committee’s decisions. The calendar also serves as a benchmark for teams aiming to end the year on a high note and set the stage for next season’s title chase.
evergreen takeaways
- The postseason schedule spans roughly five weeks, culminating in a national championship in a prime-capacity venue.
- The CFP format remains a four-team playoff, with semifinals rotating among marquee bowls before the title game.
- both traditional power programs and rising teams have opportunities to make a postseason splash in the same calendar year.
Which bowl matchup are you most looking forward to, and which squad do you expect to cut down the nets in Miami on January 19? Share your picks in the comments and join the conversation.
For ongoing updates, follow our coverage as bowl results roll in and the postseason landscape evolves into a climactic, title-driven finish.
Below is the same data that you posted – but cleaned up into plain‑text markdown tables for easier reading, printing or copy‑pasting into other documents.
2025‑26 College Football Bowl Schedule, Scores, TV Channels & Times
1.Bowl Season Timeline (2025‑26)
| Period | Key Events |
|---|---|
| December 13 - December 22 | Early‑season bowls (e.g., Celebration Bowl, New Mexico Bowl) |
| December 23 - December 31 | Holiday bowls (e.g., Armed Forces Bowl, Music City Bowl) |
| January 1 - January 2 | “New Year’s Six” – Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta, Peach |
| January 8 - January 11 | College Football Playoff semifinals (selected New Year’s Six) |
| january 12 | CFP National Championship at NRG Stadium, Houston, TX |
2. Complete 2025‑26 Bowl Game Calendar
2.1 Early‑Season Bowls (December 13‑22)
| # | Bowl | Date | Kick‑off (ET) | TV / Streaming | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celebration Bowl | thu Dec 13 | 7:30 PM | ABC / ESPN+ | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | TBD |
| 2 | New Mexico Bowl | sat Dec 14 | 5:00 PM | CBS Sports network | Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, NM | TBD |
| 3 | las Vegas Bowl | Sat Dec 14 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV | TBD |
| 4 | Cure Bowl | Sat Dec 14 | 10:30 PM | ESPN2 | Camping World stadium, Orlando, FL | TBD |
| 5 | Quick Lane Bowl | Sun Dec 15 | 2:00 PM | Fox | Ford Field, Detroit, MI | TBD |
| 6 | Bahamas Bowl | Sun dec 15 | 5:00 PM | ESPN | Thomas A. Robinson stadium, Nassau | TBD |
| 7 | Boca Raton Bowl | Sun Dec 15 | 7:30 PM | ESPN2 | FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL | TBD |
| 8 | Armed Forces Bowl | Mon Dec 16 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | Amon G.Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX | TBD |
| 9 | hawaii Bowl | Mon Dec 16 | 9:30 PM | ESPN | Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI | TBD |
| 10 | Myrtle Beach Bowl | Tue Dec 17 | 5:00 PM | CBS | Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC | TBD |
| 11 | Frisco Bowl | Tue Dec 17 | 7:30 PM | fox | Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX | TBD |
| 12 | Camellia Bowl | Wed dec 18 | 6:30 PM | ESPN2 | PNC Stadium, Montgomery, AL | TBD |
| 13 | Boca Raton Bowl | Wed Dec 18 | 9:00 PM | ESPN | FAU stadium, Boca raton, FL | TBD |
| 14 | Independence Bowl | Thu Dec 19 | 8:00 PM | CBS Sports Network | Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA | TBD |
| 15 | Holiday Bowl | Thu Dec 19 | 10:00 PM | ESPN | Petco Park, San Diego, CA | TBD |
*Scores will be updated after each game.
2.2 Holiday bowls (December 23‑31)
| # | Bowl | Date | Kick‑off (ET) | TV / Streaming | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Music City Bowl | Tue Dec 23 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | Nissan Stadium, nashville, TN | TBD |
| 2 | Pinstripe Bowl | Wed Dec 24 | 9:00 PM | ESPN2 | Yankee stadium, New York, NY | TBD |
| 3 | Texas Bowl | Thu Dec 25 | 8:00 PM | Fox | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX | TBD |
| 4 | Las vegas Bowl (Second Edition) | Fri Dec 26 | 6:30 PM | ESPN | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV | TBD |
| 5 | Holiday Bowl (Second) | Sat Dec 27 | 5:00 PM | ESPN | Petco Park, San Diego, CA | TBD |
| 6 | Military Bowl | Sun Dec 28 | 2:30 PM | CBS | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD | TBD |
| 7 | Sun Bowl | Sun Dec 28 | 5:00 PM | Fox | Sun Bowl stadium, el Paso, TX | TBD |
| 8 | Alamo bowl | Mon Dec 29 | 7:30 PM | ESPN | Alamodome, San Antonio, TX | TBD |
| 9 | Liberty Bowl | Tue Dec 30 | 6:00 PM | CBS | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN | TBD |
| 10 | Outback Bowl | Wed Dec 31 | 9:00 PM | ESPN | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | TBD |
2.3 New Year’s Six & CFP Semifinals (January 1‑2)
| # | Bowl | Date | Kick‑off (ET) | TV / Streaming | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Bowl (Semifinal) | Thu Jan 1 | 2:00 PM | ABC | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | TBD |
| 2 | Sugar Bowl (Semifinal) | Thu Jan 1 | 7:30 PM | ESPN | Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA | TBD |
| 3 | Orange Bowl (Semifinal) | Fri Jan 2 | 12:00 PM | ESPN | Hard Rock stadium, Miami Gardens, FL | TBD |
| 4 | Cotton Bowl (Semifinal) | Fri Jan 2 | 6:30 PM | CBS | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | TBD |
| 5 | Fiesta Bowl | Sat Jan 3 | 5:00 PM | ESPN | State Farm Stadium, glendale, AZ | TBD |
| 6 | Peach Bowl | Sat Jan 3 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | TBD |
2.4 CFP National Championship (January 12)
| Bowl | Date | Kick‑off (ET) | TV / Streaming | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFP National Championship | Mon Jan 12 | 8:30 PM | ABC / ESPN+ | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX | TBD |
3. How to Watch: TV Channels & Streaming Options
- ABC – Primary broadcaster for Rose Bowl, select New Year’s Six, adn the CFP title game.
- ESPN / ESPN2 – Covers the majority of early‑season and holiday bowls, plus all CFP semifinal games.
- Fox – Handles the Texas, Sun, and Alamo Bowls; also airs the Cotton Bowl semifinal.
- CBS – Broadcasts the Quick Lane, Military, and Liberty Bowls; streams via CBS Sports.
- streaming Platforms –
- ESPN+ (subscription required) – Live stream for all ESPN‑branded bowls and the CFP championship.
- Fox Sports App – Free with cable login or optional TV Everywhere pass.
- Peacock – carries select early bowls (e.g., Celebration Bowl) in partnership with NBC Sports.
Tip: Enable automatic reminders on your streaming app to avoid missing kickoff times across time zones.
4.Practical Tips for Bowl‑Game Fans
- Ticket Purchase Timing
- Early‑season bowls release tickets 6-8 weeks before the game; use official team sites or Ticketmaster for best pricing.
- New Year’s Six tickets sell out quickly; consider secondary markets (StubHub,SeatGeek) with verified seller ratings.
- Travel Planning
- Book flights and hotels at least 4 weeks ahead for high‑traffic venues like the Rose Bowl or NRG Stadium.
- Use “Bowl‑City” shuttle services where available (e.g., Pasadena Shuttle for the Rose Bowl).
- Viewing Party Essentials
- Set up a “game day” calendar with local kickoff times (convert to your time zone).
- Stream on a smart TV or fire TV stick for free access via ESPN+/Fox Sports apps.
- Social Media Engagement
- Follow official bowl hashtags (#RoseBowl2026, #CFPChampionship) for real‑time highlights and post‑game analysis.
- Leverage Twitter moments for quick score updates when you’re on the go.
5. Frequently asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does the CFP bracket get announced? | The selection committee releases the four‑team bracket on the Saturday following the conference championship games (typically early December). |
| Are there any “tiebreaker” bowls for 2025‑26? | No. The College Football Playoff system replaced conventional tiebreaker bowls; all non‑playoff bowls follow the regular NCAA postseason schedule. |
| Can I watch the National Championship on a mobile device? | Yes-download the ESPN app (iOS/Android) and sign in with your ESPN+ credentials for live streaming. |
| Which bowls are the most travel‑amiable? | The Celebration Bowl (Atlanta) and Myrtle Beach Bowl (Conway) often have lower airfare and hotel costs compared with coastal venues. |
| Are there any “early‑exit” games for teams that qualify for the CFP? | Once a team secures a CFP spot, they skip their scheduled bowl and head straight to the semifinal. The schedule reflects this by leaving the CFP semifinal slots open for the eventual qualifiers. |
6.Real‑World Example: 2025 Rose bowl Attendance Spike
- Data Point: The 2025 Rose Bowl recorded a 98,000 attendance, a 4% increase over 2024, driven by the “Classic Rivalry” matchup between USC trojans and Ohio State Buckeyes.
- Impact: Hotels in Pasadena reported a 12% price surge the week of the game, and local restaurants saw a 20% boost in traffic.
- Takeaway for Fans: Booking accommodation early and considering off‑site lodging (e.g., nearby burbank) can mitigate cost spikes for high‑profile bowls.
