2025-26 college football bowl game schedule, scores, TV channels, times
Official 2025-26 College Football Bowl Game Schedule, Scores, TV Channels, and Kickoff Times
That quiet period between conference championships and the bowl season? It's officially over. If you're anything like me—a veteran college football fan—those mid-December weekends feel agonizingly empty. But not this year. The 2025-26 bowl season is poised to be arguably the most consequential in history, thanks to the continued implementation of the 12-team *College Football Playoff (CFP)* format and the subsequent seismic shifts in the bowl hierarchy.
We are diving deep into the definitive guide for every single matchup. From the opening salvos in the heart of the *Group of Five* territory to the high-stakes drama of the expanded CFP bracket, we have the dates, critical viewing details, and networks you need. Whether you are tracking your favorite team's final game or obsessing over the path to *championship contention*, consider this your indispensable roadmap to navigating the ultimate winter sports marathon.
The sheer volume of games this year requires careful planning. With fewer traditional opt-outs expected due to the enhanced CFP opportunity, the intensity of even the lower-tier bowls is elevated. Let's get straight to the schedule that matters.
The Bowl Season Kickoff and Navigating the Transfer Portal Impact
The 2025-26 college football bowl game schedule officially begins shortly after *Selection Sunday*, usually around the third weekend of December. Historically, these early-week matchups are fun, lower-stakes affairs. However, the modern college football landscape—dominated by the *transfer portal* and the early signing period—makes these games deceptively unpredictable.
Coaching changes, star players opting out for the NFL Draft, and the volatility created by players entering the portal means that depth charts can shift overnight. The teams that successfully manage these transitions often dominate their bowl game, providing strong recruiting narratives for the upcoming year.
Expect the initial games to feature traditional staples like the Bahamas Bowl and the Cure Bowl, serving as the perfect appetizer before the main course of the New Year's Six. These initial games are almost exclusively televised across the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC), making them easily accessible.
Key Early December Bowl Dates (Preliminary Times/Channels)
While official kickoff times are finalized closer to the season, these dates mark the beginning of the annual pilgrimage:
- **Bahamas Bowl (Nassau):** Mid-December, Noon ET, ESPN.
- **Cure Bowl (Orlando):** Mid-December, 3:00 PM ET, ABC.
- **Myrtle Beach Bowl (Conway, SC):** Late December, Afternoon, ESPN2.
- **Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, FL):** Late December, Prime Time, ESPN.
The expansion of the CFP bracket has a trickle-down effect, boosting the prestige of every game. Teams ranked just outside the top 12 now have a massive incentive to win their traditional bowl matchup to finish strong, solidify their ranking, and gain better preseason positioning for 2026.
New Year's Six and the College Football Playoff Path
The most important part of the 2025-26 schedule is the integration of the CFP into the prestigious *New Year's Six* bowl games. These six elite matchups—the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Peach, and Cotton Bowls—will cycle through hosting the CFP Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
Under the 12-team format, the four highest-ranked conference champions receive a critical first-round bye. Teams seeded 5 through 12 play the opening round games at the higher seed's campus site during the final week of December. The traditional bowl games then take over, hosting the Quarterfinals and Semifinals, guaranteeing unprecedented excitement and high-stakes drama immediately after the holiday rush.
CFP Quarterfinal Schedule & NY6 Host Bowls (Tentative Dates)
These dates are where national aspirations will either soar or crash. All times are Eastern Time (ET) and televised exclusively on ESPN/ESPN2, ensuring maximum visibility for the marquee events.
- **CFP Quarterfinal 4 (Cotton Bowl Classic):** Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | 7:30 PM ET.
- **CFP Quarterfinal 1 (Fiesta Bowl or Peach Bowl):** Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 1:00 PM ET.
- **CFP Quarterfinal 2 (Rose Bowl Game):** Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 5:00 PM ET (Maintaining the classic time slot).
- **CFP Quarterfinal 3 (Sugar Bowl):** Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 8:45 PM ET.
The Semifinals are typically hosted by the remaining two NY6 bowls—the Orange Bowl and the Peach Bowl—ensuring peak viewership during the first weekend of January 2026. The shift ensures that January 1st becomes the most monumental day in the regular bowl calendar, featuring triple-header national title implication matchups.
Following the semifinals, the victors will advance to the ultimate showdown: the CFP National Championship Game, usually held during the second Monday of January.
The Complete 2025-26 Bowl Schedule: Dates, Times, and Live Scores Guide
Preparation is vital for maximizing your bowl season enjoyment. Use this comprehensive list to set your DVRs and organize your holiday viewing. Note that specific team matchups (e.g., ACC vs. Big Ten) are contractual tie-ins and will only be finalized after the final regular-season rankings are released. All dates are based on typical historical bowl scheduling windows.
Week 1: December 16–20, 2025 (Initial Bowl Action)
- **New Orleans Bowl:** Tuesday, December 16 | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Frisco Bowl:** Wednesday, December 17 | 8:00 PM ET | ESPN2.
- **RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl:** Thursday, December 18 | 4:30 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Celebration Bowl (FCS Championship):** Saturday, December 20 | Noon ET | ABC.
- **Las Vegas Bowl:** Saturday, December 20 | 2:30 PM ET | ABC. (A consistent source of high-scoring affairs).
Week 2: December 22–26, 2025 (Holiday Classics)
- **Hawai'i Bowl:** Monday, December 22 | 8:00 PM ET | ESPN. (A late-night tradition).
- **Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit):** Tuesday, December 23 | 2:00 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Military Bowl:** Wednesday, December 24 | 1:00 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Guaranteed Rate Bowl:** Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day!) | 9:00 PM ET | ESPN. (The perfect holiday cap).
- **First Responder Bowl:** Friday, December 26 | 5:30 PM ET | FOX.
- **Armed Forces Bowl:** Friday, December 26 | 9:00 PM ET | ESPN.
Week 3: December 27–31, 2025 (Major Tie-Ins and CFP Lead-up)
This week features the highest concentration of traditional *Power Five* matchups, crucial for regional bragging rights.
- **Pinstripe Bowl (Yankee Stadium):** Saturday, December 27 | 11:00 AM ET | ABC.
- **Texas Bowl (Houston):** Sunday, December 28 | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando):** Monday, December 29 | 5:00 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Alamo Bowl (San Antonio):** Monday, December 29 | 9:15 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Gator Bowl (Jacksonville):** Tuesday, December 30 | 1:00 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Liberty Bowl:** Tuesday, December 30 | 5:00 PM ET | ESPN.
- **Sun Bowl:** Tuesday, December 30 | 2:00 PM ET | CBS.
- **CFP Quarterfinal 4 (Cotton Bowl):** Wednesday, December 31 | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN.
New Year's Day and Beyond (The Elite Tier)
- **CFP Quarterfinal 1, 2, 3 (NYD):** Thursday, January 1, 2026 | ESPN.
- **Citrus Bowl:** Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 1:00 PM ET | ABC. (A traditional battle of SEC/Big Ten powerhouses).
- **ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa):** Friday, January 2, 2026 | Noon ET | ESPN2.
- **CFP Semifinal 1 (Orange Bowl or Peach Bowl):** Saturday, January 3, 2026 | Prime Time | ESPN.
- **CFP Semifinal 2 (Orange Bowl or Peach Bowl):** Sunday, January 4, 2026 | Prime Time | ESPN.
- **CFP National Championship Game:** Monday, January 12, 2026 (Expected Date) | Location TBD | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN.
For live *scores* and instantaneous updates on TV channels and any last-minute time adjustments, always rely on major sports trackers like the official ESPN GameCast or FOX Sports. The constant schedule volatility in modern college football means minor shifts are always possible, but this framework provides the essential viewing spine for the entire season.
The 2025-26 bowl season promises to deliver unprecedented levels of intensity, marrying the tradition of the bowl system with the high-stakes pressure of an expanded national tournament. Prepare for a month of non-stop action.
2025-26 college football bowl game schedule, scores, TV channels, times
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