RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThere’s still room for a fun bowl season in a world gone mad for the College Football Playoff. Of course, the CFP gets all the attention now, but from mid-December through the start of 2027, bowl games dominate the holiday season - and we’re all in. Based on expectations for how the conference races will go, projected records, and what the bowls and ESPN will want to do to create the best possible matchups, here’s our first look at the 2026-2027 bowl season. (The College Football Playoff predictions will come next.) Once the season gets going, we’ll update this every week as the bowl game picture changes.
2026 College Football Bowl Projections
Dec 27, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Pop-Tarts mascots entertain fans before a game between the BYU Cougars and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Cricket Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State vs Alabama State They’re the two best teams in their respective conferences going into the season - South Carolina State is a stronger call than Alabama State. Saturday, December 12, 2026 Game Time: 12:00, ABC Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA Last Season: South Carolina State 50, Prairie View A&M 38 4OT Bowl Affiliations: MEAC, SWAC Last Season: Jackson State 28, South Carolina State 7
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech This would’ve been a Conference USA matchup had Louisiana Tech not bolted for the Sun Belt. If nothing else, it would be a cheeky way to kick off the bowl season. Tuesday, December 15, 2026 Game Time: 5:30, ESPN Location: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL Last Season: Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13 Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt Last Season: South Alabama 30, Western Michigan 23
Frisco Football Classic
FIU vs Arkansas State All due crazy respect and a basket of mini-muffins if you remember the first Frisco Football Classic. It was in 2021, there were too many bowl eligible teams, and ESPN threw this together to get another bowl into the mix. Miami University beat North Texas 27-14 Tuesday, December 15, 2026 Game Time: 9:00, ESPN Location: Ford Center at the Star, Frisco, TX Last Season: No Game Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Sun Belt
Boca Raton Bowl
Florida Atlantic vs Virginia Tech With the ACC likely to be generally snubbed by the College Football Playoff - taking just its champion - there will be way too many teams from the conference for slots. Going to Boca Raton in mid-December against the high-powered Owls wouldn’t be a bad end to James Franklin’s rebuild season with the Hokies. Friday, December 18, 2026 Game Time: 11:00 am, ESPN Location: Flagler Credit Union Stadium, Boca Raton, FL Last Season: Louisville 27, Toledo 22 Bowl Affiliations: Group of 6
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Virginia vs South Carolina Remember, ESPN will want the best possible matchups, and forcing an ACC vs SEC showdown like this early in the bowl cycle would get things rolling. Friday, December 18, 2026 Game Time: 3:30, ESPN Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL Last Season: NC State 31, Memphis 7 Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA (ACC, SEC)
Myrtle Beach Bowl
East Carolina vs Coastal Carolina Coastal Carolina played in this two years ago - and got walloped by UTSA 44-15 - but it’s still a bowl game with a beach. East Carolina fans would have a little 200-mile drive to watch their team. Monday, December 21, 2026 Game Time: 11:00 am, ESPN Location: Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC Last Season: Western Michigan 41, Kennesaw State 6 Bowl Affiliations: Group of 6, (Not Pac-12 or Mountain West)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Toledo vs North Dakota State What’s a little 1,200-mile drive through Montana to get to a bowl game? Bison fans might not like the idea of going to a cold-weather destination, but the battle with Hawaii in Mountain West play is in Honolulu. Monday, December 21, 2026 Game Time: 2:30, ESPN Location: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID Last Season: Washington State 34, Utah State 21 Bowl Affiliations: MAC, Mountain West
Puerto Rico Bowl
Ohio vs Washington State Who doesn’t want to go to this bowl? Bayamón in late December will be a nice prize for two cold-weather teams. Tuesday, December 22, 2026 Game Time: 1:30, ESPN Location: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico Last Season: First Year Bowl Affiliations: MAC, Group of 6 or Pac-12
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Louisiana vs Memphis A Florida team could end up being shoehorned in here, but Louisiana and Memphis would create a high-end Group of Six matchup between two teams that will finish around fourth-ish in their respective conferences. Tuesday, December 22, 2026 Game Time: 5:00, ESPN Location: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL Last Season: Old Dominion 24, USF 10 Bowl Affiliations: Group of 6
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Tulane vs UCF Let’s start by making the call that Louisiana Tech won’t be here for a third season in a row. Tulane should take a step back overall, but playing UCF in a bowl game in Louisiana wouldn’t be a bad way to end the campaign. Tuesday, December 22, 2026 Game Time: 8:30, ESPN Location: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA Last Season: Louisiana Tech 23, Coastal Carolina 14 Bowl Affiliations: AAC, Big 12 , CUSA, Former Pac-12
New Orleans Bowl
Liberty vs Old Dominion James Madison or Old Dominion will likely slide in here from the Sun Belt. Liberty might get a slightly bigger stage if it wins the Conference USA title, but no matter what, this is always a decent game. Wednesday, December 23, 2026 Game Time: 2:00, ESPN Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA Last Season: Western Kentucky 27, Southern Miss 16 Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Sun Belt Last Season: Sam Houston 31, Georgia Southern 26
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Army vs West Virginia This spot might be left open for the loser of the Army vs Navy game. No matter what, if that happens and it’s a matchup against West Virginia, expect a combined 500 ...
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