The College Football Playoff has certainly taken some of the shine off of bowl season.
Look no further than Notre Dame electing to opt out of a bowl game after it was left out of the CFP field on Sunday afternoon. Iowa State and Kansas State elected to opt out due to coaching changes this offseason.
There’s still joy to be found in bowl season, no matter what those Grinches want you to think. Especially since the transfer portal now doesn’t open until January, perhaps leading to more players electing to stay with their teams through bowl games.
Here’s a ranking of the non-playoff bowl games that will be played this holiday season based on their watchability.
Pop-Tarts Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. BYU (Dec. 27, 3:30 p.m. ET, Orlando, Fla.)
A clash of two teams that took CFP aspirations deep into the season, this could be a beauty if both teams retain much of their rosters. It would be the final college game for Georgia Tech QB Haynes King (11,628 career yards accounted for, 100 total TDs over six seasons) against the end of BYU QB Bear Bachmeier’s explosive freshman season (2,708 passing yards, 527 rushing yards, 25 total TDs). Plus the postgame Pop-Tart ceremony is must-see TV.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas (Dec. 31, 3 p.m. ET; Orlando, Fla.)
Arch Manning finally started looking more like the player he was hyped up to be at the end of the season. Bryce Underwood took some lumps as a true freshman quarterback. Texas and Michigan may be mad they weren’t able to remain in the playoff conversation, but both QBs have a chance to build some momentum entering the offseason against talented defenses in this blue-blood bowl. If these teams are remotely interested in competing, this game should deliver.
Isleta New Mexico Bowl: North Texas vs. San Diego State (Dec. 27, 5:45 p.m. ET; Albuquerque, N.M.)
A best-on-best matchup of the best offense in the country (North Texas at 504.3 yards per game) against the seventh-best defense (San Diego State 266.7 yards per game). However, it’s fair to worry if North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker (nation-leading 4,129 passing yards) will follow coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State and decide not to play in this game.
Reliaquest Bowl: Iowa vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 31, 12 p.m. ET; Tampa, Fla.)
Heisman contender Diego Pavia’s collegiate finale is going to be worth watching. The New Mexico State transfer led the longtime-loser Commodores to a 10-2 record this season and the brink of the playoff. Iowa’s Mark Gronowski (1,529 passing yards, 491 rushing yards, 15 rushing TDs) is no slouch either. This should be one of the better QB matchups of bowl season.
Kinder’s Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Houston (Dec. 27, 9:15 p.m. ET; Houston)
While Lane Kiffin won’t be coaching this one, he’ll certainly use this game as an evaluation tool for the players he’s inheriting at LSU. The Tigers’ defense (fourth in the SEC in scoring defense at 18.3 points per game) will challenge Houston QB Connor Weigman (2,475 passing yards, 644 rushing yards, 32 total TDs).
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. Missouri (Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET; Jacksonville, Fla.)
Another game that has a chance to be very good if the rosters are at full strength. Virginia was an overtime loss to Duke away from a CFP berth while the Tigers were an SEC threat unable to win the big games in league play. A matchup of great running backs between Virginia’s J’Mari Taylor (1,062 yards, 14 TDs) and Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy (1,560 yards, 16 TDs).
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: Troy vs. Jacksonville State (Dec. 16, 9 p.m. ET; Montgomery, Ala.)
A matchup of two G6 conference runners-up who were among the biggest surprises this season. Troy doubled its win total to eight despite having the worst offense in the Sun Belt. Jacksonville State won eight games under new coach Charles Kelly despite losing its coaching staff and much of its 2024 roster which won nine games. Bonus points for this being a renewal of an in-state rivalry which hasn’t been played since 2001.
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs. Illinois (Dec. 30, 5:30 p.m.; Nashville, Tenn.)
No return playoff trip for Tennessee this year, but it does get essentially a home bowl game. Joey Aguilar (SEC-leading 3,444 passing yards) leads a potent Volunteers offense against veteran Illinois QB Luke Altmyer (2,811 yards, 21 TDs). Both defenses are outside the top 75 nationally in passing defense. Points, points, points.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke (Dec. 31, 2 p.m. ET; El Paso, Texas)
Duke won its first outright ACC championship since 1962, but three non-conference losses kept it out of the CFP. Still, Darian Mensah (third nationally with 3,646 passing yards and 30 TD passes) is a compelling watch. He’ll be challenged by an Arizona State defense which ranks second in the Big 12 in sacks (32).
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Cal vs. Hawaii (Dec. 24, 8 p.m. ET; Honolulu, Hawaii)
Cal has already hired Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi to replace Justin Wilcox, whom it fired two weeks ago. Lupoi has already retained freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3,117 yards) for 2026, raising this bowl’s notoriety. Hawaii is bowling for the first time since 2020 and has arguably the best kicker in college football, Kansei Matsukawa of Japan (25 of 26 on field goals), who taught himself how to kick via YouTube.
Go Bowling Military Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina (Dec. 27, 11 a.m.; Annapolis, Md.)
Freshman QB Mason Heintschel (2,098 yards, 15 touchdowns in nine games) was one of the surprises of the ACC this season for Pitt. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely Desmond Reid (966 yards in 2024) will play after an oft-injured 2025. East Carolina is led by a defense which topped the American Conference in scoring defense (20.3 points) and total defense (348.9 yards).
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl: UNLV vs. Ohio (Dec. 23, 9 p.m.; Frisco, Texas)
Dan Mullen picked up where Barry Odom left off at UNLV, leading the Rebels to 10 wins in his first season. Virginia QB transfer Anthony Colandrea accounted for nearly 3,900 yards of offense and 32 TDs. Ohio (8-4) snapped a streak of three 10-win seasons in Brian Smith’s first season as head coach, but still had the second-best MAC offense in yards (416.3) and points (28.7) per game.
Myrtle Beach Bowl presented by Engine: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan (Dec. 19, 11 a.m.; Conway, S.C.)
Kennesaw State has a case for being the biggest surprise team in college football this season, 10-3 under first-year coach Jerry Mack. Gabriel Benyard led CUSA in receiving yards (898) for the Owls. Western Michigan won its first MAC title since 2016 on Saturday behind a defense that ranked second in the MAC in yards (299.9) and points allowed (18.2) per game.
Valero Alamo Bowl: Southern California vs. TCU (Dec. 30, 9 p.m. ET; San Antonio, Texas)
A USC offense which ranks second in the Big Ten in total offense (471.6 yards) will be a real test for a TCU team which ranks ninth in the Big 12 in total defense (377.1 yards) and 14th in passing defense (242.8 yards). Frogs QB Josh Hoover has thrown for 3,472 yards and 29 TDs, but it feels like this one could be a lopsided win for the Trojans.
Wasabi Fenway Bowl: UConn vs. Army (Dec. 27, 2:15 p.m. ET; Boston)
UConn won nine games for the second straight year, but coach Jim Mora Jr. is off to Colorado State. If QB Joe Fagnono (3,448 passing yards, 28 TDs, one interception) plays, the watchability improves dramatically. Army fell off from last year’s 12-2 finish but still made a second straight bowl. QB Cade Hellums features heavily in the triple-option offense with 1,078 rushing yards and 15 TDs.
Trust & Will Holiday Bowl: Arizona vs. SMU (Jan. 2, 8 p.m. ET; San Diego)
Arizona more than doubled its win total from four in 2024 to nine this season, ending the regular season on a five-game winning streak. Noah Fifita had a bounceback season with 2,963 yards and 26 touchdowns to five interceptions. SMU, whose loss to Cal in the regular-season finale kept it out of the ACC title game, had the best passing offense in the ACC (283.5 yards) but also the 16th-ranked passing defense (284.7 yards).
Bucked Up LA Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington (Dec. 13, 8 p.m. ET; Inglewood, Calif.)
Boise State just became a lot more watchable when they got QB Maddux Madsen back for the end of the season, winning their third straight Mountain West title. Washington QB Demond Williams Jr. (2,850 passing yards, 595 rushing yards, 27 total TDs) is one of the better under-the-radar players in the country.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Memphis vs. NC State (Dec. 19, 2:30 p.m. ET; Tampa, Fla.)
NC State is bowling for the fourth straight year under Dave Doeren at 7-5. C.J. Bailey took a step forward this year (69.6%, 2,884 passing yards, 28 total TDs) and linebacker Caden Fordham leads all Power Four players in tackles (130). Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield is headed to Arkansas after six seasons with the Tigers, who lost their last three games after an 8-1 start.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Cincinnati (Jan. 2, 4:30 p.m. ET; Memphis, Tenn.)
After this week’s rivalry matchup vs. Army, Navy’s attention turns to Cincinnati. The 9-2 Midshipmen are second nationally with 3,282 yards but can also pass the ball well for a service academy. Blake Horvath has 1,390 passing yards, the most by a Navy QB since 2016. Cincinnati, which lost its last four games and ranked 13th in the Big 12 in rushing defense, will have its hands full.
XBOX Bowl: Missouri State vs. Arkansas State (Dec. 18, 9 p.m. ET; Frisco, Texas)
A new FBS team this season, Missouri State was a surprising 7-5. The Bears had the third-best Conference USA defense (384.8 yards per game) and a productive QB in Jacob Clark (2,895 yards, 24 TDs). Arkansas State is anchored by experienced signal-caller Jaylen Raynor (3,073 passing yards this season; 8,406 yards, 49 TDs over last three seasons).
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Washington State vs. Utah State (Dec. 22, 2 p.m. ET; Boise, Idaho)
Washington State made a bowl in Jimmy Rogers’ first season, but he accepted the Iowa State job on Friday. It’s fair to wonder what the Cougars’ roster could look like for this game. Utah State also made a bowl in Bronco Mendenhall’s first season thanks to Bryson Barnes, who led the team in passing (2,687) and rushing (733) yards with 27 total touchdowns.
68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana vs. Delaware (Dec. 17, 8:30 p.m. ET; Mobile, Ala.)
FBS debutante Delaware is a surprising bowl team this season, only eligible because there weren’t enough six-win teams. Blue Hens QB Nick Minicucci ranks fifth nationally in passing yards (3,507). Louisiana reached its eighth straight bowl due to a season-ending four-game winning streak. It had five bowl appearances in program history before this streak.
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Fresno State (Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m.; Tucson, Ariz.)
Miami is bowling for the fifth straight season. Kam Perry ranked second in the MAC with 996 receiving yards, nearly twice as many as any other RedHawk. Fresno State is also in its fifth straight bowl under first-year coach Matt Entz. Kurt Warner’s son, E.J., leads the Bulldogs with 1,811 passing yards, 12 TDs and 11 picks.
Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota (Dec. 26, 4:30 p.m. ET; Phoenix)
First-year coach Jason Eck made an immediate splash at New Mexico. The Lobos (9-3) have a chance to match the program single-season wins record with a Rate Bowl victory. Minnesota (296.3 yards per game) had a better offense than only lowly Wisconsin among Big Ten teams but still managed a fifth straight bowl appearance under P.J. Fleck.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Florida International vs. UTSA (Dec. 26, 8 p.m. ET; Dallas)
First-year coach Willie Simmons has Florida International in a bowl for the first time since 2019. Kejon Evans ranks eighth nationally with 1,298 rushing yards. UTSA limped into its sixth bowl in as many seasons under Jeff Traylor with six wins, its fewest since 2019. The Roadrunners have another prolific running back in Chris Henry Jr. (1,045 yards, nine touchdowns).
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss (Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m. ET; New Orleans)
Western Kentucky reached eight wins for the sixth time in Tyson Helton’s seven seasons this year despite splitting time between Maverick McIvor and Rodney Tisdale Jr. at QB. Southern Miss went from one win in 2024 to seven this year under new coach Charles Huff, but he’s reportedly off to Memphis and could take a number of his players with him if his Marshall move last offseason was any indication.
Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans: Toledo vs. Louisville (Dec. 23, 2 p.m. ET; Boca Raton, Fla.)
Louisville faded down the stretch, losing three of its last four games after a 7-1 start. It seems unlikely standout running back Isaac Brown (782 yards) will play after he missed the last four games due to injury. Toledo won eight-plus games for the fourth straight season, but coach Jason Candle is headed to UConn, which could affect the Rockets’ roster for this game.
Bad Boys Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State vs. Clemson (Dec. 27, 12 p.m. ET; New York)
A matchup many people expected to be a potential national title game between the No. 2 and No. 3 preseason-ranked teams instead is a mid-tier bowl game. It’s fair to wonder the motivation for both of these teams and how many players could opt out from both rosters which are laden with NFL talent.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State (Jan. 2, 8 p.m.; Charlotte, N.C.)
Wake Forest was a major surprise team this season, doubling its win total to eight in Jake Dickert’s first season. Mississippi State is another 5-7 team that accepted a bid. Both teams run the ball effectively (Wake Forest was sixth in the ACC and Mississippi State third in the SEC with 28 rushing TDs). One team has stopped the run much better than the other. The Bulldogs ranked last in the SEC in rushing defense (189.5).
STAFFDNA Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs. South Florida (Dec. 17, 5 p.m. ET; Orlando, Fla.)
Old Dominion won nine games, its most since 2016. However, star quarterback Colton Joseph (2,624 passing yards, 1,007 rushing yards, 31 total TDs) has already announced he’s sitting out of the bowl and entering the portal. South Florida’s roster is also likely to see attrition after head coach Alex Golesh took the Auburn job.
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah (Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET; Las Vegas)
With Dylan Raiola sidelined with a broken right fibula, Nebraska sputtered down the stretch, losing three of its last four games after a 6-2 start. Utah has won its last five games, leads the country in yards per carry (6.11) and is going against the 115th-ranked rush defense in yards per carry. Is there any reason to think this will be remotely competitive?
GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern (Dec. 26, 1 p.m. ET; Detroit)
Central Michigan is bowling for the first time since 2021 in Matt Drinkall’s first season after a three-win improvement to 7-5. Northwestern, which had a preseason win total betting line of 3.5, is in a bowl for the second time in three years under David Braun despite a 14-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio from Preston Stone.
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech (Dec. 30, 2 p.m. ET; Shreveport, La.)
Coastal Carolina is playing in a bowl for the sixth straight season but fired coach Tim Beck on Dec. 1. The Chanticleers rank 12th in the Sun Belt in scoring offense (22.8 points) and 13th in total offense (322.2 yards). Success will be hard to come by against a Louisiana Tech team which led CUSA in scoring defense (21.3 points).
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State (Jan. 2, 1 p.m. ET; Fort Worth, Texas)
Another 5-7 team that got in due to opt outs, Rice is bowling in Scott Abell’s first season. Texas State needed to win its last three games to get to 6-6. The records may be similar, but Texas State’s offense appears to be far and away the best unit in this game, entering seventh in FBS in total offense (475.8) anchored by a 1,000-yard rusher in Lincoln Pare and an 1,100-yard receiver in Beau Sparks.
JLab Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State (Dec. 29, 2 p.m. ET; Birmingham, Ala.)
We went deep enough into the 5-7 teams that two conference opponents who played this year (Georgia Southern won 25-23 on Nov. 6) will rematch in this bowl game. Georgia Southern is 6-6, Appalachian State is 5-7. Not sure either fanbase is particularly happy with their coach at the moment or that the Birmingham Bowl is happy with how this played out.
