College Football Bowl Ties, Affiliations For Each Conference 2025-2026
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
– As always, when it comes to the college football bowl agreements, tie-ins, and affiliations, flexibility is the key. We'll change this all on the fly as needed since bowl game matchups are fluid.
– There could be new deals, changed affiliations, and possibly, a new bowl will pop up or another will go away.
Will there be enough bowl-eligible teams from each conference for their slots? How will the 12-team College Football Playoff model affect things this time around?
– This will likely be the last year for most of these bowl affiliations. TV contracts, big conferences that want more, a likely expansion of the CFP to 14 or 16 – it's all about to change, but most of the current deals go through the 2025 season.
Scroll down for each conference's bowl ties and affiliations
College Football Bowl Ties, Affiliations 2025-2026
How Will the 2025-2026 College Football Playoff work?
The five highest-ranked conference champions are automatically in the CFP, but this year, the top four seeds get the first round byes no matter what. The first round games will be played on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams on December 19th and 20th.
The Quarterfinals will be played in bowl venues: Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The Semifinals will be the Fiesta Bowl on January 8th, and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on January 9th. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be in Miami on January 19th.
If available, the Big Ten champion will go to the Rose Bowl, the higher ranked champion between the Big 12 and SEC champions will go to the Sugar Bowl, and the ACC champion will go to the Orange Bowl.
2025-2026 College Football Playoff Schedule
First Round
Friday, Dec. 19
On Campus (1 game)
Saturday, Dec. 20
On Campus (3 games)
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Cotton Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 1
Orange Bowl
ACC, if possible
Rose Bowl
Big Ten, if possible
Sugar Bowl
Big 12 or SEC, if possible
Semifinals
Thursday, Jan. 8
Fiesta Bowl
Friday, Jan. 9
Peach Bowl
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, Jan. 19
Miami Gardens, FL
ACC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The ACC Champion will almost certainly be in the expanded College Football Playoff. In most seasons, it'll likely get a first round bye, but as the 2024 season showed – Clemson had to go to Texas in the first round – that's not a given. After that, it's all determined by how many other ACC teams get into the expanded CFP.
As always, this will be based on geography and best matchups. The conference vs conference tie-ins can be changed based on availability. With so many teams and so many choices, repeat appearances from the previous season will try to be avoided.
Notre Dame is eligible for any of the ACC's bowl slots, but it's not considered an ACC team when it comes to the CFP.
The former Pac-12 teams will remain eligible for the former Pac-12 bowl ties and affiliations for one more season. That means if Cal or Stanford aren't in the College Football Playoff, they'll be eligible for the Alamo, Independence, Holiday, LA, Las Vegas, and Sun bowls.
There's no true pecking order here.
– Orange Bowl vs CFP (if the ACC has a champion among the top four ranked conference champs)
– Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs SEC
– Fenway Bowl vs American Athletic
– Holiday Bowl vs Former Pac-12 school
– Military Bowl vs American Athletic
– Pinstripe Bowl vs Big Ten
– Pop-Tarts Bowl vs Big 12
– ReliaQuest Bowl vs SEC (or Big Ten)
– TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs SEC
– Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs Former Pac-12 school
Alternate Affiliations, if available
– Birmingham Bowl vs SEC or AAC
– Gasparilla Bowl vs AAC or SEC
– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs SEC or AAC
American Conference Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff. After that, at the moment, this is all negotiable based on the best available teams and where they'd all fit into the puzzle.
The American Athletic Conference bowl tie-ins and affiliations will mostly be based on geographic location while avoiding repeat appearances.
The ESPN-owned and operated bowls will move teams around to create the best possible matchups, but there are a few set ties and affiliations. However, the conference is settled into four bowls for certain, and then it's based on matchups and availability.
The American Athletic Conference is affiliated with these bowl slots
– Fenway Bowl vs ACC
– Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs Big 12 or former Pac-12
– Military Bowl vs ACC
– Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl and Hawaii Bowl in a rotation, Navy played in last season's Armed Forces, and USF played in last season's Hawaii.
The American Athletic Conference will get a chance at putting four teams in these bowls, depending on matchups, geography, and availability
– Birmingham Bowl vs SEC
– Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
– Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
– Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
– Gasparilla Bowl vs Group of Five
– New Mexico Bowl vs Mountain West
– Myrtle Beach Bowl vs Group of Five
– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs ACC or Big 12
Big Ten Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Consider it a mortal lock that the Big Ten champion is in the College Football Playoff, and almost certainly with one of the top four spots with a bye. That puts the champ in the quarterfinals and the Rose Bowl.
The Big Ten used to alternate with the SEC between the Las Vegas Bowl and Duke's Mayo Bowl, but the Big Ten has put teams into the Las Vegas Bowl two years in a row – sort of. USC was counted more like a former Pac-12 team. Assume the Big Ten will be in the Las Vegas and not in the Duke's Mayo after Minnesota got in last year.
The former Pac-12 teams – Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington – will remain eligible for the former Pac-12 bowl ties and affiliations for one more season. That means if any of those four aren't in the College Football Playoff, they'll be eligible for the Alamo, Independence, Holiday, LA, Las Vegas, and Sun bowls.
Let's put it this way. No matter what, ESPN and the bowl people will shoehorn any available Big Ten team into a bowl game.
– Rose Bowl vs CFP (if the Big Ten has a champion among the top four ranked conference champs)
– Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs SEC
– Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big 12
– GameAbove Sports Bowl vs MAC
– Las Vegas Bowl vs former Pac-12
– Music City Bowl vs SEC
– Pinstripe Bowl vs ACC
– ReliaQuest Bowl vs SEC
Big 12 Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Just like the other Power Four conferences – ACC, Big Ten, SEC – consider it a sure thing that the Big 12 champion is in the College Football Playoff, and usually with one of the top four spots with a bye.
Unlike the other Power 4 conferences, though, the Big 12 bowl affiliations are a tad more fluid.
The former Pac-12 teams – Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah – will remain eligible for the former Pac-12 bowl ties and affiliations. That means if any of those four aren't in the College Football Playoff, they'll be eligible for the Alamo, Independence, Holiday, LA, Las Vegas, and Sun bowls.
For now, this is the likely Big 12 bowl pecking order after the College Football Playoff.
– Sugar Bowl vs CFP (if the Big 12 has a champion among the top four ranked conference champs)
1. Valero Alamo Bowl vs Pac-12 tie-in
2. Pop-Tarts Bowl vs ACC
3. Kinder's Texas Bowl vs SEC
4. AutoZone Liberty Bowl vs SEC
5. Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big Ten
6. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs AAC (this was Pac-12, and note, the Big 12 has a deal for two Independence Bowl appearances from 2023 to 2025, and Texas Tech took a spot in 2023, and the Big 12 didn't go in 2024.)
Alternate Affiliations, if available
– Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs American Athletic or C-USA
– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs ACC or American Athletic
Conference USA Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff.
The CUSA bowl tie-ins are always a tad fluid – there weren't quite enough bowl spots for the teams last season.
The Hawaii Bowl slot was back for 2024, but the conference couldn't fill it. It's still in the mix, and the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl back in the mix this year.
Conference USA is affiliated with these bowl slots. There isn't a true pecking order.
– Bahamas Bowl vs MAC
– Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
– Hawaii Bowl vs Mountain West
– R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs Sun Belt
Conference USA will get a chance at putting four or five teams in these bowls, depending on matchups, geography, and availability
– 68 Ventures Bowl vs MAC or Sun Belt
– Birmingham Bowl vs AAC or SEC
– Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
– Camellia Bowl vs MAC or Sun Belt
– Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
– Fenway Bowl vs ACC or AAC
– Gasparilla Bowl vs ACC, American, SEC
– Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs AAC
– Myrtle Beach Bowl vs AAC, MAC or Sun Belt
– New Mexico Bowl vs Mountain West
– Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs Army or Big 12
– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs Group of Five
Independent Bowl Ties, Affiliations
– UConn doesn't have direct bowl ties or affiliations.
– Notre Dame – if it's not in the College Football Playoff – can take one of the ACC’s bowl spots.
MAC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff.
The MAC is affiliated with these bowl slots. There isn't a true pecking order.
– Bahamas Bowl vs Conference USA
– Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl vs Mountain West
– Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs Mountain West
– GameAbove Sports Bowl vs Big Ten
The MAC will play in at least two of these bowls based on matchups, geography, and availability
– 68 Ventures Bowl vs Sun Belt
– Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
– Camellia Bowl vs AAC or Sun Belt
– Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
– Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
– Myrtle Beach Bowl vs AAC or Sun Belt
– New Mexico Bowl vs Conference USA
Mountain West Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff.
The Mountain West is affiliated with these bowl ties. There isn't a true pecking order. The conference is guaranteed to have six bowl slots during each bowl season until this season, starting with these five.
– Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl vs MAC
– Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs MAC
– Hawai’i Bowl vs CUSA
– LA Bowl vs former Pac-12 school
– New Mexico Bowl vs CUSA
Mountain West has an affiliation to fill if needed …
– Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big Ten or Big 12
To be determined among the Group of Five conferences …
– Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
– Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
– Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs Group of Five
Pac-12 Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The Pac-12 won't be fully functional again until 2026, when Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and UTEP will make the move. Until then …
– Oregon State and Washington State will work with the Mountain West for regular season scheduling, but will still be eligible for bowls with ties and affiliations with the former Pac-12.
Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Washington will all be eligible for these bowls.
– Holiday Bowl vs ACC
– LA Bowl vs Mountain West
– Las Vegas Bowl vs Big Ten (most likely)
– Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs Big 12
– Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs ACC
– Valero Alamo Bowl vs Big 12
SEC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Just assume the SEC Champion will once again get one of the top four seeds in the 12-team expanded College Football Playoff, which puts it in the Sugar Bowl. Of course, other SEC teams will likely make the field again, too.
The SEC alternates with the Big Ten between the Las Vegas Bowl (2020, 2022, 2024) and Duke's Mayo Bowl (2021, 2023, 2025). Texas A&M went to the Las Vegas last season, so the SEC is expected to go to the Duke's Mayo.
– Sugar Bowl vs CFP (if the SEC has a champion among the top four ranked conference champs)
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs Big Ten
The Citrus Bowl gets its pick of the top SEC team available after the CFP is settled.
The SEC will assign teams to the respective bowls in this pool.
– AutoZone Liberty Bowl vs Big 12
– Duke's Mayo Bowl vs ACC
– ReliaQuest Bowl vs Big Ten or ACC
– TaxAct Texas Bowl vs Big 12
– TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs ACC
– TransPerfect Music City Bowl vs Big Ten
The SEC has affiliations to fill if needed.
– Birmingham Bowl vs American Athletic
– Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl vs AAC or ACC
Sun Belt Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff.
The Sun Belt will get five bowl slots available to eligible teams.
ESPN-owned and operated bowls get the first pick of Sun Belt teams, and it gets third and fourth picks. The New Orleans gets the second pick of the bunch, and the 68 Ventures has the fifth selection.
The Sun Belt is affiliated with these bowl slots.
2. R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs CUSA
5. 68 Ventures Bowl vs MAC
To be determined among the Group of Five conferences. The Sun Belt will get spots in at least three of these bowls with the conference's Nos. 1, 3, and 4 teams available to ESPN-owned and operated bowls.
– Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
– Camellia Bowl vs C-USA or MAC
– Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
– Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
– Myrtle Beach Bowl vs AAC or MAC
The Sun Belt has an affiliation to fill-in if needed.
– Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs MAC or Mountain West
– New Mexico Bowl vs C-USA or Mountain West
This story was originally reported by College Football News on Nov 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos