Bowl Projections Week 8: Major Moves After Oklahoma, Michigan, Penn State Losses

- The trickle-down effect matters for all of the top bowl games, especially considering Michigan will almost certainly get another loss, coming off the defeat to USC, and Oklahoma might have a hard time coming close to the CFP with the brutal schedule ahead.

- The Mountain West situation is tough. The conference bowl tie-ins are way under the level for the top teams in the mix, especially if one of them doesn't get into the CFP.

Boise State, UNLV, and now, San Diego State all likely deserve high-profile spots that won't be there. With Fresno State, Wyoming, Hawaii, and New Mexico all likely bowl eligible, there are a few odd matchups currently projected here.

Cricket Celebration Bowl

Saturday, December 15, 2025
12:00, ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Bowl Affiliations: MEAC, SWAC
Last Season: Jackson State 28, South Carolina State 7
Projection: NC Central vs Jackson State

LA Bowl

Saturday, December 15, 2025
9:00, ESPN
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Bowl Affiliations: MW, Former Pac-12
Last Season: UNLV 24, Cal 13
Projection: Boise State vs Washington State

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl

Tuesday, December 16, 2025
9:00, ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: South Alabama 30, Western Michigan 23
Projection: Kennesaw State vs Troy

StaffDNA Cure Bowl

Wednesday, December 17, 2025
5:00, ESPN
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: Ohio 30, Jacksonville State 27
Projection: Fresno State vs Georgia Southern

68 Ventures Bowl

Wednesday, December 17, 2025
8:30, ESPN
Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, Sun Belt, CUSA
Last Season: Arkansas State 38, Bowling Green 31
Projection: Buffalo vs Appalachian State

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Friday, December 19, 2025
12:00 am, ESPN
Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: UTSA 44, Coastal Carolina 15
Projection: Ohio vs Southern Miss

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl

Friday, December 19, 2025
3:30, ESPN
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC, CUSA, SEC
Last Season: Florida 33, Tulane 8
Projection: UCF vs Mississippi State

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Monday, December 22, 2025
2:00, ESPN
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, MW, Sun Belt
Last Season: Northern Illinois 28, Fresno State 20 2OT
Projection: Toledo vs UNLV

Boca Raton Bowl

Tuesday, December 23
2:00, ESPN
Flagler Credit Union Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: James Madison 27, WKU 17
Projection: UConn vs Old Dominion

New Orleans Bowl

Tuesday, December 23
7:00, ESPN2
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Sun Belt
Last Season: Sam Houston 31, Georgia Southern 26
Projection: Louisiana Tech vs James Madison

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl

Tuesday, December 23
9:00, ESPN
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Gof5
Last Season: Memphis 42, West Virginia 37
Projection: Texas State vs Wyoming

Hawaii Bowl

Wednesday, December 24
8:00, ESPN
Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MW, AAC
Last Season: USF 41, San Jose State 39 5OT
Projection: Liberty vs Hawaii

GameAbove Sports Bowl

Friday, December 26
1:00, ESPN
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, MAC,
Last Season: Toledo 48, Pitt 46 6OT
Projection: Miami University vs Minnesota

Rate Bowl

Friday, December 26
4:30, ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, Big 12, MW
Last Season: Kansas State 44, Rutgers 41
Projection: Nebraska vs Houston

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Friday, December 26
8:00, ESPN
Gerald R Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Gof5 ACC, Big 12
Last Season: Texas State 30, North Texas 28
Projection: East Carolina vs TCU

Go Bowling Military Bowl

Saturday, December 27, 2025
11:00 am, ESPN
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC,
Last Season: East Carolina 26, NC State 21
Projection: Navy vs SMU

Wasabi Fenway Bowl

Saturday, December 27, 2025
2:15, ESPN
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC,
Last Season: UConn 27, North Carolina 14
Projection: North Texas vs Duke

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Saturday, December 27, 2025
12:00, ABC
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big Ten,
Last Season: Nebraska 20, Boston College 15
Projection: Florida State vs Iowa

Pop-Tarts Bowl

Saturday, December 27, 2025
3:30, ABC
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Big 12
Last Season: Iowa State 42, Miami 41
Projection: Georgia Tech vs Baylor

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

Saturday, December 27, 2025
4:30, CW Network
Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, MW
Last Season: Miami University 43, Colorado State 17
Projection: Western Michigan vs San Diego State

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

Saturday, December 27, 2025
5:45, ESPN
University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, MW, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: TCU 34, Louisiana 3
Projection: Bowling Green vs New Mexico

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Saturday, December 27, 2025
7:30, ESPN
EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, SEC
Last Season: Ole Miss 52, Duke 20
Projection: Clemson vs Oklahoma

Kinder’s Texas Bowl

Saturday, December 27, 2025
9:15, ESPN
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12 SEC
Last Season: LSU 44, Baylor 31
Projection: BYU vs Texas

Birmingham Bowl

Monday, December 29, 2025
2:00, ESPN
Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC, CUSA, SEC
Last Season: Vanderbilt 35, Georgia Tech 27
Projection: Kansas State vs Memphis

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

Tuesday, December 30, 2025
2:00, ESPN
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, Big 12, Former Pac-12
Last Season: Army 27, Louisiana Tech 6
Projection: Tulane vs Arizona

TransPerfect Music City Bowl

Tuesday, December 30, 2025
5:30, ESPN
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC
Last Season: Missouri 27, Iowa 24
Projection: Maryland vs Vanderbilt

Valero Alamo Bowl

Tuesday, December 30, 2025
9:00, ABC
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, Former Pac-12
Last Season: BYU 36, Colorado 14
Projection: Cincinnati vs USC

ReliaQuest Bowl

Wednesday, December 31, 2025
12:00, ESPN
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC, ACC
Last Season: Michigan 19, Alabama 13
Projection: Illinois vs LSU

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Wednesday, December 31, 2025
2:00, CBS
Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12
Last Season: Louisville 35, Washington 34
Projection: Pitt vs Cal

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Wednesday, December 31, 2025
3:00, ABC
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, SEC
Last Season: Illinois 21, South Carolina 17
Projection: Michigan vs Tennessee

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

Wednesday, December 31, 2025
3:30, ESPN
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, Former Pac-12
Last Season: USC 35, Texas A&M 31
Projection: Penn State vs Arizona State

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Friday, January 2, 2026
1:00, ESPN
Amon G Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, Big 12
Last Season: Navy 21, Oklahoma 20
Projection: Army vs Kansas

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Friday, January 2, 2026
4:30, ESPN
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12 SEC
Last Season: Arkansas 39, Texas Tech 26
Projection: Iowa State vs Auburn

Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Friday, January 2, 2026
8:00, ESPN
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, SEC
Last Season: Minnesota 24, Virginia Tech 10
Projection: Virginia vs Missouri

Bahamas Bowl

Date TBD
Time/TV: TBD
Bowl City TBD
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC
Last Season: Buffalo 26, Liberty 7
Projection: WKU vs Central Michigan

DIRECTV Holiday Bowl

Date TBD
Time TBD, FOX
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12
Last Season: Syracuse 52, Washington State 35
Projection: Louisville vs Washington