Full Breakdown
College Football Bowl Games: December 26-27, 2025 Overview
12/26/2025, 10:54:08 PM
Key Matchups and Game Details
The college football bowl season continues with a series of games on December 26 and 27, 2025. The action kicks off on December 26 with three games: the GameAbove Sports Bowl featuring Central Michigan against Northwestern, the Rate Bowl with New Mexico facing Minnesota, and the First Responder Bowl where Florida International University (FIU) meets the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA).
GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern
The GameAbove Sports Bowl will take place at Ford Field in Detroit at 1 p.m. ET. Central Michigan (7-5) is making its first bowl appearance since 2021 under first-year coach Matt Drinkall. The Chippewas will rely on their running game, led by Nahree Biggins. Northwestern (6-6), coached by David Braun, aims to extend its five-game bowl winning streak. The Wildcats have faced a challenging schedule, with their defense allowing an average of 20.9 points per game. Northwestern is favored by 10.5 points, with an over/under set at 43.5 points.
Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota
At 4:30 p.m. ET, the Rate Bowl will feature New Mexico (9-3) against Minnesota (7-5) at Chase Field in Phoenix. New Mexico, under coach Jason Eck, is looking for its first bowl win since 2016 and enters the game on a six-game winning streak. Minnesota, boasting the longest active bowl winning streak in FBS history at eight games, is favored by 1.5 points. The over/under for this matchup is 44.5 points.
First Responder Bowl: FIU vs. UTSA
The First Responder Bowl will conclude the day's action at 8 p.m. ET at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. FIU (7-5) is on a four-game winning streak, while UTSA (6-6) aims to bounce back after a mixed season. UTSA is favored by 5.5 points, with the over/under at 60.5 points.
Upcoming Games on December 27
The following day, December 27, features a busy schedule with eight bowl games, including notable matchups such as Penn State vs. Clemson in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl and BYU vs. Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Pinstripe Bowl kicks off at noon ET, with Penn State entering as a 3-point underdog against Clemson. The Pop-Tarts Bowl, featuring BYU as a 4-point favorite, starts at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Official Statements & Responses
Bowl season executive director Nick Carparelli has acknowledged the challenges facing bowl games amid discussions about College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion. He emphasized the need for reevaluation of bowl structures to coexist with a growing tournament landscape. "We certainly have our issues that need to be resolved... we’re excited to talk to our conference partners once bowl season’s over," Carparelli stated.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics of the current bowl system argue that the proliferation of bowl games dilutes the significance of postseason play. The trend of player opt-outs and coaching changes further complicates the landscape, leading to concerns about the competitive integrity of these matchups.
What's Next
As the bowl season progresses, attention will shift to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals scheduled for December 31, 2025, with significant matchups that could reshape the postseason narrative.
