NCAAF · 11 hours ago

CBS Sports Predicts Entire 2026 College Football Bowl Slate

Grant White

Host · Writer

Rose Bowl
(3) Oregon Ducks vs. 6 vs. 11 Winner

The Oregon Ducks have cemented their position as a perennial powerhouse. Still, they have to prove that they have what it takes to go all the way.
Hawaii Bowl
South Florida Bulls vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

Hawaii is a program on the rise, and it should be rewarded for its efforts with another home-field bowl game.
Cure Bowl
East Carolina Pirates vs. Kentucky Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats need to make the most of their non-conference schedule. Still, a bowl game berth is in the cards.
Armed Forces Bowl
North Dakota State Bison vs. James Madison Dukes

The North Dakota State Bison head into their inaugural FBS season. A bowl game is well within their reach.
Salute to Veterans Bowl
Ohio Bobcats vs. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Coastal Carolina will be in the mix in the Sun Belt, assuring the Chanticleers of a bowl game this winter.
68 Ventures Bowl
Toledo Rockets vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

The Rockets lost a few key defenders this offseason, but they will be ready to compete throughout 2026.
Xbox Bowl
Delaware Blue Hens vs. Georgia Southern Eagles

Delaware is looking to improve on its 7-6 foray into the FBS. Anything less in 2026 would be a disappointment.
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Akron Zips vs. Western Michigan Broncos

Akron hasn't had a winning season since 2017, but the Zips could be positioned for a bowl game berth this season.
Boca Raton Bowl
Tulane Green Wave vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks

Tulane forced the nation to take notice last season, but the Green Wave will be hard pressed to replicate that success in 2026.
Potato Bowl
San Diego State Aztecs vs. Miami (OH) Red Hawks

The Aztecs' path to bowl season is relatively unobstructed, but they'll have to shed their former reputation as underachievers.
Frisco Bowl
North Texas Mean Green vs. Missouri State Bears

The Mean Green fizzled at the end of last season, but they should set their sights higher than the Frisco Bowl.
New Orleans Bowl
Old Dominion Monarchs vs. Kennesaw State Owls

ODU had a triumphant renaissance in 2025. The Monarchs are hoping to run in back this season.
New Mexico Bowl
Boise State Broncos vs. FIU Panthers

The Pac-12 is back in its new iteration. The Broncos will be in contention, but should be destined for a bowl game as opposed to a playoff berth.
Arizona Bowl
Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Buffalo Bulls

Offense will be on display if Fresno State clashes with Buffalo in this year's Arizona Bowl.
Puerto Rico Bowl
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Central Michigan Chippewas

Minnesota is always loaded with upset potential, but it lacks the consistency to compete against premier Big Ten competition.
First Responders Bowl
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

Let's hope Bill Belichick figures out how to coach at the college level. The Tar Heels need to get back to their winning ways.
Gasparilla Bowl
Auburn Tigers vs. Virginia Cavaliers

Auburn has lost its way, failing to earn a bowl game berth since 2023. Expect a resurgent effort this year.
Rate Bowl
Kansas State Wildcats vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin has fallen on hard times, and we keep waiting on its revival. Perhaps this is the year it all comes together for the Badgers.
Pointsettia Bowl
Memphis Tigers vs. New Mexico Lobos

Few people envisioned the Lobos enjoying the success they did last year. They'll keep the good times rolling in 2026.
Fenway Bowl
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Memphis Tigers

Yes, CBS has Memphis playing in two bowls. This spot might be better suited for the Rice Owls.
Military Bowl
Navy Midshipmen vs. Pittsburgh Panthers

Navy has reasserted itself as an AAC power. However, the Pittsburgh Panthers have shown flashes of brilliance in recent years. We're hoping for this matchup.
Texas Bowl
Utah Utes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

These two programs deserve each other. Utah and South Carolina have fallen short of taking the next steps, making them fitting combatants in the Texas Bowl.
Independence Bowl
Arizona Wildcats vs. Army Black Knights

The Wildcats may be more capable than prognosticators are giving them credit for. Still, the Independence Bowl would be a suitable consolation prize.
Birmingham Bowl
Duke Blue Devils vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

Duke and Vandy are both coming off overachieving campaigns. Expect both teams to tumble this season.
Sun Bowl
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Utah State Aggies

TCU is a few years removed from its National Championship run, but they've finished 9-4 in each of the past two seasons. They should aim higher than the Sun Bowl.
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Florida State Seminoles

Illinois won't replicate its success from last season, and FSU has just seven wins over the past two seasons. Maybe the Duke's Mayo Bowl is the middle ground for both these programs?
Liberty Bowl
Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State isn't as bad as it showed last season, but pitting the Cowboys against the Gators might be overestimating their abilities.
Music City Bowl
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Missouri Tigers

The Hawkeyes are a tier below the top teams in the Big Ten. A marquee bowl game around the holidays is where they belong.
Holiday Bowl
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

Maybe this is the year it all comes together for the Hokies. Or maybe they'll end up in a less prominent bowl game earlier in the month.
Alamo Bowl
BYU Cougars vs. Washington Huskies

BYU can contend in the Big 12, whereas Washington will continue to struggle in the Big Ten.
Las Vegas Bowl
USC Trojans vs. Tennessee Volunteers

USC was busy this offseason, as has been the case over many of the past few seasons. We're waiting with baited breath to see if the changes pay dividends.
Gator Bowl
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Clemson Tigers

Oklahoma always has lofty ambitions. A Gator Bowl showdown versus Clemson is not where the Sooners want to end up.
ReliaQuest Bowl
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Texas A&M Aggies

Losing is never an option for Penn State. After a disastrous 2025 campaign, the best they could hope for in 2026 is the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Citrus Bowl
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Michigan Wolverines

This would be a hard pill for either program to swallow. Ending up in a non-playoff bowl game the day after the CFP quarterfinals could mean one of these coaches is searching the 'Wanted Ads'.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Houston Cougars vs. Louisville Cardinals

Houston was on the edge of playoff contention last season, but we're relegated to the Texas Bowl. A similar outcome is anticipated this season.
CFP First Round
(9) LSU Tigers vs. (8) Ohio State Buckeyes

A return to the playoffs is exactly where the LSU Tigers envision themselves. Conversely, the Ohio State Buckeyes would repudiate being the eighth seed.
CFP First Round
(10) SMU Mustangs vs. (7) Texas Tech Red Raiders

It took decades for the SMU Mustangs to recapture their former reputation, while Texas Tech isn't ready to reverse its recent direction.
CFP First Round
(11) Ole Miss Rebels vs. (6) Indiana Hoosiers

One magnificent season later, Indiana is viewed as a top contender. Don't be surprised if these seeds are reversed or if the Hoosiers straight up miss the playoffs.
CFP First Round
(12) UNLV Rebels vs. (5) Georgia Bulldogs

If it weren't for pesky Boise State, UNLV would have already gotten its first taste of CFP action. They could throw more at Georgia than most people expect.
Peach Bowl
(1) Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. 8 vs. 9 Winner

The Hurricanes are reloaded, hoping to build off of last season's disappointing loss in the National Championship Game. They will have the least contested path to the final, heading into the 2026 season as the presumptive one seed.
Fiesta Bowl
(4) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. 5 vs. 12 Winner

Notre Dame was spurned in 2025, and we expect the Fighting Irish to come back with avengeance this season. Sorry in advance to the 5 vs. 12 winner.
Cotton Bowl
(2) Texas Longhorns vs. 7 vs. 10 Winner

The Longhorns started last season as the top-ranked team in the country. They ended as a non-playoff team. It's time for Texas to make amends for its disappointments.
Rose Bowl
(3) Oregon Ducks vs. 6 vs. 11 Winner

The Oregon Ducks have cemented their position as a perennial powerhouse. Still, they have to prove that they have what it takes to go all the way.
Hawaii Bowl
South Florida Bulls vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

Hawaii is a program on the rise, and it should be rewarded for its efforts with another home-field bowl game.

CBS Sports Predicts Entire 2026 College Football Bowl Slate

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