This is a list ofcollege footballbowl games, including those proposed and defunct. Six bowl games are part of theCollege Football Playoff, a selection system that creates bowl matchups involving twelve of the top-ranked teams in theNCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). There are also a number of other college football postseason invitationals, as well as severalall-star games.

For nearly a century, bowl games were the purview of only the very best teams, but a steady proliferation of new bowl games required more teams, with 70 participating teams by the2010–11 bowl season, then 80 participating teams by the2015–16 bowl season. As a result, the NCAA has steadily relaxed the criteria forbowl eligibility. Teams with a non-winning record (6–6) were allowed startingin 2010. Requirements were further reduced to allow teams with outright losing records (5–7) to be invitedsince 2012, with the team with the bestAcademic Progress Rate score (among teams with 5–7 records) to be chosen first.^[1] While inviting teams without winning records to bowl games has become more commonplace, there were several losing teams who played in bowl games before the last decade's changes in bowl eligibility:1946 Gator Bowl, South Carolina (2–3–3);1963 Sun Bowl, SMU (4–6);1970 Tangerine Bowl, William & Mary (5–6); and the2001 New Orleans Bowl, North Texas (5–6).^[2] For the2016–17 bowl season, 25% of the bowl participants (20 teams) did not have a winning record.

The tables (College Football Playoff games,Other current Division I FBS bowl games) reflect changes for the2022–23 bowl season.

Bowl games are not limited to the Bowl Subdivision; teams in the three lower divisions of the NCAA—theFootball Championship Subdivision (FCS),Division II, andDivision III—are also allowed to participate in bowl games. The playoff structure in those three divisions discourages most high-caliber teams from participating in bowl games, as teams would rather contest for their division's national championship than play in a bowl game. The same basic guidelines for bowl eligibility apply for those contests. As of 2017, one bowl game (theCelebration Bowl) exists for FCS, four bowls serve Division II, and ten exist for teams in Division III (not including theStagg Bowl, which is the name for theNCAA Division III Football Championship game).

Community college bowl games, not sanctioned by the NCAA, are also listed.

Six major bowl games, known as theNew Year's Six, rotate the hosting of the two semifinal games which determine the teams that play in the finalCollege Football Playoff National Championship game.^[3] The New Year's Six includes six of the ten oldest bowl games (missing the Sun, Gator, Citrus and Liberty bowls), continuing their original history of pitting the very best teams in the country against each other. These six games focus on the top 12 teams in the rankings, with only five teams ranked lower than 12th (all five were still ranked in the top 20) having ever played in the New Year's Six since the College Football Playoff system was inaugurated.

Besides the six bowl games that are part of the College Football Playoff, there are a number of other postseason invitationals. Generally, two conferences will agree to send teams of a particular standing to a game beforehand. For instance, the Rose Bowl traditionally features theBig Ten andPac-12 conference champions. Generally, the payout to the participating teams in a bowl game is closely correlated to its prestige. By comparison, each of the former BCS bowls (including the national championship game) had a payout of $18 million.

NOTE: These games are the Division II equivalent of the FBS bowls that are not integrated into theCollege Football Playoff. They provide a postseason venue for teams that do not qualify for theNCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs.

NOTE: These games are the Division III equivalent of the FBS bowls that are not integrated into theCollege Football Playoff. They provide a postseason venue for teams that do not qualify for theNCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs.

Additionally, theAmos Alonzo Stagg Bowl has served as the championship game for Division III since 1973. It has been played at Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), Kings Island, Ohio (1983–1984), Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992), Salem, Virginia (1993–2017, 2023). Canton, Ohio (2021, 2025), Annapolis, Maryland (2022), and Humble, Texas (2024).

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TheNAIA's national championship game (which is the conclusion of a 16 team playoff) is currently not named as a bowl, but has held a bowl name in the past. Additionally, from 1970 to 1996, NAIA football was split into two divisions and held a separate tournaments and championships for both divisions;the Division II championship was never named a bowl and as such the past names listed below do not apply to the Division II championship game.

Football teams that are a part of theNCCAA may also be members of the NCAA, NAIA, or of neither. Bids to the Victory Bowl are given to NCCAA teams that did not make the NCAA or NAIA playoffs and is treated as the NCCAA Championship Game, but follows no playoff itself.

The number of bowl games have risen steadily, reaching 41 (including the national championship game) by the2015 bowl season. To fill the 80 available bowl slots, a record 15 teams with non-winning seasons participated in bowl games—including three with a record of 5–7. This situation led directly to the NCAA Division I Council imposing a three-year moratorium on new bowl games in April 2016.^[14]

Since 2010, organizers and boosters have continued to propose other bowl games—some of these proposals have since been dropped, while others are active proposals that have been placed on hold during the NCAA moratorium.

Two proposed games, the Cure Bowl and Christmas Bowl, were turned down by the NCAA for 2010.^[20] TheCure Bowl was eventually added in 2014, for the 2015 bowl season.

In August 2013, theDetroit Lions announced that it would hold a new bowl game at Ford Field beginning in 2014, holdingBig Ten andAtlantic Coast Conference tie-ins, despite the existence of theLittle Caesars Pizza Bowl.^[21][22] While Pizza Bowl organizers attempted to move the game toComerica Park (a baseball stadium across the street from Ford Field), these plans never came to fruition.^[23][24] In August 2014, the Lions announced that the new game would be known as theQuick Lane Bowl, and play its inaugural game on December 26, 2014. In a statement toCrain's Detroit Business, Motor City Bowl co-founder Ken Hoffman confirmed that there would be no Little Caesars Pizza Bowl for 2014.^[23][25]

In June 2013,ESPN.com reported that the so-called"Group of Five" conferences—theAmerican Athletic Conference,Conference USA, MAC,Mountain West Conference, andSun Belt Conference—were considering adding one or more new bowl games once the NCAA's current moratorium on new bowls expires after the 2013 season. This move was driven by a trend for the "Power Five" conferences (ACC,Big Ten,Big 12,Pac-12, andSEC) to play one another in bowl games. The 2013 season, the last of the current four-year bowl cycle, will have 16 bowls that involve two teams from "Power Five" leagues. The 2014 season, the first of a new six-year bowl cycle, will have at least 19, and possibly more, matchups of "Power Five" teams. The "Group of Five" was apparently concerned that this trend would mean that its teams might not have available bowl slots.^[18]

According to reports, the 2010 Christmas Bowl proposal would have involved a Mountain West team against an opponent from either the Pac-12 or The American. As for The American, it has suggested a new bowl game, most likely atMarlins Park inMiami. Two other venues of "Group of Five" schools in Florida—Spectrum Stadium (UCF,Orlando) andFAU Stadium (Florida Atlantic,Boca Raton)—are being considered for other potential bowls. A possible bowl inLittle Rock would pit C-USA and the Sun Belt. Finally, the director of the current Little Caesars Bowl indicated that he had been in contact with officials from all of the "Group of Five" about starting new bowl games in Ireland (most likelyDublin),Dubai, and eitherToronto orNassau.^[18] Recently, though, reports have indicated the proposed games in Ireland and Dubai would be unworkable.^[26]

The first new bowl to be confirmed for 2014 was theCamellia Bowl, a game created by ESPN and played inMontgomery, Alabama. It secured tie-ins with the MAC and Sun Belt, and an initial contract to run through the 2019 season. ESPN was also reported to be in negotiations to take over ownership of the existingHeart of Dallas Bowl and establish a new bowl game in Boca Raton.^[27]

Another ownership group interested in starting a Montgomery-based bowl atNew ASU Stadium reportedly switched focus toCharleston, South Carolina. In the face of obstacles related to an NCAA ban on playing postseason games at predetermined locations in South Carolina due to theConfederate battle flag being flown at a civil war monument on theState House grounds, the ownership group instead chose to stage theMedal of Honor Bowlall-star game atJohnson Hagood Stadium beginning in 2014.^[28] However, with the Confederate flag's removal from the State House grounds on July 10, 2015, the NCAA lifted its ban that day.^[29] As such, on August 27 of that year, the Medal of Honor Bowl announced their plans to become a traditional postseason bowl game beginning on December 18, 2016, pending NCAA approval. The all-star game format was not played that year as a result.^[30] However, in April 2016, the NCAA announced a moratorium on new bowl games;^[14] organizers had subsequently announced plans to hold the bowl (as an all-star game again) in January 2018;^[31] however, no further editions of the Medal of Honor Bowl have been played.

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Rose Bowl (CFPbowl game)

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Orange Bowl (CFPbowl game)

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Sugar Bowl (CFPbowl game)

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Cotton Bowl (CFPbowl game)

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Peach Bowl (CFPbowl game)

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Fiesta Bowl (CFPbowl game)

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Sun Bowl

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Gator Bowl

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Citrus Bowl

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Liberty Bowl

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Independence Bowl

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Holiday Bowl

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ReliaQuest Bowl

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Rate Bowl

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Pop-Tarts Bowl

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Las Vegas Bowl

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Alamo Bowl

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Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

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Music City Bowl

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68 Ventures Bowl

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New Orleans Bowl

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Duke's Mayo Bowl

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Armed Forces Bowl

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Texas Bowl

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Birmingham Bowl

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New Mexico Bowl

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Military Bowl

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Gasparilla Bowl

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Pinstripe Bowl

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First Responder Bowl

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Bahamas Bowl

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Boca Raton Bowl

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Salute to Veterans Bowl

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GameAbove Sports Bowl

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Cure Bowl

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Arizona Bowl

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Frisco Bowl

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Myrtle Beach Bowl

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Fenway Bowl

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LA Bowl

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Celebration Bowl

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Heritage Bowl

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America's Crossroads Bowl

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Isthmus Bowl

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Lakefront Bowl

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Chesapeake Bowl Challenge

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Opendorse Bowl Series

* Bowl is a College Football Playoff semifinal, once every three seasons, in rotation under current CFP format

All-star games predominantly featuring players from the FBS-level (or historical equivalents, such as Division I-A).^[32]

• Black and Blue Bowl –Memphis andSouthern Miss
• Empire State Bowl –Columbia andCornell
• Confusion Bowl –Miami (OH) andMiami (FL)
• Crab Bowl Classic –Maryland andNavy
• Egg Bowl –Ole Miss andMississippi State
• Iron Bowl –Alabama andAuburn
• Magnolia Bowl –LSU andOle Miss
• Oyster Bowl - currentlyOld Dominion and rotating teams
• Palmetto Bowl –Clemson andSouth Carolina
• Safeway Bowl –North Texas andSMU
• Shula Bowl –FIU andFlorida Atlantic
• Soul Bowl –Alcorn State andJackson State
• Textile Bowl –Clemson andNorth Carolina State

• Aztec Bowl –Mexico (1950–53, 1955, 1957, 1964–66, 1970–71, 1971–80, 1984, 1986–present)
• Bacardi Bowl – seven exhibition games played inHavana,Cuba, from 1907 to 1946
• International Bowl – bowl game played inToronto, Canada, from 2007 to 2010
• Bahamas Bowl – currently played bowl game inNassau, Bahamas, since 2014.

• C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl –Copperas Cove, Texas
• Game One Bowl –Cedar Falls, Iowa (formerly Coca-Cola Bowl, Like Cola Bowl, Royal Crown Bowl, Pepsi-Cola/Sigler Printing Bowl, The Graphic Edge Bowl). This bowl is a doubleheader with the Iowa runner-up playing in the first game and the Iowa champion in the second. The opponents for each game are chosen at-large.
• Mississippi Bowl –Biloxi, Mississippi
• Midwest Classic Bowl –Miami, Oklahoma
• Red Grange Bowl –Glen Ellyn, Illinois
• Salt City Bowl –Hutchinson, Kansas

• Beef Empire Classic –Garden City, Kansas
• Brazos Valley Bowl –Bryan, Texas
• Carrier Dome Bowl –Syracuse, New York
• Citizens Bank Bowl –Pittsburg, Kansas. Known in its last season as theFootball Capital of Kansas Bowl. Hosted 2009National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship game between Blinn and Fort Scott, which featured future NFL starsCam Newton andLavonte David.
• Dalton Defenders Bowl –Coffeyville, Kansas
• Dixie Rotary Bowl –St. George, Utah
• East Bowl – rotating site amongCoastal Conference schools
• El Toro Bowl –Yuma, Arizona
• Empire State Bowl –Uniondale, New York
• Garland Texas Bowl –Garland, Texas
• Gold Bowl –Richmond, Virginia
• Golden Isles Bowl –Brunswick, Georgia
• Grenn Country Bowl –Tahlequah, Oklahoma
• Junior Rose Bowl –Pasadena, California
• Kansas Jayhawk Bowl Classic –Coffeyville, Kansas
• Mid-America Bowl –Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Midwest Bowl – rotating site amongNorth Central Community College Conference schools
• Mineral Water Bowl –Excelsior Springs, Missouri
• Mississippi Magnolia Bowl –MACJC Championship game, rotating site
• North Star Bowl –Rochester, Minnesota
• Palm Bowl –McAllen, Texas
• Pilgrim's Pride Bowl –Mt. Pleasant, Texas
• Real Dairy Bowl –Pocatello, Idaho
• Red River Bowl –Bedford, Texas
• Refrigerator Bowl –Evansville, Indiana
• Roaring Ranger Bowl –Ranger, Texas
• Robert A. Bothman Bulldog Bowl –San Mateo, California
• Rodeo Bowl –Arkansas City, Kansas
• Sterling Silver Bowl –Sterling, Kansas
• Texas Shrine Bowl –Tyler, Texas
• Top of the Mountain Bowl –Sandy, Utah
• Valley of the Sun Bowl – rotating site inMaricopa County, Arizona
• Wool Bowl –Roswell, New Mexico
• Zia Bowl –Albuquerque, New Mexico

Source:NJCAA^[37]

• Camellia Bowl –Sacramento, California (1980)
• Heritage Bowl –Atlanta, Georgia (1991–1999)
• Pioneer Bowl –Wichita Falls, Texas (1978, 1981–1982)
• Gridiron Classic – rotating locations (2006–2009)
• ECAC Bowl – rotating locations (1993–2003)

• Bicentennial Bowl –Richmond, Virginia (1976)
• Boardwalk Bowl –Atlantic City, New Jersey (1973)
• Camellia Bowl –Sacramento, California (1973–1975)
• Dixie Rotary Bowl –Saint George, Utah (2006–2008)
• Florida Beach Bowl –Fort Lauderdale, Florida (2023)
• Gold Bowl –Richmond, Virginia (1977–1980)
• Grantland Rice Bowl –Murfreesboro, Tennessee &Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1973–1977)
• Heart of Texas Bowl –Copperas Cove, Texas &Waco, Texas (2012–2018)
• Kanza Bowl –Topeka, Kansas (2009–2012)
• Knute Rockne Bowl –Akron, Ohio &Davis, California (1976–1977)
• Live United Texarkana Bowl –Texarkana, Arkansas (2013–2023)
• Mineral Water Bowl –Excelsior Springs, Missouri (2000–2019)
• Pioneer Bowl –Wichita Falls, Texas (1973–1977)
• Pioneer Bowl – various locations as a bowl between HBCU teams (1997–2012)

• Oyster Bowl –Norfolk, Virginia (at various times in its history a Division I bowl game, a Division III bowl game and, currently, a regular season game)
• ECAC Presidents Bowl -New Britain, Connecticut (2015) andPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania (2016)^[10]
• ECAC Legacy Bowl -New Britain, Connecticut (2015) andPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania (2016)^[10]
• New York State Bowl - Campus Sites (2017-2019)

^[41]

• All-Sports Bowl -Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (1961–1964)
• Bicentennial Bowl -Little Rock, Arkansas (1975)
• Boot Hill Bowl -Dodge City, Kansas (1970–1980)
• Cowboy Bowl -Lawton, Oklahoma (1971–1972)
• Great Southwest Bowl -Grand Prairie, Texas (1960)
• Poultry Bowl –Gainesville, Georgia (1973),Greensboro, North Carolina (1974)
• Share Bowl -Knoxville, Tennessee (1971)
• Shrine Bowl -Ardmore, Oklahoma (1972)
• Sunflower Bowl -Winfield, Kansas (1982–1986)
• Wheat Bowl -Ellinwood, Kansas,Great Bend, Kansas (1995–2006), Pre-season NAIA bowl^[42]

^[41]

• Bids to college bowl games

Notes

Further reading

• Oriard, Michael (2009).Bowled Over: Big-Time College Football from the Sixties to the BCS Era. The University of North Carolina Press.ISBN 978-0-8078-3329-2.

• College football bowls
• Lists of college bowl games by team

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