JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers looks on during the second half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Kentucky Wildcats at EverBank Stadium on December 29, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
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Eight bowl spots are available heading into the final week of the college football regular season from Tuesday through Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Seventy-two programs already punched their ticket to bowl eligibility with a full slate upcoming. The College Football Bowl Eligibility Tracker is your guide to following which teams will reach the postseason through the end of the regular season.
College Football Bowl Eligibility Criteria:
The future of the College Football Playoff is in question but when it comes to this year’s postseason, here’s a quick overview.
The final day of the 2025 regular season is on Nov. 29 with bowl games expected to be announced on Dec. 7. Bowl season begins Dec. 13 and ends Jan. 19. The postseason consists of 34 traditional bowl games, four CFP first round games, four quarterfinal games, two semifinal games and one national championship game. That adds to up to 45 matchups with 80 FBS programs set to play beyond conference championship weekend, not including the Army-Navy Game.
To qualify for bowl eligibility, teams must win at least six games, and they can only count one win against FCS opponents. If there are too many bowl-eligible teams, some will be left out of postseason play.
If there are not enough bowl-eligible teams, the first two spots would go to Delaware and Missouri State, which are transitioning from the FCS, assuming they satisfy the bowl-eligibility criteria. After that, it will come down to Academic Progress Rate scores for teams one win away from bowl eligibility, which is why in some years you see teams with a 5-7 record competing in bowl games.
Before the countdown to bowl season even began, one program was already eliminated. Akron was ruled ineligible for postseason play in May due to a failing Academic Progress Rate score during the 2023-24 season.
College Football Bowl Eligible Teams (72)
Nine teams became bowl eligible during Week 13 including Clemson, Duke, FIU, Louisiana Tech, Miami (OH), NC State, Northwestern, Utah State and UTSA.
Three spots will be locked up in Week 14 no matter what with games featuring five-win programs including Penn State vs. Rutgers, Arkansas State vs. Appalachian State and Georgia Southern vs. Marshall. Also, Missouri State will get a bowl bid if there are not enough bowl-eligible teams, and Delaware would be in the same position if it wins this weekend.
Here’s the full list of programs that secured at least six victories and are bowl eligible:
SEC (10) – Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, VanderbiltBig Ten (11) – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, WashingtonACC (11) – Cal, Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, NC State, Pitt, SMU, Virginia, Wake ForestBig 12 (9) – Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, UtahPac-12 (0) – NoneAmerican (7) – East Carolina, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, Tulane, USF, UTSAMountain West (7) – Boise State, Fresno State, Hawaii, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah StateSun Belt (5) – Coastal Carolina, James Madison, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, TroyMAC (5) – Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo, Western MichiganConference USA (5) – FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Louisiana Tech, Western KentuckyIndependents (2) – Notre Dame, UConnOne Win Away From Bowl Eligibility (21)
Six teams moved to one win away from bowl eligibility during Week 13 including Appalachian State, Auburn, Louisiana, Penn State, Texas State and UCF. All 21 five-win teams below have an opportunity to become bowl eligible during the Week 14 slate. Here’s the full list of programs that are one victory away from six wins:
SEC – Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi StateBig Ten – Penn State, RutgersACC – Florida StateBig 12 – Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, UCFPac-12 – Washington StateAmerican – Army, Rice, TempleMountain West – NoneSun Belt – Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Louisiana, Marshall, Texas StateMAC – BuffaloConference USA – NoneIndependents – NoneOne Win Away From Five Wins (16)
Six teams moved to one win away from five victories during Week 13 including New Mexico State, South Alabama, South Carolina, Stanford, Tulsa and Wisconsin. All 16 four-win programs are one victory away from five wins to potentially play in a bowl if there are not enough bowl-eligible teams:
SEC – Auburn, South CarolinaBig Ten – Maryland, WisconsinACC – North Carolina, StanfordBig 12 – West VirginiaPac-12 – NoneAmerican – FAU, TulsaMountain West – WyomingSun Belt – South AlabamaMAC – Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Kent StateConference USA – Liberty, New Mexico StateIndependents – NoneEliminated From Bowl Eligibility (26)
Twelve teams were eliminated from bowl eligibility after Week 13 including Air Force, Bowling Green, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana-Monroe, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, San Jose State, Syracuse, UAB, UCLA and Virginia Tech. The following programs are no longer eligible to participate in a bowl game, meaning they’ll fall short of the five-win mark or are ineligible for non-football reasons:
SEC – Arkansas, FloridaBig Ten – Michigan State, Purdue, UCLAACC – Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia TechBig 12 – Colorado, Oklahoma StatePac-12 – Oregon StateAmerican – Charlotte, UABMountain West – Air Force, Colorado State, Nevada, San Jose StateSun Belt – Georgia State, Louisiana-MonroeMAC – *Akron, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, UMassConference USA – Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston State, UTEPIndependents – NoneFBS APR Rankings
If fewer than 80 teams become bowl eligible, it will come down to Academic Progress Rate scores for teams one win away from bowl eligibility. Here’s a look at the APR score rankings for every FBS program.
Ohio StateAlabamaMichigan/North CarolinaClemson/Wake ForestCincinnatiNorthwesternAir Force/MinnesotaIowa State/WisconsinAuburn/Florida State/Kansas State/Notre DameMissouriRiceDuke/NC StateBoise State/Boston College/Miami/Oklahoma State/Texas/Tulane/UCFBall State/StanfordJames Madison/Louisville/UtahArkansas/East Carolina/VirginiaCoastal Carolina/Florida/Indiana/IowaLiberty/Texas TechArmy/Ole Miss/West VirginiaGeorgia/Kentucky/Mississippi State/Nevada/Old Dominion/UNLV/Vanderbilt/Western KentuckyRutgers/WashingtonEastern MichiganNebraska/USC/Virginia Tech/WyomingFresno State/Oklahoma/South CarolinaBaylor/PittArizona State/ToledoKansas/Purdue/TroyCal/Illinois/Sam Houston State**DelawareArizona/Bowling Green/Georgia State/Georgia Tech/TempleAppalachian State/Michigan StateUCLASan Diego StateNorthern Illinois/Oregon StateNavy/South Alabama/Tennessee/Washington StateTCUMaryland/UTSAColorado/Marshall/USFSMU/Texas StateMiami (OH)/Middle TennesseeColorado State/Georgia Southern/Memphis/SyracuseOhioTexas A&MFIU/Kennesaw StateBYU/New Mexico StateLouisianaNorth TexasLSU/UTEPNew MexicoKent State/San Jose StateArkansas State/UConn/Western MichiganFAU/Hawaii/Penn StateOregon/UAB/UMassCentral MichiganTulsaHoustonUtah StateSouthern MissBuffaloJacksonville StateLouisiana-MonroeLouisiana TechCharlotte**Missouri State
*Akron is ineligible for postseason play due to a failing APR score during the 2023-24 season.
**Delaware and Missouri State would get a bowl bid if there are not enough bowl-eligible teams and if they satisfy bowl eligibility criteria.