{"id":311155,"date":"2025-08-23T12:21:31","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T12:21:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/311155\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T12:21:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T12:21:31","slug":"college-football-2025-preseason-bowl-projections-from-the-cfp-to-the-pop-tarts-bowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/311155\/","title":{"rendered":"College football 2025 preseason bowl projections, from the CFP to the Pop-Tarts Bowl"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last season\u2019s politicking for the final College Football Playoff spot will have nothing on what this year will bring, according to our preseason CFP and bowl projections.<\/p>\n

Our 12-team CFP field includes five SEC teams, three from the Big Ten, Notre Dame and one each from the Big 12, ACC and American. Based on Stewart Mandel\u2019s conference previews, the final spot would come down to seven Power 4 teams with three losses, including ACC runner-up Miami (10-3) and Big 12 runner-up Kansas State (10-3). We predicted Georgia (9-3), which boasts one of nation\u2019s more difficult conference schedules, would earn that spot.<\/p>\n

A couple of surprise teams will qualify for the Playoff. We\u2019re going with Iowa and Texas A&M, both at 10-2.<\/p>\n

One notable change to this year\u2019s CFP format: The top four teams in the rankings will earn the top-four seeds and first-round byes, regardless of whether they\u2019re conference champions. Those teams will slot into the Cotton (Dec. 31), Orange (Jan, 1), Rose (Jan. 1) and Sugar (Dec. 31) bowls on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Teams seeded 5-8 will host seeds 9-12 on Dec. 19-20.<\/p>\n

College Football PlayoffBowlMatchup<\/p>\n

Playoff
\n Dec. 19, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

7 Ohio State<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

10 Arizona State<\/p>\n

Playoff
\n Dec. 20, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

6 Texas A&M<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

11 Georgia<\/p>\n

Playoff
\n Dec. 20, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

5 LSU<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

12 Tulane<\/p>\n

Playoff
\n Dec. 20, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

8 Clemson<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

9 Iowa<\/p>\n

Cotton
\n Dec. 31, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

3 Alabama<\/p>\n

A&M\/UGA winner<\/p>\n

Orange
\n Jan. 1, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

4 Notre Dame<\/p>\n

LSU\/Tulane winner<\/p>\n

Rose
\n Jan. 1, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

1 Penn State<\/p>\n

Clemson\/Iowa winner<\/p>\n

Sugar
\n Jan. 1, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

2 Texas<\/p>\n

OSU\/ASU winner<\/p>\n

Fiesta
\n Jan. 8, 2026<\/p>\n

QF winner<\/p>\n

QF winner<\/p>\n

Peach
\n Jan. 9, 2026<\/p>\n

QF winner<\/p>\n

QF winner<\/p>\n

Championship
\n Jan. 19, 2026<\/p>\n

SF winner<\/p>\n

SF winner<\/p>\n

Remaining bowlsBowlMatchup<\/p>\n

LA
\n Dec. 13, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Pac-12 6 UCLA<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MWC 1 Boise State<\/p>\n

Salute to Veterans
\n Dec. 16, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Sun Belt Georgia Southern<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MAC Northern Illinois<\/p>\n

Cure
\n Dec. 17, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Sun Belt James Madison<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ESPN Toledo<\/p>\n

68 Ventures
\n Dec. 17, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Sun Belt South Alabama<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MAC Central Michigan<\/p>\n

Myrtle Beach
\n Dec. 19, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Sun Belt Old Dominion<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

G5 UConn<\/p>\n

Gasparilla
\n Dec. 19, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

SEC\/ACC\/AAC South Carolina<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

American\/SEC\/ACC USF<\/p>\n

Famous Idaho Potato
\n Dec. 22, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MWC San Jose State<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MAC Miami (OH)<\/p>\n

Boca Raton
\n Dec. 23, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

G5 Liberty<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

G5 Appalachian State<\/p>\n

New Orleans
\n Dec. 23, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Sun Belt Louisiana<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

CUSA Louisiana Tech<\/p>\n

Frisco
\n Dec. 23, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

G5 Texas State<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

G5\/TBD Houston<\/p>\n

Hawai’i
\n Dec. 24, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MWC Hawaii<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

American UTSA<\/p>\n

GameAbove Sports
\n Dec. 26, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big Ten 8 Rutgers<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MAC Buffalo<\/p>\n

Rate
\n Dec. 26, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big Ten 7 Minnesota<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big 12 6 Iowa State<\/p>\n

First Responder
\n Dec. 26, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

TBD Oregon State<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

TBD TCU<\/p>\n

Military
\n Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

American Army<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC 7 Georgia Tech<\/p>\n

Pinstripe
\n Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big Ten 6 Michigan State<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC 4-6 Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

Fenway
\n Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC 8 North Carolina<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

American Navy<\/p>\n

Arizona
\n Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MWC UNLV<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MAC 2 Ohio<\/p>\n

Pop-Tarts
\n Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big 12 3 BYU<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC 2-4 Duke<\/p>\n

New Mexico
\n Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MWC Colorado State<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

TBD Colorado<\/p>\n

Gator
\n Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC 2-4 Miami (FL)<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

SEC 3-8 Oklahoma<\/p>\n

Texas
\n Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big 12 4 Texas Tech<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

SEC 3-8 Auburn<\/p>\n

Birmingham
\n Dec. 29, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC\/SEC\/American Syracuse<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

American\/ACC\/SEC Memphis<\/p>\n

Independence
\n Dec. 30, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big 12 7 Baylor<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

CUSA Western Kentucky<\/p>\n

Music City
\n Dec. 30, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big Ten 5 Illinois<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

SEC 3-8 Ole Miss<\/p>\n

Alamo
\n Dec. 30, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big 12 2 Kansas State<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Pac-12 2 Oregon<\/p>\n

ReliaQuest
\n Dec. 31, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big Ten 3 Indiana<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

SEC 3-8 Florida<\/p>\n

Sun
\n Dec. 31, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC 4-6 NC State<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Pac-12 5 USC<\/p>\n

Citrus
\n Dec. 31, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big Ten 2 Nebraska<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

SEC 2 Missouri<\/p>\n

Las Vegas
\n Dec. 31, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Pac-12 3 Utah<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big Ten 4 Michigan<\/p>\n

Armed Forces
\n Jan. 2, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MWC Air Force<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

American North Texas<\/p>\n

Liberty
\n Jan. 2, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Big 12 5 Kansas<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

SEC 3-8 Vanderbilt<\/p>\n

Duke’s Mayo
\n Jan. 2, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

SEC 3-8 Tennessee<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC 4-6 Louisville<\/p>\n

Holiday
\n undefined NaN, NaN<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

ACC 2-4 SMU<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

Pac-12 4 Washington<\/p>\n

Bahamas\/TBD
\n undefined NaN, NaN<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

MAC Bowling Green<\/p>\n

\"Logo<\/p>\n

CUSA Middle Tennessee<\/p>\n

The power conferences have contracts with non-CFP bowls that expire after the current season, but old ties remain for the former Pac-12 members scattered across four different conferences. Like last year, the Pac-12\u2019s previous bowls will choose from the league\u2019s current (Oregon State and Washington State) and former members.<\/p>\n

The former Bahamas Bowl, which is owned by ESPN Events, will resurface at an undetermined date and location. The Holiday Bowl has yet to learn its game date. And once again, Academic Progress Rate (APR) data will determine which, if any, 5-7 teams qualify for a bowl.<\/p>\n

(Photo: Julio Aguilar \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\"Connections:\"Connections:<\/p>\n

Aug 23, 2025<\/p>\n

Connections: Sports Edition<\/p>\n

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms<\/p>\n

Find the hidden link between sports terms<\/p>\n

Play today’s puzzle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last season\u2019s politicking for the final College Football Playoff spot will have nothing on what this year will…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":311156,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[21191,9436,7213,4733,3577,10305,4735,843,331,4706,7643,7,4716,5042,4728,4725,1286,4720,4719,4722,21186,577,3364,2972,21192,2549,71,21184,4727,4712,49,48,4604,4714,4717,41096,21182,4732,3329,69,1787,26118,2743,3861,4726,4710,4431,3862,4724,1078,4721,4734,4711,4731,4730],"class_list":{"0":"post-311155","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-army-black-knights","9":"tag-baylor-bears","10":"tag-boise-state-broncos","11":"tag-bowling-green-falcons","12":"tag-buffalo-bulls","13":"tag-byu-cougars","14":"tag-central-michigan-chippewas","15":"tag-clemson-tigers","16":"tag-college-football","17":"tag-connecticut-huskies","18":"tag-duke-blue-devils","19":"tag-football","20":"tag-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets","21":"tag-houston-cougars","22":"tag-illinois-fighting-illini","23":"tag-indiana-hoosiers","24":"tag-iowa-hawkeyes","25":"tag-iowa-state-cyclones","26":"tag-kansas-jayhawks","27":"tag-kansas-state-wildcats","28":"tag-louisiana-tech-bulldogs","29":"tag-louisville-cardinals","30":"tag-memphis-tigers","31":"tag-miami-hurricanes","32":"tag-miami-oh-redhawks","33":"tag-michigan-state-spartans","34":"tag-michigan-wolverines","35":"tag-middle-tennessee-blue-raiders","36":"tag-minnesota-golden-gophers","37":"tag-navy-midshipmen","38":"tag-ncaa","39":"tag-ncaa-football","40":"tag-nebraska-cornhuskers","41":"tag-north-carolina-state-wolfpack","42":"tag-north-carolina-tar-heels","43":"tag-north-texas-mean-green","44":"tag-northern-illinois-huskies","45":"tag-notre-dame-fighting-irish","46":"tag-ohio-bobcats","47":"tag-ohio-state-buckeyes","48":"tag-oklahoma-sooners","49":"tag-old-dominion-monarchs","50":"tag-penn-state-nittany-lions","51":"tag-pittsburgh-panthers","52":"tag-rutgers-scarlet-knights","53":"tag-smu-mustangs","54":"tag-south-florida-bulls","55":"tag-syracuse-orange","56":"tag-tcu-horned-frogs","57":"tag-texas-longhorns","58":"tag-texas-tech-red-raiders","59":"tag-toledo-rockets","60":"tag-tulane-green-wave","61":"tag-utsa-roadrunners","62":"tag-western-kentucky-hilltoppers"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/311156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=311155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=311155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}