College Football Bowl Ties, Affiliations 2024-2025
- Before we get going, start with this - PLEASE take it all with several grains of salt. With all of the crazy changes in conference realignment, the Pac-12 gone - but the bowl ties and affiliations are still in play; to be explained in each conference section - and with an expanded College Football Playoff that will take over the world in December, everything about the bowl season, conference bowl ties and affiliations are going to change wildly.
So be aware that everything below could and probably will be a whole lot different come bowl time.
- The College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams. At the immediate moment, the top five conference champions are in, and the next seven at-large teams according to the College Football Playoff rankings would make it.
- The four highest-ranked conference champions will get a bye. The first round games will be played on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams on December 20th and 21st.
The Quarterfinals will be played in bowl venues: Vrbo Fiesta, Chick-fil-A Peach, Rose Bowl, and Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Semifinals will be the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9th, and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on January 10th. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be in Atlanta on January 20th.
- In the 5+7 model, just assume the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC will be in, along with the highest-ranked conference champion from the American Athletic, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt.
- The normal high-end bowl ties aren't totally gone, but they're close. In theory, the Rose Bowl would like a Big Ten team with the Pac-12 done, but that's not an official bowl affiliation now. The same goes for the ACC and the Orange, and the Big 12 with the Sugar.
ACC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The ACC Champion will almost certainly be in the College Football Playoff and likely get a first round bye. After that, it's all determined on how many other ACC teams get into the expanded CFP.
As always, this will be be based on geography and best matchups. The conference vs conference tie-ins can be changed based on availability. If at all possible, repeat appearances from the previous season will try to be avoided.
Notre Dame is eligible for any of the ACC's bowl slots. There isn't a true pecking order here.
The former Pac-12 teams - Cal and Stanford - will remain eligible for the former Pac-12 bowl ties and affiliations. That means if any of those four aren't in the College Football Playoff, they'll be eligible for the Alamo, Independence, Holiday, LA, Las Vegas, and Sun bowls.
- Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs Big Ten
- Fenway Bowl vs American Athletic
- Holiday Bowl vs TBD (it used to be the Pac-12)
- Go Bowling Military Bowl vs American Athletic
- Pinstripe Bowl vs Big Ten
- Pop-Tarts Bowl vs Big 12
- ReliaQuest Bowl vs SEC (or Big Ten)
- TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs SEC
- Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs TBD (it used to be the Pac-12)
Alternate Affiliations, if available
- Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl vs AAC or SEC
- 76 Birmingham Bowl vs SEC or AAC
- SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs SEC or AAC
American Athletic Conference Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff.
The American Athletic Conference bowl tie-ins and affiliations will mostly be based on geographic location while avoiding repeat appearances.
The ESPN owned and operated bowls will move teams around to create the best possible matchups, but there are a few set ties and affiliations. However, the conference is settled into three bowls for certain, and then it's based on matchups and availability.
The American Athletic Conference is affiliated with these bowl slots
- Fenway Bowl vs ACC
- Military Bowl vs ACC
- Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl and Hawaii Bowl in a rotation, but last season the AAC didn't put a team in either one
The American Athletic Conference will get a chance at putting four teams in these bowls, depending on matchups, geography, and availability
- Birmingham Bowl vs SEC
- Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
- Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
- Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
- New Mexico Bowl vs Mountain West
- Myrtle Beach Bowl vs Group of Five
- SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs ACC or Big 12
- Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl vs ACC or SEC
Big Ten Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Consider it a mortal lock that the Big Ten champion is in the College Football Playoff, and almost certainly with one of the top four spots with a bye.
The Big Ten alternates with the SEC between the Las Vegas Bowl and Duke's Mayo Bowl. Last season Northwestern beat Utah in the Las Vegas, so assume the Big Ten will be in the Duke's Mayo.
This is the expected Big Ten bowl pecking order, but keep in mind that 1) several of the top teams in the expanded 20-team conference will be in the College Football Playoff and 2) there might be a LOT more Big Ten bowl tie-ins and affiliations coming as the season goes on.
One other twist: the former Pac-12 teams - Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington - will remain eligible for the former Pac-12 bowl ties and affiliations. That means if any of those four aren't in the College Football Playoff, they'll be eligible for the Alamo, Independence, Holiday, LA, Las Vegas, and Sun bowls.
- Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs SEC
- ReliaQuest Bowl vs SEC
- Duke's Mayo Bowl vs ACC
- Music City Bowl vs SEC
- Pinstripe Bowl vs ACC
- Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big 12
- Quick Lane Bowl vs MAC
Big 12 Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Just like the Big Ten (and ACC, and SEC) consider it a sure thing that the Big 12 champion is in the College Football Playoff, and almost certainly with one of the top four spots with a bye.
Unlike the other Power 4 conferences, though, the Big 12 bowl affiliations are a tad more fluid. With so many new schools added to the mix, this will likely change throughout the season as new deals come together.
The former Pac-12 teams - Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah - will remain eligible for the former Pac-12 bowl ties and affiliations. That means if any of those four aren't in the College Football Playoff, they'll be eligible for the Alamo, Independence, Holiday, LA, Las Vegas, and Sun bowls.
For now, this is the likely Big 12 bowl pecking order after the College Football Playoff.
1. Valero Alamo Bowl vs TBD (this was Pac-12)
2. Pop-Tarts Bowl vs ACC
3. TaxAct Texas Bowl vs SEC
4. AutoZone Liberty Bowl vs SEC
5. Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big Ten
6. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs Army (this was Pac-12, and note, the Big 12 has a deal for two Independence Bowl appearances from 2023 to 2025, and last season Texas Tech filled one of the slots.)
Alternate Affiliations, if available
- Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs American Athletic or C-USA
- SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs ACC or American Athletic
Conference USA Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff - Liberty would've been in had the expanded CFP been in place in 2023-2024.
The Hawaii Bowl slot is back for 2024, and the spot in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is off until 2025. Also, the Bahamas Bowl is expected to return after a year off - the stadium underwent renovations - played last season as the Famous Toastery played in the Charlotte.
Conference USA is affiliated with these bowl slots. There isn't a true pecking order.
- Bahamas Bowl vs MAC
- Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
- Hawaii Bowl vs Mountain West
- R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs Sun Belt
Conference USA will get a chance at putting four or five teams in these bowls, depending on matchups, geography, and availability
- 68 Ventures Bowl vs MAC or Sun Belt
- Birmingham Bowl vs AAC or SEC
- Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
- Camellia Bowl vs MAC or Sun Belt
- Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
- Fenway Bowl vs ACC or AAC
- Gasparilla Bowl vs ACC, American, SEC
- Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs AAC
- Myrtle Beach Bowl vs AAC, MAC or Sun Belt
- New Mexico Bowl vs Mountain West
- SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs Group of Five
Independent Bowl Ties, Affiliations
- Army vs Big 12 or Group of Five in the Independence Bowl in even years (this one), and where needed in one of the ESPN owned and operated bowl games in odd years.
- UConn and UMass don't have direct bowl ties or affiliations.
- Notre Dame - if it's not in the College Football Playoff - can take one of the ACC’s bowl spots.
- Oregon State and Washington State will work with the Mountain West for regular season scheduling, but will still be eligible for bowls with ties and affiliations with the former Pac-12. See the Pac-12 section for how this will work..
MAC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff.
The MAC is affiliated with these bowl slots. There isn't a true pecking order.
- Bahamas Bowl vs Conference USA
- Barstool Arizona Bowl vs Mountain West
- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs Mountain West
- Quick Lane Bowl vs Big Ten
The MAC will play in at least two of these bowls based on matchups, geography, and availability
- 68 Ventures Bowl vs Sun Belt
- Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
- Camellia Bowl vs AAC or Sun Belt
- Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
- Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
- Myrtle Beach Bowl vs AAC or Sun Belt
- New Mexico Bowl vs Conference USA
Mountain West Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff.
The Mountain West is affiliated with these bowl ties. There isn't a true pecking order. The conference is guaranteed to have six bowl slots during each bowl season until 2025-2026, starting with these five.
- Barstool Arizona Bowl vs MAC
- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs MAC
- Hawai’i Bowl vs CUSA
- LA Bowl vs TBD (this used to be Pac-12)
- New Mexico Bowl vs CUSA
Mountain West has an affiliation to fill if needed ...
- Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big Ten or Big 12
To be determined among the Group of Five conferences ...
- Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
- Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
- Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
- SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs Group of Five
Pac-12 Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The Pac-12 might be gone, resting, or rehabbing, but in the meantime, all of these bowls are still in play for the former member schools in other conferences, along with Oregon State and Washington State.
Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Washington will all be eligible for these bowls.
- Holiday Bowl vs ACC
- LA Bowl vs Mountain West
- Las Vegas Bowl vs SEC
- Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs Big 12
- Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs ACC
- Valero Alamo Bowl vs Big 12
SEC Bowl Ties, Affiliations
Be totally stunned if the SEC champion isn't in the College Football Playoff with one of the top four spots. Several other teams in the newly expanded conference are expected to make the 12-team CFP, too.
The SEC alternates with the Big Ten between the Las Vegas Bowl (2020, 2022, 2024) and Duke's Mayo Bowl (2021, 2023, 2025). This year, the SEC is expected to go to the Las Vegas.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs Big Ten
The Citrus Bowl gets its pick of the top SEC team available after the CFP is settled.
The SEC will assign teams to the respective bowls in this pool.
- AutoZone Liberty Bowl vs Big 12
- Las Vegas Bowl vs TBD (this was Pac-12)
- ReliaQuest Bowl vs Big Ten or ACC
- TaxAct Texas Bowl vs Big 12
- TaxSlayer Gator Bowl vs ACC
- TransPerfect Music City Bowl vs Big Ten
The SEC has affiliations to fill if needed.
- Birmingham Bowl vs American Athletic
- Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl vs AAC or ACC
Sun Belt Bowl Ties, Affiliations
The top-ranked conference champion from the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt will be in the College Football Playoff.
The Sun Belt will get five bowl slots available to eligible teams.
ESPN owned and operated bowls get the first pick of Sun Belt teams, and it gets third and fourth picks. The New Orleans gets the second pick of the bunch, and the 68 Ventures has the fifth selection.
The Sun Belt is affiliated with these bowl slots.
2. R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs CUSA
5. 68 Ventures Bowl vs MAC
To be determined among the Group of Five conferences. The Sun Belt will get spots in at least three of these bowls with the conference's Nos. 1, 3, and 4 teams available to ESPN O&O bowls.
- Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
- Camellia Bowl vs C-USA or MAC
- Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
- Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
- Myrtle Beach Bowl vs AAC or MAC
The Sun Belt has an affiliation to fill-in if needed.
- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs MAC or Mountain West
- New Mexico Bowl vs C-USA or Mountain West
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