Bowl Season Maintains Current Conference-Bowl Structure for 2026 Season

SAN ANTONIO – Coming out of its annual meeting, Bowl Season today announced that its bowl games, as part of the broader bowl system outside of the College Football Playoff, will continue their existing conference-bowl agreements with the FBS Division I conferences for the 2026 postseason.

This decision follows the recent announcement by the College Football Playoff (CFP) to maintain its current 12-team playoff format for the 2026-27 season, while deferring a long-term determination on the future format until after the upcoming season.

As a result, the conference-bowl structure for the 2026 postseason will remain consistent with recent years. This decision ensures continuity across the bowl system, while still allowing for mutually agreed upon short-term modifications between conferences and bowl partners.

“We believe maintaining stability across the bowl system for 2026 is the most appropriate path forward given the CFP’s decision to extend the current format through this upcoming season,” said Nick Carparelli, Executive Director of Bowl Season. “This approach provides clarity for our stakeholders while preserving flexibility as we collectively evaluate the future of the postseason.”

Looking ahead, Bowl Season anticipates that conferences and bowl organizations will make longer-term decisions regarding affiliations and structure for the 2027 season and beyond once the CFP finalizes its future format.

About Bowl Season

Bowl Season is one of the greatest and longest running traditions in American sports, taking place in late December and running through early January, and has been college football’s post-season for over 100 years. It promotes the grand tradition of the bowl system and its endearing value to student-athletes, highlighting the broader university and college communities, including spirit squads, marching bands, athletic staff and fans. Bowl Season spotlights the distinctiveness of each of the bowl games along with their histories and traditions and their proud communities – embracing and honoring the bowl experience for present and future generations.