In Year 2 of the 16-team Big 12 Conference set up, the league is sending eight teams to bowl games, including its champion, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, to the College Football Playoff where they’ll face Oregon in the Orange Bowl.
This page will be updated with previews and results for each of the Big 12 bowl games in the 2025-26 bowl season, so feel free to bookmark it and come back for all the information you’ll need to stay up to date.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
No. 12 BYU (11-2) vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech (9-3)
Saturday, December 27, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. CT | Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL | ESPN/ESPN+
Top 3 Takeaways from the Game: BYU wins 25-21
MVP: BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (27/38 for for 325 yards, one touchdown, one interception)
Texas Bowl
No. 21 Houston (9-3) vs. LSU (7-5)
Saturday, December 27, 2025 | 8:15 p.m. CT | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas | ESPN/ESPN+
Top 3 Takeaways from the Game: Houston wins 38-35
MVP: Houston QB Connor Weigman (236 passing yards, a Texas Bowl record-tying four touchdowns)
Alamo Bowl
TCU (8-4) vs. No. 16 USC (9-3)
Top 3 Takeaways from the Game: TCU wins 30-27 in Overtime
Tuesday, December 30th, 2025 | 8:00 p.m. CT | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas | ESPN/ESPN+
MVP: TCU Quarterback Ken Seals named Offensive MVP; Linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr named Defensive MVP
Sun Bowl
Arizona State (8-4) vs. Duke (8-5)
Top 3 Takeaways from the Game: Arizona State loses 42-39 to Duke
Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. CT | Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas | ESPN/ESPN+
MVP: Duke Quarterback Darian Mensah
Las Vegas Bowl
No. 15 Utah (10-2) vs. Nebraska (7-5)
Top 3 Takeaways from the Game: Utah Beats Nebraska, 44-22
Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. CT | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada | ESPN/ESPN+
MVP: Utah Quarterback Devon Dampier
Orange Bowl/CFP Quarterfinal
No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. No. 5 Oregon (12-1)
Top 3 Takeaways from the Game: Texas Tech Loses to Oregon 23-0
Thursday, January 1st, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. CT | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL | ESPN/ESPN+
MVP: Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore; Oregon Cornerback Brandon Finney Jr.
Liberty Bowl
Cincinnati (7-5) vs. Navy (10-2)
Top 3 Takeaways from the Game: Cincinnati Loses to Navy 35-13
Friday, January 2nd, 2026 | 3:30 p.m. CT | Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tennessee | ESPN/ESPN+
MVP: Navy QB Blake Horvath
Holiday Bowl
No. 17 Arizona (9-3) vs. SMU (8-4)
Top 3 Takeaways from the Game: Arizona Loses to SMU 24-19
Friday, January 2nd, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. CT | Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California | FOX
MVP: TBD
How many Big 12 teams made bowl games in 2025–26?
Eight Big 12 football teams are playing in bowl games this year. However, three Big 12 teams turned down opportunities to play in bowl games, with Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas all skipping out due to coaching changes and/or limited rosters.
Which Big 12 team made the College Football Playoff?
Texas Tech made the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. The Big 12 only has one win in the history of the College Football Playoff, with TCU beating Michigan in the old four-team format in the semifinals.
How has the Big 12 performed in bowl games this season?
So far, the Big 12 Conference is 2-0 in bowl games, with BYU beating Georgia Tech 25-21 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. And then, Houston handled LSU 38-35 in the Texas Bowl. Next up is TCU vs. USC in the Alamo Bowl on Tuesday, December 30th.
