Fri Jan 02 21:50:00 UTC 2026: ## College Football Bowl Season Winds Down with Full Friday Slate

With the College Football Playoff just around the corner, fans can savor one last full day of bowl games this Friday, offering a mix of intriguing matchups and potential upsets. While the lineup may lack top-ranked powerhouses, it features teams vying for a strong finish to the season and showcases academic institutions alongside rising programs.

Here’s a look at Friday’s bowl game schedule:

  • 1 p.m. ET (ESPN): Texas State Bobcats vs. Rice Owls from Fort Worth, Texas. Texas State seeks to repeat their First Responder Bowl victory from two years ago against an Owls team with a depleted quarterback roster. The Bobcats offense, known for explosive plays, faces a vulnerable Rice defense.
  • 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN): Navy Midshipmen vs. Cincinnati Bearcats from Memphis, Tenn. Navy, fresh off a double-digit win season and Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy victory, aims for a Top 25 ranking. They face a Cincinnati team dealing with quarterback changes and looking to break a four-game losing streak. Expect a tight, detail-oriented game from Navy.
  • 8 p.m. ET (ESPN): Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs from Charlotte, N.C. Wake Forest hopes to cap off an impressive first season under new head coach Jake Dickert. Mississippi State, relying on a freshman quarterback and missing key offensive players, seeks to challenge Wake Forest’s improved defense. The Demon Deacons will have to moderate the tempo to win.
  • 8 p.m. ET (Fox): Arizona Wildcats vs. SMU Mustangs from San Diego. The non-playoff bowl calendar concludes with a potential offensive showcase between the Wildcats and the Mustangs. Arizona, led by quarterback Noah Fifita and a dynamic passing game, faces SMU’s Kevin Jennings, a quarterback known for spreading the ball. Turnovers could determine the outcome of this game.

College football fans are encouraged to tune in for a full day of exciting action as the bowl season heads towards its dramatic conclusion with the College Football Playoff.

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