CUSA Bowl Lineup 2026
Conference USA will continue its established bowl affiliations for the 2026 postseason, as Bowl Season announced the extension of existing conference bowl agreements with the FBS conferences. The league is guaranteed seven bowl appearances, providing its members with a broad range of postseason opportunities across the country.
CUSA will once again send a team to the New Orleans Bowl against a Sun Belt Conference school. The league has a longstanding history with the event, having placed a team in the bowl 21 times since its inception in 2001. CUSA teams have won each of the last four New Orleans Bowl games. The conference’s remaining guaranteed selections in the cycle will come from 14 games which are owned and operated by ESPN Events. The bowl lineup offers Conference USA institutions and student-athletes postseason destinations throughout the nation while continuing the league’s commitment to providing quality postseason opportunities and experiences.
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REMAINING SELECTIONS (SIX FROM THIS GROUP):
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Cramton Bowl // Montgomery, AL |
68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium // Mobile, AL |
Frisco Bowl
Ford Center at The Star // Frisco, TX |
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium //Conway, SC |
Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium // Boca Raton, FL |
Servpro First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium // Dallas, TX |
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium // Shreveport, LA |
Union Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium // Tampa, FL |
Puerto Rico Bowl
Bayamon, PR |
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium // Orlando, FL |
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium // Fort Worth, TX |
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium // Albuquerque, NM |
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park // Boston, MA |
JLAB Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium // Birmingham, AL |
College Football Playoff
The CFP will once again utilize a 12-team format for the 2026 season. Guaranteed bids will be awarded for the top five conference champions in the CFP rankings, and at-large bids will be given to the seven highest-ranked remaining teams. The four highest-ranked schools will receive first-round byes, and the remaining teams will play each other in the first round at the home fields of the better seeds, matched in the standard format of 5-12, 6-11, 7-10 and 8-9. The championship will continue to be held at a separately determined neutral site. First round games will occur December 18-19, quarterfinal games December 30-January 1, semifinal games Jan. 14-15 and the championship game on Monday, January 25.
As a member of the College Football Playoff, Conference USA will be a part of one of the College Football Playoff bowls if it has the highest rated champion from among the American Athletic, CUSA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt Conferences.
CFP Sites and Schedule
2026-27 Bowl Season Schedule
#BowlSeason
Bowl Season is one of the greatest and longest running traditions in American sports, taking place in late December and running through New Year’s Day, 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. Click here for more information.