In order to participate in college football’s Bowl Season, a team must have six wins. For mid-level teams and those in rebuilding phases, the race to six wins is of the upmost importance. For others, like teams regressing or with questionable coaching, trying to avoid six losses is the name of the game. Using this tracker, we’ll note who is eligible and who is eliminated from the college football Bowl Season.
Some years, not enough teams win 6+ games. In that case, 5-7 teams fill those shoes (about one a year) based on the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR). For recent examples of that, see Minnesota, who played in the 2023 Quick Lane Bowl at 5-7.
Check out the full rundown of current College Football Bowl odds!
College Football Bowl Tracker: Eligible Teams
| Team | Last Bowl Eligible |
|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | 2023 Rose (L, 27-20) |
| Arizona State Sun Devils | 2021 Las Vegas (L, 20-13) |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 2022 Liberty (W, 55-53) |
| Arkansas State Red Wolves | 2023 Camellia (L, 21-19) |
| Army Black Knights | 2021 Armed Forces (W, 24-22) |
| Baylor Bears | 2022 Armed Forces (L, 30-15) |
| Boise State Broncos | 2023 LA (L, 35-22) |
| Boston College Eagles | 2023 Fenway (W, 23-14) |
| Bowling Green Falcons | 2023 Quick Lane (L, 30-24) |
| Buffalo Bulls | 2022 Camellia (W, 23-21) |
| BYU Cougars | 2022 New Mexico (W, 24-23) |
| Cal Golden Bears | 2023 Independence (L, 34-14) |
| Clemson Tigers | 2023 Gator Bowl (W, 38-35) |
| Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 2023 Hawaii (W, 24-14) |
| Colorado Buffaloes | 2020 Alamo (L, 55-23) |
| Colorado State Rams | 2017 New Mexico (L, 31-28) |
| Duke Blue Devils | 2023 Birmingham (W, 17-10) |
| East Carolina Pirates | 2022 Birmingham (W, 53-29) |
| Florida Gators | 2022 Las Vegas (L, 30-3) |
| Fresno State Bulldogs | 2023 New Mexico (W, 37-10) |
| Georgia Bulldogs | 2023 Orange (W, 63-3) |
| Georgia Southern Eagles | 2023 Myrtle Beach (L, 41-21) |
| Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 2023 Gasparilla (W, 30-17) |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 2022 ReliaQuest (L, 19-10) |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 2020 Outback (L, 26-20) |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 2023 Citrus (L, 35-0) |
| Iowa State Cyclones | 2023 Liberty (L, 36-26) |
| Kansas State Wildcats | 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl (W, 28-19) |
| Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 2023 New Orleans (W, 34-31/OT) |
| James Madison Dukes | 2023 Armed Forces (L, 31-21) |
| Liberty Flames | 2023 Fiesta (L, 45-6) |
| Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns | 2023 New Orleans (L, 34-31/OT) |
| Louisville Cardinals | 2023 Holiday (L, 42-28) |
| LSU Tigers | 2023 ReliaQuest (W, 35-31) |
| Marshall Thundering Herd | 2023 Frisco (L, 35-17) |
| Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 2023 Pinstripe (L, 31-24) |
| Miami (OH) Redhawks | 2023 Cure (L, 13-9) |
| Michigan Wolverines | 2023 National Championship (W, 34-13) |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | 2023 Quick Lane (W, 30-24) |
| Missouri Tigers | 2023 Cotton (W, 14-3) |
| Navy Midshipmen | 2019 Liberty (W, 20-17) |
| NC State Wolfpack | 2023 Pop-Tarts (L, 28-19) |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | 2016 Music City (L, 38-24) |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | 2023 Mayo (L, 30-10) |
| North Texas Mean Green | 2022 Frisco (L, 35-32) |
| Northern Illinois Huskies | 2023 Camellia (W, 21-19) |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 2023 Sun (W, 40-8) |
| Ohio Bobcats | 2023 Myrtle Beach (W, 41-21) |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 2023 Cotton (L, 14-3) |
| Oklahoma Sooners | 2023 Alamo (L, 38-24) |
| Ole Miss Rebels | 2023 Peach (W, 38-25) |
| Oregon Ducks | 2023 Liberty (W, 45-6) |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 2023 Peach (L, 38-25) |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | 2022 Sun (W, 37-35) |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 2023 Pinstripe (W, 31-24) |
| Sam Houston State Bearkats | N/A |
| San Jose State Spartans | 2023 Hawaii (L, 24-14) |
| SMU Mustangs | 2023 Fenway (L, 23-14) |
| South Alabama Jaguars | 2023 Ventures (W, 59-10) |
| South Carolina Gamecocks | 2022 Gator (L, 45-38) |
| Syracuse Orange | 2023 Boca Raton (L, 45-0) |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 2022 National Championship (L, 65-7) |
| Tennessee Volunteers | 2023 Citrus (W, 35-0) |
| Texas Longhorns | 2023 Sugar* (L, 37-31) |
| Texas A&M Aggies | 2023 Texas (L, 31-23) |
| Texas State Bobcats | 2023 First Responder (W, 45-21) |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | 2023 Independence (W, 34-14) |
| Toledo Rockets | 2023 Arizona (L, 16-15) |
| Tulane Green Wave | 2023 Military (L, 41-20) |
| UConn Huskies | 2022 Myrtle Beach (L, 28-14) |
| UNLV Rebels | 2023 Guaranteed Rate (L, 49-36) |
| USC Trojans | 2023 Holiday (W, 42-28) |
| USF Bulls | 2023 Boca Raton (W, 45-0) |
| UTSA Roadrunners | 2023 Frisco (W, 35-17) |
| Vanderbilt Commodores | 2018 Texas (L, 45-38) |
| Virginia Tech Hokies | 2023 Military (W, 41-20) |
| Washington Huskies | 2023 National Championship (L, 34-13) |
| Washington State Cougars | 2022 L.A. (L, 29-6) |
| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 2023 Famous Toastery (W, 38-25/OT) |
| Western Michigan Broncos | 2021 Quick Lane (W, 52-24) |
| West Virginia Mountaineers | 2023 Duke’s Mayo (W, 30-10) |
Note: The NCAA upholds its two-year transition period rule for new FBS teams. Kennesaw State would not be bowl eligible this season if it were to garner enough wins. Delaware and Missouri State join the FBS next year and will not be bowl eligible. However, Jacksonville State and James Madison successfully petitioned to lift the transition rule on their programs and played in the 2023 postseason.
College Football Bowl Tracker: Teams Eliminated
| Team | Last Bowl Eligible |
|---|---|
| Air Force Falcons | 2023 Armed Forces (W, 31-21) |
| Akron Zips | 2017 Boca Raton (L, 50-3) |
| Arizona Wildcats | 2023 Alamo (W, 38-24) |
| Auburn Tigers | 2023 Music City (L, 31-13) |
| Ball State Cardinals | 2021 Camellia (L, 51-20) |
| Central Michigan Chippewas | 2021 Sun (W, 24-21) |
| Charlotte 49ers | 2019 Bahamas (L, 31-9) |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | 2022 Fenway (L, 24-7) |
| Eastern Michigan Eagles | 2023 68 Ventures (L, 59-10) |
| FAU Owls | 2020 Montgomery (L, 25-10) |
| FIU Panthers | 2019 Camellia (L, 34-26) |
| Florida State Seminoles | 2023 Orange (L, 63-3) |
| Georgia State Panthers | 2023 Idaho Potato (W, 45-22) |
| Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | 2021 Hawaii (CANCELLED) |
| Houston Cougars | 2022 Independence (W, 23-16) |
| Kansas Jayhawks | 2023 Guaranteed Rate (W, 49-36) |
| Kennesaw State Owls | N/A |
| Kent State Golden Flashes | 2021 Famous Idaho Potato (L, 52-38) |
| Kentucky Wildcats | 2023 Gator (L, 38-35) |
| Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 2020 New Orleans (L, 38-3) |
| Maryland Terrapins | 2023 Music City (W, 31-13) |
| Michigan State Spartans | 2021 Peach (W, 31-21) |
| Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 2022 Hawaii (W, 25-23) |
| Mississippi State Bulldogs | 2022 ReliaQuest (W, 19-10) |
| Nevada Wolfpack | 2021 Quick Lane (L,52-24) |
| New Mexico Lobos | 2016 New Mexico (W, 23-20) |
| New Mexico State Aggies | 2023 New Mexico (L, 37-10) |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 2023 Las Vegas (W, 14-7) |
| Oklahoma State Cowboys | 2023 Texas (W, 31-23) |
| Old Dominion Monarchs | 2023 Famous Toastery (L, 38-35/OT) |
| Oregon State Beavers | 2023 Sun (L, 40-8) |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 2022 Citrus (L, 63-7) |
| Rice Owls | 2023 First Responder (L, 45-21) |
| San Diego State Aztecs | 2022 Hawaii (L, 25-23) |
| Southern Miss Golden Eagles | 2022 LendingTree (W, 38-24) |
| Stanford Cardinal | 2018 Sun Bowl (W, 14-13) |
| Temple Owls | 2019 Military (L, 55-13) |
| Troy Trojans | 2023 Birmingham (L, 17-10) |
| Tulsa Golden Hurricanes | 2021 Myrtle Beach (W, 30-17) |
| UAB Blazers | 2022 Bahamas (W, 24-20) |
| UCF Knights | 2023 Gasparilla (L, 30-17) |
| UCLA Bruins | 2023 L.A. (W, 35-22) |
| ULM Warhawks | 2012 Independence (L, 45-14) |
| UMass Minutemen | 1964 Tangerine (L, 14-13) |
| Utah Utes | 2023 Las Vegas (L, 14-7) |
| Utah State Aggies | 2023 Idaho Potato (L, 45-22) |
| UTEP Miners | 2021 New Mexico (L, 31-24) |
| Virginia Cavaliers | 2019 Orange (L, 36-28) |
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 2022 Gasprallia (W, 27-17) |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 2023 ReliaQuest (L, 35-31) |
| Wyoming Cowboys | 2023 Arizona (W, 16-15) |
College Football Bowl Tracker FAQs
What teams can become bowl eligible?
Currently, teams must win six games to become bowl eligible. Further, teams must have completed the required two-year FBS transition period unless otherwise waived. Should there not be enough 6+ win teams, teams with five wins may fill open spots. Those teams are chosen based on APR score.
All teams in Bowl Season must compete at the FBS level. However, lower divisions do have their own bowl games (ex. FCS Celebration Bowl, Division-II Heritage Bowl, and Division-III Extra Points Bowl).
How many schools are bowl eligible?
For the 2024-25 Bowl Season, there are 35 non-Playoff bowl games. That means 70 FBS teams will be eligible to play in a bowl game, plus 12 additional teams in the College Football Playoff field.
When does Bowl Season start?
The Camellia Bowl and Celebration Bowl kick off the 2024-25 Bowl Season on Saturday, Dec. 14.
When is college football Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday for college football lands on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. The first ever 12-team College Football Playoff will be announced along with matchups for the other 35 bowl games.