Texas Bowl Season Roundup: Where Every Team is Headed

The 2025 regular season is in the books, and it’s time for bowl season. Seven of the eight major FBS programs in Texas tracked by this site have qualified for the postseason, with high stakes across the board.

Here is a breakdown of where everyone is headed:

College Football Playoff

Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1)

• Seed: No. 4 (First Round Bye)
• Destination: Capital One Orange Bowl (Quarterfinal)
• Date: Jan 1, 2026
• Opponent: Winner of Oregon vs. James Madison
• Outlook: The Big 12 Champions are two wins away from the National Championship game.

Texas A&M Aggies (11-1)

• Seed: No. 7
• Destination: CFP First Round (Home)
• Date: Dec 20, 2025
• Opponent: Miami Hurricanes
• Outlook: Kyle Field will be rocking as the Aggies host a playoff game. A win sends them to the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.

Bowl Games

SMU Mustangs (8-4)

• Bowl: DirecTV Holiday Bowl
• Opponent: Arizona Wildcats
• Date: Jan 2, 2026
• Location: San Diego, CA
• The Skinny: A battle of former conference rivals. SMU's high-flying offense meets Arizona's desert heat.

Houston Cougars (9-3)

• Bowl: TaxAct Texas Bowl
• Opponent: LSU Tigers
• Date: Dec 31, 2025
• Location: Houston, TX
• The Skinny: The Cougars get a "home" game at NRG Stadium against an SEC powerhouse. A massive opportunity for Willie Fritz.

Texas Longhorns (9-3)

• Bowl: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
• Opponent: Michigan Wolverines
• Date: Jan 1, 2026
• Location: Orlando, FL
• The Skinny: A blue-blood showdown to ring in the New Year.

TCU Horned Frogs (8-4)

• Bowl: Valero Alamo Bowl
• Opponent: USC Trojans
• Date: Dec 30, 2025
• Location: San Antonio, TX
• The Skinny: Two offensive-minded programs collide in the Alamodome. Expect points.

UTSA Roadrunners (6-6)

• Bowl: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
• Opponent: FIU Panthers
• Date: Dec 26, 2025
• Location: Dallas, TX
• The Skinny: UTSA salvaged bowl eligibility late and looks to finish with a winning record against a C-USA foe.

Stayed Home

Baylor Bears (5-7): The Bears finished just one win shy of eligibility, losing a heartbreaker in the finale. They will turn their attention to the offseason and recruiting.