In the second year of the Big 12’s 16-team configuration, the league is making a strong postseason push, sending eight teams to bowl games - headlined by Texas Tech’s historic first trip to the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders, fresh off a Big 12 championship, earned the No. 4 seed and will square off with No. 5 Oregon in the Orange Bowl, a CFP quarterfinal that promises fireworks.
Let’s break down where each Big 12 team is heading this postseason, how they’ve performed so far, and what’s still to come.
Big 12 Bowl Teams: Who’s In and Who’s Out
Eight Big 12 squads earned bowl bids this season, but it could’ve been more. Kansas State, Iowa State, and Kansas each passed on bowl invites, citing a mix of coaching transitions and roster limitations. That left eight programs to carry the conference banner through bowl season - and so far, they’re off to a strong start.
Big 12 Bowl Results (So Far)
Pop-Tarts Bowl
📍 Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
🗓️ Saturday, December 27, 2025
**Final: No.
12 BYU 25, No. 22 Georgia Tech 21**
BYU opened the Big 12’s bowl slate with a gritty win over Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Cougars leaned on their defense late, forcing a key turnover in the fourth quarter to seal the win. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective - and it gave the Big 12 its first postseason W.
Texas Bowl
📍 NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
🗓️ Saturday, December 27, 2025
**Final: No.
21 Houston 38, LSU 35**
Houston followed suit with a high-scoring thriller against LSU in the Texas Bowl. The Cougars’ offense found its rhythm early and never let up, going toe-to-toe with the Tigers in a shootout. A late touchdown drive sealed the win, pushing the Big 12 to 2-0 in bowl play.
Upcoming Big 12 Bowl Games
Alamo Bowl
📍 Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
🗓️ Tuesday, December 30, 2025 - 8:00 p.m. CT on ESPN
**Matchup: TCU (8-4) vs. No.
16 USC (9-3)**
TCU gets a marquee matchup with USC in the Alamo Bowl. The Horned Frogs have had an up-and-down season, but this is a chance to end it on a high note against a ranked Pac-12 opponent. Expect fireworks - both teams can score in bunches.
Sun Bowl
📍 Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
🗓️ Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. CT on ESPN
Matchup: Arizona State (8-4) vs. Duke (8-5)
Spread: Duke -3
Arizona State steps into a tight matchup with Duke in the Sun Bowl. The Sun Devils have quietly put together a solid season, and a win here would give them momentum heading into 2026. Duke enters as a slight favorite, but don’t sleep on ASU’s playmaking defense.
Las Vegas Bowl
📍 Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
🗓️ Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN
**Matchup: No. 15 Utah (10-2) vs.
Nebraska (7-5)**
Spread: Utah -14
Utah, one of the Big 12’s top teams this year, takes on Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl. The Utes are heavy favorites and looking to cap off a 10-win season with a statement victory. Nebraska’s defense will have its hands full trying to slow down Utah’s balanced attack.
College Football Playoff: Texas Tech’s Moment
Orange Bowl / CFP Quarterfinal
📍 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
🗓️ Thursday, January 1, 2026 - 11:00 a.m. CT on ESPN
**Matchup: No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs.
No. 5 Oregon (12-1)**
Spread: Oregon -2.5
This is the one the Big 12 has circled. Texas Tech, in its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, carries the weight of the conference into a massive showdown with Oregon. The Red Raiders have already made history - now they’re chasing a national title.
The Big 12 has just one playoff win in the CFP era, and it came courtesy of TCU’s upset over Michigan in the old four-team format. Texas Tech has a chance to double that total and put the program - and the conference - on a national pedestal.
More Big 12 Bowl Action Ahead
Liberty Bowl
📍 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
🗓️ Friday, January 2, 2026 - 3:30 p.m. CT on ESPN
Matchup: Cincinnati (7-5) vs. Navy (10-2)
Spread: Navy -7
Cincinnati draws a tough assignment in Navy, a 10-win team that thrives on discipline and clock control. The Bearcats will need to stay sharp defensively and capitalize on every possession to keep pace.
Holiday Bowl
📍 Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
🗓️ Friday, January 2, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. CT on FOX
**Matchup: No. 17 Arizona (9-3) vs.
SMU (8-4)**
Spread: Arizona -3
Arizona closes out the Big 12’s bowl slate in the Holiday Bowl against SMU. The Wildcats have been one of the conference’s most consistent teams this season, and a win here would secure a 10-win campaign - a major statement as the program continues to rise in the new-look Big 12.
Final Thoughts
With two bowl wins already in the books and six more games still ahead, the Big 12 has a real opportunity to make noise this postseason. Texas Tech’s playoff run is the headline, but across the board, the conference is showing depth, balance, and a whole lot of fight.
From BYU’s gritty win to Houston’s offensive fireworks - and with Utah, Arizona, and TCU still to play - the Big 12 is making sure its presence is felt in the 2025-26 bowl season.