Texas college football programs secured nine bowl bids this season, highlighted by Texas Tech’s first-round playoff bye and a New Year’s Day quarterfinal matchup against Oregon.
The Lone Star State’s dominance in the 2025 bowl season showcases the depth of talent across Texas, with programs ranging from playoff contenders to teams making their first postseason appearance in years.
The No. 4 Red Raiders (12-1) earned their College Football Playoff spot after capturing the Big 12 Championship over BYU. They’ll face No. 5 Oregon in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Miami Gardens on January 1.
Texas Tech’s defense, ranked first nationally in rushing yards allowed and turnovers gained, held opponents to just 24 total points across three ranked matchups. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.
Seven other Texas programs earned bowl invitations: Texas, TCU, North Texas, UTSA, Texas State, Rice, and Houston. Texas A&M also made the playoff but lost in the first round.
The UTSA Roadrunners (6-6) open Texas’s bowl slate Friday against FIU in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Running backs Robert Henry and Will Henderson III combined for over 1,850 rushing yards this season.
North Texas (11-2) faces San Diego State Saturday in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl with interim coach Drew Svoboda. Former head coach Eric Morris departed for Oklahoma State after leading the Mean Green to one of their best seasons in program history.
Houston (9-3) hosts LSU in Saturday’s Kinder’s Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. The Tigers will play without starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and under interim coach Frank Wilson before the Lane Kiffin era begins.
TCU (8-4) meets USC in Tuesday’s Valero Alamo Bowl at San Antonio’s Alamodome. The Horned Frogs are 2-0 all-time in the Alamo Bowl, including memorable comeback victories over ranked Oregon and Stanford teams.
Texas (9-3) faces Michigan on New Year’s Eve in Orlando’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The Wolverines will be shorthanded after several player departures and the dismissal of head coach Sherrone Moore.
SMU (8-4) represents Texas in Friday’s Trust & Will Holiday Bowl against Arizona in San Diego. Quarterback Kevin Jennings returns after leading the Mustangs to last season’s College Football Playoff.
Texas State (6-6) and Rice (5-7) close the state’s bowl season on January 2 in Fort Worth’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Rice received the bid after Kansas State opted out of postseason play.
The nine-bowl bids mark a high point for Texas college football. Programs across the state will play from Dallas to Miami, showcasing the depth of talent in the Lone Star State.
