If you thought the first week of Bowl Mania was entertaining, it’s time to take it up a notch this time. This week, some ranked teams that failed to make the College Football Playoff also jumped in on the action. Additionally, the themes, settings, and trends of each game were quite appealing, to say the least – led by a cult of edible mascots in the sunshine state vowing to be eaten. Let’s dive right into what needs to be covered.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Washington State Cougars vs. Utah State Aggies

Wazzu got the job done against their future PAC-12 revival rivals beginning in 2026, Utah State, by a score of 34-21. Cougars QB Zevi Eckhaus went 26/44 for 334 yards, 3 TD, and 3 INT, as they jumped to an early lead and never looked back. Interim head coach and defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit lifted WSU to a 7-6 record in his final game before joining Jimmy Rogers at Iowa State, while the Aggies ended with the inevitable 6-7 record.

Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans: Toledo Rockets vs. Louisville Cardinals

Toledo and interim head coach/co-offensive coordinator Robert Weiner came oh so close to upsetting a power four team in the Louisville Cardinals in Boca Raton. However, they still ended off the season with an impressive 8-5 record – just before the start of the Mike Jacobs era. Louisville caps off 2025 at 9-4 with this win.

New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles

After a close first three quarters, Western Kentucky was on the job on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter; the same could not be said for Southern Miss. WKU’s two fourth quarter touchdowns lifted them to a 27-16 dub at the Caesars Superdome. The Hilltoppers head into the offseason 9-4, while Southern Miss ends 7-6, as the Blake Anderson era begins.

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl: UNLV Rebels vs. Ohio Bobcats

Newly-promoted head coach and former defensive coordinator John Hauser led the Ohio Bobcats to a low-scoring 17-10 win over UNLV. Despite the sluggish day on offense, Sieh Banguara ran for 149 yards and a TD on 19 carries. Ohio concludes their season 9-4, while the Rebels finish off with a 10-4 record.

Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl: California Golden Bears vs. Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors

Talk about a simultaneous comeback and upset… the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors were down 21 points midway through the second quarter against California in front of a home Honolulu crowd. Down 11 at halftime, they tied the game at 21 early in the fourth quarter, before taking a four-point 28-24 lead with 7:19 remaining. Cal took it back on a Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele touchdown run on goal-to-go, with 1:57 left, giving the Golden Bears a 31-28 lead. Suddenly, with 10 seconds remaining, Nick Cenacle caught a game-winning 22-yard touchdown pass from Luke Weaver (Weaver hadn’t thrown a pass in over three months before this game), giving Hawai’i an improbable 35-31 victory over a power opponent. Starting QB Micah Alejado threw three touchdowns on 274 yards passing, and Pofele Ashlock caught two TD passes on 14 receptions for 123 yards. The Rainbow Warriors end their season on a high note at 9-4, but Cal enters the Tosh Lupoi era with a 7-6 record in 2025.

GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern came to play in Detroit as they manhandled Central Michigan, 34-7. QB Preston Stone went 19/31 for 226 yards and 3 TDs. It would’ve been a shutout for the Wildcats if it weren’t for a Chippewa touchdown with 6:11 left in the contest. Northwestern finishes 7-6 with this win, while Central Michigan ends up with the same record.

Rate Bowl: New Mexico Lobos vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Toledo’s loss may have been heartbreaking but wait until you see New Mexico’s. The game had remained close throughout, as both teams were tied at 14 at the end of regulation. In overtime, the Lobos kicked a field goal on their possession and thought that they would come up big; after all, this was their first bowl game in nine years. Unfortunately, Minnesota came in and spoiled the party, as Jalen Smith caught the game-winning touchdown pass on their possession. The 20-17 victory not only extends the Golden Gophers’ bowl game winning streak to nine games but also ends their season with a solid 8-5 record. New Mexico heads into the peak of winter at 9-4.

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Florida International Panthers vs. UTSA Roadrunners

This game was close up until midway through the second quarter. UTSA scored 38 unanswered points after FIU went up 14-0 early in the first quarter. The Roadrunners offense then went on to put up a whopping 57 points on the night, limiting the Panthers to just one touchdown in the second half. QB Owen McCown went 18/28 for 295 yards and three touchdowns; running back Will Henderson III ran for two additional scores. UTSA crosses the finish line at 7-6, as the Panthers spiral to a 7-6 ending.

Go Bowling Military Bowl: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. East Carolina Pirates

For the second straight year, the East Carolina Pirates appeared in the Military Bowl. For the second straight year, ECU won the game by one possession. This time, against the Pittsburgh Panthers, they won 23-17. Wide receiver Anthony Smith caught two touchdown passes to go along with 156 yards on four receptions. The Pirates end an impressive season 9-4, while Pitt finishes 8-5.

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Clemson Tigers

Dubbed the “Disappointment Bowl” by many, interim head coach Terry Smith gave one final sendoff to Penn State’s fanbase with a 22-10 dub. It took until the fourth quarter for touchdown drives to occur, with game MVP and Shore Conference alum Trebor Pena’s (5 receptions, 100 yards, TD) 73-yard house call. Quinton Martin Jr. (20 carries, 101 yards) looks to carry the torch for the team next season, following the departures of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen to the pros. The Nittany Lions head into the Matt Campbell era at 7-6, while Dabo Swinney and Clemson hit a new low with an identical record.

Wasabi Fenway Bowl: UConn Huskies vs. Army Black Knights

Like ECU, UConn also received the same bowl invitation for the second consecutive year. Unlike ECU, they lost to Army, 41-16. Black Knights running back Godspower Nwawuihe was the x-factor, accounting for 171 yards and two scores on 12 carries. Army finishes with a 7-6 record, while UConn settles for a 9-4 season as the Jason Candle era begins.

Pop Tarts Bowl: #22 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. #12 BYU Cougars

In a battle between teams that barely missed out on CFP berths, BYU erased an 11-point halftime deficit and intercepted Georgia Tech on their final play to seal a 25-21 come-from-behind win in Orlando. Bear Bachmeier went 27/38 for 325 yards, a TD, and an INT. The 12-2 Cougars feasted upon edible Pop Tart mascots during the postgame ceremony, while the 9-4 Yellow Jackets went home starving.

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl: Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Fresno State Bulldogs

In a low-scoring Group of 5 postseason matchup, Fresno State left Tucson with an 18-3 win over Miami (OH). Dylan Lynch nailed four field goals on the day, with his longest from 37 yards. Richie Anderson III’s 2-yard reception from EJ Warner was the game’s only touchdown. The Bull d-o-double-gs finish 2025 in style with a 9-4 record, while the RedHawks pack their bags at 7-7.

Isleta New Mexico Bowl: #25 North Texas Mean Green vs. San Diego State Aztecs

Unlike the previous game, this star-studded Group of Five showdown was high scoring. American Athletic Conference runners-up North Texas fought their way to a 49-47 win over another successful team in San Diego State. Mean Green running back Caleb Hawkins ran for a whopping 198 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries, while wide receiver Cam Dorner caught two TDs as well. North Texas heads into the Neal Brown era with a 12-2 season; the Aztecs head into the offseason at 9-4.

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: #19 Virginia Cavaliers vs. Missouri Tigers

Coming off a heartbreaking loss in the ACC title game to Duke, Virginia ended their season with another low-scoring 13-7 win over Missouri in the Gator Bowl. The Cavaliers end 2025 at 11-3, but Mizzou sinks to 8-5.

Kinder’s Texas Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. #21 Houston Cougars

LSU’s final game before Lane Kiffin comes to town culminates in a 38-35 loss to Houston. The Tigers were up by two scores early in the first quarter, but the Cougars stormed back with 21 unanswered points by halftime. As they exchanged touchdowns throughout the third and early fourth quarters, late field goal and touchdown drives allowed Houston to pull away. QB Conner Weigman threw four touchdown passes to go along with 236 passing yards in this game. Willie Fritz’s squad ends their season with a noteworthy 10-3 record, as LSU’s nightmare season finally concludes at 7-6.

From Pop Tarts to disappointments to Snoop Doggy Dogg, this week of Bowl Mania had it all. The Big Ten Conference has been very successful – they haven’t lost a bowl game yet this postseason. On the other hand, fanbases such as LSU, Clemson, and Penn State are relieved that they won’t have to watch their teams again until next August.

We’re saving the best for last, as the docket for the third and final week of Bowl Mania is as follows:

• JLAB Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers
• Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
• Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
• Valero Alamo Bowl: USC Trojans vs. TCU Horned Frogs
• ReliaQuest Bowl: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
• Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Duke Blue Devils
• Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Michigan Wolverines vs. Texas Longhorns
• SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Utah Utes
• Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Rice Owls vs. Texas State Bobcats
• AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Navy Midshipmen vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
• Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
• Trust & Will Holiday Bowl: Arizona Wildcats vs. SMU Mustangs