2025 FBS Bowl Game Final Predictions Including the College Football Playoff For The G5

In 2025, there will be 38 Group of Five representatives involved in bowl season this year.

And at least one G5 program – possibility two – will compete in the College Football Playoff with the field at 12 teams again this season.

Here’s a look at HERO Sports’ final G5 2025 bowl projections:

College Football Playoff First-Round Prediction

For my G5 College Football Playoff predictions, I project Tulane will play at Ole Miss. I also predict James Madison will make the field and will play at Oregon.

Tulane’s CFP candidacy among G5 teams hinges on its strength of schedule. If you’re someone who values SOS, even if records aren’t the same, then the Green Wave are probably your No. 1 team in the G5.

It’s tough to argue against what Tulane has done this year, especially in the non-conference portion of its schedule. The Green Wave beat Northwestern 23-3 and Duke 34-27 earlier this year. 

But Tulane also has two losses. For the sake of this discussion, it would be easy to excuse the Green Wave’s first loss of the year, a 45-10 defeat at Ole Miss – and I think we’ll see a rematch in a couple weeks.

But you can’t ignore Tulane losing 48-26 to UTSA, which is 6-6 and barely earned bowl-eligibility. That performance is a massive blemish on an otherwise solid resume.

Still, Tulane has 11 wins against a good collection of teams including North Texas, East Carolina, and Army.

James Madison hasn’t had a strong strength of schedule – though it looked good going into the season. Nonetheless, the Dukes have been mostly dominant all year.

After beating Weber State to start, the Dukes were competitive with a good Louisville team and were leading at halftime before eventually falling 28-14. But that Week 2 loss is JMU’s last and only loss of the year thus far.

The Dukes have won 11 straight games, and all but two of those contests were decided by double digits. One of those close games, a 14-7 win at Georgia State which is now 1-11 overall, is a game some JMU critics will surely point to.

JMU couldn’t control how some of its opponents, like Texas State and Liberty, haven’t lived up to preseason expectations. But the Dukes can control how they win. They’re sixth in the country in average scoring margin (plus-20.3 points per game).

LA Bowl Prediction

For my LA Bowl prediction, I project Boise State will defeat Washington.

Salute To Veterans Bowl Prediction

For my Salute To Veterans Bowl prediction, I project Georgia Southern will play Central Michigan with CMU winning.

Teams likely to play in the Salute To Veterans Bowl:

• Toledo
• Central Michigan
• Georgia Southern
• Troy
• Texas State

Cure Bowl Prediction

For my Cure Bowl prediction, I project Old Dominion will defeat South Florida.

68 Ventures Bowl Prediction

For my 68 Ventures Bowl prediction, I project Delaware will defeat Louisiana.

Myrtle Beach Bowl Prediction

For my Myrtle Beach Bowl prediction, I project FIU will play Texas State with Texas State winning.

Teams likely to play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl:

• Jacksonville State
• Kennesaw State
• FIU
• Southern Miss
• Troy

Gasparilla Bowl Prediction

For my Gasparilla Bowl prediction, I project Memphis will play Georgia Tech with Memphis winning.

Teams likely to play in the Gasparilla Bowl:

• Navy
• East Carolina
• Memphis
• Georgia Tech
• SMU

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Prediction

For my Famous Idaho Potato Bowl prediction, I project Washington State will play Utah State with Utah State winning.

Teams likely to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:

• Washington State
• Ohio
• Utah State
• Fresno State
• UNLV

Boca Raton Bowl Prediction

For my Boca Raton Bowl prediction, I project Louisiana Tech will play Troy with Troy winning.

Teams likely to play in the Boca Raton Bowl:

• Troy
• Texas State
• Georgia Southern
• FIU
• Louisiana Tech

New Orleans Bowl Prediction

For my New Orleans Bowl prediction, I project Southern Miss will play Jacksonville State with USM winning.

Teams likely to play in the New Orleans Bowl:

• Louisiana Tech
• Western Kentucky
• Jacksonville State
• Troy
• Southern Miss

Frisco Bowl Prediction

For my Frisco Bowl prediction, I project UConn will play UNLV with UNLV winning.

Teams likely to play in the Frisco Bowl:

• Old Dominion
• UConn
• JMU
• UNLV
• Washington State

Hawaii Bowl Prediction

For my Hawaii Bowl prediction, I project Hawaii will defeat Cal.

GameAbove Sports Bowl Prediction

For my GameAbove Sports Bowl prediction, I project Minnesota will play Western Michigan with WMU winning.

Teams likely to play in the GameAbove Sports Bowl:

• Western Michigan
• Ohio
• Toledo
• Minnesota 
• Northwestern

First Responder Bowl Prediction

For my First Responder Bowl prediction, I project San Diego State will play Coastal Carolina with SDSU winning.

Teams likely to play in the First Responder Bowl:

• Coastal Carolina
• Southern Miss
• Old Dominion
• Fresno State
• San Diego State

Military Bowl Prediction

For my Military Bowl prediction, I project Navy will play Duke with Navy winning.

Teams likely to play in the Military Bowl:

• Navy
• East Carolina
• Army
• Clemson
• Duke

Fenway Bowl Prediction

For my Fenway Bowl prediction, I project North Texas will play Pitt with UNT winning.

Teams likely to play in the Fenway Bowl:

• UTSA
• North Texas
• Memphis
• Pitt
• Virginia

Arizona Bowl Prediction

For my Arizona Bowl prediction, I project Toledo will play Fresno State with Fresno State winning.

Teams likely to play in the Arizona Bowl:

• Toledo
• Ohio
• Miami (Ohio)
• UNLV
• Fresno State

New Mexico Bowl Prediction

For my New Mexico Bowl prediction, I project New Mexico will play Miami (Ohio) with New Mexico winning.

Teams likely to play in the New Mexico Bowl:

• Miami (Ohio)
• Central Michigan
• New Mexico
• San Diego State
• Boise State

Birmingham Bowl Prediction

For my Birmingham Bowl prediction, I project UConn will play UTSA with UConn winning.

Teams likely to play in the Birmingham Bowl:

• UConn
• Memphis
• UTSA
• East Carolina
• Army

Independence Bowl Prediction

For my Independence Bowl prediction, I project Kennesaw State will play Houston with KSU winning.

Teams likely to play in the Independence Bowl:

• Kennesaw State
• Jacksonville State
• Louisiana Tech
• Houston
• Utah

Armed Forces Bowl Prediction

For my Armed Forces Bowl prediction, I project Army will play Western Kentucky with WKU winning.

Teams likely to play in the Armed Forces Bowl:

• Army
• North Texas
• Navy
• Western Kentucky
• Jacksonville State

Liberty Bowl Prediction

For my Liberty Bowl prediction, I project East Carolina will play Utah with ECU winning.

Teams likely to play in the Liberty Bowl:

• East Carolina
• North Texas
• Navy
• Utah
• Iowa State