In 2024, 33 Group of Five teams competed in bowl games. This year, 38 G5 representatives involved in bowl season this year as well.
Here’s a look at HERO Sports’ G5 2025 bowl projections after the final week of the regular season:
College Football Playoff First-Round Prediction
For my G5 College Football Playoff prediction, I project Tulane will play Georgia with Georgia winning.
Tulane’s CFP candidacy among the G5 teams is based 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, which is arguably a top-five team in the country.
But you can’t ignore Tulane losing 48-26 to UTSA, which is 6-6 and just recently earned bowl-eligibility. That performance is a massive blemish on an otherwise solid resume.
Still, Tulane has 10 wins against a better collection of teams compared to James Madison and North Texas, and that needs to be taken into account.
But beating a team like Georgia or one of that caliber in the CFP would be daunting, though.
Group of Five teams likely to play in the College Football Playoff:
- Tulane
- James Madison
- North Texas
LA Bowl Prediction
For my LA Bowl prediction, I project San Diego State will play Washington State with SDSU winning.
Teams likely to play in the LA Bowl:
- San Diego State
- Boise State
- Hawaii
- Washington State
- USC
Salute To Veterans Bowl Prediction
For my Salute To Veterans Bowl prediction, I project Texas State will play Toledo with Toledo winning.
Teams likely to play in the Salute To Veterans Bowl:
- Toledo
- Central Michigan
- Texas State
- Troy
- Old Dominion
Cure Bowl Prediction
For my Cure Bowl prediction, I project Southern Miss will play Kennesaw State with USM winning.
Teams likely to play in the Cure Bowl:
- Southern Miss
- JMU
- Coastal Carolina
- Kennesaw State
- Central Michigan
68 Ventures Bowl Prediction
For my 68 Ventures Bowl prediction, I project Western Kentucky will play Georgia Southern with WKU winning.
Teams likely to play in the 68 Ventures Bowl:
- Troy
- Georgia Southern
- Western Kentucky
- Louisiana Tech
- Jacksonville State
Myrtle Beach Bowl Prediction
For my Myrtle Beach Bowl prediction, I project Louisiana will play Jacksonville State with Jax State winning.
Teams likely to play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl:
- Jacksonville State
- Kennesaw State
- Missouri State
- Louisiana
- Arkansas State
Gasparilla Bowl Prediction
For my Gasparilla Bowl prediction, I project Memphis will play Missouri with Memphis winning.
Teams likely to play in the Gasparilla Bowl:
- USF
- East Carolina
- Memphis
- Missouri
- Louisville
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Prediction
For my Famous Idaho Potato Bowl prediction, I project Central Michigan will play Utah State with Utah State winning.
Teams likely to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:
- Central Michigan
- Ohio
- Utah State
- Fresno State
- UNLV
Boca Raton Bowl Prediction
For my Boca Raton Bowl prediction, I project FIU will play Coastal Carolina with CCU winning.
Teams likely to play in the Boca Raton Bowl:
- Coastal Carolina
- Georgia Southern
- Arkansas State
- FIU
- Louisiana Tech
New Orleans Bowl Prediction
For my New Orleans Bowl prediction, I project Troy will play Louisiana Tech with Louisiana Tech winning.
Teams likely to play in the New Orleans Bowl:
- Louisiana Tech
- Western Kentucky
- Coastal Carolina
- Troy
- Texas State
Frisco Bowl Prediction
For my Frisco Bowl prediction, I project James Madison will play North Texas with JMU winning.
Teams likely to play in the Frisco Bowl:
- Old Dominion
- Coastal Carolina
- JMU
- Arizona State
- North Texas
Hawaii Bowl Prediction
For my Hawaii Bowl prediction, I project Missouri State will play Hawaii with Hawaii winning.
Teams likely to play in the Hawaii Bowl:
- Hawaii
- San Diego State
- Missouri State
- Western Kentucky
- Navy
GameAbove Sports Bowl Prediction
For my GameAbove Sports Bowl prediction, I project Illinois will play Ohio with Ohio winning.
Teams likely to play in the GameAbove Sports Bowl:
- Western Michigan
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Illinois
- Northwestern
Rate Bowl Prediction
For my Rate Bowl prediction, I project Boise State will play Northwestern with Boise State winning.
Teams likely to play in the Rate Bowl:
- Boise State
- Hawaii
- Fresno State
- Northwestern
- Illinois
First Responder Bowl Prediction
For my First Responder Bowl prediction, I project Fresno State will play Old Dominion with ODU winning.
Teams likely to play in the First Responder Bowl:
- Troy
- JMU
- Old Dominion
- Fresno State
- Hawaii
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
- Tulane
- Miami
- Duke
Fenway Bowl Prediction
For my Fenway Bowl prediction, I project UTSA will play Delaware with UTSA winning.
Teams likely to play in the Fenway Bowl:
- UTSA
- North Texas
- Delaware
- Pitt
- Virginia
Arizona Bowl Prediction
For my Arizona Bowl prediction, I project Western Michigan will play UNLV with UNLV winning.
Teams likely to play in the Arizona Bowl:
- Western Michigan
- 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
- Hawaii
- Boise State
Birmingham Bowl Prediction
For my Birmingham Bowl prediction, I project South Florida will play Tennessee with USF winning.
Teams likely to play in the Birmingham Bowl:
- USF
- Memphis
- Tulane
- Tennessee
- LSU
Independence Bowl Prediction
For my Independence Bowl prediction, I project East Carolina will play UConn with ECU winning.
Teams likely to play in the Independence Bowl:
- East Carolina
- USF
- Memphis
- Houston
- UConn
Armed Forces Bowl Prediction
For my Armed Forces Bowl prediction, I project Army will play Vanderbilt with Vanderbilt winning.
Teams likely to play in the Armed Forces Bowl:
- Memphis
- North Texas
- Army
- Vanderbilt
- LSU
FBS Bowl Schedule For The G5
| Bowl | Bowl Tie-In | Date | TV |
| LA Bowl | MWC/Pac-12 | 12/13/25 | ESPN |
| Salute To Veterans Bowl | CUSA/MAC/SBC/AC | 12/16/25 | ESPN |
| Cure Bowl | G5 vs. G5 | 12/17/25 | ESPN |
| 68 Ventures Bowl | CUSA/MAC/SBC | 12/17/25 | ESPN |
| Myrtle Beach Bowl | CUSA/AC/MAC/SBC | 12/19/25 | ESPN |
| Gasparilla Bowl | CUSA/ACC/AC/SEC | 12/19/25 | ESPN |
| Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | MAC/MWC | 12/22/25 | ESPN |
| Boca Raton Bowl | G5 vs. G5 | 12/23/25 | ESPN |
| New Orleans Bowl | CUSA/SBC | 12/23/25 | ESPN |
| Frisco Bowl | G5 vs. G5 | 12/23/25 | ESPN |
| Hawaii Bowl | AC/CUSA/MWC | 12/24/25 | ESPN |
| GameAbove Sports Bowl | Big Ten/MAC | 12/26/25 | ESPN |
| Rate Bowl | MWC/Big Ten/Big 12 | 12/26/25 | ESPN |
| First Responder Bowl | AC/CUSA/MWC/ACC/Big 12 | 12/26/25 | ESPN |
| Military Bowl | AC/ACC | 12/27/25 | ESPN |
| Fenway Bowl | AC/CUSA/ACC | 12/27/25 | ESPN |
| Arizona Bowl | MAC/MWC | 12/27/25 | CW |
| New Mexico Bowl | G5 vs. G5 | 12/27/25 | ESPN |
| Birmingham Bowl | AC/CUSA/SEC | 12/29/25 | ESPN |
| Independence Bowl | AC/CUSA/Big 12 | 12/30/25 | ESPN |
| Armed Forces Bowl | AC/CUSA | 1/2/26 | ESPN |
