The college football bowl season is in full swing, bringing joy to sports fans across the United States. With the thrilling expansions of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to include 12 teams, conferences have more opportunities than ever to end their seasons on a high note. Amidst the flurry of games and playoff drama, it’s essential to track which conferences are emerging victorious in these post-season rituals.
With a plethora of bowl games and the prestigious CFP to consider, stay updated with the results and identify which conference will emerge with the best bowl record.
| CONFERENCE (BOWL TEAMS) | RECORD | WINNING PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN (8) | 6-1 | .857 |
| ACC (13) | 2-9 | .182 |
| BIG 12 (8) | 4-4 | .500 |
| BIG TEN (13) | 8-5 | .615 |
| CONFERENCE USA (5)* | 1-3 | .250 |
| INDEPENDENTS (3) | 2-0 | 1.000 |
| MAC (7) | 4-2 | .667 |
| MOUNTAIN WEST (5) | 1-4 | .200 |
| PAC-12 (1) | 0-1 | .000 |
| SEC (14) | 7-5 | .583 |
| SUN BELT (7)* | 3-3 | .500 |
*Louisiana Tech replaced Marshall in the Independence Bowl
American Athletic Conference (8)
Record: 6-1
The American Athletic Conference has made a strong showing in this year’s bowl games. With a record of 6 wins and 1 loss, it’s evident that the AAC is a dominant force in college football beyond just the regular season. This performance indicates a resilience and depth in their roster that could potentially set the stage for future success.
ACC (13)
Record: 2-9
The ACC has had a rough start to the bowl season, with only 2 wins among their 13 teams. Highlights include a triumph by No. 24 UNLV against Cal in the LA Bowl, while their struggles were epitomized by their losses in games against top-ranked teams like Indiana, SMU, Texas, and Clemson in the College Football Playoff first round.
- No. 24 UNLV 24, Cal 13 (LA Bowl)
- No. 10 Penn State 38, No. 10 SMU 10 (College Football Playoff first round)
- No. 3 Texas 38, No. 16 Clemson 24 (College Football Playoff first round)
- Toledo 48, Pitt 46 (6OT) (GameAbove Sports Bowl)
- Vanderbilt 35, Georgia Tech 27 (Birmingham Bowl)
- No. 21 Syracuse 52, Washington State 35 (Holiday Bowl)
- UConn 27, North Carolina 14 (Fenway Bowl)
- Nebraska 20, Boston College 15 (Pinstripe Bowl)
- No. 18 Iowa State 42, No. 13 Miami (Fla.) 41 (Pop-Tarts Bowl)
- East Carolina 26, NC State 21 (Military Bowl)
- Louisville 35, Washington 34 (Sun Bowl)
- Duke vs. No. 14 Ole Miss (Gator Bowl) | 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2 | ESPN
- Virginia Tech vs. Minnesota (Duke’s Mayo Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3 | ESPN
FOLLOW ALL GAMES: Scores and stats for every bowl game
Big 12 (8)
Record: 4-4
The Big 12 Conference is maintaining a steady middle ground. With four victories and four defeats, their bowl performance reflects a competitive but even season. Highlights include Kansas State’s dominant win over Rutgers in the Rate Bowl and a notable effort by USC against Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Big Ten (13)
Record: 8-5
The Big Ten continues to perform strongly in the post-season, with eight wins out of 13 teams participating. This performance is supported by high-profile wins, including those by No. 5 Notre Dame against No. 8 Indiana, and No. 3 Texas against No. 16 Clemson and No. 13 Miami (Fla.), all in the College Football Playoff first round. A demonstration of their strength is seen in their success in major bowls like the Fiesta Bowl and the conclusion of the tournament with an impressive showing in the semifinals.
- No. 5 Notre Dame 27, No. 8 Indiana 17 (College Football Playoff first round)
- No. 4 Penn State 38, No. 10 SMU 10 (College Football Playoff first round)
- No. 6 Ohio State 42, No. 7 Tennessee 17 (College Football Playoff first round)
- Kansas State 44, Rutgers 41 (Rate Bowl)
- USC 35, Texas A&M 31 (Las Vegas Bowl)
- Nebraska 20, Boston College 15 (Pinstripe Bowl)
- No. 19 Missouri 27, Iowa 24 (Music City Bowl)
- Michigan 19, No. 11 Alabama (ReliaQuest Bowl)
- Louisville 35, Washington 34 (Sun Bowl)
- No. 20 Illinois 21, No. 15 South Carolina 17 (Citrus Bowl)
- No. 4 Penn State 31, No. 9 Boise State 14 (College Football Playoff quarterfinals — Fiesta Bowl)
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