FBS Bowl Droughts 2025
FBS Bowl Droughts
I have taken a lot of time to go through all the bowl history of 136 FBS teams. Some people may not care about all the bowls, but these players, coaches, and fans truly do. Making a bowl game is an amazing reward for many teams in the sport, and I want to starting keeping track of all the teams that are in my “bowl drought” category. To me, this means going 4 years or more without a bowl appearance, aka the amount of time for a fan and a lot of players to go through college. Obviously, this is not a list you want to be on.
Bowl Drought Teams (Last Bowl Year)
Going into 2025, this would be any team that has not made a bowl since 2020 or longer. Only 9 of 136 FBS teams are in a bowl drought, 8 of which are G5 teams.
ACC
- Stanford (2018)
Stanford is a train wreck right now. Somehow Frank Reich is the head man on an interim basis while they search this year. Obviously Stanford can pay a decent bit but who realistically thinks they can win here in the modern era of NIL and portal? I have absolutely zero faith in this team to make a bowl game. Even though they are currently under dogs to Hawaii, I think this team will beat them and SJSU and that is probably it. Maybe rattle off a P4 win so I will go with a win range of 1–3. This could get ugly fast.
Independents
- UMass (Has not made a bowl, in FBS since 2012)
I really though UMass had a workable schedule last year but they were straight up terrible, going 2–10 just beating 2 FCS teams. Don Brown gets fired and in comes Joe Harasymiak from Rutgers. UMass is now in the MAC so they play 8 games with teams basically on their level. The non-con has Temple who I think under KC Keeler will win that game so they would need to go 5–3 in the MAC to go bowling. I do not see it but since I see 5–7 I will go with a range of 4–6 wins.
Sun Belt
- UL Monroe (2012)
ULM started out the year 5–2 but then limped to a 5–7 finish. Bryant Vincent got ULM their best season since 2012 so I have full faith in Coach Vincent to get things humming at ULM if he can figure out a more consistent QB. Alabama and Northwestern are auto losses but I think the Warhawks can beat UTEP and an FCS team to go 2–2 in the non-con. Can they go 4–4 in Sun Belt play? Sure why not, I just adore Coach Vincent’s culture at ULM and they had a few upsets last year. Give me 5–7 wins with 6–6 most likely.
American
- Charlotte (2019)
Charlotte fired Biff Poggi who I knew was going to be a disaster right away. However the pivot by Charlotte to scoop up Tim Albin from Ohio was amazing. Albin won the MAC last year at Ohio for the first time since the 70’s. 3 straight 10 win seasons for Coach Albin as he takes a nice pay raise to come and try to get the Charlotte program going. They have a tough non-con with Georgia, UNC, and App State so I see them going 1–3 there. I see a 4–8 season incoming because I think the American is a pretty good conference with a lot of steady teams. Let’s go with a range of 3–5, no bowl here in year 1.
2. Temple (2019)
Temple let go of Stan Drayton and got a huge upgrade with KC Keeler. Keeler won a FCS championship at Sam Houston and just guided them to a 10 win season as he takes the pay bump to try to revive Temple. It is so hard to guess how this goes because the portal can totally flip a roster but this schedule is tough. Temple will likely beat UMass and go 2–2 in the non-con but they draw a lot of solid American teams. Army, Navy, UTSA, ECU, Tulane, and North Texas all made bowls last year and have entrenched coaches who are not flipping a roster. I really like KC Keeler but Temple has been really struggling and lack a good culture so lets go with 3–5 wins and a 4–8 season for the Owls.
3. FAU (2020)
I was so wrong on FAU last year. I thought the Owls were going to be a team like Army or Navy or Sam Houston that exploded to 8 or more wins after a few bad years and they did not. Tom Herman went just 1–7 in AAC play and 3–9 overall. I think I was just a year early. Now Zack Kittley, the offensive guru is in charge. Give me 3–1 in the non-con with wins over FIU and UConn. Then a 4–4 AAC record so let’s go with a 6–8 win range. I think this team will shock some people running the air raid no huddle.
Mountain West
- New Mexico (2016)
Bronco had one of the best offenses in America with one of the worst defenses. New Mexico just missed a bowl at 5–7 but then Bronco leaves for Utah State so now Jason Eck comes in who was awesome at Idaho. I think this team will win their rivalry game and go 2–2 in the non-con. The Mountain West behind Boise and UNLV is so tight right now I have faith in Jason Eck but this is a tough schedule. I think as of this moment New Mexico is favored in just 1 or 2 MWC games so give me a 4–8 prediction with a range of 3–5 wins.
MAC
- Akron (2017)
The MAC has the most parity in college football and is still a precious gem that remains untouched by conference realignment. Akron is the only team in a bowl drought and they really need to consider the triple option. Also let’s not bury the lead, Akron’s grades are so bad they are already not allowed to go bowling so I guarantee they will not end this drought. They have Wyoming and UAB in the non con which is workable. They can split that and then go 3–5 in MAC play to just miss a bowl. I had faith in Moorehead but this is his last chance to at least get to 6 wins but this team may quit by week 1. So for all that I will go with a 4–6 range. Unreal I give them a chance to get to 6 wins but maybe they rally behind the bowl ban.
C-USA
- FIU (2019)
FIU is a true mystery to me. I do not know a ton about how Willie Simmons plans to run the offense but they play in CUSA which is by far the worst conference in FBS. However I think this team just wins 1 non-con game because I see losses to FAU and UConn. I see a 3–5 record in conference play so surprise surprise, let’s go with a 3–5 win range. No bowl.
Hot Seat
Now let us look at teams that are on the “hot seat”. This is the list of teams that if they do not make a bowl game this year, they will be in a bowl drought. So this list is basically all teams that last made a bowl in 2021. Only 7 of the 136 teams are on this list. Last year Indiana, Colorado, and LA Tech (at 5–7) all made bowls to avoid a bowl drought.
ACC
- Virginia
This is probably the best Virginia team under Tony Elliott. Last year the Hoos went 5–7 and just missed a bowl. I wouldn’t even say this is a make or break year because Virginia is just a hard place to win. Somehow Virginia plays UNC in a non-con game but then they have Washington State, Coastal Carolina, and Will and Mary so I could see 3 wins. Stanford, Wake, and Tech are winnable in my minds and pull off an upset somehwere else. Give me a bowl game! 5–7 win range.
American
- Tulsa
I really though Kevin Wilson would have worked at Tulsa but he is gone after a brutal 2024 season and in comes Tre Lamb to try and get Tulsa back to where they used to be. Back in the CUSA days Tulsa was a force to be reckoned with. Now in the American, I have a hard time seeing them rise up considering the studs like Memphis and UTSA. Tulane, Army, Navy, and ECU have had stretches of being bad but those days seem to be over. I see this team going 4–8 unless Coach Lamb really flips this thing fast so 3–5 wins.
Mountain West
- Hawaii
People are high on Hawaii this year, they are FAVORED against Stanford in week 0. Let’s say they lose that game but host and beat Sam Houston, they can go 2–2 in the non-con. I think they will be dogs to 6 of their 8 MWC opponents outside of San Diego State and Wyoming. I think this team dissapoints again and goes 4–8 so give me 3–5 win range.
2. Nevada
Jeff Choate had a 3–10 opening season in Reno. A workable non-con and a solid MWC draw could make one optimistic. Chubba Purdy comes in to play QB which I love. I will be optimistic and say this team bowls, 5–7 wins is the perfect range. Choate is a Texas guy who saw that program come back from the dead so maybe he can do it in the mountain west.
MAC
- Ball State
It feels like forever ago since Ball State won the MAC. It was during COVID so it makes it feel even farther away. I think Ball State goes 1–3 in the non-con because UConn is good, Purdue and Auburn are impossible. The MAC has the most parity in America but I truly think Ball State does not have the ponies to run. Lets go with a range of 2–4. Vegas has the over under at 3.5 so 3–9 feels fine.
2. Central Michigan
I love Matt Drinkall. Not just because I am in the Army and he coached there, but because he loves fullbacks and using X to tweet funny stuff. San Jose State, Pitt, and Michigan are three rough non-con games. They have an amazing MAC draw in terms of other volatile teams so I truly think they can bowl this year with a win range of 5–7 give me 6–6.
3. Kent State
Well, this program sucks. The Flashes only fired Kenni Burns because he got in legal trouble but he was 1–23 in 2 years. Mark Carney got the interim job and I think they can squeak out a MAC win. I am going with 2–4 wins, I truly think 2 is the floor but I am biased because I have a few THOUSAND dollars on their win total Over 1.5. Brutal non-con but the MAC can always get weird so maybe they can beat Akron and UMass.
Bowling for Soup
Now we can get to a fun list. The following is the list of teams that got out of their bowl drought by making a bowl last year or got off the hot seat with a bowl in 2024. I will list the last year before 2024 the team made a bowl. 7 of the 136 teams ended their bowl drought or got off the hot seat this past season. Only 4 of which actually ended their drought of the 12 so that is 1/3 of the teams.
SEC
- Vanderbilt (2018)
Well, this year was a banger for Vandy. They got to 6–6 while upsetting the #1 team in the country when they hosted Alabama. Vandy lost to Georgia State so I thought the season was over. Then they stun Bama and eventually get to 6 wins by beating Auburn (who Diego Pavia owns). I think the win range here is 4–6 with 5–7 being the most likely. They should win their FCS game and 2 G5 games but the SEC is tough and I think outside of Kentucky they are obvious dogs every game.
Big10
- Nebraska (2016)
I said there was no chance they missed a bowl but it was close. Nebraska went 6–6 then beat Boston College in their bowl game. The Huskers went just 3–6 in Big10 play but swept the non-con. This year the Cornhuskers should take care of Cincy and go 3–0 in the non-con again. I see a 7–5 season so 6–8 is our win range. Would be SHOCKED if Nebraska missed a bowl this year.
2. Indiana (2020)
Curt Cignetti shocked the world by guiding Indiana to the playoffs and staving off a bowl drought. I see a step back but a solid year so let’s go 7–9 wins and 8–4 being my prediction. The non-con will be 3–0 but the Big10 is tough and last year Indiana had a solid draw. Coach Cig is cooking but I do not have a lot of faith in the Hoosiers dominating every year.
Big12
- Colorado (2020)
The Buffs had a really solid year. Deon Sanders delivered and went 9–3 before losing their bowl game. He also coached the Heisman trophy winner in Travis Hunter. Safe to say no matter what he has been a huge success. Now this year is a huge question mark without Travis and Shaduer so I will go with 6–6 and another bow. 5–7 wins here, the bottom likely won’t fall out here but I doubt they are as good as last year.
American
- Navy (2019)
Navy missed a bowl in Brian Newberry’s first season but I thought they looked much improved. Then Newberry brings in Drew Chronic to run a modern wing-t offense and it soared. The Mids beat Memphis 56–44 in their 3rd game and it was obvious this was going to be a special season. Navy went from 5–7 to 9–3 including a win over Army to end the season. The Navy upset Oklahoma in their bowl game to hit 10 wins and notch their first P4 win under Coach Newberry. Similar to last year, Navy has Notre Dame, a FCS school, and obviously the other service academies. Likely 2–2 just playing the odds. I actually bet Navy to win the American because it has a great price. However I think they may take a step back and so 8–4 would be another really solid year. Give me 7–9 wins.
MWC
- Colorado State (2017)
Another team I nailed, Colorado State went bowling but did slightly better than I thought at 8–4. Jay Norvell can coach and it only took him 3 years to completely turn around the Rams. CSU has to play Washington and UTSA in the non-con which is tough. Washington State could be a win though after the coaching change. I think the MWC is a solid conference so I am gonna get crazy and for the first time in forever I am doubting Jay Norvell. I see 5–7 here so my range will be 4–6 for the Rams.
Sun Belt
- LA Tech (2020)
Hey, I am putting the Bulldogs into the Sun Belt now, why fight the inevitable. 5–7 was enough to save Sonnie Cumbie for one more year as Marshall opted out of their bowl game against Army to get the Bulldogs in. They got smacked but again, it was enough to give Sonnie the 2025 year to try and find some wins. CUSA is not a good conference so why can’t the Bulldogs actually hit 6 wins? I think they go 6–6 on the dot and Cumbie still gets fired. 5–7 wins here.
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