College football bowl games are typically viewed as a reward, offering an opportunity to end the season on a high note. However, a handful of programs have made the surprising decision to decline bowl invitations throughout history. This season as well, several teams have opted out of playing in a bowl despite qualifying for one.
Full List of Schools Opting Out of College Football Bowl Game
1. Kansas State
Kansas State wrapped up the season at 6-6 and secured a bowl berth, but the Wildcats declined the invitation following the departure of head coach Chris Klieman.
Athletic Director Gene Taylor confirmed the decision in a Sunday statement.
“Following our recent coaching change and conversations with our player leadership and Commissioner Yormark, I determined that we will not accept a bowl invitation this afternoon,” Taylor said. “This decision was not taken lightly, but with our coaching staff transition and several uncertainties regarding player availability, I felt it was not in our best interest to try to field a team that was not representative of Kansas State University.”
Klieman announced his retirement earlier this month, and Collin Klein was appointed the new head coach on Thursday. The Big 12 Conference issued a $500,000 fine to Kansas State for rejecting the bowl bid.
2. Iowa State
Iowa State finished the year 8-4 but chose not to participate in a bowl game after head coach Matt Campbell left for Penn State. Campbell’s departure and Jimmy Rogers’ hire were not directly referenced in the official announcement of the school.
However, Iowa State stated the players voted against bowl participation due to not having enough healthy athletes to safely practice and compete. The Big 12 also fined Iowa State $500,000 for declining the bowl invitation.
3. Notre Dame
Notre Dame closed the regular season at 10-2 but slipped to No. 11 in the final CFP rankings, becoming the highest-ranked team excluded from the postseason.
Following the playoff disappointment, Marcus Freeman’s squad opted to remove itself from bowl consideration.
“As a team, we’ve decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season. We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we’re hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026.”
4. Florida State
Mike Norvell’s Florida State went 5-7 overall and 2-6 in ACC play. The Seminoles were among the 5-win programs eligible for a bowl based on their strong APR (Academic Progress Rate).
However, Norvell said after the 40-21 loss to Florida on Nov. 29 that FSU would decline any bowl invitation they might receive.
5. UCF
UCF finished the 2025 regular season with a 5-7 record and earned an opportunity to play in a bowl game based on the team’s APR. However, the Knights chose not to play a 13th game due to major concerns about roster availability, especially at quarterback.
6. Auburn
Alex Golesh’s Auburn is one of five 5-7 teams that declined a bowl bid. The Tigers had a 1-7 record in the Southeastern Conference this season.
The primary reasons for Auburn’s refusal are the current coaching transition and roster instability. The Tigers are working to ensure a smooth transition period after firing Hugh Freeze and hiring Golesh to take over. Besides that, multiple Auburn players are expected to enter the transfer portal once it opens next month.
7. Rutgers
Rutgers posted a 5-7 record and received an invitation to the Birmingham Bowl versus Georgia Southern, but declined the opportunity as the program chose to shift its full focus to the 2026 roster building and offseason adjustments.
The Scarlet Knights had already begun their offseason, which included firing some assistant coaches and players entering the transfer portal.
8. Baylor
Baylor also finished 5-7 and was reportedly in consideration for the Birmingham Bowl, but decided not to participate. Pete Thamel shared the school’s statement on the decision:
“We have declined the opportunity to play in a Bowl, as we’ve already progressed deeply into the offseason timeline of preparation for the 2026 season.”
9. Temple
Temple wrapped up the year at 5-7 with a 3-5 conference record. While the Owls did not release a statement explaining their choice to skip bowl play, On3’s Brett McMurphy confirmed the decision.
The reasoning remains unclear, but it may align with other schools focusing on offseason preparation.
10. Kansas
Despite a disappointing 5-7 season, Kansas was offered an opportunity to play Georgia Southern in the Birmingham Bowl. But the Jayhawks turned down the offer and have missed bowl eligibility for the second year in a row.
The Jayhawks did not release an official explanation, but typical factors include prioritizing offseason development. Besides that, several Kansas players have already entered the transfer portal to seek new opportunities.
