Puerto Rico to Host New Bowl Game, Poinsettia Bowl Returns

The 2026 college football bowl schedule will feature a new game in Puerto Rico and the revival of the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:25pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting in bold primary colors, capturing the dynamic movement and competition of a college football game through an abstract, deconstructed style.A cubist interpretation of the action and energy of a college football bowl game, celebrating the expansion of the postseason calendar.San Diego Today

According to a report, the 2026 college football bowl schedule will include a new bowl game in Puerto Rico and the return of the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego after a 10-year absence. The Puerto Rico Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl will replace three other bowls that are no longer on the schedule. There will be a total of 41 bowl games for the 2026 season, including the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Why it matters

The addition of a bowl game in Puerto Rico represents an effort to expand the reach of college football and provide opportunities for teams from the Group of 6 conferences. The return of the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego also restores a historic postseason matchup that had been absent from the bowl calendar for a decade.

The details

The Puerto Rico Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl will both feature teams from the Group of 6 conferences, with the Poinsettia Bowl potentially pitting the champions of the Mountain West and the new-look Pac-12. The Puerto Rico Bowl was originally scheduled to debut in 2025 but was postponed due to field conditions, leading to the relocation of a Division II matchup between Kentucky State and Franklin Pierce to New Hampshire.

  • The Puerto Rico Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl will debut in the 2026 college football season.
  • The Poinsettia Bowl was last played in 2016, when BYU defeated Wyoming 24-21.

The players

Josh Allen

The quarterback for Wyoming in the most recent Poinsettia Bowl in 2016.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The specific matchups and details for the 2026 Puerto Rico Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl have yet to be announced.

The takeaway

The addition of a bowl game in Puerto Rico and the return of the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego represent positive developments for the college football postseason, providing more opportunities for teams from the Group of 6 conferences and restoring a historic bowl game.