Former college football bowl game to return to lineup in 2026, per report
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College football’s constantly changing environment makes it difficult for things to truly shock people anymore. That changed, however, on Saturday, as a bowl game that has been gone for a decade got resurrected for the 2026 season.
According to On3’s Brett McMurphy, the Poinsettia Bowl is making a comeback. Last played in 2016, its return — and the addition of a bowl game in Puerto Rico — negate the loss of the Detroit Bowl and LA Bowl.
The Poinsettia Bowl is played in San Diego, CA. It was originally created in 1952 as an armed forces championship game, but lasted just 4 seasons. Miraculously, it was revived in 2005 (after a 49-year layoff) as a game between a Mountain West team and at-large foe.
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The biggest matchup in Poinsettia Bowl history featured No. 11 TCU and No. 9 Boise State in 2008. Andy Dalton’s Horned Frogs prevailed 17-16 over Kellen Moore’s Broncos in the affair. According to McMurphy, the Poinsettia Bowl could feature the champions of the Mountain West and newly re-formed Pac-12.
The last Poinsettia Bowl pitted BYU against Wyoming. The Cougars defeated the Cowboys, 24-21, behind Jamaal Williams’ 210 rushing yards. Wyoming QB Josh Allen threw for 207 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the loss.
