College football bowl games: Who plays today, Tuesday Dec. 16? Teams, times and matchups
Today in the NCAA’s 2025-26 bowl season, Alabama is the venue for the renewal of a longstanding rivalry.
In today’s only bowl-season clash, Troy and Jacksonville State meet for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, as the Alabama pair vie for victory in the 12th edition of the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
Salute to Veterans Bowl 2025: when, where?
- Venue: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT
How can I watch the Salute to Veterans Bowl?
Viewers in the U.S. can watch Troy vs Jacksonville State on ESPN. Your streaming options include the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial.
🏈 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐓! 🔥@TroyTrojansFB will take on @JaxStateFB in the 𝗜𝗦𝟰𝗦 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝘄𝗹.
— IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl (@Salute2VetsBowl) December 7, 2025
📆 Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 8 PM CT on ESPN
📍 Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
For updates and to purchase tickets, visit… pic.twitter.com/Lsd49L38QN
Salute to Veterans Bowl - game preview:
In a rivalry that stretches back to 1924 - and is dubbed the “Battle for the Ol’ School Bell” - Troy and Jacksonville State have met 63 times since 1924. However, their last matchup came back on Nov. 17, 2001, when the Trojans were 21-3 winners on home soil.
Victory for Troy was the team’s seventh in a row in the fixture; the Gamecocks last beat the Trojans in November 1990. Yet despite Troy’s dominance in the teams’ most recent meetings, it is Jacksonville State that leads the series overall, with a 33-28-2 record.
The Trojans and the Gamecocks are both debutants in the Salute to the Veterans Bowl - and both head into the event fresh from defeat in their respective conference championship games.
In the Sun Belt Conference title decider on Dec. 5, the 8-5 Trojans lost 31-14 to the James Madison Dukes. On the same day, the Conference USA Championship Game saw the 8-5 Gamecocks go down 19-15 to the Kennesaw State Owls.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐉𝐚𝐱 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬#EmbraceTheGrind | #AKC pic.twitter.com/L9JX7jCfdk
— Jax State Football (@JaxStateFB) December 15, 2025
Who’s playing in bowl season tomorrow, Dec. 17?
- Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs South Florida
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
When: 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT
How to watch: ESPN
- 68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana vs Delaware
Where: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
When: 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT
How to watch: ESPN
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment