Pop-Tarts Bowl Returns Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game to feature ACC vs. Big 12 matchup at Camping World Stadium in Orlando

ORLANDO, Florida — The Pop-Tarts Bowl is set to return in 2026, with college football’s most talked-about postseason clash slated for Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Florida Citrus Sports confirmed the details Wednesday as part of ESPN’s 2026-27 football bowl schedule release.

This year’s game — the fourth under Pop-Tarts’ title partnership — marks the 13th consecutive season the game will feature top programs from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 Conferences. It will be the 37th edition of the bowl overall and the 26th played at Camping World Stadium, which will host the event at a reduced capacity as the venue undergoes a $400 million renovation set for completion in 2027.

Last December, No. 12 BYU rallied for 15 unanswered fourth-quarter points to defeat No. 22 Georgia Tech 25-21, the Big 12’s third consecutive triumph in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. True freshman QB Bear Bachmeier earned MVP honors after throwing for 325 yards and a touchdown in the win, which capped the program’s first 12-win season under head coach Kalani Sitake.

The night ended with the Cougars and their fans choosing the Team Sprinkles mascots to be toasted and devoured on the field; however, Protein Slammin’ Strawberry escaped the postgame ceremony and fled. After sightings at the Super Bowl and the LA Marathon, the mascot was ultimately captured, toasted and consumed at the 2026 NFL Draft.

FCS’ second bowl game, the Citrus Bowl, features teams from the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences and will be played Saturday, Jan. 2, at noon ET, with coverage on ABC.

Tickets to both the Pop-Tarts Bowl and the Citrus Bowl are available now exclusively through FCS Stadium Pass packages and will go on sale to the public after teams are selected on Sunday, Dec. 6. For more information regarding FCS membership and other Stadium Pass offerings, visit StadiumPassOrlando.com.