20th Annual Isleta New Mexico Bowl Will Kick Off on December 27

Jun 05, 2025 | NEW MEXICO BOWL

20th Annual Isleta New Mexico Bowl Will Kick Off on December 27

2025 Game to be played at University Stadium at 3:45 p.m. MT and televised on ESPN

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The 2025 college bowl season will return to Albuquerque, N.M. for the 20th annual Isleta New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, December 27 from University Stadium on the campus of the University of New Mexico. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. MT with the game to be televised on ESPN.

“It has become a two-decade tradition in The Land Of Enchantment to host the Isleta New Mexico Bowl on a Saturday during the holiday season and this year’s celebration should be extra-special,” said Executive Director Jeff Siembieda. “As we commemorate our 20th annual game, we reminisce about all the incredible memories while looking forward in anticipation of many, many more. We are excited about offering a tremendous experience to two great teams and their fans in Albuquerque, while showcasing the beauty and vibrance of New Mexico on a national stage, and hosting our state’s biggest annual party”

 

The game, which was played on the opening Saturday of Bowl Season for 17 years, before a move to the prestigious after Christmas time frame for the first time in 2024, has featured teams from the American Athletic, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-12, Sun Belt, Western Athletic Conferences as well as an Independent.

In the 2024 edition of the Isleta New Mexico Bowl, TCU from the Big 12 Conference took down the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 34-3.

ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2025-26 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premiere regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. Follow ESPN Events on Instagram, Facebook, X or YouTube pages.

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