The Puerto Rico Bowl is set to debut during the 2026 college football season, according to an official announcement Friday.
The Puerto Rico Bowl is slated to be played at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón in December and it will be televised nationally by ESPN. The game will feature a team from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) against another FBS opponent.
“Puerto Rico is simply a magical place with magical people,” said Complete Sports Management President Lea Miller-Tooley. “This game is going to be of historical significance with an incredible impact on sports tourism and exposure for one of the most beautiful places in the world. We thank Discover Puerto Rico for their partnership and look forward to our relationship for many years to come.”
The kickoff time for the inaugural Puerto Rico Bowl will be announced at a later date, likely in conjunction with the release of the complete 2026-27 college football bowl schedule in June.
“Puerto Rico offers world-class venues for virtually every sport, combined with seamless, passport-free travel for U.S. visitors and a tropical climate that makes year-round athletic competition possible,” said Discover Puerto Rico Chief Executive Director Jorge L. Perez. “We are especially thrilled to welcome the Puerto Rico Bowl, a historic landmark event that underscores our Island’s growing stature as a world-class sports destination that offers an electrifying new experience to both teams and fans alike.”
Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 24,000, is the current home of the Bayamón FC of the Liga Puerto Rico and former home of the Puerto Rico Islanders of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
“Through our long-standing bowl partnership with ESPN Events and Complete Sports Management, the Mid-American Conference is pleased to have an opportunity to participate in the inaugural Puerto Rico Bowl,” said Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. “Having the opportunity to compete in such a special place will make for a memorable event for the student-athletes and fans.”
Bowl Season is currently expected to begin on Saturday, December 12, 2026, with the annual Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Ga.
Replacing the alleged Holiday Bowl demise?
I believe Puerto Rico Bowl replaces the Bahamas Bowl. Reportedly the Poinsettia Bowl is coming back, likely to replace the LA or Detroit Bowl.
I am pulling for Detroit continue to have a postseason Bowl game.
Dan: The Detroit bowl has been canceled.
On the other hand, that means Northwestern will forever be the current holders of the Detroit bowl champions title. WOOOOOO!!!!!
Thank for informing me Richard however hopefully Detroit will be back hosting a Bowl game in future & Ford Field is excellent place for any kind of Football.
Really, what a bunch of crap, this makes zero sense to include as a bowl game in college, woke is joke!
What does this have to do with wokeness?!?
I swear, some of you below-room-temp IQ folks have your brain too rotted by whatever echo chamber you’re marinating in.
You do realize Puerto Rico is apart of the United States right?
I will predict today, that there will be five 5-7 teams getting Bowl Game invites this December.
i am waiting for the first 4 win sec team to be invited to a bowl.
I see you’ve forgotten the Covid year. Teams with 3 wins got invites.
I am excited! I am a huge fan of American Football and have to fly every year to the States to watch a live game. Now its coming to the island! I am beyond stoke.
Yeah this looks like a fun game. If my team is in I’d try to go