The LA Bowl has officially concluded after its fifth and final season, as announced by its organizers on Thursday. The last game took place, where Washington triumphed over Boise State in December, marking the end of this short-lived postseason event. This decision reduces the total number of bowl games anticipated at the end of the 2026 season to 40, with potential declines looming for smaller events due to the anticipated expansion of the College Football Playoff.

“After five great years, the LA Bowl at Sofi Stadium will no longer be moving forward. It has been an honor for our staff and volunteers to bring college football to one of the world’s greatest venues,” said a statement from the LA Bowl organizers. Translation: “Después de cinco grandes años, el LA Bowl en Sofi Stadium ya no continuará. Ha sido un honor para nuestro personal y voluntarios llevar el fútbol universitario a uno de los mejores lugares del mundo.”

Since its inception in Inglewood, California, in 2021, the LA Bowl showcased matchups between teams from the Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences. Unique in event history, Boise State was the only team to compete twice.

The landscape of bowl games appears increasingly uncertain, as the sport grapples with scheduling challenges in December and a singular transfer portal window in January. Nick Carparelli, the executive director of Bowl Season, noted in previous comments that while bowl games will always exist, their numbers will depend on the interest from participating teams.

Over a dozen programs opted out of bowl invitations last December, including Notre Dame, which exacerbates the dilemma of teams not meeting the minimum win requirements. Carparelli expressed, “The bowl system is driven by the market. Throughout the century-long history of bowl games, no one has ever fixed the number of bowl games. They reflect the desires of host communities and participating teams. If institutions decide to engage at a different level, the system will adapt accordingly.”