The University of Louisville and the University of Toledo are set to face off in the 12th Annual Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans on Tuesday, December 23, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. EST at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. The game will air nationally on ESPN, with additional coverage on ESPN Radio and ESPN 106.3.
Louisville, representing the Atlantic Coast Conference, enters the postseason at 8–4 overall and will make its first-ever appearance in the Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans. The Cardinals were nationally ranked at different points during the 2025 season and arrive with momentum and a roster eager to close the year on a high note.
In accepting the bowl invitation, Louisville highlighted both the opportunity and the legacy attached to the game and its trophy.
“We’re honored to accept the invitation to the Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans. This bowl represents a great stage for our players, staff and program to showcase the progress we’ve made all season, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to compete in this postseason event,” said Louisville Head Coach Jeff Brohm.
“As we prepare for this bowl game, we’re also mindful of the legacy associated with the Howard Schnellenberger Trophy. Coach Schnellenberger means a lot to me and his influence on college football—and our own program’s history—runs deep,” added Brohm.
Toledo arrives in Boca with a postseason resume built on consistency. The Rockets finished the regular season at 8–4 overall and 6–2 in Mid-American Conference play, earning a bowl berth for the fifth consecutive season and the 23rd bowl appearance in program history.
This will mark Toledo’s third trip to the Boca Raton Bowl, where the Rockets are 2–0, with previous victories over Temple in 2015 and Liberty in 2022. The matchup also continues a recent trend, as Toledo will face an ACC opponent for the second straight year after last season’s unforgettable 48–46, six-overtime win over Pittsburgh in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
“We are very excited to accept an invitation to the Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans,” said Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. “The bowl will provide a terrific experience for our student-athletes, who have worked day-in and day-out over the past 12 months and deserve a chance to play one more game together this season.”
Blair also emphasized the broader exposure the game provides.
“This is a great opportunity for our football program, our University, and our community to promote our brand,” he said. “Toledo Football has been bowl-eligible for 16 consecutive seasons, which ranks sixth among the 136 FBS institutions. The Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans will provide an incredible platform for the University and Toledo community to be highlighted on ESPN and its nearly 70 million viewing households.”
Behind the scenes, bowl selections involve a complex mix of conference tie-ins, performance evaluations, timing, and availability, with scenarios remaining fluid until final decisions are made. Once selections become official, preparation moves extremely quickly. From my desk as ESPN’s Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans events and media coordinator, press materials are finalized, team branding is integrated, bowl week plans are activated, and media coverage ramps up immediately.
“This is a great matchup and a game that will be a lot of fun to watch,” said Doug Mosley, executive director of the Boca Raton Bowl. “I can’t wait for the teams to get here.”
Tickets for the Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans are on sale now. Visit BocaRatonBowl.com for ticket and event information.
Disclosure: As part of my work with ESPN and the Boca Raton Bowl, I’m thrilled to help share this news with our community.
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