San Diego gets a familiar December name back in 2026. The SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl returns on Wednesday, December 23, with kickoff at 4:30 p.m. Pacific, 7:30 p.m. Eastern, at Snapdragon Stadium. The CW will televise the game.
Two dates for the city
The return gives Sports San Diego a two-game postseason calendar. The Holiday Bowl follows at the same stadium on Monday, December 28, at 2 p.m. Pacific, 5 p.m. Eastern, also on The CW.
For fans planning the trip, those are separate games with separate tickets and game-week details. Each organizer’s current event page is the best place to confirm seating and arrival information.
The matchup comes next
The Poinsettia event is the 13th edition of a bowl last played in 2016. Its return arrives in a different conference landscape, making the actual selection agreement and announced participants essential context for a preview.
What will matter for analysis
Once the teams are selected, the on-field questions begin with roster availability, coaching continuity, and the matchup itself. The historic name supplies the backdrop. Current team evidence will shape the forecast.
Sources & further reading
Research checked November 5, 2026. This guide separates confirmed announcements from details still pending.