Frisco Means Football

The buildup to football season is peaking and the anticipation in Frisco is palpable. From the star-studded NFL experience to the high school teams, cheerleaders, and bands showing out, the season is here, and it is everything. Just as pre-season brings the anticipation and in-season play carries the momentum, there is high-level, end-of-season action in Frisco to satiate the football appetite for alumni, students, families, and fans from all over the country. Think all-star high school and college football at The Star, with bragging rights and trophy-hoisting memories at the forefront. It’s all in Frisco, so make your plans to be here.

Frisco’s lineup of marquee games to round out the football season: 

Xbox Bowl
Dec. 18, 2025 at 8 p.m. at Ford Center at The Star and televised on ESPN2

Military Appreciation Bowl 
Dec. 21, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Ford Center at The Star

Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
Dec. 23, 2025 at 8 p.m. at Ford Center at The Star and televised on ESPN

East-West Shrine Bowl
Jan. 27, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Ford Center at The Star and televised on NFL Network

Xbox Bowl

The first-ever Xbox Bowl college football bowl game will be played at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. CT. Fans nationwide can watch the game live on ESPN2, featuring Missouri State (CUSA) who will make its first-ever bowl game appearance against Arkansas State (Sun Belt).

Military Appreciation Bowl

The Military Appreciation Bowl brings the top high school football players in the country together for an East vs. West game at Ford Center at The Star. In addition to the football game, hundreds of youth cheerleaders and flag football players spend time competing and learning from mentors during bowl week.

The game was created by Rich McGuinness more than 20 years ago, and he continues to take pride in the legacy, the alumni, and the unique experience it provides to players, families, and fans throughout the week of robust football activities.

Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl

For classic Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) action at the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl, grab tickets at head to Ford Center at The Star on December 23 at 8 p.m. to see UNLV (Mountain West Conference) and Ohio University (Mid-American Conference).

Ohio will appear in its seventh bowl game in nine years. The Bobcats have won their last six consecutive bowl games from 2017 to 2024 (Bahamas, Frisco, Potato, Arizona, Myrtle Beach, Cure Bowls). They are led by redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura, who earned All-MAC First Team Offense honors this year. Bangura is the fifth Bobcat to surpass 3,000 career rushing yards and the fifth Bobcat to record multiple 1,000-yard seasons.

UNLV will play in a bowl game for the third consecutive season, the first time in program history. The Rebels are led by junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. Colandrea was also named First Team All-Mountain West, and is the first Rebel quarterback to earn such honors since College Football Hall of Famer Randall Cunningham in both 1983 and '84 in the Big West Conference.

Frisco Bowl Trivia: More than 85 Frisco Bowl participants have been drafted or signed a free agent contract with the NFL.

East-West Shrine Bowl

Watch 130 of the best college seniors from around the country show their talents to NFL scouts, agents, and media at the East-West Shrine Bowl. What better place to host this game than the home of the Dallas Cowboys! Kickoff at Ford Center at The Star is 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 and airs on NFL Network.

As the longest running college all-star football game in the United States, some of the notable names who've participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl include Tom Brady, John Elway, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Don Shula, and Dick Vermeil.

Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl's mission, through elevating the profile and understanding of Shriners Children's, has been to provide specialty care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families’ ability to pay for services. In fact, the game's iconic logo reflects the moment a 2-year-old patient walked alongside football player Mike Esposito during a team hospital visit in 1974, reminding fans of the special bond between football and Shriners Children's. 

East-West Shrine Bowl Trivia:  During Shrine Bowl week, Dallas Cowboys legend Daryl 'Moose' Johnston will be honored as a Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame inductee.

Play and Stay in Frisco 

Clearly, Frisco is the place to be for football fans across the country to bring the season to a close in style. Come for the football. Stay a while in The City That Plays to experience all of Frisco’s offerings from wining and dining, events, and entertainment, shopping, and accommodations. For updates on these games, sign up for our e-newsletter.