Football Bowl Games: Everything You Need to Know
As college football fans around the world prepare to watch their favorite teams compete in postseason play, it’s important to understand the landscape of this unique event. In this article, we’ll define bowl games, explain their purpose, and explore the eligibility criteria for participating teams.
We’ll also take a closer look at the most prestigious games, including the six that make up the New Year’s Six, and examine the
College Football Playoff system. Finally, we’ll dive into the financial side of bowl games, highlighting the monetary prizes awarded to participating teams.
What are Football Bowl Games? In college football, bowl games are post-season contests played by Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams.
They provide an opportunity for teams to face off against opponents that they would not typically play during the regular season. Bowl games are named after their sponsors and are hosted in various cities across the United States, providing fans with an opportunity to attend a fun-filled game in a new and exciting location.
Bowl games are one of the most important events in college football, combining great football, entertainment, and numerous lucrative monetary prizes. However, bowl games come with a great deal of eligibility requirements that teams must meet to participate.
Eligibility and Selection for Bowl Games
Not every team that participated in college football gets to participate in bowl games. Teams must have a winning percentage of at least .500 to be bowl eligible, meaning they must have won at least half of their regular season games.
Each year, there are approximately 40 bowl games, and 80 teams are needed to fill those slots. Bowl Game eligibility is most typically met by teams from the Power Five conferences: conference-heavyweights the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12.
Other teams that meet the requirements are selected at-large by a Selection Committee. Bowl games are based on conference alignment, meaning that teams from the same conference do not play each other in the first round of the bowl game, ensuring that teams face unfamiliar opponents.
New Year’s Six Bowls
Six bowl games make up the prestigious New Year’s Six games: the
Rose Bowl,
Fiesta Bowl,
Sugar Bowl,
Orange Bowl,
Peach Bowl, and
Cotton Bowl. These games are held on New Year’s Eve or the day of the
College Football Playoff semifinals.
The teams selected for these Bowls have strong records and are usually from Power Five conferences. The
Rose Bowl, also known as the Granddaddy of Them All, is one of the most iconic bowl games.
It is played in Pasadena, California, and is contested by the Pac-12 conference champion and the Big Ten conference champion or an at-large team. The
Fiesta Bowl is played in Glendale, Arizona, and is contested between an at-large team and the highest-ranked non-champion from the Big Ten, SEC, or Pac-12 conferences.
The
Sugar Bowl is one of the oldest bowl games, having been played since 1935. This bowl game is played in New Orleans, Louisiana, and features teams from the SEC and Big 12 conferences, who are typically two of the most competitive conferences.
The
Orange Bowl is played in Miami, Florida, and involves the highest-ranked non-champion from the ACC, SEC, or Notre Dame against an at-large team. The
Peach Bowl is held in Atlanta, Georgia, and features the highest-ranked non-champion team from the ACC, Big Ten, or SEC, with the other team being an at-large team.
Finally, the
Cotton Bowl is played in Arlington, Texas, and played between the highest-ranked non-champion team from the Big 12, SEC, or Notre Dame and an at-large team.
College Football Playoff
The
College Football Playoff features a four-team tournament aimed at determining the national champion. The selection committee decides which four teams earn the right to play in the semifinals, which occur on or around New Year’s Day.
The two winners face each other in a National Championship game, which is where the National Champion is crowned. Four teams are selected based on their performance, strength of schedule, and a variety of other metrics.
Bowl Game Payouts
Being selected to play in a bowl game is not just about the opportunity to play in a unique location and the chance to compete against unfamiliar opponents. It also comes with monetary compensation.
The majority of bowl game revenues are distributed among member schools in the bowl eligible conference. These revenue distributions enable member schools to generate revenue through their athletic programs and fund other activities.
In addition to the distributions made to member schools, participants in bowl games receive a participant bonus. These bonuses vary based on bowl game prestige and other factors.
Most Popular College Bowl Games
Aside from the New Year’s Six games, other bowl games tend to attract significant audiences and generate substantial revenue. Some popular bowl games are the Sun Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Holiday Bowl, and the Alamo Bowl.
These bowl games are typically held after Christmas and before New Year’s Day.
Conclusion
Football Bowl games offer teams a chance to test themselves against top-caliber opponents, generate substantial financial compensation for their athletic programs and participate in one-of-a-kind experiences. Though there are many intricate factors that go into the selection process for bowl games, teams that meet eligibility requirements and perform well can compete for some of the most attractive winnings in collegiate sports.
Whether it is the New Years Six or the lesser-known matchups, Bowl Games are one of the most hopeful and exciting aspects of college football. In the world of college football bowl games, few are quite as iconic as the
Rose Bowl and the
Fiesta Bowl.
These games have been host to incredible moments in college football history and are among the most prominent events on the annual college football calendar. Here, we’ll dive into the rich histories of both games and detail what makes them such prominent fixtures in college football.
Rose Bowl
The
Rose Bowl takes place annually at the
Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. The game was first played on January 1st, 1902, and is among the oldest bowl games in college football history.
Initially, the game pitted the winner of the Pacific Coast Conference (today’s PAC-12) against the winner of the Big Ten Conference. Today, the game features a marquee matchup between two top programs from different conferences.
Beyond the game itself, the
Rose Bowl is famous for the Rose Parade, which takes place annually on New Year’s Day. The parade, which is an event unto itself, precedes the game and features elaborate floats and marching bands from throughout the world.
The
Rose Bowl game and parade have become a classic New Year’s Day tradition for college football fans throughout the US. One of the ways that the
Rose Bowl stands out against other college football bowl games is its history of featuring top tier programs.
Some of the highest-ranked teams in college football history have played in the
Rose Bowl, including the USC Trojans, Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, and Stanford Cardinal. The game itself is often a marquee matchup, featuring a well-matched contest between two of the best teams in the country.
The prominence of the
Rose Bowl extends beyond the field of play. The game’s proximity to Hollywood has made it an attractive destination for celebrities and the media, creating an overall buzz around the event.
Additionally, the
Rose Bowl regularly draws huge crowds, and tickets to the game are in high demand.
Fiesta Bowl
The
Fiesta Bowl, unlike the
Rose Bowl, did not start as a traditional bowl game. Rather, it was a post-season game between the best teams of the Western Athletic Conference and the PAC-10.
However, in the years since its inception, the
Fiesta Bowl has evolved into one of the most prominent college football bowl games. The game takes place annually in Glendale, Arizona, just outside Phoenix.
The stadium, originally known as the University of Phoenix Stadium, has been renamed to State Farm Stadium, and is a popular destination for fans throughout the country. Despite its location in the desert, the
Fiesta Bowl has become a popular destination for fans of multiple top-tier teams from different conferences.
Like the
Rose Bowl, the
Fiesta Bowl is part of the New Year’s Six, a group of six premier bowl games played annually after Christmas. The game hosts two of the top teams in the country, typically featuring two of the most recognizable and premier programs in the NCAA.
The recent history of the
Fiesta Bowl has featured matchups between highly-ranked teams from a variety of conferences, including the Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12 and Big 12. The
Fiesta Bowl’s prominence is due in large part to the excellent performances and memorable moments that have taken place there.
The game has seen some of the most exciting and unexpected finishes in college football history, including Boise State’s thrilling overtime victory over Oklahoma in 2007. The bowl game is also known for its vibrant celebrations, lively crowds, and a festive atmosphere that has made it one of the preferred bowl game destinations for college football fans.
Conclusion
The
Rose Bowl and the
Fiesta Bowl offer two of the most storied and exciting experiences in college football. These games are steeped in rich history and tradition, and both continue to play a prominent role in the college football landscape today.
From their reputations for hosting marquee matchups to the vibrant atmospheres of the cities they call home, these bowl games remain essential experiences for any fan of college football. The
Sugar Bowl and
Orange Bowl are two of the most historic and prestigious bowl games in college football.
Since their inception, both games have become fixtures on the annual college football calendar. In this article, we’ll explore the rich histories of both games and examine what makes them such prominent and highly-regarded events in college football.
Sugar Bowl
The
Sugar Bowl takes place annually at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game was first played in 1935 and is one of the oldest bowl games in college football history.
The Superdome, where the game is played, has been host to some of the most significant moments in college football history, including national championships and postseason classics. The
Sugar Bowl’s prominence in college football has reached new heights in recent years with the advent of the
College Football Playoff (CFP).
The game now serves as one of two semifinals for the CFP National Championship, which determines the best team in the country. As a result, the
Sugar Bowl features two of the top teams in the nation, ensuring that the game is highly competitive and that fans are treated to some of the best college football action of the season.
In addition to hosting the CFP National Championship Semifinals, the
Sugar Bowl remains one of the most respected bowl games in the country. The game has a long history of hosting highly competitive matchups between top teams from across the country, and has established itself as one of the premier bowl games of the post-season.
Orange Bowl
The
Orange Bowl takes place annually at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. The game was first played in 1935 and is one of the oldest bowl games in college football history.
Over its long history, the
Orange Bowl has hosted some of the most exciting and memorable games in college football, including some of the most celebrated games in the modern era. Similar to the
Sugar Bowl, the
Orange Bowl has now taken on an added significance as one of the CFP National Championship Semifinals.
Here, the game hosts one of the best teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) against a highly competitive at-large team from across the country. One aspect that sets the
Orange Bowl apart from other bowl games of its caliber is its emphasis on showcasing the best team from the ACC.
Since the inception of the
College Football Playoff, the game has gone back to its roots, with a renewed focus on showcasing the ACC’s top team. To this end, the game now partners with the ACC to ensure that the conference’s best team has the chance to play in a landmark event.
Despite this focus, the
Orange Bowl has not forgotten the tradition of hosting highly competitive games. The game consistently features top programs from conferences across the country, including the SEC and Big Ten.
As such, the
Orange Bowl has earned a reputation as one of the premier events in college football, featuring some of the most exciting and highly competitive games of the post-season.
Conclusion
The
Sugar Bowl and
Orange Bowl offer two of the most storied and exciting experiences in college football. These games have lasted the test of time and continue to play an important role in the college football landscape today.
From their reputations for hosting highly competitive games to their vibrant atmospheres and the rich history and tradition associated with them, the
Sugar Bowl and
Orange Bowl remain essential experiences for any fan of college football. With their storied past, both bowl games remain some of the most prominent fixtures in college football history.
The
Peach Bowl and
Cotton Bowl are two of the most historic and high-profile bowl games in college football. Since their inception, both games have become fixtures on the annual college football calendar.
Here, we’ll explore the rich histories of both games and examine what makes them such prominent and highly-regarded events in college football.
Peach Bowl
The
Peach Bowl is played annually in Atlanta, Georgia, and is hosted at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Historically, the game was known as the Chick-fil-A
Peach Bowl and is one of the older bowl games, having been played annually since 1968.
Initially, the Chick-fil-A
Peach Bowl was established as just a fundraiser for the Lions Club, an altruistic organization. Over the years, the game has grown to become a tournament that features two of the strongest conferences, namely the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference.
The game is always one of the close runners-up for the New Year’s Six and hosts a highly competitive matchup between two top-level programs.
In addition to the high level of competition on the field, the
Peach Bowl is an event that gives back to the community and sponsors numerous charitable initiatives.
For example, the Chick-fil-A Foundation, the charity arm of the titular corporation, provides unique scholarship opportunities for college students in need of financial assistance.
Cotton Bowl
The
Cotton Bowl is played annually in either the
Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, or the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game’s earliest iteration started in 1937 and is now one of college football’s most historic and esteemed bowls.
Since its inception, the
Cotton Bowl has been a highly competitive tournament and often involves two of the most esteemed programs from the country. One of the most significant things about the
Cotton Bowl is its history.
The tournament initially drew participants from the Southwest Conference, with a few exceptions every year. However, since the 21st Century, the
Cotton Bowl has become one of the most monumental fixtures in college football, on par with other major bowl games like the
Sugar Bowl,
Orange Bowl, and
Rose Bowl.
What distinguishes the
Cotton Bowl from other high-profile bowl games remains its position as one of the CFP National Championship Semifinals. The game involves an elite matchup between two of the top teams in the country, with the match playing into the selection for college football’s national championship.
With continued momentum comes a rivalry between top programs from different conferences, making for a uniquely exciting and competitive display of football.
Conclusion
The
Peach Bowl and
Cotton Bowl both offer unique experiences for fans of college football. Both games boast historic backgrounds, including longstanding traditions, celebrations of charitable initiatives, and vibrant atmospheres.
While the
Cotton Bowl has become synonymous with the CFP National Championship Semifinals, the
Peach Bowl is a close runner-up and is regarded as one of the most competitive and highly-regarded bowl games on the annual college football calendar. Even as the sport evolves and new traditions are established, the
Peach Bowl and
Cotton Bowl remain essential experiences for fans of college football.
In conclusion,