Arizona Bowl
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
StadiumArizona Stadium
LocationTucson, Arizona
Operated2015–present
Conference tie-insMountain West, MAC
Previous conference tie-insSun Belt (2016–2019)
PayoutUS$350,000 (2023)[1]
Sponsors
NOVA Home Loans (2015–2019)
Offerpad (2020)
Barstool Sports (2021–present)
Former names
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (2015–2019)
Offerpad Arizona Bowl (2020)
2022 matchup
Ohio vs. Wyoming (Ohio 30–27)
2023 matchup
Wyoming vs. Toledo (Wyoming 16–15)

The Arizona Bowl is a postseason college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that began play in the 2015 season. The game is held at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, and starting in 2020 has tie-ins with the Mountain West Conference and Mid-American Conference (MAC). The 2021 game was cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Boise State team.[2]

History

Alongside the Austin Bowl and Cure Bowl, the Arizona Bowl was one of three new bowl games sanctioned by the NCAA to begin play in the 2015 season (although the Austin Bowl was delayed to 2016, before ultimately being delayed indefinitely due to a moratorium placed on new bowl games by the NCAA).[3] In May 2015, it was reported that the game was to be held at Arizona Stadium, and feature participants from Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference. It marked a return of post-season college football to Tucson, Arizona, which previously hosted the Copper Bowl (the event now known as the Guaranteed Rate Bowl).[4]

The Arizona Bowl was officially announced on October 1, 2015 as the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl. Founded by the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission (ASEC), Alan Young, Kemp Ellis, Nikki Balich, the Mountain West Conference and Campus Insiders in a joint venture,[5] the inaugural game was scheduled to be held on December 29, 2015. It was also announced that the Sun Belt Conference would provide a secondary tie-in in case either conference did not have a bowl-eligible team to play the Arizona Bowl.[5][6]

The inaugural game featured the Nevada Wolf Pack against the Colorado State Rams. As neither Conference USA or the Sun Belt had enough bowl-eligible teams that could be sent to the Arizona Bowl, the game was played between two Mountain West teams, marking the first time since the 1979 Orange Bowl that a non-championship bowl game was played between teams from the same conference. However, the two teams had not played each other during the regular season, as they competed in different divisions.[7]

In May 2016, it was announced that the Sun Belt had reached a four-year deal to serve as a primary tie-in for the Arizona Bowl through 2019, replacing Conference USA. It was the fifth bowl game in which the Sun Belt held a primary tie-in.[8] On July 26, 2019, the bowl announced tie-ins with the Mountain West and Mid-American Conference (MAC) beginning in the 2020 football season and running through the 2025 season.[9][10]

On October 30, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 game would be played behind closed doors with no spectators admitted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona.[11]

The 2021 game was canceled after the Boise State Broncos withdrew due to COVID-19 issues within the program.[12][13] Their scheduled opponent, the Central Michigan Chippewas, were named as a replacement team for the Sun Bowl.[14]

Sponsorship

The first five editions of the bowl were sponsored by NOVA Home Loans and were officially known as the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.[15] The company declined to renew its sponsorship in 2020. On December 23, 2020, it was announced that real estate agency Offerpad had signed on as the title sponsor of the game, making it the Offerpad Arizona Bowl.[16]

On July 27, 2021, Barstool Sports was announced as the title sponsor of the game beginning in 2021.[17] On August 10, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to pull its nearly $40,000 in funding for the game, citing objections to "inflammatory statements" that had been made in the past by its founder David Portnoy.[18]

Game results

Date Winning Team Losing Team Attendance Notes
December 29, 2015Nevada28Colorado State2320,425notes
December 30, 2016Air Force45South Alabama2133,868notes
December 29, 2017New Mexico State26Utah State20 (OT)39,132notes
December 29, 2018Nevada16Arkansas State13 (OT)32,368notes
December 31, 2019Wyoming38Georgia State1736,892notes
December 31, 2020Ball State34No. 19 San Jose State130[11]notes
December 31, 2021Canceled[upper-alpha 1]
December 30, 2022Ohio30Wyoming27 (OT)27,691notes
December 30, 2023Wyoming16Toledo1530,428notes

Source:[19]

MVPs

The bowl named an offensive and defensive MVP through the 2020 edition. Since the 2022 edition (the 2021 edition was canceled) a single MVP has been named.

Year Offensive MVP Defensive MVP Ref.
Player Team Pos. Player Team Pos.
2015James ButlerNevadaRBIan SeauNevadaDE[20]
2016Arion WorthmanAir ForceQBWeston SteelhammerAir ForceDB[21]
2017Larry Rose IIINew Mexico StateRBLeon McQuakerNew Mexico StateLB[22]
2018Ty GangiNevadaQBB. J. EdmondsArkansas StateS[23]
2019Xazavian ValladayWyomingRBAlijah HalliburtonWyomingS[24]
2020Drew PlittBall StateQBBryce CosbyBall StateS[25]
Year Game MVP   Ref.
2022CJ HarrisOhioQB [26]
2023John HoylandWyomingK [27]

Most appearances

Updated through the December 2023 edition (8 games, 16 total appearances).

Teams with multiple appearances
Rank Team Appearances Record Win pct.
1Wyoming32–1.667
2Nevada22–01.000
Teams with a single appearance

Won (4): Air Force, Ball State, New Mexico State, Ohio
Lost (7): Arkansas State, Colorado State, Georgia State, San Jose State, South Alabama, Toledo, Utah State

Appearances by conference

Updated through the December 2023 edition (8 games, 16 total appearances).

Conference Record Appearances by season
Games W L Win pct. Won Lost
Mountain West954.5562015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 20232015, 2017, 2020, 2022
Sun Belt413.25020172016, 2018, 2019
MAC321.6672020, 20222023
  • The 2015 game was contested between two Mountain West teams.

Game records

Team Record, Team vs. Opponent Year
Most points scored (one team) 45, Air Force vs. South Alabama 2016
Most points scored (losing team) 27, Wyoming vs. Ohio 2022
Most points scored (both teams) 66, Air Force (45) vs. South Alabama (21) 2016
Fewest points allowed 13, shared by:
Nevada vs. Arkansas State
Ball State vs. San Jose State

2018
2020
Largest margin of victory 24, Air Force (45) vs. South Alabama (21) 2016
Total yards 532, Colorado State vs. Nevada 2015
Rushing yards 290, Wyoming vs. Georgia State 2019
Passing yards 310, Colorado State vs. Nevada 2015
First downs 30, Colorado State vs. Nevada 2015
Fewest yards allowed 285, Arkansas State vs. Nevada 2018
Fewest rushing yards allowed 68, Air Force vs. South Alabama 2016
Fewest passing yards allowed 74, Colorado State vs. Nevada 2015
Individual Record, Player, Team Year
All-purpose yards295, Xazavian Valladay (Wyoming)
(204 rushing, 91 receiving)
2019
Touchdowns (all-purpose)2, shared by
James Butler (Nevada)
Jacobi Owens (Air Force)
Xazavian Valladay (Wyoming)
Jordon Vaughn (Wyoming)

2015
2016
2019
2022
Rushing yards204, Xazavian Valladay (Wyoming)2019
Rushing touchdowns2, shared by:
James Butler (Nevada)
Jacobi Owens (Air Force)
Jordon Vaughn (Wyoming)
 
2015
2016
2022
Passing yards310, Nick Stevens (Colorado State)2015
Passing touchdowns3, Levi Williams (Wyoming)2019
Receiving yards154, Josh Magee (South Alabama)2016
Receiving touchdowns1, by various players
Receptions9, Rashard Higgins (Colorado State)2015
Tackles16, Darrell Songy (South Alabama)2016
Sacks2, shared by:
Chason Milner (South Alabama)
Dajon Emory (Arkansas State)
Shane Bonner (Ohio)

2016
2018
2022
Interceptions2, Justin Brent (Nevada)2018
Long Plays Record, Player, Team Year
Touchdown run80 yds., Jacquez Stuart (Toledo)2023
Touchdown pass75 yds., shared by:
Josh Magee (South Alabama)
Jale Robinette (Air Force)
2016
Kickoff return100 yds., Jason Huntley (New Mexico State)2017
Punt return21 yds., Kenyon Reed (San Jose State)2020
Interception return53 yds., Antonio Phillips (Ball State)2020
Fumble return29 yds., Nehemiah Shelton (Ball State)2020
Punt69 yds., Quinton Conaway (Nevada)2018
Field goal53 yds., shared by:
Cooper Rothe (Wyoming)
John Hoyland (Wyoming)

2019
2022

Media coverage

Organizers stated that the Arizona Bowl would have a "digitally-focused" broadcasting strategy, first announcing that the website Campus Insiders (a joint venture of IMG College and Silver Chalice) would hold online streaming rights to the game as its "primary digital media partner". Campus Insiders, in turn, partnered with 120 Sports (a digital sports network that is a joint venture of Silver Chalice, MLB Advanced Media, and Time Inc.)[28] to provide interactive in-game content, as well as pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows for the webcast.[6][29][30]

Pressure built for the bowl to be traditionally televised, however, and soon, the bowl organizers capitulated and found a television partner. Rights to the 2015 and 2016 games were held by Sinclair Broadcast Group's American Sports Network; the telecasts were syndicated to local broadcast television stations and regional sports networks.[31][32]

On April 18, 2017, it was announced that CBS Sports Network had acquired rights to the Arizona Bowl under a "multi-year" deal; Campus Insiders (which merged with ASN to form the new Stadium network) is no longer involved in the broadcast.[33]

For its 2020 edition, the game was promoted to the main CBS network, as the Sun Bowl (which is typically aired by the network) was cancelled due to COVID-19-related complications.[34]

Since 2021, the game has been broadcast by Barstool.[35] Starting in 2023, The CW will begin airing the game making it the first time it was regularly scheduled to air on a broadcast network.[36]

Television

Year Network Play-by-play announcers Color commentators Sideline reporters
2015 ASNRon ThulinDoug ChapmanMonica McNutt and Shae Peppler
2016 Mike GleasonMonica McNutt
Campus InsidersAri WolfeDarius Walker and Pete YarbroughShae Peppler
2017 CBS Sports NetworkDave RyanCorey ChavousMelanie Collins
2018Rich WaltzAaron MurrayJohn Schriffen
2019
2020CBS[34]Brad NesslerRick NeuheiselJenny Dell
2022Barstool SportsJake MarshDavid Portnoy and Dan "Big Cat" KatzCaleb Pressley and Adam Ferrone
2023The CW
Barstool Sports

Notes

  1. Game originally scheduled to be Boise State vs. Central Michigan. However, Boise State withdrew from the game following a COVID-19 outbreak on the team. The game was canceled the following day.[2]

References

  1. "2023 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Friday's Arizona Bowl is canceled after Boise State withdraws; Central Michigan to play in Sun Bowl". Tucson.com.
  3. "Austin's bowl game hopes delayed to 2016". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  4. "Mountain West adds Arizona Bowl to its post season lineup". MWConnection (SBNation). Vox Media. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Inaugural Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl to kick-off in Tucson on Dec. 29". NCAA.com. Turner Sports. Mountain West Conference. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Sun Belt gets secondary affiliation with new Arizona Bowl". AL.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  7. "Commissioner calls bowl matchup of two MWC teams 'a travesty'". ESPN.com. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  8. "Sun Belt adds Arizona Bowl to postseason tie-in lineup". The Advertiser. Gannett Company. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  9. "Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl Announces 2020-25 Conference Partnerships". footballbowlassociation.com (Press release). July 26, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  10. "College Football Bowl Game Changes to Begin in 2020". Stadium. Sinclair Broadcast Group. March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Arizona Bowl will be played Dec. 31; no fans will be allowed at Arizona Stadium". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  12. Glasspiegel, Ryan (December 27, 2021). "Dave Portnoy announces Boise State out of Barstool Bowl due to COVID-19". New York Post. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  13. "Arizona Bowl canceled for 2021". KOLD-TV. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 via MSN.com.
  14. Sallee, Barrett (December 27, 2021). "Central Michigan to play Washington State in Sun Bowl after Miami pulls out due to COVID-19 issues". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  15. Hansen, Greg (January 1, 2020). "Arizona Bowl founder promises to keep local flavor, feel as game changes". tucson.com. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  16. "2020 Arizona Bowl Kicks Off with Offerpad as New Title Sponsor". Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  17. Portnoy, Dave (27 July 2021). "Introducing The Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl". www.barstoolsports.com. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  18. Star, Arizona Daily. "Supervisors yank nearly $40K in funding for Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  19. "Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl" (PDF). Bowl/All Star Game Records. NCAA. 2020. p. 16. Retrieved January 3, 2021 via NCAA.org.
  20. "2015 Arizona Bowl". thearizonabowl.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  21. "2016 Arizona Bowl". thearizonabowl.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  22. "2017 Arizona Bowl". thearizonabowl.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  23. "2018 Arizona Bowl". thearizonabowl.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  24. "2019 Arizona Bowl". thearizonabowl.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  25. "2020 Arizona Bowl". thearizonabowl.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  26. @HustleBelt (December 31, 2022). "Ohio QB CJ Harris wins the MVP of the 2022 Arizona Bowl" (Tweet). Retrieved December 30, 2022 via Twitter.
  27. @KevinMurfee (December 31, 2023). "Wyoming kicker John Hoyland won the MVP trophy of the Arizona Bowl for his 3 FGs, including the game-winning 24-yard FG as time expired" (Tweet). Retrieved December 30, 2023 via Twitter.
  28. "Time Inc.-Backed 120 Sports to Launch Internet Video Network with MLB and Other Leagues". Variety. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  29. "Arizona Bowl: Campus Insiders to stream game, TV partner in the works". MWConnection (SBNation). Vox Media. October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  30. "Campus Insiders Partners with MLBAM and 120 Sports to Stream Inaugural Nova® Home Loans Arizona Bowl Featuring Exclusive, First-of-its-kind Production". Mountain West Conference. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  31. "Arizona Bowl: American Sports Network to air game". MWConnection (SBNation). Vox Media. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  32. "NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl returns to ASN in December". American Sports Network. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  33. "Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl to air on CBS Sports Network". Tucson.com. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  34. 1 2 "The Arizona Bowl Set for Broadcast on CBS". themw.com. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  35. Caron, Emily (2021-07-27). "Barstool Sports Taking Over AZ Bowl From CBS to Broadcast Online". Sportico.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  36. Hayes, Dade (November 30, 2023). "The CW's Coverage Of College Football's Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl To Feature Dave Portnoy And Other Personalities Calling The Game". Deadline. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
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