College Bowl History

College football has a long and storied tradition. A significant part of this tradition is the bowl game. The bowl game was designed to pair two good teams against each other on a neutral field. The first ever bowl game was played in 1902 between the Michigan Wolverines and Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena,CA. The Wolverines won the game 49-0. The Tournament of Roses Association sponsored the game in an effort to promote tourism and business. For several years, the Rose Bowl was the only major bowl game played. In 1935, the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Sun Bowl were established. The Cotton Bowl followed in 1937. The initial five major bowls were located in warm weather climates.

Throughout the years, more and more bowl games have been created to account for the vast number of qualified football programs that exist today and the profit they can generate local communities. By 1980, there were 15 bowl games. By the start of the new millennium, there were 25 bowl games. Heading into this season, there are 32 bowl games.

In order for a team to become “bowl eligible,” they must win at least six games or have a winning record. The majority of bowl games are tied-in to different conferences. For example, the champion of the Big Ten usually earns a Rose Bowl bid. 64 programs will be invited to a bowl game in the 2007 season, constituting almost half the teams in Division I. Bowl games provide schools with an opportunity for extra practice time and a chance to end their season on a winning note.

The Bowl Championship Series came into existence in 1998. The goal of the BCS was to ensure that the top two teams would play for the national championship. The four major bowls: Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta alternate the site of the championship game. In 2006, the BCS title game became a separate event from the traditional bowl games. The four major locations will alternate the site of the championship game. Last year’s title game was played in Arizona between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida Gators . This year’s contest will be played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. 

College Bowls