Insight Bowl
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The Insight Bowl has been played annually since 1989. Originally known as the Copper Bowl from 1989-1996, the game was played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson until 1999. The bowl game moved to Chase Field in Phoenix in 2000. In 2006, the Insight Bowl moved again, this time to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.
The game has featured various conference tie-ins over the years. From 1990-1997, the Western Athletic Conference was represented in the game. Beginning in 1998, teams from the Big 12 and Big East were awarded a spot. From 2002-2005, a team from the Pac 10 was featured. As of 2006, the Insight Bowl features a matchup between teams from the Big 12 and Big Ten. The bowl game has a payout of $1.2 million to each program.
Last year’s contest between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Minnesota Golden Gophers was a memorable one. Trailing 38-7 in the third quarter, the Red Raiders rallied back to win the game 44-41 in overtime. The improbable comeback proved to be the greatest comeback in bowl history. Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell and cornerback Antonio Huffman were named game MVP’s.
The Insight Bowl has been a high scoring affair in recent years. In 2003, the California Golden Bears defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 52-49. The 2005 game saw Arizona State beat Rutgers 45-40.
Several future NFL quarterbacks have starred in this bowl game. Marc Bulger led West Virginia to a victory over Missouri in 1998. In 2003, Aaron Rodgers won the MVP with Cal. The following year, current Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson led Oregon State to a victory over Notre Dame.
The only programs that have won the Insight Bowl more than once are Arizona, California and Texas Tech. They have each won the game twice.
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