In 2016-17 you’ll find a bit of a different breed of the traditional college football bowl season. They’re far more worried about ratings, so you’ll notice there’s quite a few empty Sundays due to the NFL taking over. It was well noted that ESPN had a rough time with TV ratings for most of the games and the attendance also struggled. Now the NCAA has shied away from competing with the NFL and on New Year’s Day as well. In fact, the age old tradition of the Rose Bowl on January 1st has come to an end. The game will now kick off on Monday January 2nd.
Now, if you’re a little more interested in How the College Football Bowl Season Works, complete with infographic, click here now!
NCAA College Football Bowl Guide 2016-17 – Your Wall to Wall Infographic
Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl
Created in: 2015
The Air Force Reserve Celebration bowl (aka the AFR Celebration Bowl) will face off a team from the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) against a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
Payout: $2 million ($1 million per conference)
New Mexico Bowl
Created in: 2006
The New Mexico Bowl (aka the Gildan New Mexico Bowl) originally featured the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and has also one featured the Pac-12. It now features a matchup between teams from the Mountain West Conference and Conference USA.
Payout: $912,500 per team
Las Vegas Bowl
Created in: 1992
The Las Vegas Bowl (aka from 2013-2015 the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl) used to feature teams from the Big West and Mid-American Conference. It now features a matchup built with teams from the Mountain West Conference and Pac-12.
Payout: $1.35 million per team
Camellia Bowl
Created in: 2014
The Camellia Bowl (aka the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl) does have a rich history, but was defunct for years. Since it’s return, it has featured teams from the Mid-American and Sun Belt conferences.
Payout: Unknown
Cure Bowl
Created in: 2015
The Cure Bowl (aka the AutoNation Cure Bowl) is a new bowl game that features a matchup between the American and Sun Belt conferences.
Payout: Unknown
New Orleans Bowl
Created in: 2001
The New Orleans Bowl (aka the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl) at times has involved a team from the Mountain West Conference (MWC), but currently features a matchup derived from the Sun Belt and Conference-USA.
Payout: $500,000 per team
Miami Beach Bowl
Created in: 2014
The Miami Beach Bowl can feature teams from the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Conference-USA, Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the Sun Belt.
Payout: Unknown
Boca Raton Bowl
Created in: 2014
The Boca Raton Bowl (aka the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl) at one point featured teams from Conference-USA. It is now a matchup of teams from the MAC and AAC.
Payout: Unknown
Poinsettia Bowl
Created in: 2005
The Poinsettia Bowl (aka the San Diego County CU Poinsettia Bowl) has featured teams from the Pac-12, Navy, Mountain West, Army and BYU. It currently features teams built from Mountain West Conference.
Payout: $612,500 per team
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Created in: 1997
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl was previously known as the Humanitarian Bowl and the MPC Computers Bowl. In the past, it has featured teams from the Big West, Conference-USA, WAC, ACC and MWC. Currently, it features a matchup of teams from the MWC and MAC.
Payout: $750,000 per team
Bahamas Bowl
Created in: 2014
The Bahamas Bowl (aka the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl) currently features teams from the MAC and Conference-USA. Beginning in 2016 though, it will take a team or teams from the AAC.
Payout: Unknown
Armed Forces Bowl
Created in: 2003
Also known as the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, the game has changed sponsor hands three times previously. It features teams from a number of different conferences that change each year: American (2014, 2018), MWC (2015, 2019), Army (2014, 2017), Big Ten (2015, 2017, 2019), Big 12 (2016, 2018), and Navy (2016).
Payout: $1.2 million
Dollar General Bowl
Created in: 1999
Previously known as the Mobile Alabama Bowl, GMAC Bowl, GoDaddy.com Bowl, and the GoDaddy Bowl, thos game features teams from the Sun Belt and MAC.
Payout: $750,000 per team
Hawai’i Bowl
Created in: 2002
The unsponsored Hawai’i Bowl used to feature teams from the WAC and Pac-12, but currently takes teams from the MWC and Conference-USA.
Payout: $750,000 per team
St. Petersburg Bowl
Created in: 2008
Formerly known as the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl presented by Beef ‘O’Brady’s and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, the St. Petersburg Bowl now features teams from the American, AAC, Conference-USA, MAC and Sun Belt.
Payout: $500,000 per team
Quick Lane Bowl
Created in: 2014
The Quick Lane Bowl operates with teams picked from the Big Ten and ACC.
Payout: $1.2 million
Independence Bowl
Created in: 1976
The title sponsor has changed seven times over the past 40 years, but the game is currently known as the Camping World Independence Bowl. It has also featured numerous conferences in the past but currently features a matchup between the SEC and ACC.
Payout: $1.1 million
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Created in: 2011
Currently known as the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl, a matchup takes place each year between teams from the Big Ten, Big 12 and/or Conference-USA.
Payout: $1.2 million per team
Military Bowl
Created in: 2008
It’s current sponsor is Northrop Grumman and the Military Bowl is a matchup featuring teams from the ACC and American.
Payout: $1 million per team
Holiday Bowl
Created in: 1978
Currently known as the National Funding Holiday Bowl, the game has gone through seven sponsors and eight name changes. It currently features teams from the Pac-12 and Big Ten.
Payout: $2.825 million
Cactus Bowl
Created in: 1989
The Motel 6 Cactus Bowl has gone through six sponsor and eight different names through the years. It now features teams from the Big 12 and the Pac-12 going head-to-head.
Payout: $3.3 million per team
Pinstripe Bowl
Created in: 2011
Currently known as the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, the game draws from the Big Ten and ACC.
Payout: $2 million ($1 million to each conference)
Russell Athletic Bowl
Created in: 1990
Perhaps most famously known as the “Tangerine Bowl”, the Russell Athletic Bowl has changed sponsors six times and names eight times. It currently features a matchup between teams from the ACC and Big 12.
Payout: $2.275 Million
Foster Farms Bowl
Created in: 2002
The Foster Farms Bowl has passed through three other sponsors hands. It is currently a matchup between the Pac-12 and Big Ten.
Payout: $1 million to Pac-12, $850,000 to team from other conference.
Texas Bowl
Created in: 2006
Currently known as the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, the game has changed sponsor hands twice and names three times. Perhaps most well known as the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the current rendition faces teams off from the Big East, Conference-USA, MWC and Big Ten.
Payout: $1.7 million per team
Birmingham Bowl
Created in: 2006
The Birmingham Bowl has undergone three name changes and currently puts teams from the American, SEC, Conference-USA and/or MAC against each other.
Payout: $1.95 million
Belk Bowl
Created in: 2002
Belk has sponsored the bowl game since 2012 and is the third sponsor in it’s history. The game used to feature teams from the AAC, but currently selects teams from the ACC and SEC.
Payout: Unknown
Alamo Bowl
Created in: 1993
Now known as the Valero Alamo Bowl, the game has had four different sponsors and five name changes. At one point, it featured teams from the Southwest and Big Ten. Now it’s matchup is built by teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12.
Payout: $3 million
Liberty Bowl
Created in: 1959
Now known as the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the game has undergone three name and sponsor changes. It currently takes the #4 pick from the Pac-12 and a team from the SEC.
Payout: $2.4 million
Sun Bowl
Created in: 1935
To sum up a little quicker, the Sun Bowl has had four past sponsors but is now known as the Hyundai Sun Bowl. It has featured teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and Notre Dame. Currently though, it’s a matchup between the Pac-12 and ACC.
Payout: $4.1 million combined
Music City Bowl
Created in: 1998
Currently known as the Franklin American Mortgage Company Music City Bowl (or the FAMCMCB for the time savers out there) has gone through six name changes in its time. It also used to feature teams from the Big East and Big Ten, but currently only showcases squads from the ACC and SEC.
Payout: $3.5 million
Arizona Bowl
Created in: 2015
The game is currently (and always has been) known as the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl. It features a matchup between the Conference-USA, Sun Belt and/or Mountain West.
Payout: Unkown
Citrus Bowl
Created in: 1947
Currently known as the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, the game has gone through five sponsors and six name changes. It now features teams matched up from the Big Ten and SEC.
Payout: $4.25 million
TaxSlayer Bowl
Created in: 1946
Known for the longest time as the “Gator Bowl”, the newly named TaxSlayer Bowl has gone through six sponsors and seven name changes. It currently features teams selected from the SEC and Big Ten.
Payout: $3.5 million
Outback Bowl
Created in: 1986
Now after its title sponsor Outback Steakhouse, the Outback Bowl used to be known as the Hall of Fame Bowl for nine years. It now features teams from the Big Ten and SEC.
Payout: $7.2 million
Playoff Bowl Games:
These games will change bowls every year and rotate every three years.
The Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl will host a playoff game every three years and started in 2015-16 (2018-19, 2021-22, 2024-25 etc.)
The Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl will host a playoff game every three years starting in 2016-17 (2019-20, 2022-23, 2025-26 etc.)
The Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl will host a playoff game every three years starting in 2017-18 (2020-21, 2023-24, 2026-27 etc.)
These bowls will host a playoff semifinal game where the Number One ranked team will play the Number 4 and the Number 2 will play Number 3. The two winners will then move on to the National Championship game.
