Kickoff: Bowl Season Official Newsletter – February 2021

COMPLETING THE JOURNEY

Bowl Season Capped a Challenging 2020 Season

By KEVIN M c NAMARA

We made it. The 2020 college football season will be one we will never forget. The fact that it was played is a testament to the thousands of student-athletes, coaches, staff and support personnel who made it possible. Playing the games was important to so many, and the hard work and small sacrifices endured by many are to be commended.

Not only was the season played, but the better news is that the fractured, postponementfilled, Season of COVID came to a close at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami with a positive check mark attached towards the health of everyone involved.

As Nick Saban and perhaps his best-ever band of Alabama Crimson Tide players celebrated another College Football Playoff national title, the sport as a whole released a collective exhale. A

season dominated by adherence to COVID testing, surveillance and mitigation was far from easy. But in the end the student-athletes and coaches remained vigilant, the vast majority of games were contested and the 50 teams that reached Bowl Season were properly rewarded.

“We told the players back in March that they would have to adapt in terms of all the things that would happen this year,” said Saban, who won his record seventh national title. “We also told them in the beginning, whoever manages these circumstances and situations and disruptions is going to be the team that had the best chance to be successful.”

Even a team as chock-full of NFL talent as Alabama needed to showcase its ability to adapt this season. Due to conference adjustments the Tide played 11 Southeastern Conference opponents

“Whoever manages these circumstances and situations and disruptions is going to be the team that had the best chance to be successful. ”

– NICK SABAN

on its 13-0 championship ride. That’s the most in school history.

Teams in every other conference showed the same adaptation skills. Notre Dame, for example, played a full ACC schedule for the first time. That was enough to cash an Irish ticket into the CFP semifinals.

Then came Bowl Season.

Several bowl games were cancelled due to COVID-related opt-outs by schools and local health restrictions. Some simply chose to end their seasons out of an abundance of caution. The constant changes placed bowl officials in a constant state of flux, but they were the same challenges that coaches and athletic departments played all season.

The biggest go-with-the-flow sign of all likely came when the Rose Bowl, the Grandaddy of Them All, was moved out of Pasadena to give family the opportunity to see their sons and brothers play. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex., happily welcomed Alabama and Notre Dame.

“It was a difficult year for everyone and we all did the best we could. In the end, Bowl Season was played with 25 games and 50 teams being provided an experience that they will remember forever,” said

Bowl Season executive director Nick Carparelli. “We owed it to those student-athletes to provide them with these experiences and feel badly for those that were not able to participate.”

Of course Bowl Season is always about the games, the experiences and the moments that make college football special. While the community visits and pre-game pep rallies were shelved for this year, the games lived up to the hype.

Take for example the very first contest, the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Appalachian State gave star running back Camerun Peoples the ball early and often in what turned into a 56-28 rout of North Texas. Peoples rolled up an FBS bowl rushing record 317 yards and scored five touchdowns. When Peoples needed a breather, the Mountaineers gave the ball to teammate Marcus Williams Jr. and he rolled to 101 rushing yards. App State finished with 500 rushing yards on 39 carries (12.8 per carry) and is now a perfect 6-0 in bowl games in six eligible seasons since its move from FCS to FBS.

Several programs capped off their best seasons in years (hello, Indiana) but maybe no one more impressively as Iowa State. The Cyclones (9-3) tied a

school record for wins after shutting out Oregon in the second half of a 34-17 win in the Fiesta Bowl.

Wildest game? Had to be the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl in Orlando. Coastal Carolina was looking to finish off a perfect season but could not close the deal. Liberty (10-1) blew a chance to win in the final seconds of regulation after a fumble on the 1-yard line. But in overtime, the Flames’ Elijah James blocked a 42-yard field goal to seal the win.

The Cheez-It Bowl was far from a sleeper either. Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders completed 12-of-14 passes for a TD and ran in another score as the Cowboys raced out to a 21-0 lead over Miami. While that start may have sparked channel changers everywhere, the Hurricanes didn’t fold. The ‘Canes closed to within two points by the end of the third quarter before falling, 37-34.

Can games in Bowl Season help a player’s NFL Draft stock? You bet. Scouts’ eyes had to be popping after watching BYU quarterback Zach Wilson throw for 425 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 49-23 win over Central Florida in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl.

One of the best games to watch — the Capital One Orange Bowl as Texas A&M dominated the fourth

quarter to turn a close game into a 41-27 win. The Aggies and Tar Heels both came to play.

“I have no doubt that years from now these young men — especially the seniors playing their final collegiate game — will look back and be grateful for having the chance to compete in a bowl game,” Carparelli said.

There are many lessons that come with participating in a bowl game, as well for a national championship. Perhaps the best example of all came on the stage at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. As the Crimson Tide smiled for photos and dodged confetti, senior quarterback Mac Jones pulled Saban aside and shared some valuable perspective.

“Mac actually said to me on the stage when we were getting the championship trophy, he said, ‘can you believe this, from a scout team quarterback to winning a national championship?’” Saban said. “It’s a lesson for a lot of people out there to look at how important it is to emphasize your development each year.”

Another lesson to remember? Encountering tough times is never easy, but often unavoidable. College football players everywhere met that life challenge head-on in a season no one will ever forget.

BOWL FAMILY

When the Going got Tough, the Cotton Bowl and Rose Bowl Worked Together to Pull Off Two Traditional Games in Less Than 48 Hours

By KEVIN M c NAMARA

From the moment Rick Baker received that first call, he hoped his fleet of Cotton Bowl partners wouldn’t really have to pull double duty.

The longtime Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic president and CEO first received a call from College Football Playoff boss Bill Hancock in late November. Santa Clara County had just enhanced its COVID-19 guidelines and banned the San Francisco 49’ers from practicing or playing games. The same restrictions covered all sports, including college football.

“At that point Bill saw the same issue being possible in Los Angeles County and in Pasadena with the Rose Bowl,” Baker recalled. “He had to make sure he had a Plan B and that’s where we came in.”

Baker’s team in Dallas was busy tightening its work on the Dec. 30 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The opportunity to assist the bowl system with a CFP semifinal two days later on Jan. 1 was more than appealing, however.

“At the time we didn’t think it was going to happen,” Baker said, “But Bill asked if we’d be willing to help and investigate whether all the key parts of a College Football Playoff game would be available. So we went to work.”

Over the next three weeks issues with the virus in Los Angeles, and prospects for the Rose Bowl Game, only darkened. The annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena was called off for the first time since 1944 back in July but the Rose Bowl staff held out hope for a football game. As it became likely that an Ohio State or Clemson might have to travel across the country and a waiver allowing players' families to attend the game was denied, the decision to switch to Plan B was made.

“It was the Big 12 Championship game, December 19, when we found out it was a go,” Baker said.

In its public announcement about the relocation, Tournament of Roses officials said California

authorities had twice rejected an appeal for a special exception to the COVID restrictions to allow a small number of fans in Pasadena. The state denied both appeals, so the Rose Bowl game was set to be played outside of California for the first time since World War II (1942, when it was moved to Durham, N.C.).

Baker and Rose Bowl Executive Director David Eads began frequent communications and the Rose Bowl staff basically transitioned its plans from Pasadena to North Texas. AT&T Stadium was available for a one-day turnaround. The staffs of the two bowls worked with the Dallas Sports Commission and other entities and within days any issues with the stadium, COVID testing protocols, hotels and transportation were solved.

One dominant issue remained, however. Like every other bowl game on the calendar, fears over a virus outbreak remained constant. Fortunately both Oklahoma and Florida made it to Arlington for the Cotton Bowl. The game unfolded without a hitch, complete with over 17,000 fans in the stands.

Marty MacInnis, the Cotton Bowl’s chief operating officer, pushed for a ‘bubble-like’ setting for the Cotton and Rose Bowl teams. All four teams were housed at the Hilton Anatole Hotel where they ate all meals and hosted no visitors, including on New Year’s Eve. The crossover between the exiting Cotton Bowl teams and the arrival of Alabama and Notre Dame was a bit nervewracking, but ultimately successful.

“I have to give credit to Scott Stricklin (Florida) and Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma), they were two great athletic directors to work with,” Baker said. “We kicked off at night but asked them if they could travel

home right after the game because we needed the Anatole for Notre Dame and Alabama. They quickly understood and as Notre Dame’s busses arrived to check in, those teams were rolling away to play the Cotton Bowl. It was a rinse-and-repeat operation.”

Questions about if the game would be called the Rose Bowl were eased when a $2 million gift to the city of Pasadena was made by the Tournament of Roses to allow the “Rose Bowl” name to travel to Texas. The money also helped alleviate some of the city’s financial losses.

This year’s Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One attracted 18,373 fans, each of whom received a rose as they entered AT&T Stadium. A Rose Bowl unlike any other unfolded as smoothly as it could have.

“To be able to host a game at that level was a testament to what the Rose Bowl folks were able to accomplish,” Baker said. “I was really proud of the way my Cotton Bowl crew responded and, for us, it really brought us full circle.”

Way back in 1936 Texas oilman and avid sportsman J. Curtis Sanford took a train to Pasadena to watch SMU play Stanford in the Rose Bowl. He left wondering why Dallas couldn’t enjoy a similar New Year’s Day game. Only a year later the Cotton Bowl Classic was born at the Texas State Fair Grounds as TCU and star quarterback Sammy Baugh beat Marquette, 16-6.

“This year was a pay-it-forward type of thing for us,” Baker said. “We all hated to see the Rose Bowl not being able to play in Pasadena but the staffs of both bowls had to be nimble and learn to pivot. I’m proud to say everyone rose to the occasion.”

“I was really proud of the way my Cotton Bowl crew responded and, for us, it really brought us full circle.”

– RICK BAKER President, The Cotton Bowl

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Executive Director Rick Baker and Chief Marketing Officer Michael Konradi

Notes

Fields of Gold (and Scarlet and Gray) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl

Ohio State’s Justin Fields threw six touchdowns, the second-most thrown in a CFP Semifinal and an Allstate Sugar Bowl record, to lead the Buckeyes to 639 yards of offense vs. Clemson… The six TDs tie for third-most in any bowl game (5th time; record is 7, twice)… Fields threw for 385 yards — the fourth-most in this year’s Bowl Season… the 639 yards of offense by OSU also tied for the second-most total yards in a CFP Semifinal (also Oregon vs. FSU in the 2015 Rose Bowl)… Ohio State rushed for 254 yards — surprisingly only the sixth-highest total in a CFP Semifinal… OSU’s Trey Sermon’s 193 rushing yards rank second in this year’s Bowl Season.

The Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One

The #1 seed is now 5-2 in the CFP semifinal (and has gone on to go 2-3 in the title game)… No. 1 teams are now 9-4 all-time in the Rose Bowl; the last win by a top-ranked team was Miami’s 37-14 win over Nebraska in the ’02 game (the only other No. 1 team in the game until 2021 was USC in ’06, when the Trojans fell to Texas… With the roof closed at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, it officially was the first Rose Bowl in history played indoors out of the 107 in the books… With the victory, Alabama became the ninth No. 1 team to win a Rose Bowl (the fifth different school), joining Ohio State (1955, 1969), USC (1963, 1968, 1973, 2004), Michigan (1998) and Miami-Fla. (2002)… It marked the 17th time a team in the Rose Bowl had both a 100-yard rusher and receiver. Alabama’s Najee Harris (15-125, 0 TD) rushing and DeVonta Smith (7-130, 3 TD).

Justin FIELDS

DeVonta SMITH

BALL STATE NABS FIRST BOWL WIN

In their eighth bowl game appearance Ball State broke through for their first Bowl Season victory. Capping one of their most successful seasons ever the Cardinals scored 27 first-quarter points to seal a 34-13 win over AP No. 19 San Jose State in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl. The win extended their season win streak to seven games to wrap up arguably the greatest football season in Ball State history.

BOOMER SOONER

Oklahoma’s 684 total yards in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic vs. Florida ranks sixth for alltime offensive production in a bowl game, just 14 yards short of landing in the top-five. It marked the most yards OU had ever gained in a bowl game and the most in the history of the Cotton Bowl … OU averaged 10.52 yards-per-play (on 65 offensive plays), the most ever in a bowl game (was 10.45 by Cincinnati vs. Duke in the 2012 Belk Bowl) … Oklahoma ran for 435 yards on 40 carries, averaging 10.88 yards-per-carry. The 10.88 ranks third, all-time, in bowl history for rushing (minimum 30 carries; record is 11.79 by Texas

A&M vs. NC State in the 2018 Gator Bowl) … The 55 points scored were also a record for a Sooners team in a bowl game (55-20 win).

THREE-FOR-THREE

The first three games of Bowl Season each featured one player responsible for five touchdowns, rushing and/or passing… Nevada QB Carson Strong threw 5 TDs Dec. 22 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, BYU QB Zach Wilson tossed for 3 scores and ran for 2 more in the Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, and App State RB Camerun Peoples ran for 5 TDs on Dec. 21 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl (more on Peoples’ performance on the right).

Carson STRONG

NO ORDINARY PEOPLES

App State running back Camerun Peoples set an all-time Bowl Season record, rushing for 319 yards on Dec. 21 in the Mountaineers’ 5628 win over North Texas in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl… Peoples accomplished the feat on 23 carries, scoring 5 touchdowns along the way… Peoples broke the rushing mark of 307 yards set by Georgia Tech’s PJ Daniels in the 2004 Humanitarian Bowl… the 5 TDs makes Peoples just the seventh player to rack up that many rushing scores in a bowl game.

HOW ‘BOUT THEM COWBOYS?

Oklahoma State’s win over Miami in the Cheez-It moves the Cowboys’ all-time bowl record to 20-11. Their .645 bowl winning percentage is now third all-time amongst schools with at least 20 bowl appearances. They had been fifth on that list prior to the win.

Spencer SANDERS

STREAKS STALLED

Louisiana Tech’s loss in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl ended their six-game bowl win streak. Only 10 of 130 FBS teams have won six or more consecutive bowl games entering Bowl Season this year. LA Tech and App State held the only active win streaks of six or more with App State extending its streak to seven-straight wins in the Myrtle Beach Bowl… Memphis’ win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl snapped a fivegame bowl losing streak. Their last Bowl Season victory was a 55-48 win over BYU in the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl.

SANTA & BOWLS

The Camellia Bowl marked the first bowl game played on Christmas Day since the 2003 Hawaii Bowl when Hawaii held off Houston 54-48… it marked the 32nd bowl game played on Christmas Day — and first ever to be played east of the Mississippi.

THE BOWL CHALLENGE CUP FINAL STANDINGS

1. Big 12: 5-0 (1.000)

2. MAC: 2-0 (1.000)

3. Sunbelt: 4-1 (.800)

4. SEC: 7-2 (.778)

5. Mountain West: 2-1 (.667)

6. FBS Independents: 2-1 (.667)

7. Big Ten: 3-2 (.600)

8. American Athletic: 1-5 (.167)

9. Pac 12: 0-2 (.000)

10. ACC: 0-6 (.000)

11. Conference USA: 0-6 (.000)

2020-21 BOWL SEASON TOP PERFORMERS

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173

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132

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Trevor LAWRENCE Clemson

Rhamondre STEVENSON Oklahoma

JT DANIELS Georgia Bijan ROBINSON Texas

Justin FIELDS Ohio State Tyler ALLGEIER BYU Chris OLAVE Ohio State

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