ESPN Events Announces 2015 Bowl Lineup
Newly-Created Celebration Bowl Kicks Off Bowl Season on December 19
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, has announced the matchups for its 13 owned-and-operated bowl games for the 2015 season. The newly-created Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will kick off the bowl festivities on Saturday, Dec. 19, and will conclude before the New Year with the Birmingham Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 30.
Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl
North Carolina A&T (9-2) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Alcorn State (9-3) of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will meet in the newly created Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 19, pitting the conference champion from these two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The game will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, at noon on ABC.
The 10th edition of the Gildan New Mexico Bowl will showcase New Mexico (7-5) of the Mountain West Conference vs. Arizona (6-6) of the Pac-12 Conference on Saturday, Dec. 19, from University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M. The 2 p.m. game will air on ESPN and ESPN Radio.
BYU (9-3) will face No. 22 Utah (9-3) of the Mountain West Conference in the 24th annual Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl, set for Saturday, Dec. 19, on ABC at 3:30 p.m. from Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
The second annual Raycom Media Camellia Bowl will feature Appalachian State (10-2) of the Sun Belt Conference against Ohio (8-4) of the Mid-American Conference on Saturday, Dec. 19, from historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Radio.
Utah State (6-6) of the Mountain West Conference will play Akron (7-5) of the Mid-American Conference in the 19th annual Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – slated for Tuesday, Dec. 22, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Radio from Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.
The second edition of the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Radio. The game will showcase Temple (10-3) of the American Athletic Conference against Toledo (9-2) of the Mid-American Conference from FAU Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University.
In its second year and first as an ESPN Events owned and operated game, the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will feature Western Michigan (7-5) of the Mid-American Conference vs. Middle Tennessee (7-5) of Conference-USA on Thursday, Dec. 24, at noon on ESPN. The game is played at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.
San Diego State (10-3) of the Mountain West Conference will play Cincinnati (7-5) of the American Athletic Conference in the Hawai‘i Bowl on Christmas Eve (Thursday, Dec. 24) for the 11th time from Hawaiian Airlines Field in Honolulu. In its 14th year, the bowl will be aired on ESPN and ESPN Radio at 8 p.m.
The eighth annual St. Petersburg Bowl will showcase UConn (6-6) of the American Athletic Conference against Marshall (9-3) of Conference-USA on Saturday, Dec. 26, at 11 a.m. The game will air on ESPN and ESPN Radio from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The sixth annual Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl will pit Southern Miss (9-4) of Conference-USA vs. Washington (6-6) of the Pac-12 Conference on Saturday, Dec. 26, from the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium on the grounds of Fair Park. This year’s bowl game will air on ESPN at 2:20 p.m.
LSU (8-3) of the Southeastern Conference will play Texas Tech (7-5) of the Big 12 in the 10th annual AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The game will air at 9 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Radio from NRG Stadium in Houston.
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl will showcase Air Force (8-5) of the Mountain West Conference vs. California (7-5) of the Pac-12 Conference on Tuesday, Dec. 29, on ESPN. The 13th edition of the postseason college football bowl game will kick off at 2 p.m. from Amon G. Carter Stadium on the campus of TCU, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Auburn (6-6) of the Southeastern Conference will play Memphis (9-3) of the American Athletic Conference in the 10th annual Birmingham Bowl. The game will take place Wednesday, Dec. 30, at noon on ESPN and ESPN Radio from Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.