The Worst College Bowl Names of All Time

If you’re like most Americans during the winter months, then you obviously love your football. And with the NFL regular season coming to an end, comes a slew of college football bowl games to keep us warm on those cold nights. College football may be on it’s way to a playoff system—with President Obama’s support no less—but right now we are left with a stocking full of individual, and for the most part seemingly pointless, bowl games. Perhaps the best, and by best, we mean absolute worst part about these games, is the names that are bestowed upon them.

There is no greater display of corporate America than college bowl sponsorships, regardless of how ludicrous they sound. In many ways the bowl season exemplifies everything we love about America: food, football, and most of all, money. So, from the Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl, to the Tobacco Bowl, we present the Worst College Bowl Names of All Time.

Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)

Years Of Existence: 2006-Present
Most Recent Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Most Recent Outcome: UL-Lafayette 32 - San Diego State 30

Nothing like a Conference USA vs. Sun Belt Conference tilt to get the blood pumping. New Orleans here we come.

Years Of Existence: 2002-2009
Most Recent Location: LP Field, Nashville, TN
Most Recent Outcome: Clemson 21 - Kentucky 13

They should know better. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Years Of Existence: 2006-Present
Most Recent Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Most Recent Outcome: BYU 24 - Tulsa 21 (Gerald J. Ford Stadium)

If this one doesn't get you hyped to be American, we don't know what will.

Years Of Existence: 1998-2000
Most Recent Location: Pro Player Stadium, Miami, FL
Most Recent Outcome: Minnesota 30 - NC State 38

Nothing says Smash Mouth football like a bowl named after a bunch of computer nerds.

Years Of Existence: 2008
Most Recent Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Most Recent Outcome: South Florida 41 - Memphis 14

This bowl is now the Beef O'Brady's Bowl. From bad to worse is an understatement.

Years Of Existence: 1977-1985
Most Recent Location: Korakuen Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Most Recent Outcome: USC 20 - Oregon 6

Yes, this bowl was actually named after the Mitsubishi Mirage from Japan. You might be more familiar with the US version of this ride, the Dodge Cult.

Years Of Existence: 1996
Most Recent Location: New Zealand
Most Recent Outcome: NEVER ACTUALLY PLAYED

Thank the powers that be that this one never actually happened. Something tells us that it would not have been optimal to make two teams fly to the far reaches of the world to play a meaningless bowl game.

Years Of Existence: 1936-1939
Most Recent Location: Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, HI
Most Recent Outcome: Navy 14 - Army Air Force 0

A bowl named after a Hawaiian dish? It's a wonder this one only lasted three years. You think the winners locker room was showered in this taro-based paste instead of champagne? Imagine Bosh giving himself a poi shower, now that's just wrong.

Years Of Existence: 1998-Present
Most Recent Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Most Recent Outcome: Auburn 43 - Virginia 24

As ridiculous as corporate bowl names go, this one has actually become a staple in the college bowl world. Controversy aside, their chicken is so damn good.

Years Of Existence: 1907, 1910, 1912, 1921, 1937, 1946
Most Recent Location: La Tropical Stadium, Havana, Cuba
Most Recent Outcome: Southern Miss 55 - Havana University 0

Seriously, the last installment of this brainchild was a 55-0 drubbing of Havana University by Southern Miss. Really, what was the point?

Years Of Existence: 1990-1996
Most Recent Location: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
Most Recent Outcome: Army 29 - Auburn 32

Drop the bowl from this one and it sounds like a pamphlet that was circulated during the French Revolution. Viva la football!

Years Of Existence: 1999-Present
Most Recent Location: Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
Most Recent Outcome: Northern Illinois 38 - Arkansas State 20

Who doesn't love racy commercials with Danica Patrick? This fine web domain retailer most certainly deserve a bowl in their honor. Sike!

Years Of Existence: 1946-1954
Most Recent Location: Phillips Field, Tampa, FL
Most Recent Outcome: University of Tampa 21 - Charleston 0

Creative, but it would've made more sense if they played it in Cuba or somewhere in the Carolinas. Hopefully the winners were given victory cigars.

Years Of Existence: 1970-1980
Most Recent Location: Memorial Stadium, Dodge City, KS
Most Recent Outcome: Cameron 34 - Adams State 16

The '74 edition of this bowl was played in temperatures that registered 10 degrees F with wind gusts of 40 miles per hour. Boot Hill = Army Strong.

Years Of Existence: 1961-1973
Most Recent Location: Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ
Most Recent Outcome: Grambling State 17 - Delaware 8

Boadwalks, AC, hey, we can dig it. At least folks wouldn't have to go too far to bet on the games. Nice job, NCAA, nice job.

Years Of Existence: 1968-1984, 1987
Most Recent Location: Astrodome, Houston, TX
Most Recent Outcome: Texas 32 - Pittsburgh 27

Astro because it was played in the Astrodome? Okay, we'll buy that part, but Bluebonnet? This one conjures up images of sweet grandmas flying to the moon or some shit.

Years Of Existence: 12/9/1961
Most Recent Location: Welcome Stadium, Dayton, OH
Most Recent Outcome: New Mexico 28 - Western Michigan 12

Did Howard Hughes fly across the field before this one kicked off? No? Well, that's probably why this was one of those one-and-done bowl games that clearly worked so well.

Years Of Existence: 1942-1949, 1952
Most Recent Location: Rickwood Field, Birmingham, AL
Most Recent Outcome: Bethune-Cookman 27 - Texas College 13

Played by historically black colleges, the Vulcan Bowl wasn't established by Trekkies. Though, they should bring it back and do some cross promoting with Star Trek 2.

Years Of Existence: 1949-1982
Most Recent Location: City Stadium, Richmond, VA
Most Recent Outcome: Virginia Military Institute 14 - Richmond 0

Big money tobacco industry + NCAA Rich Uncle Pennybags = Perfect marriage of immorality.

Years Of Existence: 1946-1949
Most Recent Location: Ratcliffe, Stadium, Fresno, CA
Most Recent Outcome: San Jose State College 20 - Texas Technological College 13

You know, it's that bowl on the counter where mom kept the Sunmaids for after school. Oh wait, that's not the same thing?

Years Of Existence: 1948-1952
Most Recent Location: Montgomery Stadium, Phoenix, AZ
Most Recent Outcome: Houston 26 - Dayton 21

Many jokes can be made about this name. None will be made here.

Years Of Existence: 1944, 1946, 1947
Most Recent Location: Rice Field, Houston, TX
Most Recent Outcome: Georgia Tech 41 - St. Mary's 19

At least it had regional significance.

Years Of Existence: 1964-1970
Most Recent Location: Arlington, TX
Most Recent Outcome: Arkansas State 38 - Central Missouri State 21

Why not the Peanut Bowl or the Almond Bowl?

Years Of Existence: 1997-Present
Most Recent Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Most Recent Outcome: Western Michigan 32 - Purdue 37

How did they go from the Motor City Bowl to this? Oh, that's right. The NCAA are heartless money whores.

Years Of Existence: 1948-1956
Most Recent Location: Arad McCutchan Stadium, Evansville, IN
Most Recent Outcome: Sam Houston State Teachers College 27 - Middle Tennessee State College 13

We think this one was named after most of the lineman who are similar in height and weight to that of a Kenmore from Sears.

Years Of Existence: 2005-2010
Most Recent Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Most Recent Outcome: South Florida 31 - Clemson 26

Who wants to see a bowl named after mechanics? And you know all the commercials are gonna be Meineke ones. At least you'll be able to get a good deal on a muffler.

Years Of Existence: December, 1951
Most Recent Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Most Recent Outcome: McNeese State 13 - Louisiana College 6

This one only lasted one year because they realized men didn't read Cosmo.

Years Of Existence: 2002-Present
Most Recent Location: AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
Most Recent Outcome: Illinois 20 - UCLA 14

No, we will not fight hunger. *takes bong rip* Where did mom put the Kraft Singles? This name is actually genius.

Years Of Existence: 2006-Present
Most Recent Location: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
Most Recent Outcome: SMU 28 - Pittsburgh 6

Formely knows as the Papajohns.com Bowl. Papa J traded in the NCAA for some quality time with Peyton and the Broncos. Can you blame him?

Years Of Existence: 2008-Present
Most Recent Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Most Recent Outcome: Marshall 20 - FIU 10

Nothing says college football like a bowl named after a chain of family sports pub franchises. Mmmmm, America.