College football bowl season is a time of tradition, celebration, and, well, a whole lot of randomness. For every Rose Bowl or Sugar Bowl steeped in history, there are bowl games that leave fans wondering how such a matchup even came to be. Let’s dive into some of the most random bowl games in college football history.
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Who doesn’t love potatoes, right?! Held annually in Boise, Idaho, the Idaho Potato Commission sponsors this bowl game and fully leans into the spud-themed branding. In fact, the winning team often celebrates by hoisting a trophy shaped like a giant potato and dousing their coach with a cooler of French fries.
The Salad Bowl
Yes, there was once a bowl game named after a salad. Held from 1947 to 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona, the Salad Bowl had no culinary significance; it was simply chosen to highlight Arizona’s agriculture. Unfortunately, the Salad Bowl has long since been replaced by the Fiesta Bowl. The name just doesn’t quite hit the same!
The Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
What do lawnmowers and a Tampa-based pirate festival have in common? Not much, except for their shared branding in this unusual bowl game. Bad Boy Mower’s sponsorship of the Gasparilla Bowl certainly takes the odd factor up a notch.
The Poultry Bowl
While not a formal bowl game, any matchup between South Carolina’s Gamecocks and Oregon’s Ducks has been jokingly dubbed the “Poultry Bowl” by fans. With mascots that could double as dinner options, they fully lean into the poultry-themed showdown.
The Bitcoin Bowl
For one brief moment in 2014, cryptocurrency sponsored a Bowl Game. The Bitcoin Bowl, held in St. Petersburg, Florida, was a bold attempt to bring digital currency into mainstream sports. Unsurprisingly, the sponsorship lasted only one year.
The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
First, try saying that name three times fast! This defunct bowl game ran from 2005 to 2016 and paired lesser-known teams in a scenic San Diego setting. While the credit union’s sponsorship made practical sense, it’s hard not to laugh at a name like that!
Read More: Spotlight: Why These NFL Coaches Didn’t Deserve Super Bowl Rings
The Cheez-It Bowl
Yes, the Cheez-It Bowl was a real thing. This game leaned heavily into its cheesy theme and even featured Cheez-It-themed hotel rooms for the winning team’s head coach.
Read More: Ranking the 30 Best Quarterbacks of All Time
The Duck Commander Independence Bowl
For two years in 2014 and 2015, the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, was sponsored by Duck Commander, the company behind the popular TV show Duck Dynasty. Complete with camo hats and duck calls, the sponsorship brought a very specific cultural vibe to college football.
Read More: Ranking the Best NFL Players of the 1970s
The GalleryFurniture.com Bowl
Leave it to college football to give us a bowl game named after a website. Played in Houston, Texas, in 2000 and 2001, the GalleryFurniture.com Bowl is a prime example of early internet sponsorship chaos.
Read More: 10 Quarterbacks Who Didn’t Deserve to Win a Super Bowl
Pop-Tarts Bowl
The Cheeze-It Bowl became the Pop-Tarts Bowl in 2023 and boy did it go VIRAL. Not only was the Pop-Tart mascot absolutely hilarious, but the winning team actually got to eat a giant Pop-Tart after the game.
Read More: The 20 Most Memorable Super Bowl Moments in History