Citrus Bowl

The Citrus Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.[2] The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group that also organizes the Cheez-It Bowl and Florida Classic.

Citrus Bowl
Vrbo Citrus Bowl
StadiumCamping World Stadium
LocationOrlando, Florida
Previous stadiumsFlorida Field (1973)
Previous locationsGainesville, Florida (1973)
Operated1947–present
Conference tie-insBig Ten, SEC
Previous conference tie-insOVC (1948–1967)
MAC (1968–1975)
SoCon (1968–1972)
SEC (1972–1973)
ACC (1987–1991)
PayoutUS$8,224,578 (2019 season)[1]
Sponsors
Florida Citrus Growers Association (1983–2002)
CompUSA (1994–1999)
Ourhouse.com (2000)
Capital One (2001–2014)
Buffalo Wild Wings (2015–2017)
Overton's (2018)
Vrbo (2019–present)
Former names
Tangerine Bowl (1947–1982)
Florida Citrus Bowl (1983–1993)
CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl (1994–1999)
Ourhouse.com Florida Citrus Bowl (2000)
Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl (2001–2002)
Capital One Bowl (2003–2014)
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl (2015–2017)
Citrus Bowl presented by Overton's (2018)
2018 season matchup
Penn State vs. Kentucky (Kentucky 27–24)
2019 season matchup
Michigan vs. Alabama (Alabama 35–16)

The game was first played as the Tangerine Bowl in 1947 before being renamed as the Florida Citrus Bowl in 1983. When Capital One was the game's title sponsor between 2001 and 2014, the game was referred to simply as the Capital One Bowl from 2003 to 2014. Other previous sponsors include CompUSA (1994–1999), Ourhouse.com (2000), and Buffalo Wild Wings (2015–2017) and Overton's (2018). Currently, it is being sponsored by Vrbo, a vacation rental marketplace, and is known as the Vrbo Citrus Bowl.

Since becoming one of the premier bowls, the Citrus Bowl is typically played at 1 p.m. EST on New Year's Day, immediately before the Rose Bowl, both of which have been televised on ESPN since 2011. When January 1 is a Sunday, the game has been played on January 2 or December 31, to avoid conflicting with the National Football League schedule. As of 2019, at $8.55 million per team,[3] it has the largest payout of all the non-College Football Playoff (CFP) bowls. In nearly every year since 1985, the game has featured two teams ranked in the Top 25.

History

The game, which began play in 1947, is one of the oldest of the non-CFP bowls, along with the Gator Bowl and Sun Bowl. By 1952, the game was dubbed the "Little Bowl with the Big Heart", because all the proceeds from the game went to charity.

Before 1968, the game featured matchups between schools throughout the South, often featuring the Ohio Valley Conference champion or other small colleges, although a few major colleges did play in the bowl during this early era as well.

From 1964 through 1967, it was one of the four regional finals in the College Division (which became Division II and Division III in 1973), along with the Pecan, Grantland Rice, and Camellia bowls.

In 1968, the Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City took over as a regional final, and the Tangerine Bowl became a major college bowl game, featuring teams from the University Division (which became Division I in 1973).

In 1986, it was one of the bowl games considered for the site of the "winner take all" national championship game between Penn State and Miami, before the Fiesta Bowl was eventually chosen.

The 1990 season game had national championship implications; Georgia Tech won the Florida Citrus Bowl, finished 11–0–1, and was voted the 1990 UPI national champion.

The 1997 season game, which featured nearby Florida beating Penn State, holds the game's attendance record at 72,940.

In 2004, the bowl bid to become the fifth BCS game, but was not chosen, primarily due to the stadium's aging condition. In July 2007, the Orange County Commissioners voted in favor of spending $1.1 billion to build the Amway Center for the Orlando Magic, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and to upgrade the Citrus Bowl stadium.

Following the 2014 game, Capital One ceased its sponsorship of the bowl, and moved its sponsorship to the Orange Bowl.[4] Buffalo Wild Wings was announced as the new title sponsor of the bowl game in 2014. Buffalo Wild Wings had previously been the title sponsor of what is now the Cactus Bowl.[5] In the offseason of 2017, Buffalo Wild Wings ceased sponsoring the bowl as the search for a new sponsor is ongoing.

The 2016 season game was played on December 31, the first time in 30 years that the game was not played on January 1 or 2nd.

Conference tie-ins

From 1968 through 1975, the bowl featured the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion against an opponent from the Southern Conference (1968–1971), the Southeastern Conference (SEC) (1973–1974), or an at-large opponent (1972, 1975). MAC teams were 6–2 during those games.

As the major football conferences relaxed restrictions on post-season play in the mid-1970s, the bowl went to a matchup between two at-large teams from major conferences, with one school typically (but not always) from the South.

From the 1987 season through the 1991 season, the bowl featured the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion against an at-large opponent. ACC teams were 3–2 during those games.

From the 1992 season through the 2015 season, the bowl featured an SEC vs. Big Ten matchup – the SEC won 14 of those games, while the Big Ten won 10.

During the 1990s, the second-place finisher in the SEC typically went to this bowl. Florida coach Steve Spurrier, speaking to the fact that Tennessee occupied that spot three of four years as Florida finished first, famously quipped "You can't spell 'Citrus' without U-T!"[6]

Currently, the bowl has tie-ins with the SEC and the Big Ten, holding the first selection after the CFP selection process for both conferences. Since the formation of the CFP, the Citrus Bowl has a chance to occasionally host an ACC team, replacing the Big Ten representative. This will happen the years in which the Orange Bowl is not a CFP semi-final game and selects a Big Ten team to match against their ACC team. This happened following the 2016 season, as the Orange Bowl was not a CFP semi-final and invited Michigan of the Big Ten to face Florida State of the ACC; the Citrus Bowl then invited Louisville of the ACC to face LSU of the SEC.[7] The next year, Wisconsin was invited to the Orange Bowl, so the SEC's LSU was pitted against Notre Dame, who received an invite in lieu of an ACC team.

Racial integration

The undefeated 1955 Hillsdale College football team refused an invitation to the game when bowl officials insisted that Hillsdale's four African-American players would not be allowed to play in the game.[8][9]

The University at Buffalo's first bowl bid was to the Tangerine Bowl in 1958. The Tangerine Bowl Commission hoped that the Orlando High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), which operated the stadium, would waive its rule that prohibited integrated sporting events. When it refused, the team unanimously voted to skip the bowl because its two black players (halfback Willie Evans and end Mike Wilson) would not have been allowed on the field.[10] Buffalo would not be bowl-eligible for another 50 years. During the 2008 season, when the Bulls were on the verge of bowl eligibility, the 1958 team was profiled on ESPN's Outside the Lines.[11][12] The 2008 team went on to win the Mid-American Conference title, and played in the International Bowl.

By 1966, the OHSAA's rule had been changed, and Morgan State of Baltimore, under head coach Earl Banks, became the first historically black college to play in (and win) the Tangerine Bowl.[13]

Gainesville

In early 1973, construction improvements were planned for the then 17,000-seat Tangerine Bowl stadium to expand to over 51,000 seats. In early summer 1973, however, construction was stalled due to legal concerns, and the improvements were delayed. Late in the 1973 season, Tangerine Bowl President Will Gieger and other officials planned to invite the Miami Redskins and the East Carolina Pirates to Orlando for the game. On November 19, 1973, East Carolina withdrew its interests, and the bowl was left with one at-large bid. In an unexpected and unprecedented move, game officials decided to invite the Florida Gators, and move the game to Florida Field in Gainesville, the Gators' home stadium. The larger stadium would be needed to accommodate the large crowd expected. The move required special permission from the NCAA, and special accommodations were made. Both teams would be headquartered in Orlando for the week, and spend most of their time there, including practices, and would be bused up to Gainesville.

The participants were greeted with an unexpected event, a near-record low temperature of 25° F (-4° C). Despite the home-field advantage, in the game nicknamed the "Transplant Bowl",[14] Miami University (OH), who found the cold much more to its liking, defeated the Gators 16–7. One of the players on the victorious Redskins squad was future Gators coach Ron Zook.

The one-time moving of the game, and the fears of a permanent relocation, rejuvenated the stalled stadium renovations in Orlando. The game returned to Orlando for 1974, and within a couple of years, the expansion project was complete.

Mascot Challenge

The "Capital One Mascot Challenge" (formerly known as the "Capital One National Mascot of the Year") was a contest where fans voted for their favorite college mascot. The contest began in 2002 with the winner being named during the halftime; the winning school was awarded $20,000 towards their mascot program. With the ending of Capital One's sponsorship of the Citrus Bowl, the challenge was moved in 2014 to the Orange Bowl with Capital One's sponsorship of that game. The 2014 season was also the last time that the contest was held.[15]

List of Capital One Mascot Challenge winners 
Season Mascot University
2002 Monte University of Montana
2003 Cocky University of South Carolina
2004 Monte University of Montana
2005 Herbie Husker University of Nebraska–Lincoln
2006 Butch T. Cougar Washington State University
2007 Zippy University of Akron
2008 Cy the Cardinal Iowa State University
2009 The Bearcat University of Cincinnati
2010 Big Blue Old Dominion University
2011 Wolfie Jr. University of Nevada, Reno
2012 Raider Red Texas Tech University
2013 Rocky the Bull University of South Florida
2014 Aubie Auburn University

Game results

Rankings are based on the AP Poll prior to the game being played. Italics denote a tie game.

No. Date played Game name Winning team Losing team Attnd.
1January 1, 1947Tangerine BowlCatawba31Maryville69,000
2January 1, 1948Tangerine BowlCatawba7Marshall09,000
3January 1, 1949Tangerine BowlMurray State 21, Sul Ross State 219,000
4January 2, 1950Tangerine BowlSaint Vincent7Emory & Henry69,500
5January 1, 1951Tangerine BowlMorris Harvey35Emory & Henry1410,000
6January 1, 1952Tangerine BowlStetson35Arkansas State2012,500
7January 1, 1953Tangerine BowlEast Texas State33Tennessee Tech012,340
8January 1, 1954Tangerine BowlArkansas State 7, East Texas State 712,976
9January 1, 1955Tangerine BowlOmaha7Eastern Kentucky612,759
10January 2, 1956Tangerine BowlJuniata 6, Missouri Valley 610,000
Teams competing from both NCAA College & University divisions
11January 1, 1957Tangerine BowlWest Texas State20Mississippi Southern1311,000
12January 1, 1958Tangerine BowlEast Texas State10Mississippi Southern910,500
13December 27, 1958Tangerine BowlEast Texas State26Missouri Valley74,000
14January 1, 1960Tangerine BowlMiddle Tennessee21Presbyterian1212,500
15December 30, 1960Tangerine BowlThe Citadel27Tennessee Tech013,000
16December 29, 1961Tangerine BowlLamar21Middle Tennessee146,000
17December 22, 1962Tangerine BowlHouston49Miami (OH)217,500
18December 28, 1963Tangerine BowlWestern Kentucky27Coast Guard07,500
NCAA College Division (Small College) East Regional Final
19December 12, 1964Tangerine BowlEast Carolina14Massachusetts138,000
20December 11, 1965Tangerine BowlEast Carolina31Maine08,350
21December 10, 1966Tangerine BowlMorgan State14West Chester67,138
22December 16, 1967Tangerine BowlTennessee–Martin25West Chester85,500
NCAA University Division (Major College)
23December 27, 1968Tangerine BowlRichmond49#15 Ohio4216,114
24December 26, 1969Tangerine Bowl#20 Toledo56Davidson3316,311
25December 28, 1970Tangerine Bowl#15 Toledo40William & Mary1215,664
26December 28, 1971Tangerine Bowl#14 Toledo28Richmond316,750
27December 29, 1972Tangerine BowlTampa21Kent State1820,062
NCAA Division I
28December 22, 1973Tangerine Bowl#15 Miami (OH)16Florida737,234
29December 21, 1974Tangerine Bowl#15 Miami (OH)21Georgia1020,246
30December 20, 1975Tangerine Bowl#12 Miami (OH)20South Carolina720,247
31December 18, 1976Tangerine Bowl#14 Oklahoma State49BYU2137,812
32December 23, 1977Tangerine Bowl#19 Florida State40Texas Tech1744,502
NCAA Division I-A
33December 23, 1978Tangerine BowlNC State30Pittsburgh1731,356
34December 22, 1979Tangerine BowlLSU34Wake Forest1038,666
35December 20, 1980Tangerine BowlFlorida35Maryland2052,541
36December 19, 1981Tangerine BowlMissouri19#18 Southern Miss1750,045
37December 18, 1982Tangerine Bowl#18 Auburn33Boston College2651,296
38December 17, 1983Florida Citrus BowlTennessee30#16 Maryland2350,500
39December 22, 1984Florida Citrus BowlGeorgia 17, #15 Florida State 1751,821
40December 28, 1985Florida Citrus Bowl#17 Ohio State10#9 BYU750,920
41January 1, 1987Florida Citrus Bowl#10 Auburn16USC751,113
42January 1, 1988Florida Citrus Bowl#14 Clemson35#20 Penn State1053,152
43January 2, 1989Florida Citrus Bowl#9 Clemson13#10 Oklahoma653,571
44January 1, 1990Florida Citrus Bowl#11 Illinois31#16 Virginia2142,890
45January 1, 1991Florida Citrus Bowl#2 Georgia Tech45#19 Nebraska2173,328
46January 1, 1992Florida Citrus Bowl#14 California37#13 Clemson1364,192
47January 1, 1993Florida Citrus Bowl#8 Georgia21#15 Ohio State1465,861
48January 1, 1994Florida Citrus Bowl#13 Penn State31#6 Tennessee1372,456
49January 2, 1995Florida Citrus Bowl#6 Alabama24#13 Ohio State1771,195
50January 1, 1996Florida Citrus Bowl#3 Tennessee20#4 Ohio State1470,797
51January 1, 1997Florida Citrus Bowl#9 Tennessee48#11 Northwestern2863,467
52January 1, 1998Florida Citrus Bowl#6 Florida21#11 Penn State670,797
53January 1, 1999Florida Citrus Bowl#15 Michigan45#11 Arkansas3167,584
54January 1, 2000Florida Citrus Bowl#9 Michigan State37#10 Florida3462,011
55January 1, 2001Florida Citrus Bowl#17 Michigan31#20 Auburn2866,928
56January 1, 2002Florida Citrus Bowl#8 Tennessee45#17 Michigan1759,653
57January 1, 2003Capital One Bowl#19 Auburn13#10 Penn State966,334
58January 1, 2004Capital One Bowl#11 Georgia34#12 Purdue27 (OT)64,565
59January 1, 2005Capital One Bowl#11 Iowa30#12 LSU2570,229
60January 2, 2006Capital One Bowl#20 Wisconsin24#7 Auburn1057,221
NCAA Division I FBS
61January 1, 2007Capital One Bowl#5 Wisconsin17#13 Arkansas1460,774
62January 1, 2008Capital One BowlMichigan41#12 Florida3569,748
63January 1, 2009Capital One Bowl#15 Georgia24#18 Michigan State1259,681
64January 1, 2010Capital One Bowl#11 Penn State19#15 LSU1763,025
65January 1, 2011Capital One Bowl #16 Alabama49#9 Michigan State761,519
66January 2, 2012Capital One Bowl#9 South Carolina30#20 Nebraska1361,351
67January 1, 2013Capital One Bowl#6 Georgia45#23 Nebraska3159,712
68January 1, 2014Capital One Bowl#9 South Carolina34#19 Wisconsin2456,629
69January 1, 2015Citrus Bowl#16 Missouri33#25 Minnesota1748,624
70January 1, 2016Citrus Bowl#14 Michigan41#19 Florida763,113
71December 31, 2016Citrus Bowl#20 LSU29#13 Louisville946,063
72January 1, 2018Citrus Bowl#14 Notre Dame21#17 LSU1757,726
73January 1, 2019Citrus Bowl#16 Kentucky27#13 Penn State2459,167
74January 1, 2020Citrus Bowl#9 Alabama35#17 Michigan1659,746

MVPs

Multiple players were recognized in some games – detail, where known, is denoted with B (outstanding back), L (outstanding lineman), O (outstanding offensive player), D (outstanding defensive player), or M (overall MVP) per contemporary newspaper reports.

Three players have been recognized in multiple games; Chuck Ealey of Toledo (1969, 1970, 1971), Brad Cousino of Miami (OH) (1973, 1974), and Anthony Thomas of Michigan (1999, 2001).

Most appearances

Only teams with at least three appearances are listed.

Rank Team Appearances Record Win pct.
T1Georgia64–1–1.750
T1Michigan64–2.667
T1Florida62–4.333
T1Penn State62–4.333
T5Tennessee54–1.800
T5Auburn53–2.600
T5LSU52–3.400
T8Miami (OH)43–1.750
T8Ohio State41–3.250
T10Alabama33–01.000
T10Toledo33–01.000
T10Clemson32–1.667
T10South Carolina32–1.667
T10Wisconsin32–1.667
T10Michigan State31–2.333
T10Nebraska30–3.000
T10Southern Miss30–3.000

Includes two Southern Miss appearances under their former name, Mississippi Southern.

Appearances by conference

Note: this table reflects games played since 1968, when the bowl started hosting major college teams.

Updated through the January 2020 edition (52 games, 104 total appearances).

Conference Record Appearances by season
Games W L T Win pct. Won Lost Tied
SEC3622131.625 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986*, 1992*, 1994*, 1995*, 1996*, 1997*, 2001*, 2002*, 2003*, 2008*, 2010*, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2016, 2018*, 2019* 1973, 1974, 1993*, 1998*, 1999*, 2000*, 2004*, 2005*, 2006*, 2007*, 2009*, 2015*, 2017* 1984
Big Ten2812160.429 1985, 1989*, 1993*, 1998*, 1999*, 2000*, 2004*, 2005*, 2006*, 2007*, 2009*, 2015* 1992*, 1994*, 1995*, 1996*, 1997*, 2001*, 2002*, 2003*, 2008*, 2010*, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2018*, 2019*  
ACC10460.400 1978, 1987*, 1988*, 1990* 1979, 1980, 1983, 1989*, 1991*, 2016  
Independents9351.389 1972, 1977, 2017* 1975, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1987* 1984
MAC8620.750 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975 1968, 1972  
Big Eight4220.500 1976, 1981 1988*, 1990*  
SoCon4130.250 1968 1969, 1970, 1971  
Pac-102110.500 1991* 1986*  
WAC2020.000   1976, 1985  
SWC1010.000   1977  
  • Games marked with an asterisk (*) were played in January of the following calendar year.
  • Records are based on a team's conference affiliation at the time the game was played; for example, Penn State has appeared both as a Big Ten team and as an Independent team.
  • Conferences that are defunct or not currently active in FBS are marked in italics.
  • Independent appearances: Boston College (1982), Florida State (1977, 1984), Notre Dame (2017*), Penn State (1987*), Pittsburgh (1978), South Carolina (1975), Southern Miss (1981), and Tampa (1972).

Game records

Note: When there is a tie, the most recent one will be listed.

Team Performance vs. Opponent Year
Most points scored (one team) 56, Toledo 1969
Most points scored (both teams) 91, Richmond vs. Ohio 1968
Most points scored (losing team) 42, Ohio 1968
Fewest points scored (winning team) 7, Omaha (tied with 2 others) 1955
Fewest points scored (both teams) 7, Catawba vs. Marshall 1948
Fewest points allowed 0, East Carolina (tied with 4 others) 1965
Largest margin of victory 42, Alabama 2011
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
First downs
Fewest yards allowed
Fewest rushing yards allowed
Fewest passing yards allowed
Individual Record, Player vs. Opponent Year
All-purpose yards
Touchdowns (overall)
Rushing yards
Rushing touchdowns
Passing yards
Passing touchdowns
Receiving yards
Receiving touchdowns
Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Long Plays Record, Player vs. Opponent Year
Touchdown run
Touchdown pass
Kickoff return
Punt return
Interception return
Fumble return
Punt
Field goal
Miscellaneous Record, Team vs. Team Year
Bowl Attendance

Media coverage

The bowl has been broadcast by Mizlou (1976–1983), NBC (1984–1985), and ABC since then, with the exception of ESPN for the 2011 and 2012 editions.[16] Broadcast information for earlier editions of the bowl is lacking.

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References

  1. "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  2. "Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl > Home". buffalowildwingscitrusbowl.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-23.
  3. "Bowl Game Payouts are Practically a Small Fortune in College Football". Fan Buzz College and Professional Sports News.
  4. "Capital One to sponsor Orange Bowl". SI.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-07.
  5. Repchak, Matt (21 October 2014). "Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl begins new era for Orlando's New Year's Day game". Florida Citrus Sports. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  6. Fuhrmeister, Chris (October 18, 2013). "The 14 best Steve Spurrier quotes of now and then". SB Nation. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  7. Whaley, Anson (December 4, 2016). "Sorting out the ACC Bowl slotting mess, Pitt missed good chance to slide into elite bowl game". SB Nation. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017 via cardiachill.com.
  8. "1955 Football Team". hillsdalechargers.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  9. Cramer, Dick (December 2, 1955). "Better Kind Of Glory". The Michigan Daily. Ann Arbor, Michigan. p. 4. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2017 via The Michigan Daily Digital Archives.
  10. "Race Bias Makes Lemon Of Tangerine Bowl Bid". New York Age. New York City. December 6, 1958. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2017 via newspapers.com.
  11. Neal, Eric (2008). "All Or Nothing". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  12. "1958 Buffalo Football". hobbsbrother4. February 18, 2010. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2017 via YouTube.
  13. Schmuck, Peter (December 25, 2015). "1966 Morgan State bowl team that broke barriers to be honored". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  14. Clark, Bill (December 22, 1973). "Temp Takes Miami Bounce So Put On The Woolies". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2017 via newspapers.com.
  15. "Auburn Tigers' mascot Aubie wins Capital One Mascot Challenge 2014". WSFA. January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  16. Kelly, Doug (ed.). "2019–20 Football Bowl Association Media Guide" (PDF). footballbowlassociation.com: 149–150. Retrieved January 3, 2020.

Additional sources

  • Orlando Sentinel-Star (November 20, 1973); Various articles- Accessed via microfilm 01-03-2007.
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