Bowl Season Stories

Stewart Mandel discusses his thoughts on this year’s College Football Playoff and discuss some of the hot-button topics in college football including early signing day, NIL, transfer portal, conference realignment, the calendar schedule of the college football season and the implications of all these changes to the new 12-team playoff format next year.

Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti discusses his experience as the newest FBS Conference Commissioner, his background in sports media, his vision for the Big Ten after expansion, his first Bowl Season in the commissioner’s chair and his views on transfer portal and bowl opt-outs. Air Force Academy Fullback, Emmanuel Michel, talks playing in his final game in the 2023 Armed Forces Bowl where he won the MVP of the game, his favorite bowl week memories, his life as a student-athlete at a military academy, the culture of Air Force Football, what bowl game success means for Air Force, and what he’s learned from experience as a student athlete in preparation for entering the Air Force.

VP of Sports for Shriners Hospitals Bob Roller discusses the East-West Shrine Bowl joining Bowl Season, the greater work of Shriners Hospitals, the experience players get during the week of the Shrine Bowl, his favorite Shrine Bowl memories, and the iconic helmet sticker swap tradition. Former Florida and Mississippi State Head Football Coach and Current ESPN College Football Analyst Dan Mullen discusses his journey to the broadcast booth, his gameday preparation process, his bowl experiences as a coach, the changing landscape of college football, what it was like coaching Tim Tebow and Dak Prescott, and what he would change if he were in charge of college football.

American Athletic Conference Commissioner, Mike Aresco, talks about the importance of Bowl Games, his favorite AAC Bowl Memories, Cincinnati’s run to the College Football Playoff and the new expanded 12 team CFP Playoff. Jacksonville State Head Coach, Rich Rodriguez, discusses their big win in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the rewards of playing in bowl games and his favorite bowl week moments.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey talks about the importance of football to his conference, the reward of Bowl Season, his favorite Bowl Game memories, adding Texas and Oklahoma, and his outlooks for the SEC next year. SMU Head Coach Rhett Lashlee who discusses his transition from college quarterback to coach, winning the AAC Championship in the Mustang’s last year in the conference, his excitement for the Fenway Bowl in Boston, moving to the ACC and what he’s learned from his mentor Coach Gus Malzahn.

Merton Hanks and A.J. Edds talk playing under head coaches Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz at Iowa. Merton shared stories about his recruitment process, the importance of bowl games, working at the Pac-12 Conference and the origin of the chicken dance while with the San Francisco 49ers. A.J. discusses his draft day experience, working at the Big Ten Conference and his favorite bowl game memories!

Conference USA Commissioner, Judy MacLeod, discusses the importance of bowl games to her conference, the importance of diverse leadership, NIL, her time as the Athletic Director at Tulsa and conference realignment. Buffalo Bills Linebacker Dorian Williams discusses why he stayed at Tulane, the iconic safety in the 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic, his rookie year with the Bills and advice for his younger self. 

Former Patriots tight end and future hall of famer Rob Gronkowski discusses his college career at Arizona, playing in the Las Vegas Bowl and hosting the LA Bowl! Gronk also takes us through his WWE career, being on Celebrity Family Feud, how he developed his confidence, building the Gronk Nation Foundation playground and MORE!

Chris Carlin discusses his best moments in the booth, Rutgers’ tough road to being Bowl Bound, conference realignment, his experience working with Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, and how he crafted his on-air style. Matt Cassel discusses his recruitment process, the USC quarterback room with Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, his bowl memories and his experience in the MLB and NFL Draft.

Shannon Spake discusses her transition from production to on-air talent, her favorite sideline memories in college football and the NFL, her love of NASCAR, her cameo in Cars 3 and what it’s like being an amazing endurance athlete! Greg Schiano talks about Rutgers reaching Bowl Eligibility, the difference in each of his two stints with the Scarlet Knights, the excitement of Bowl Games, conference realignment and the pillars of his program.

Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill discusses his college experience, the new teams in his conference, the meaning of Bowl Games, his favorite Bowl memories and the Fun Belt nickname! Former Florida QB Danny Wuerffel talks about his recruitment process to the Gators, the famous Chris Doering play, what it was like playing for Coach Steve Spurrier and his charity work during and after football.

We sit down with Host and Play-By-Play Commentator for NBC, Mike Tirico, who discusses his favorite broadcasting memories, most memorable calls, the growth of Bowl Season, his favorite broadcast partners and what makes Bowl Season so special.

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips discusses the best parts of his job, the importance of Bowl Games to the conference, and the need for financial literacy in college athletics. Chris Zorich chats about his best Bowl Game Memories including the 1988 National Championship, his relationship with Lou Holtz and attending Legacy Weekend at Notre Dame.

Matt Barrie talks his career path from Wisconsin to ESPN, his top Bowl Game memories, why he chose Arizona State and puts his spelling to the test! Roman Oben discusses immigrating from Cameroon, going from working concessions to pro football, college days at Louisville, bowl week at the Liberty Bowl and his work as the VP of Football Development for the NFL.

MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher details his days as a two-sport athlete, Midweek MACtion, the impact of bowl games and bringing mental health initiatives to the MAC. Qadry Ismail discusses his playing days at Syracuse, playing in the Peach Bowl, his NFL Draft experience, what it’s like being in a FAST family.

Nick Ferroni dissects the relationship between athletics and academics; Parker Clements and Jack Hollifield share details of Hokie Nation, mission BBQ NIL deal and Enter Sandman Entrance.

Joe Tessitore talks about his favorite moments as a broadcaster, bowl games and love of college football; Mike Perrin reminisces on the Darrell Royal era of Texas football and his stint as Director of Athletics for the Longhorns.

Mountain West Conference Commissioner, Gloria Nevarez, talks about the changing landscape of college athletics and the conference’s growth and success; Joshua Perry jumps into all things college football, playing at Ohio State, and having a different view of the game as an analyst for NBC.

Bruce Feldman gives the inside scoop on his Freaks List, the state of college football, and his favorite bowl memories; Brian Kelly comes to us from Baton Rouge to discuss his rise as Head Coach from Division II to the SEC, the atmosphere playing in Death Valley, the Kelly Cares Foundation and more.

Steve Shaw talks all things officiating, takes a walk down memory lane to share some of his favorite bowl experiences and gives an overview of new rules for fans to look out for in the upcoming season; Matt Rhule gives his thoughts on the state of college football and how it relates to his Nebraska Cornhuskers, what bowl games mean to players and coaches alike, as well as the evolution of his career.

Matt Fortuna recaps the electric 2022-2023 Bowl Season, his favorite bowl game experiences and how Bowl Season will have a significant role in college football; Frank Gore Jr. breaks down setting the FBS bowl rushing record at the LendingTree Bowl, his experience during Bowl Season & whats next for his career; Gary Stokan on the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl becoming the most-watched primetime CFB Playoff Semifinal since year one & how rewarding the game is for the players, families and coaches.

Ryan McGee recaps Bowl Season and another great year of memorable bowl match-ups. Texas Tech Head Football Coach, Jerry McGuire highlights their win at the Texas Bowl, and what made their Bowl Season appearance so special. The Executive Director of Rose Bowl, David Eads, highlights the Grandaddy of Them All and its iconic history.

Dave Clawson on Wake Forests 27-17 victory over Missouri in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, the value of going to a bowl game and his best bowl memories; Doug Mosley on the days leading up to the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, the close matchup and how his background helped him lead the bowl; Greg Nortman on the value Logitix brings to Bowl Season.

Deion Branch dives into his first coaching win being in a bowl game and his experience playing and coaching at Louisville, Jerry Silverstein on how the LendingTree Bowl helped kick off Bowl Season, Frank Gore Jr.s record breaking performance & the experience for the student-athletes; Blake Lawrence gives insight on the NIL space & the importance of their partnership with Bowl Season.

EJ Manuel on being undefeated in his four bowl appearances, his best advice to student athletes today, and how college football helped him grow in his career; Johnny Williams provides insight on Montgomery, Alabama having some of the best hospitality & how the Camellia Bowl impacts the community in a positive way; Pat Ryan on how Eventellect is the best service for single game ticketing in the nation.

PJ Fleck previews Minnesotas appearance in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, their successful season and how the bowl experience has been as a coach; Mark Holtzman discusses hosting their game at Yankee Stadium and what to expect from an experiences stand point; David Saphirstein gives insight on how Venue Edge is creating immersive experiences for fans at bowl games.

Amanda Christovich breaks down the business of Bowl Season, the massive TV deals CFB conferences are receiving & how NIL can be implemented at bowl games; Brady Quinn highlights his time at Notre Dame, the memories he will never forget during his bowl game experiences & why Bowl Season is essential to college football postseason; Daryl Garvin on how the Easypost Hawaii Bowl is a premier destination & how important the events surrounding the game are; Lynn Boggs highlights University FanCards & how it helps fans represent their team anywhere.

Jean-Jacques Taylor provides insight on Jackson States dominance & how Deion Sanders has transformed the landscape of HBCU football; Scott Hanson pulls back the curtain on walking on at Syracuse, going 4-0 in bowl games & his day when hosting NFL RedZone; Kym Adair on how Barstool Sports is a game changing sponsor & the value they bring to the Arizona Bowl.

Molly McGrath on how Bowl Season is an exclamation point on the season, the current landscape of college football & how she thinks it will all play out; Thaddeus Bullard on how Bowl Season creates a perfect storybook ending to college careers, playing under Steve Spurrier & the importance of the philanthropic work each bowl game does for their communities; Brad Michaels on the creation of the Quick Lane Bowl, how playing at Ford Field is a perk and the synergy between the Lions & the Quick Lane Bowl.

Stephon Gilmore dives into his time playing under Steve Spurrier, playing in three bowl games & the importance of team camaraderie; Mark Meadows on how the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl continues to improve & how the community has embraced the bowl game; Dan Barrett on how BrandR brings colleges, athletes & branding together.

Pat Forde talks all things Bowl Season & his favorite traditions in college football; Roy Williams relives winning the National Championship with Oklahoma, why the Cotton Bowl is an elite bowl game and explains his iconic play at the Red River Shootout & how that safety wasnt supposed to happen; Sean Johnson spills the secret on how theyve pulled off hosting two bowl games in the same city and the importance of college students to their success.

Don McPherson on his experience going to the Sugar Bowl, what it meant to Syracuse to make the trip to New Orleans and why the bowl system is one of the best traditions in college football; Grege McGarity describes the difficulties of making a bowl game happen during COVID-19, the important role charities play in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and his favorite bowl game memory of all-time.

Callie Bundy explains how she became one of the most popular sports influencers by tossing around the football & why tradition is so important in Bowl Season; Jamal Anderson tells the story of how the Dirty Bird Dance came to be, is expectation for his Utah Utes & ending a 28 year bowl appearance drought for Utah; Steve Ehrhart discusses the importance of Bowl Season & what to expect from the 2022 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Ben Skowronek on how Northwestern shaped him to become an NFL player, the important moments he had with his teammates during Bowl Season & playing in the College Football Playoff Semi-Final; Jason Gannon tells college football fans how the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl has a venue like no other in SoFi Stadium & how their bowl game continues to evolve.

Laine Higgins breaks down the college football season surprises, how her connection to Michigan grew her love for football & the magical moment of experiencing her first bowl game; Kordell Stewart pulls back the curtain on his time at Colorado, how the bowl game destinations gave him an experience of a lifetime & the secret behind his nickname Slash; Billy Ferrante on the New Orleans Bowls commitment to at-risk youth & how the game has evolved.

Rachel Lindsay highlights College Football Playoff Foundations Extra Yard For Teachers week & the importance for celebrating teachers for the Big Day; Bill Belichick flashes back to his memories growing up around Navy football & the bowl games he remembers;Steve Hogan on important Bowl Season is to the fabric of college football & how the impact on the local community holds a special place in players memories when they visit the Citrus Bowl.

Charlie Ward flashes back to being one of the most decorated college football players of all time, winning a national championship and how a mechanical bull got FSUs competitive spirits flowing; Lea Miller-Tooley explains how she brought the first international bowl game since 1937 to the Bahamas, the evolution of NIL and how it can change Bowl Season; Rob Steeger on how Digital Seat can bring college football fans together.

Shehan Jeyarajah dives into week one of the college football season; why conference realignment is a tragedy for rivalries & what matchups to watch this weekend; Tre Stallings on how Ole Miss helped his career for the long haul, how his job now is developing the Bowl Season experience for athletes & what it was like playing with Eli Manning; Jeff Siembieda on starting the New Mexico Bowl & how it became a staple in Albuquerque.

Nick Florence relives the glory days of breaking records at Baylor during his senior season campaign, how much he learned from Robert Griffin III and how bowl games can give athletes an opportunity to change the world; Jeff Hundley dives into the history of the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the importance of the game to the surrounding communities; Nick Akrap on the art of tailgating & how Tailgreeter became the solution for fans.

Ross Dellenger dives into the fluid landscape of the upcoming season of college football, drops his early predictions for the season and his favorite bowl memories; Jacob Hester explains why this college football season is going to be chaos, how bowl games changed his life and the secret story behind LSU visiting Disney; Steve Beck on the evolution of the Military Bowl in his 14 year tenure and the significance of playing in the nation's capital.

Heather Dinich recaps the College Football Playoff National Championship, her favorite bowl memories as a reporter & the 2021-2022 Bowl Season; Britain Covey on his highlight play in the Rose Bowl, the rewarding part of bowl games for athletes & embracing the bowl moments; David Fletcher on the TaxAct Texas Bowl being the last bowl game before the National Championship & its impact on the Houston community.

Live from the College Football Playoff National Championship, Miami Hurricanes Hall of Famer Reggie Wayne talks building the foundation for the Canes championship & his memories from the Sugar Bowl; New York Giants & Michigan legend Amani Toomer on going to the Rose Bowl, what makes bowl season special & his most significant bowl memory; Tennessee Titans & East Carolina great Chris Johnson on breaking the bowl record for all-purpose yards, experiencing different cities for bowl games & bonding with teammates.

Pete Thamel takes a trip down memory lane to highlight his greatest Bowl Game, gives his analysis of this years Bowl Season & drops his CFP Championship predictions; Gene Chizik on why Bowl Season is so important to players & coaches, the value of winning a bowl games & how his mentors shaped his career; Rick Baker on his four decades at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic & what makes the game so special.

Mark Richt on the Peach Bowl & his former Georgia team in the College Football Playoff, Dan Novakov on the 86th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic & his bowl memories from Notre Dame, Missy Setters on the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl hosting one of the biggest upsets in Bowl Season.

Sean McDonough on calling games with no fans, attending nearly every bowl game & why the Sun Bowl is one of his favorite memories from Bowl Season; Barry Alvarez on the highlights of his 30+ Bowl Game experiences & reasons for coming out of retirement to coach again; John Saccenti on growing the Las Vegas Bowl, moving to Allegiant Stadium & the advantages of being in Las Vegas.

Dari Nowkhah on a record number of SEC teams appearing in bowl games & his favorite memories of Bowl Season; Kenny Vaccaro talks about how Texas held Cal to 7 rushing yards in the Holiday Bowl & playing under Mack Brown; Fred Olsen on the inaugural Wasabi Fenway Bowl & what to expect in Boston.

Chris Doering on his five bowl game experiences at the University of Florida, why New Orleans was his favorite bowl destination & players opting out of bowl games; Kevin McDonald on the Famous Idaho Potato Bowls community initiatives, NFL stars whove delivered standout performances in this bowl & his favorite memories as he heads to retirement.

Ralph Russo on the end of the regular season of college football, the Snow Bowl in Louisiana & his wishlist of bowl games; Roman Harper on his excitement going into the Cotton Bowl, building the foundation of Alabamas program & pulling the curtain back on the Music City Bowl; Scott Ramsey on building the Music City Bowl as a premier destination & experience.

Tom Hart on the upcoming weeks in college football and his favorite bowl memories as a commentator, Cole Cubelic on his first bowl experience in Shreveport & how his first start senior season was at the Iron Bowl, Bill Hancock on the College Football Playoff heading to Indianapolis & his incredible career.

Joel Klatt on Bowl Season approaching, his favorite bowl experiences as a player and analyst and calling games with Gus Johnson, Bahamas Bowl Executive Director Richard Giannini on his 50-year sports career and the Bahamas Bowl kicking off Bowl Season.