2008–09 NCAA football bowl games explained

Season:2008
Regular Season:August 28–December 6
Number Of Bowls:34
All Star Games:3
Bowl Start:December 20, 2008
Bowl End:
January 31, 2009
Championship Bowl:2009 BCS Championship
Championship Location:Dolphin Stadium,
Miami Gardens, Florida
Champions:Florida Gators
Bowl Challenge Cup:Pac-10
Conference1:ACC
Conference1 Teams:10
Conference1 Wins:4
Conference1 Losses:6
Conference1 Ap Poll:2
Conference2:SEC
Conference2 Teams:8
Conference2 Wins:6
Conference2 Losses:2
Conference2 Ap Poll:4
Conference3:Big 12
Conference3 Teams:7
Conference3 Wins:4
Conference3 Losses:3
Conference3 Ap Poll:5
Conference4:Big Ten
Conference4 Teams:7
Conference4 Wins:1
Conference4 Losses:6
Conference4 Ap Poll:4
Conference5:Big East
Conference5 Teams:6
Conference5 Wins:4
Conference5 Losses:2
Conference5 Ap Poll:2
Conference6:Conference USA
Conference6 Teams:6
Conference6 Wins:4
Conference6 Losses:2
Conference6 Ap Poll:0
Conference7:Pac-10
Conference7 Teams:5
Conference7 Wins:5
Conference7 Losses:0
Conference7 Ap Poll:3
Conference8:Mountain West
Conference8 Teams:5
Conference8 Wins:3
Conference8 Losses:2
Conference8 Ap Poll:3
Conference9:WAC
Conference9 Teams:5
Conference9 Wins:1
Conference9 Losses:4
Conference9 Ap Poll:1
Conference10:MAC
Conference10 Teams:5
Conference10 Wins:0
Conference10 Losses:5
Conference10 Ap Poll:1
Conference11:Independents
Conference11 Teams:2
Conference11 Wins:1
Conference11 Losses:1
Conference11 Ap Poll:0
Conference12:Sun Belt
Conference12 Teams:2
Conference12 Wins:1
Conference12 Losses:1
Conference12 Ap Poll:0

The 2008–09 NCAA football bowl games, which concluded the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, contained a record number of bowl games scheduled in college football history. A total of 37 bowl games, 34 team-competitive games and three all-star games, were played starting on December 20, 2008, with four contests and concluding with the Texas vs. The Nation Game in El Paso, Texas, played on January 31, 2009, at Sun Bowl Stadium. For the first time in 62 years, however, the Hula Bowl was not a part of the post-season as it was cancelled indefinitely.

A new record of 34 team-competitive bowls, plus three all-star games, were played, including the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl and EagleBank Bowl. While bowl games had been the purview of only the very best teams for nearly a century, this was the third consecutive year that teams with non-winning seasons participated in bowl games. To fill the 68 available team-competitive bowl slots, a new record total of 9 teams (13% of all participants) with non-winning seasons participated in bowl games - all 9 had a .500 (6-6) season.

Selection of the teams

NCAA bylaws say that a school with a record of 6–6 in regular season play and at least 5 wins over FBS teams are eligible only after conferences cannot fill out available positions for bowl games with teams having seven (or more) wins automatically eligible, excluding games played in Hawaii and conference championship games in the ACC, Big 12, Conference USA, MAC and the SEC.

After the final regular-season games on December 7, 2008, four conferences — the Pac-10, the SEC, the Big 12, and the Big Ten — did not have enough teams to fill their bowl game allotments. The Pac-10 had seven contracted bowl slots with only five teams eligible. The last two bowls in the Pac-10 pecking order—the Hawaiʻi Bowl (sixth) and Poinsettia Bowl (seventh)—had contingency contracts with other conferences, respectively Conference USA and the WAC, to select one of the secondary conference's teams should the Pac-10 fail to supply enough eligible teams to supply that bowl. However, because C-USA had only six bowl-eligible teams to fill its six primary bowl slots, the Pac-10/C-USA slot in the Hawaiʻi Bowl became an at-large spot, and was awarded to independent Notre Dame. The SEC and Big 12 failed to produce enough teams to fill their requirements even before both conferences had two teams selected to BCS games, while the Big Ten was unable to fill its requirements once a second team from that conference (Ohio State) was selected to a BCS game. The Atlantic Coast Conference sent an NCAA-record ten teams to bowl games this season.[1] Since 72 teams were bowl-eligible, but only 68 bowl slots were available, four teams were left out of bowl games. Unlike in 2007, when an eight-win Troy team was left home for the postseason, no team with seven or more wins went without a bowl bid this year. All four uninvited teams — Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Louisiana-Lafayette, and San José State — had six wins.

Results

NOTE: Rankings from final regular-season AP Poll of December 7, 2008.

Non-BCS bowl games

DateGameSiteTeamsAffiliationsResults
Dec. 20EagleBank BowlRFK Stadium
Washington, D.C.		Wake Forest (7–5)
Navy (8–4)		ACC
Independents		style=white-space:nowrap Wake Forest 29
Navy 19
New Mexico BowlUniversity Stadium
Albuquerque, New Mexico		Colorado State (6–6)
Fresno State (7–5)		Mountain West
WAC		style=white-space:nowrap Colorado State 40
Fresno State 35
St. Petersburg BowlTropicana Field
St. Petersburg, Florida		South Florida (7–5)
Memphis (6–6)		Big East
C-USA		style=white-space:nowrap South Florida 41
Memphis 14
Las Vegas BowlSam Boyd Stadium
Whitney, Nevada		Arizona (7–5)
#17 BYU (10–2)		Pac-10
Mountain West		style=white-space:nowrap Arizona 31
BYU 21
Dec. 21New Orleans BowlLouisiana Superdome
New Orleans		Southern Miss (6–6)
Troy (8–4)		C-USA
Sun Belt		style=white-space:nowrap Southern Miss 30
Troy 27 (OT)
Dec. 23Poinsettia BowlQualcomm Stadium
San Diego
  1. 11 TCU (10–2)
    #9 Boise State (12–0)
Mountain West
WAC		style=white-space:nowrap TCU 17
Boise State 16
Dec. 24Hawaiʻi BowlAloha Stadium
Honolulu, HI		Notre Dame (6–6)
Hawaiʻi (7–6)		Independents
WAC		style=white-space:nowrap Notre Dame 49
Hawaiʻi 21
Dec. 26Motor City BowlFord Field
Detroit		Florida Atlantic (6–6)
Central Michigan (8-4)		Sun Belt
MAC		style=white-space:nowrap Florida Atlantic 24
Central Michigan 21
Dec. 27Meineke Car Care BowlBank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina		West Virginia (8–4)
North Carolina (8–4)		Big East
ACC		style=white-space:nowrap West Virginia 31
North Carolina 30
Champs Sports BowlCitrus Bowl
Orlando, Florida		Florida State (9–3)
Wisconsin (7–5)		ACC
Big Ten		style=white-space:nowrap Florida State 42
Wisconsin 13
Emerald BowlAT&T Park
San Francisco		California (8–4)
Miami (FL) (7–5) 		Pac-10
ACC		style=white-space:nowrap California 24
Miami (FL) 17
Dec. 28Independence BowlIndependence Stadium
Shreveport, Louisiana		Louisiana Tech (7–5)
Northern Illinois (6–6)		WAC
MAC		style=white-space:nowrap Louisiana Tech 17
Northern Illinois 10
Dec. 29Papajohns.com BowlLegion Field
Birmingham, Alabama		Rutgers (7–5)
North Carolina State (6–6)		Big East
ACC		style=white-space:nowrap Rutgers 29
NC State 23
Alamo BowlAlamodome
San Antonio
  1. 25 Missouri (9–4)
    #22 Northwestern (9–3)
Big 12
Big Ten		style=white-space:nowrap Missouri 30
Northwestern 23 (OT)
Dec. 30Humanitarian BowlBronco Stadium
Boise, Idaho		Maryland (7–5)
Nevada (7–5)		ACC
WAC		style=white-space:nowrap Maryland 42
Nevada 35
Holiday BowlQualcomm Stadium
San Diego
  1. 15 Oregon (9–3)
    #13 Oklahoma State (9–3)
Pac-10
Big 12		style=white-space:nowrap Oregon 42
Oklahoma State 31
Texas BowlReliant Stadium
Houston		Rice (9–3)
Western Michigan (9–3)		C-USA
MAC		style=white-space:nowrap Rice 38
Western Michigan 14
Dec. 31Armed Forces BowlAmon G. Carter Stadium
Fort Worth, Texas		Houston (7–5)
Air Force (8–4)		C-USA
Mountain West		style=white-space:nowrap Houston 34
Air Force 28
Sun BowlSun Bowl Stadium
El Paso, Texas
  1. 24 Oregon State (8–4)
    #18 Pittsburgh (9–3)
Pac-10
Big East		style=white-space:nowrap Oregon State 3
Pittsburgh 0
Music City BowlLP Field
Nashville, Tennessee		Vanderbilt (6–6)
Boston College (9–4)		SEC
ACC		style=white-space:nowrap Vanderbilt 16
Boston College 14
Insight BowlSun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Arizona		Kansas (7–5)
Minnesota (7–5)		Big 12
Big Ten		style=white-space:nowrap Kansas 42
Minnesota 21
Chick-fil-A BowlGeorgia Dome
Atlanta		LSU (7–5)
#14 Georgia Tech (9–3)		SEC
ACC		style=white-space:nowrap LSU 38
Georgia Tech 3
Jan. 1Outback BowlRaymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida		Iowa (8–4)
South Carolina (7–5)		Big Ten
SEC		style=white-space:nowrap Iowa 31
South Carolina 10
Gator BowlJacksonville Municipal Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida		Nebraska (8–4)
Clemson (7–5)		Big 12
ACC		style=white-space:nowrap Nebraska 26
Clemson 21
Capital One BowlCitrus Bowl
Orlando, Florida
  1. 16 Georgia (9–3)
    #19 Michigan State (9–3)
SEC
Big Ten		style=white-space:nowrap Georgia 24
Michigan State 12
Jan. 2Cotton Bowl ClassicCotton Bowl, Fair Park
Dallas, Texas
  1. 20 Ole Miss (8–4)
    #8 Texas Tech (11–1)
SEC
Big 12		style=white-space:nowrap Ole Miss 47
Texas Tech 34
Liberty BowlLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, Tennessee		Kentucky (6–6)
East Carolina (9–4)		SEC
C-USA		style=white-space:nowrap Kentucky 25
East Carolina 19
Jan. 3International BowlRogers Centre
Toronto		UConn (7–5)
Buffalo (8–5)		Big East
MAC		style=white-space:nowrap UConn 38
Buffalo 20
Jan. 6GMAC BowlLadd–Peebles Stadium
Mobile, Alabama		Tulsa (10–3)
#23 Ball State (12–1)		C-USA
MAC		style=white-space:nowrap Tulsa 45
Ball State 13

BCS bowl games

DateGameSiteTeamsAffiliationsResults
Jan. 1Rose BowlRose Bowl Stadium
Pasadena, California
  1. 5 USC (11–1)
    #6 Penn State (11–1)
Pac-10
Big Ten		style=white-space:nowrap USC 38
Penn State 24
Orange BowlDolphin Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
  1. 21 Virginia Tech (9–4)
    #12 Cincinnati (11–2)
ACC
Big East		style=white-space:nowrap Virginia Tech 20
Cincinnati 7
Jan. 2Sugar BowlLouisiana Superdome
New Orleans
  1. 7 Utah (12-0)
    #4 Alabama (12-1)
Mountain West
SEC		style=white-space:nowrap Utah 31
Alabama 17
Jan. 5Fiesta BowlUniversity of Phoenix Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
  1. 3 Texas (11-1)
    #10 Ohio State (10-2)
Big 12
Big Ten		style=white-space:nowrap Texas 24
Ohio State 21
Jan. 8BCS National Championship GameDolphin Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
  1. 1 Florida (12-1)
    #2 Oklahoma (12-1)
SEC
Big 12		style=white-space:nowrap Florida 24
Oklahoma 14

Conference bowl representation

Bowl AppearancesFinal Rankings
ConferenceNo. of TeamsRecordPct.WinnersLosersRanked
Teams		TeamAP
(1/9/09)		Coaches
(1/9/09)		BCS
(12/7/08)
 Pac-1055–0 1.000 USC
Oregon
Oregon State
California
Arizona		4USC
  1. 3(1)
  1. 2
 #5
Oregon
  1. 10
  1. 9
 #17
Oregon State
  1. 18
  1. 19
 NR
CaliforniaNR
  1. 25
 NR
Winners of 2008–09 Bowl Challenge Cup with perfect record.
 SEC86–2 0.750 Florida
Georgia
Ole Miss
Vanderbilt
LSU
Kentucky		Alabama
South Carolina		4Florida
  1. 1(48)
  1. 1(60)
 #2
Alabama
  1. 6
  1. 6
 #4
Georgia
  1. 13
  1. 10
 #15
Ole Miss
  1. 14
  1. 15
 #25
Florida won the National Championship. Vanderbilt won in a bowl for the first time since 1955.
Kentucky won a bowl for the third straight season, a first in school history.
 Big East64–2 0.667 West Virginia
South Florida
Rutgers
Connecticut		Cincinnati
Pittsburgh		3Cincinnati
  1. 17
  1. 17
 #12
West Virginia
  1. 23
NR NR
PittsburghNRNR #20
Both of the Big East's BCS-ranked teams lost their games.
 Big 1274–3 0.571 Texas
Missouri
Kansas
Nebraska		Oklahoma
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State		5Texas
  1. 4
  1. 3
 #3
Oklahoma
  1. 5
  1. 6
 #1
Texas Tech
  1. 12
  1. 12
 #7
Oklahoma State
  1. 16
  1. 18
 #13
Missouri
  1. 19
  1. 16
 #21
 Conference USA64–2 0.667 Southern Mississippi
Rice
Houston
Tulsa		Memphis
East Carolina		0none
Rice ended a 54-year winless streak in bowls, Houston ended theirs at 28.
 Mountain West53–2 0.600 Utah
TCU
Colorado State		Brigham Young
Air Force		3Utah
  1. 2(16)
  1. 4(1)
 #6
TCU
  1. 7
  1. 7
 #11
Brigham Young
  1. 25
  1. 21
 #16
Utes became first BCS outsider to win two BCS games; their other was the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.
The Utes also won their eighth straight bowl game.
 Independents21–1 0.500 Notre DameNavy0none
Notre Dame won first bowl game since 1994 Cotton Bowl Classic.
 Sun Belt21–1 0.500 Florida AtlanticTroy0none
Only conference ineligible for 2008–09 Bowl Challenge Cup.
 ACC104–6 0.400 Virginia Tech
Florida State
Maryland
Wake Forest		Georgia Tech
Boston College
North Carolina
Miami (FL)
NC State
Clemson		4Virginia Tech
  1. 15
  1. 14
 #19
Georgia Tech
  1. 22
  1. 22
 #14
Florida State
  1. 21
  1. 23
 NR
Boston CollegeNRNR #24
The ACC's ten teams in postseason is a new NCAA record.
Boston College's streak of bowl wins in eight consecutive seasons ended.
 Western Athletic51–4 0.200 Louisiana TechBoise State
Fresno State
Hawaiʻi
Nevada		1Boise State
  1. 11
  1. 13
 #9
 Big Ten71–6 0.143 IowaPenn State
Ohio State
Michigan State
Northwestern
Minnesota
Wisconsin		5Penn State
  1. 8
  1. 8
 #8
Ohio State
  1. 9
  1. 11
 #10
Iowa
  1. 20
  1. 20
 NR
Michigan State
  1. 24
  1. 24
 #18
NorthwesternNR
  1. NR
 #23
Iowa's win in Outback Bowl avoided a total shutout.
 Mid-American50–5 0.000 Ball State
Central Michigan
NIU
Western Michigan
Buffalo		1Ball StateNRNR #22
Only winless conference in bowl season.
NOTE: BCS bowl participants are listed in italics.

Post-BCS All-Star Games

All-Star GameDateLocationTelevisionResultRef.
East–West Shrine GameJanuary 17, 2009Robertson Stadium
University of Houston
Houston, Texas		ESPN2East 24, West 19[2]
Senior BowlJanuary 24, 2009Ladd–Peebles Stadium
Mobile, Alabama		NFL NetworkSouth 35, North 18[3] [4]
Texas vs The NationJanuary 31, 2009Sun Bowl Stadium
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas		CBS College Sports NetworkThe Nation 27, Texas 24[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Unbeaten Boise State heads Poinsettia; ACC slots 10 . 2008-12-08 . 2008-12-07 . The Sporting News . The Sporting News.
  2. http://www.shrinegame.com/press_release/84_game/EWSG_Player_Alert_12-3-08.pdf{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  3. Web site: Archived copy . www.seniorbowl.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090203175224/http://www.seniorbowl.com/images/fanguide09.pdf . 3 February 2009 . dead.
  4. Web site: Official Website of the Senior Bowl . 2009-01-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081222180340/http://www.seniorbowl.com/2009schedule.asp . 2008-12-22 .
  5. Web site: Texas vs. The Nation . 2009-01-01 . 2008-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081220115125/http://texasvsthenation.cstv.com/ . dead .

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