Pigskin Classic Explained

The Pigskin Classic was a season-opening college football game played at Anaheim Stadium from 1990 until 1994, and continued from 1995 to 2002 at various stadiums. It was initially created as a west-coast counterpart of the Kickoff Classic and hosted by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. From 1990 to 1994 it was sponsored by Disneyland and referred to as the Disneyland Pigskin Classic. Until 2002 the NCAA only allowed for teams to play a 12-game regular season schedule if the first game were a licensed Classic (such as the Pigskin Classic, the Kickoff Classic, or the Eddie Robinson Classic). In 2002 the NCAA ended the allowance of an extra 12th game, thus effectively ending the Classics.[1] Kickoff games would later see a revival, in 2008 the Aflac Kickoff Game was organized as a neutral-site game held in Atlanta.

Results

Date Winning Team Losing Team Site NetworkAnnouncers
August 26, 1990style=31style=31Anaheim StadiumAnaheim, CANBCDon Criqui, Bill Walsh, and Ahmad Rashad
August 29, 1991style=44style=28RaycomPhil Stone and Craig James
August 26, 1992style=10style=7Phil Stone and Dave Rowe
August 29, 1993style=31style=9
August 29, 1994style=34style=10
August 26, 1995style=18style=17Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MIABC
August 24, 1996style=41style=37Cougar StadiumProvo, UT
August 23, 1997style=24style=0Soldier Field • Chicago, IL
August 30, 1998style=27style=17Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA
August 28, 1999style=41style=7Beaver StadiumState College, PA
August 26, 2000style=24style=3Alltel Stadium • Jacksonville, FL
August 25, 2001style=21style=7Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE
August 24, 2002 style=45style=21Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH

Rankings from AP Poll prior to game. [2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/59825 Street&Smith's SportsBusinessJournal: ‘Kickoff’ aims for college football spotlight
  2. Web site: Football - College Poll Archive - Historical College Football, Basketball, and Softball Polls and Rankings.