Bahamas Bowl Explained

Bahamas Bowl
Full Name:Famous Toastery Bowl (2023)
Stadium:Thomas Robinson Stadium
Location:Nassau, Bahamas
Temporary Venue:Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina (2023)
Years:2014–present
Conference Tie-Ins:Conference USA
(2014–present)
Mid-American Conference
(2014–present)
Payout:225,000 (2019)[1]
Prev Matchup Year:2022
Prev Matchup Season:2022
Prev Matchup Teams:UAB vs. Miami (OH)
Prev Matchup Score:UAB 24–20
Next Matchup Year:2023
Next Matchup Season:2023
Next Matchup Teams:Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion
Next Matchup Date:Western Kentucky 38–35

The Bahamas Bowl is an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game played annually in Nassau, Bahamas, at the 15,000-seat Thomas Robinson Stadium.[2] First held in 2014, the Bowl has tie-ins with the Mid-American Conference and Conference USA.

For the December 2023 edition, the game was temporarily moved to Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, due to renovations at Thomas Robinson Stadium. This edition was known as the Famous Toastery Bowl, reflecting the title sponsor of the relocated game.[3]

History

The inaugural edition of the Bahamas Bowl, played in 2014, was the first major (FBS or historical equivalent) bowl game to be played outside the United States and Canada between two U.S. teams since the January 1, 1937, Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba.[4] The game featured teams from the Mid-American Conference and Conference USA;[5] that conference matchup has continued annually.[6] In July 2019, the MAC announced a continuation of its tie-in with the bowl through the 2025–26 football season.[7]

From its inception to 2017, the game was sponsored by the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurant franchise and officially known as the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.[8] After Restaurant Brands International acquired Popeyes in 2017, they declined to renew sponsorship. Elk Grove Village, Illinois—"home to the largest industrial park in the United States"—picked up title sponsorship in 2018, with the bowl using the official naming of Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl.[9] The name lasted until Elk Grove Village ended its sponsorship in March 2020.[10] On May 25, 2022, it was announced that HomeTown Lenders would be the new title sponsor of the game.[11]

The winning team is presented with a trophy, since 2016 named the Prime Minister's Trophy. The current trophy, in use since the 2018 playing, is approximately 30inches tall and weighs nearly 30lb.[12]

On October 2, 2020, the 2020 edition of the bowl was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions.[13]

On October 26, 2023, it was announced that the 2023 edition would be played at Jerry Richardson Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte due to ongoing renovations at the host venue, Thomas Robinson Stadium.[14] The game was also temporarily renamed to reflect that it would not be played in the Bahamas.[15] On November 14, 2023, Famous Toastery, a restaurant chain based in Charlotte, North Carolina, was named as title sponsor of the relocated Famous Toastery Bowl.[16]

Game results

DateBowl nameWinning teamLosing teamAttendance
December 24, 2014 Western Kentucky 49 48 13,667
December 24, 2015 Western Michigan 45 31 13,123
December 23, 2016 Old Dominion 24 20 13,422
December 22, 2017 Ohio 41 6 13,585
December 21, 2018 FIU 35 32 13,510
December 20, 2019 Buffalo 31 9 13,547
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[17]
December 17, 2021 Middle Tennessee 31 24 13,596
December 16, 2022 UAB 24 20 12,172
December 18, 2023 Western Kentucky 38 35 (OT) 5,632
Source:[18] [19]

MVPs

YearOffensive MVPDefensive MVPRef.
Player Team Pos. Player Team Pos.
2014 Western Kentucky QB Derik Overstreet Western Kentucky DL [20]
2015 Jamauri Bogan Western Michigan RB Grant DePalma Western Michigan LB [21]
2016 Ray Lawry Old Dominion RB TJ Ricks Old Dominion LB [22]
2017 Dorian Brown Ohio RB Ohio FS [23]
2018 Christian Alexander FIU QB Edwin Freeman FIU LB [24]
2019 Buffalo RB Buffalo DE [25] [26]
2021 Nicholas Vattiato Middle Tennessee QB DQ Thomas Middle Tennessee LB [27] [28]
2022 Trea Shropshire UAB WR Michael Fairbanks II UAB LB [29]
2023 Caden Veltcamp Western Kentucky QB Anthony Johnson Jr. Western Kentucky DB [30] [31]

Most appearances

Updated through the December 2023 edition (9 games, 18 total appearances).

Teams with multiple appearances
TeamAppearancesRecordWin pct.
2 2–0
2 1–1
2 1–1
2 1–1
2 0–2
Teams with a single appearanceWon (4): Buffalo, FIU, Ohio, Western Michigan
Lost (4): Central Michigan, Charlotte, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH)

Appearances by conference

Updated through the December 2023 edition (9 games, 18 total appearances).

ConferenceRecordAppearances by season
GamesWLWin pct.WonLost
9 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 2015, 2017, 2019
MAC8 2015, 2017, 2019 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022
1 2023

Game records

TeamRecord, Team vs. OpponentYear
Most points scored (one team) 49, Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan 2014
Most points scored (losing team) 48, Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky 2014
Most points scored (both teams) 97, Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan 2014
Fewest points allowed 6, Ohio vs. UAB 2017
Largest margin of victory 35, Ohio vs. UAB 2017
Total yards 647, Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan 2014
Rushing yards 282, Western Michigan vs. Middle Tennessee 2015
Passing yards 493, Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky 2014
First downs 29, Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan 2014
Fewest yards allowed 272, Miami (OH) vs. UAB 2022
Fewest rushing yards allowed 80, Buffalo vs. Charlotte 2019
Fewest passing yards allowed 77, Charlotte vs. Buffalo 2019
IndividualRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYear
All-purpose yards 215, Jamauri Bogan (Western Michigan) 2015
Touchdowns (all-purpose) 4, shared by Bogan, Brown, and Davis (see below)
Rushing yards 215, Jamauri Bogan (Western Michigan) 2015
Rushing touchdowns 4, shared by:
Jamauri Bogan (Western Michigan)
Dorian Brown (Ohio)
 
2015
2017
Passing yards 493, Cooper Rush (Central Michigan) 2014
Passing touchdowns 7, Cooper Rush (Central Michigan) 2014
Receiving yards 183, shared by:
Corey Davis (Western Michigan)
Trea Shropshire (UAB)
 
2015
2022
Receptions 9, Yusuf Ali (Middle Tennessee) 2021
Receiving touchdowns 4, Titus Davis (Central Michigan) 2014
Tackles 15, Matthew Salopek (Miami (OH))
10 (solo), Matthew Salopek (Miami (OH))
2022
Sacks 2, shared by:
Derik Overstreet (Western Kentucky)
Malcolm Koonce,[32] (Buffalo)
Nate Givhan (Toledo)

2014
2019
2021
Interceptions 1, by multiple players
Long PlaysRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYear
Touchdown run 74 yds., Dorian Brown (Ohio) 2017
Touchdown pass 90 yds., Dequan Finn to Matt Landers (Toledo) 2021
Kickoff return 45 yds., Andre Wilson (UAB) 2017
Punt return 34 yds., Kylan Nelson (Ohio) 2017
Interception return 49 yds., Samuel Womack (Toledo) 2021
Fumble return 27 yds., Tony Annese (Central Michigan) 2014
Punt 54 yds., shared by:
Michael Farkas (Ohio)
Bailey Flint (Toledo)
 
2017
2018, 2021
Field goal 47 yds., Andrew Haldeman (Western Michigan) 2015
Source:[33]

Media coverage

The bowl has been televised by ESPN since its inception.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 Bowl Schedule . collegefootballpoll.com . 13 December 2019.
  2. Web site: MAC Announces Creation of the Bahamas Bowl in 2014. Mid-American Conference. 14 October 2013. 28 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014152711/http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/277197/MAC-Announces-Creation-of-the-Bahamas-Bowl-in-2014.aspx. 14 October 2013. dead.
  3. News: Famous Toastery Named Title Sponsor of ESPN Events’ Charlotte Bowl Game . November 14, 2023.
  4. Web site: Inaugural Bahamas Bowl set for December 24, 2014 . May 14, 2014 . Bahamas Bowl Communications . May 14, 2014.
  5. Web site: It's Conference USA Against the MAC In The Inaugural Bahamas Bowl . Bahamas Bowl Communications . April 22, 2014.
  6. Web site: Participating Conferences . bahamasbowl.com . December 24, 2017.
  7. News: MAC announces new bowl lineup for 2020 through 2025 . Kevin . Kelley . July 23, 2019 . December 20, 2019.
  8. Web site: Popeyes Announced as Title Sponsor of Popeyes Bahamas Bowl . Bahamas Bowl Communications . 26 August 2014 . August 26, 2014.
  9. News: Elk Grove Village announced as Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl title sponsor . July 31, 2018.
  10. Web site: Fischer. Bryan. Illinois town withdraws unique Bahamas Bowl sponsorship. NBC Sports. March 19, 2020. March 19, 2020.
  11. News: HOMETOWN LENDERS NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF BAHAMAS BOWL . 25 May 2022.
  12. Web site: The Prime Minister's Trophy . bahamasbowl.com . December 20, 2019.
  13. Web site: Hawaii, Bahamas bowls nixed due to pandemic . ESPN.com . 3 October 2020 . en . 2 October 2020.
  14. 2023 Bahamas Bowl to Be Played at Charlotte 49ers' Jerry Richardson Stadium. ESPN. October 26, 2023. October 27, 2023.
  15. Web site: Backus . Will . Bahamas Bowl to be played in Charlotte due to stadium renovations, Myrtle Beach Bowl changes dates, per report . CBSSports.com . CBS Sports . October 27, 2023 . en . October 26, 2023.
  16. Hofheimer. Bill. Famous Toastery Named Title Sponsor of ESPN Events’ Charlotte Bowl Game . ESPN Pressroom . ESPN. November 14, 2023 . en . November 14, 2023.
  17. Web site: ESPN Events Cancels Two Postseason Bowls for 2020 Season . Bahamas Bowl Communications . bahamasbowl.com . 2 October 2020 . 27 November 2020.
  18. Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl . Bowl/All Star Game Records . 16 . NCAA.org . NCAA . 2020 . 3 January 2021.
  19. News: Hank . Lee . October 26, 2023 . The Bahamas Bowl Will Be Played in Charlotte This Year. Here's Why . WCNC . December 16, 2023 . ESPN said it anticipates the Bahamas Bowl will return to Nassau in 2024 once renovations to the stadium are complete..
  20. Web site: 2014 Bowl Recap – Bahamas Bowl.
  21. Web site: 2015 Bowl Recap – Bahamas Bowl.
  22. Web site: 2016 Bowl Recap – Bahamas Bowl.
  23. Web site: 2017 Bowl Recap – Bahamas Bowl.
  24. Web site: 2018 Bowl Recap – Bahamas Bowl.
  25. Web site: 2019 Bowl Recap – Bahamas Bowl.
  26. Web site: 2019 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl Postgame Notes . Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl Communications . bahamasbowl.com . 20 December 2019 . 21 December 2019.
  27. TheBahamasBowl . 1471953401168764940 . Congratulations to @MT_FB Nicholas Vattiato, the 2021 Bahamas Bowl Offensive MVP. . 17 December 2021 . 17 December 2021.
  28. TheBahamasBowl . 1471952227384410113 . Congratulations to @MT_FB DQ Thomas, #TheBahamasBowl Defensive MVP. . 17 December 2021 . 17 December 2021.
  29. News: UAB holds on to win Bahamas Bowl, 24-2 . Jeffery . Winborne . WBRC.com . 16 December 2022 . 17 December 2022.
  30. News: BREAKING: Western Kentucky Ride Furious Comeback To Bowl Win In Charlotte . Veltkamp was named the game's offensive MVP. . Joe . Londergan . . December 18, 2023 . December 18, 2023.
  31. Web site: Famous Toastery Bowl Postgame . ESPN.com . December 18, 2023 . December 18, 2023.
  32. TheBahamasBowl . 1208173131761893376 . Malcolm Koonce's 2 sacks tied a Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl record. . 20 December 2019 . 20 December 2019.
  33. Web site: Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl Record Book . bahamasbowl.com . 20 December 2019.