Letter from the Executive Director

Perseverance and Growth

Bowl Season is one

of the greatest and longest running traditions in American sports.

Every game is so meaningful to the players, coaches, fans, bands and spirit groups that participate in them as well as the communities across the country that host them. It continues to be my honor and privilege to promote the bowl system and to share how meaningful bowl games are to so many.

While these last two years were anything but normal, the challenges we faced were not unique to us. Last year the college football world was forced to deal with the lingering effects of a global pandemic, as well as the emergence of NIL, the transfer portal and conference realignment, among other issues, creating new and unique challenges for everyone. But in the face of immense uncertainty, the show still went on for our bowls. In all, 76 teams participated in 39 bowl games, producing moments that we will not soon forget.

As you will see highlighted throughout this annual report, everything we do is intended to bring value to the Bowl Season membership by promoting the entire bowl system as well as the game of college football. This year we launched several new initiatives. The weekly podcasts and social media campaigns helped us tell some of the great stories of Bowl Season’s past & present, while our Bowl Bound t-shirt program gave current student-athletes the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishment of earning bowl eligibility.

The development of the Bowl Season brand as well as our promotional efforts have drawn the attention of various corporate partners, leading to some exciting new business relationships the likes of which our organization has never experienced. The stage is set for the future growth of Bowl Season, both promotionally & financially.

We also elevated our level of communication with the leaders of college football to ensure that Bowl Season maintains its important place on the American sports calendar as it has for over a century. It is important to us all that we continue to work collaboratively with the commissioners of the 10 FBS conferences to ensure that Bowl Season remains a meaningful component of the college football season.

I am so grateful to everyone who helped make our bowl games happen this past year. None of the games could have taken place without the tireless efforts of the bowl organizations and their conference partners who recognize how meaningful bowl games are to their membership. Our partners at ESPN continue to be extremely supportive in creating and maintaining a broadcast schedule so that our bowl games will be seen on national television, and their efforts are also very much appreciated.

Bowl Season is all about memories, and this year was no different. College football needs bowl games, and bowl games continue to serve the game of college football in a unique and memorable way.

The Bowl Season brand has gained more and more traction in our overall celebration of college football.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

Nick Carparelli, Executive Director