The Rundown: 5 Things You Need To Know About College Football Bowl Games
For some this might be the most wonderful time of the year with the kids jingle-belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer. (Thanks Andy Williams). For others it is because college football bowl game season is around the corner. What’s a bowl game? Is it similar to spin the bottle?
Glad you asked,
The Last Night’s Game
Five Things You Need To Know About College Football Bowl Games
1. Background
- Bowl games are a one-game matchup where teams are paid to play after the regular season. The bowl games promise TV time and great national exposure for the teams.
- Not all teams are selected for a bowl game – you have to be good enough to be invited.
- The teams that play each other have likely not played during the regular season as they’re usually from different conferences.
2. Some bowl games have weird names like the Raisin Bowl or the Salad Bowl but others are corporate (i.e. boring) such as the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl. Zzzz.
3. College football players are permitted to receive $550 in gifts from the various bowl game sponsors. Curious what the players won’t have to ask Santa for? We have the list of gifts for each bowl game. Hint – the big guy won’t need to pack an ugly sweater or a selfie stick on his sleigh.
4. The Final Four teams are chosen by their regular season rankings. Alabama Crimson Tide (#1) vs Washington Huskies (#4) and Clemson Tigers (#2) vs Ohio State Buckeyes (#3) will battle in two playoff games on December 31st. The winners of the semifinal games will play for the national championship on January 9th.
5. Of course these games aren’t for simply the exposure, there’s cold hard cash involved. (Santa’s best gift yet). Companies will pay around $100 million this year to sponsor the games. The conferences then make big money when one of their teams attends a game. How much? Find out.
- Join our Last Night’s Game’s ESPN Bowl Mania Group to win prizes or to simply have a good time. Think of it as a March Madness bracket for college football. (Once you click the link above, select "play now for free." Password: sports curious).
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- No more Disney Princesses. Rookie hazing is now a thing of the past. MLB has banned teams from forcing rookies to dress up in women’s clothing or costumes “that may be offensive to individuals based on their race, sex, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or other characteristic."
Overtime
- A photo of a six-year old Afghan boy wearing a plastic bag jersey of his favorite soccer player, Barcelona's Lionel Messi, went viral awhile back. His dream of meeting Messi finally came true. Yesterday Murtaza walked on the field with Messi and the team while wearing a new Messi jersey. This video of their meeting will make you smile.
Sideline stat
- There are 42 bowl games between December 17th and early January. Want the whole schedule? Here you go.
Coaches’ corner
- Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher received his stocking full of coal early this year - he was fired on Monday. Fisher tied the undesirable record of the most losses for a head coach in NFL (National Football League) history.
The Rundown: Ugly Sweater Not Included
While you were busy this weekend rocking that ugly sweater and singing holiday karaoke, there was plenty of excitement happening in the world of sports. We have what everyone is talking about, besides that video of your co-worker’s impression of the boss.
Darn you vodka,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLS (MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER)
- Winner winner. The Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC (Football Club) battled Saturday for the MLS Cup but neither of them scored a goal in regulation time or overtime. Therefore, the quest for the title came down to penalty kicks. Seattle won, securing the club’s first ever MLS Championship. Seattle did not have a shot on goal until the penalty kicks. (That means they didn’t even come close to scoring a goal until the penalty kicks).
NCAA Football (College)
- Pat on the back. The presentation of the award for the best player in college football, the Heisman Trophy, was on Saturday. It was no surprise that University of Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson was named the winner. Jackson is the first Heisman winner from Louisville and the youngest recipient ever. He also claimed the award while rocking a red velvet sport coat.
- Good vs Bad. The Heisman Trophy presentation brings together all of the former winners. A photo from the award presentation of Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel together set the internet on fire as they are literally different ends of the moral spectrum. Read the funny tweets here.
- At last. Army ended a 14-year winless drought to the Naval Academy, winning in front of a crowd of 71,000+ that included President-Elect Donald Trump.
NFL (National Football League)
- Brr. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills game in New York was exactly how you'd imagine, freezing cold with heavy snowfall. Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell wasn’t bothered as he set the franchise record for rushing yards and secured a Steelers win.
- You had one job. The Buffalo ground crew didn’t have quite the same luck in the snow. While removing snow from the field they also removed the black rubber pellets from the artificial turf causing a delay in the game to fix the field. The pellets make the turf soft (i.e. safe), otherwise it’s basically concrete.
Overtime
- Wrestler and occasional Today Show co-host John Cena hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend. He spared no expense poking fun at student athletes with this skit about a football player at Alabama. He struck gold with a game show skit entitled “Where’d Your Money Go?” featuring "athletes." Key takeaway - don't buy a cheetah.
Sideline stat
- The Dallas Cowboys (NFL) were on an 11-game winning streak after losing their only game this season to the New York Giants. Last night the Giants once again beat the Cowboys to break their winning streak. No word yet on whether or not the state of Texas has outlawed Green Giant products.
Coaches’ corner
- Jägermeister and the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) are in the headlines but not for a new collaborative cocktail. Jägermeister has filed an appeal with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office over the redesigned Bucks logo featuring a deer. The appeal states that the new Bucks logo is very similar to the German liquor company's logo. See for yourself.
The Rundown: Freezing Friday
Friday and the Siberian Express have arrived all across the country. Unless you’re in Hawaii (Aloha Hawaii!) you’re probably freezing your tukus off this morning. May we warm your hearts with laughter and sports. If not, maybe you’ll learn something new to share with your friends through your chattering teeth.
Bundle up,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS - Baby it’s cold outside so here’s a Tailgate Treat to keep it hot - Buffalo Chicken Dip.
NCAA Football (College)
- Battle of the brave. ESPN College GameDay heads to Baltimore for the Army-Navy game, the only college football game this weekend. Navy has a 14-game winning streak over Army. No matter who wins they’ll look good doing it as the Army uniforms will honor the 82nd Airborne Division from WWII. The Navy unis are an homage to the 1963 team led by the last Navy Heisman Trophy winner, Roger Staubach. Here's a fashion show.
- The big day is almost here. The Heisman Trophy winner will be named on Saturday. In case you missed it, here are Five Things to Know About the Heisman Trophy to impress your holiday party guests.
MLS (Major League Soccer)
- Frozen. The MLS Finals are tomorrow and the Seattle Sounders and the Toronto FC (Football Club) will duke it out for the title. With a high of -1°F it should be a brisk day for soccer.
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Girl power. Reporter Claire Smith has become the first woman to win the J.G. Taylor Spink Award which is given to the top baseball writer in the country.
- In the rafters. The New York Yankees will retire Derek Jeter’s jersey number (#2). This is the 21st number retired by the Yankees and it is the last single digit jersey number remaining to be retired.
F1 Racing (Formula One)
- Now hiring. Mercedes is looking for a driver to replace recently retired F1 champion Nico Rosberg. An ad taken out by Mercedes revealed the job posting. Benefits include an on-site gym and a subsidized restaurant facility. Start working on your resume now.
Overtime
- UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) champion Conor McGregor is taking nearly a year off from fighting to be featured in season seven of Game of Thrones. Oh and to spend more time with his newborn baby.
Sideline stat
- The Dallas Cowboys (NFL) are on an 11-game winning streak. Their lone loss came in week one of the season to the New York Giants. Sunday night the division rivals will take the field again. Will the Giants hand the Cowboys their second loss?
Coaches’ Corner
- What does it mean to have your number retired? It’s an honor to have your team retire your number because it means you were so talented and made such an impact on the team. When a number is retired, no one on that team can ever wear that number again. In Jeter’s case, no one who plays for the Yankees will be able to wear the #2 again. (In case you’re wondering. the number 42 has been retired by all MLB teams in honor of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American MLB player).