With the college football season in full swing, ESPN has revealed its plans for the 2020 bowl season, at least related to the properties it operates. The Connecticut-based broadcaster announced a slate of 13 bowl games planned for dates beginning on Saturday, December 19 with the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl.
Three planned bowl games – the Bahamas Bowl, Hawaii Bowl, and Celebration Bowl, have been suspended for the year with planned returns after the 2021 season. Another, the Fenway Bowl, will not see its inaugural edition as hoped this spring, but will debut in 2021 instead. ESPN also says its decision regarding the holding of the Las Vegas Bowl will be announced “in the near future.”
Overall, the ESPN Events lineup is nearly half of the planned 35-game college football bowl schedule to air on the networks in 2020 and into early 2021.
The ESPN Events Bowl Slate is detailed below:
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl
The fourth annual Frisco Bowl will air on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. on ESPN, from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Myrtle Beach Bowl
The inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl is slated to make its debut on Monday, Dec. 21, at 2:30 p.m., on ESPN. The game is set to be played at Brooks Stadium on the campus of Coastal Carolina University.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
The 24th annual Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 22, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN. The game will be held at Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho.
Boca Raton Bowl
The seventh edition of the Boca Raton Bowl is scheduled for December 22, at 7 p.m., on ESPN, from FAU Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University.
Montgomery Bowl
ESPN Events has added one bowl to its roster for the 2020 season, set for Wednesday, Dec. 23, at 7 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2 from historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.
New Mexico Bowl
The 15th edition of the New Mexico Bowl is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 24, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Camellia Bowl
The seventh annual Camellia Bowl will be played on Christmas Day, from the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Kicking off a doubleheader on ABC, the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl will be played Saturday, Dec. 26, at noon, from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Cure Bowl
Acquired by ESPN Events in May 2020, the Cure Bowl will be played Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on December 26, at noon on ESPN.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Following the Gasparilla Bowl, the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is set for 3:30 p.m., on ABC. The bowl will be played at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on SMU’s campus.
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
The 18th edition of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl will be played on Thursday, Dec. 31. Kickoff is set for noon on ESPN from TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
Texas Bowl
The Texas Bowl, in its 15th year, is set for December 31, at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The game will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston.
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl
The 15th annual TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl will be played at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday, Jan. 1 (noon, ESPN2).
