Orange Bowl

Orange Bowl
Name	Orange Bowl
Stadium	Hard Rock Stadium
Location	Miami Gardens, Florida
Previous stadiums	Miami Field, Burdine Stadium, Miami Orange Bowl
Operated	1935–present
Conference tie-ins	Atlantic Coast Conference, College Football Playoff
Previous conference tie-ins	Big Eight Conference, Big 12 Conference, Southeastern Conference, American Athletic Conference
Sponsor	Capital One

Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl is one of the most prestigious postseason college football bowl games, traditionally played on or near New Year's Day in South Florida. First contested in 1935, it is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series and now serves as a national championship semifinal site in the College Football Playoff rotation. The game is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, rich history, and for hosting numerous contests that have decided the national champion.

History

The inaugural game was played in 1935 at Miami Field, organized by members of the Miami Chamber of Commerce to boost tourism. It moved to the newly constructed Burdine Stadium in 1937, a venue later renamed the Miami Orange Bowl, which became its iconic home for decades. The game's early years featured matchups between top independent teams and representatives from the Southern Conference and later the Southeastern Conference. A pivotal moment occurred in 1953 when the game secured a television contract with NBC, enhancing its national profile. The Orange Bowl was a cornerstone of the Bowl Alliance and the Bowl Championship Series, frequently hosting the national championship game. In 1996, the game moved to its current home, Pro Player Stadium, now known as Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Game results

The Orange Bowl has been won by many of college football's most storied programs, including the Alabama Crimson Tide, Oklahoma Sooners, and Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Miami Hurricanes hold the record for most appearances and victories, leveraging their home-field advantage for many years. Notable victories include Penn State Nittany Lions' win over the Florida Gators in the 1968 game and the Texas Longhorns' dramatic victory against the USC Trojans in the 2005 BCS National Championship. The game has also seen victories by military academies like the Navy Midshipmen and historic black colleges such as the Florida A&M Rattlers.

Notable games and records

The 1984 game, where the Miami Hurricanes defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers to claim the national championship, is often cited as a program-defining moment. The 2003 BCS National Championship, a double-overtime thriller where the Ohio State Buckeyes upset the Miami Hurricanes, is considered one of the greatest games ever played. Individual records include five touchdown passes by Tommy Frazier of Nebraska in 1996 and 235 receiving yards by Sammy Watkins of the Clemson Tigers in 2014. The highest-scoring game occurred in 2014 when the Clemson Tigers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 40-35.

Venues

The game was first held at Miami Field before moving to Burdine Stadium in 1937. This venue was renamed the Miami Orange Bowl in 1959 and served as the primary stadium until 1996, hosting countless classic games. Since the 1999 game, it has been played at the stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, which has undergone several name changes including Pro Player Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Sun Life Stadium, and currently Hard Rock Stadium. This modern facility has also hosted the Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup.

Broadcasters

The game's first national television broadcast was on NBC in 1953, beginning a long relationship. For many years, the broadcast rights were held by NBC, with announcers like Curt Gowdy and Dick Enberg calling the action. In the 1990s, rights moved to CBS as part of the Bowl Championship Series package. Since 2011, coverage has primarily been with ESPN, which now broadcasts the game as part of its College Football Playoff agreement. Radio coverage has long been provided by the Westwood One network.

Team selection and tie-ins

Historically, the game featured an at-large selection process, often inviting the champion of the Big Eight Conference. With the formation of the Bowl Championship Series, it hosted the champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference against an at-large BCS qualifier. Under the College Football Playoff system, it rotates as a semifinal site, hosting the champions of the ACC, Southeastern Conference, Big Ten Conference, or Big 12 Conference as determined by the College Football Playoff selection committee. In non-playoff years, the game maintains a primary partnership with the Atlantic Coast Conference and a secondary agreement with the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten Conference, or Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Category:College football bowl games Category:Sports competitions in Miami Category:1935 establishments in Florida