Bowl Game Bonanza: Fun Facts and Crazy Stats

The first-ever bowl game, the Rose Bowl, took place way back in 1902. Michigan dominated that game, scoring a whopping 49 points against Stanford. Today, bowl games are a big deal, filling the holiday season with exciting matchups.

Impressive Records

• Alabama has the most bowl game appearances, with 78, and they've also won the most bowl games, with 45 victories.
• Marshall and East Carolina combined for 125 points in a single game.
• There have been four bowl games where not a single point was scored.

High-Scoring Affairs

• In 2015, Virginia Tech and Tulsa combined for 76 points in just the first half of their game.
• In 2016, Idaho and Colorado State scored a total of 84 points in the second half alone.

Big Plays

• Terry Baker ran for a 99-yard touchdown.
• Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw a 99-yard completion.

Individual Records

• Ty Detmer holds the record for most yards of total offense in a bowl game with 594 yards.
• Joe Burrow is responsible for the most touchdowns in a single game, with 8.
• The most interceptions thrown by a team in a single game is 12.

Comebacks and Margins

• The largest comeback win in a bowl game history is 31 points, which has happened twice.
• The largest margin of victory is 60 points, which Georgia achieved against Florida State in the 2023 Orange Bowl.

Most Points in a Quarter

In the fourth quarter of the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Colorado State scored an incredible 36 points. That's more than some teams score in an entire game!