The Best and Worst College Football Bowl Game Names of All Time

Karsten der Blogger  –  2025-07-09 17:35:00
Questions about football. / Comments 0

What’s the Best (and Worst) Bowl Game Name of All Time?

If you're a college football fan, you know bowl games aren’t just about rankings and rivalries – they’re also about absurd names, cheesy sponsorships, and occasionally, deep-fried food mascots. Over the years, some bowl games have earned legendary status… while others sound like failed marketing ideas cooked up at 2 a.m. after a tailgate.

Let’s break it down.

🏆 The Best Bowl Game Names (Because They Own the Weird)

🐯 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

They really put a cartoon tiger on a football trophy. And somehow, it works. It’s “Greeeaaat!” – because who doesn’t want to win a bowl game that sounds like it’s hosted by a cereal box?

🔥 Pop-Tarts Bowl

Not only is it real, but in 2023 they introduced an edible mascot. A giant walking Pop-Tart… that got eaten after the game. You can’t make this stuff up.

🧀 Cheez-It Bowl

The snack that gets stuck in your braces is now also a football game. Players jump into giant Cheez-It beds postgame. America, baby.

🥄 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

This one’s been around for a while, and it’s oddly charming. They dump French fries on the winning coach. It’s dumb. It’s fun. We love it.

🚫 The Worst Bowl Names (Because… Why?)

🐊 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Combining taxes with football is like putting mayonnaise on cereal. It doesn’t belong.
(Also, “TaxSlayer” sounds like a metal band, not a bowl sponsor.)

🛠️ Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl

It sounds like a rejected “Fast & Furious” sequel. What even is a Gasparilla? And why are bad boy mowers involved?

💸 Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Nothing screams excitement like mortgage refinancing. This game is probably watched exclusively by accountants and dads in cargo shorts.

📈 Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Not because of the name – but because the winning coach gets mayo dumped on his head. No championship is worth that.

😅 Lost in Translation: Bowl Names That Sound… Strange

Many of these names don’t translate well. Try explaining to a European fan that your team is playing in the “Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.” It sounds like a fruit salad with processed cheese on top.

Or imagine telling your parents, in German:

"Ich spiele im Famous Idaho Potato Bowl"
(Berühmte Kartoffel-Schüssel von Idaho)
Sounds less like a game, more like a side dish at Thanksgiving.

🤯 Made-Up Bowl Names That Could Be Real (Sadly)

If naming rights keep going like this, we’ll soon see bowls like:

  • Crocs x Monster Energy Chaos Bowl

  • TikTok Viral Bowl – Presented by Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

  • OnlyFans Cougars Bowl (please, no)

  • Tinder Swipe-Right Showdown

  • Kale & Quinoa Bowl – Sponsored by Whole Foods

And let’s be honest:
We’d still watch.

Final Whistle

Football is about passion, rivalries… and yes, pure marketing chaos. Some bowl names are unforgettable because they’re clever. Others because they’re catastrophically stupid. Either way, they give fans something to talk about – and memes to last all offseason.

Now your turn:
What’s the worst bowl game name you’ve ever heard?
Drop it in the comments – or on Reddit. Bonus points if it sounds both unhealthy and oddly corporate.

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