The Aztec Bowl () is an NCAA-sanctioned college division/minor (prior to 1997); AFCA Division III (since 1997) Division II/III (since 2011) post-season bowl game that has been played intermittently since 1947, traditionally in mid-December. From 1947 to 1949 the event was called the Silver Bowl, and in 1950 the name was changed to the Aztec Bowl.

History The inaugural Silver Bowl was played in Mexico City on December 19, 1947. A Mexican college all-star team defeated Randolph Field Air Base by a score of 24–19. Randolph Field featured Doc Blanchard and Arnold Tucker, with the former accusing the Mexican team of fielding American ringers. However, according to Wilbur "Bud" Fellows of Mexico City College: "There were only two Americans on the Mexican squad–myself and Morris Williams, a tackle from Washington, D. C. It just happens that football has developed in Mexico and there are now some pretty fair native players."

With but one exception, all editions of the bowl game have been played in Mexico; the exception was the 1957 game played in San Antonio, Texas. From 1997 to 2008, under sponsorship of the American Football Coaches Association, the bowl featured a team of Division III All-Stars against a team of Mexican All-Stars. 360 Sports Events Division II/III All-American Eagles took over sponsoring players, along with ONEFA in 2010.

The 1970 and 1980 editions are considered junior college bowl games, and games played in 1947, 1948, 1952, and 1996 are considered military bowl games. No games were played in 1954–1956, 1958–1963, 1967–1969, 1972–1978, 1981–1983, 1985, and 1995.

Under the new format there were no games in 2008 and 2010 because of lack of sponsors. The Aztec Bowl returned in 2011 in Chihuahua. There was no game in 2013 because of venue issues in Mexico.

The Aztec Bowl has always been an International Bowl Game, however in 1997 the Aztec Bowl was re-formed into a Bowl Game between Small College All-Stars from the United States and Mexico, billed as Team USA vs. Team Mexico.

Game results

Date played Winning team Result Losing team Venue Bowl Games I - XLIV Ref.December 19, 1947 Mexico All-Stars24–19 Randolph Field Air BaseMexico CityMilitary Bowl Game - IDecember 11, 1948 San Diego Marines33–26 Mexico All-StarsMilitary Bowl Game - II December 17, 1949 Trinity University52–6College Bowl Game - IIIDecember 23, 1950 Whittier Poets27–14College Division Bowl Game - IVDecember 22, 1951 Sul Ross State Lobos41–40College Division Bowl Game - VDecember 20, 1952 Hamilton Air Force Base55–33Military Bowl Game - VIDecember 19, 1953 Mexico All-Stars45–26 Eastern New Mexico GreyhoundsCollege Division Bowl Game - VIIDecember 16, 1957 Wiley Wildcats78–20 Mexico All-StarsSan Antonio, TexasCollege Division Bowl Game - VIIINovember 28, 1964 Mexico All-Stars20–7 UC Santa BarbaraMexico CityCollege Division Bowl Game - IXDecember 14, 196528–6 San Diego SabresAll-Star Bowl Game - XDecember 13, 1966 Tarleton State Texans42–8 Mexico All-StarsCollege Division Bowl Game - XIDecember 10, 1970 Mexico All-Stars7–6 Mesabi State Junior CollegeJunior College Bowl Game - XIIDecember 20, 1971 Navy Freshmen47–9 Mexico All-StarsCollege Division Bowl Game - XIIIDecember 9, 1979 Mexico All-Stars8–0 Trinity Tigers Division III Bowl Game - XIVDecember 13, 1980 28–17 La Mesa Junior College Junior College Bowl Game - XVDecember 15, 1984 22–15 Tarleton State Texans Division III Bowl Game - XVIDecember 20, 1986 Washburn Ichabods 27–8 Mexico All-Stars Division III Bowl Game - XVIIDecember 14, 1987 Adams State Indians 35–17 Division III Bowl Game - XVIIIDecember 10, 1988 Mexico All-Stars 49–21 Western New Mexico Mustangs Division III Bowl Game - XIXDecember 9, 1989 Southeastern Oklahoma State Savages 22–0 Mexico All-Stars Division III Bowl Game - XX December 12, 1990 Southern Arkansas Muleriders 41–29 Division III Bowl Game - XXI December 15, 1991 Mexico All-Stars 35–28 Southwestern Oklahoma State BulldogsNAIA Bowl Game - XXIIDecember 14, 1992 Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils 21–14 Mexico All-Stars Division III Bowl Game - XXIIIDecember 18, 1993 Mexico All-Stars 34–20 McMurry Indians Division III Bowl Game - XXIVDecember 17, 1994 24–24 Southeastern Oklahoma State Savages Division III Bowl Game - XXVDecember 19, 1996 63–8 Palermo (Italy) Cardinals Military Bowl Game - XXVIDecember 20, 1997 AFCA Division III All-Stars 42–41 Mexico All-Stars Toluca All-Star Bowl Game - XXVIIDecember 12, 1998 40–13 Monterrey All-Star Bowl Game - XXVIIIDecember 18, 1999 44–13 Mexico City All-Star Bowl Game - XXIXDecember 16, 2000 27–26 Mérida All-Star Bowl Game - XXXDecember 15, 2001 37–5 Saltillo All-Star Bowl Game - XXXIDecember 14, 2002 15–9 Torreón All-Star Bowl Game - XXXIIDecember 13, 2003 Mexico All-Stars 34–31 AFCA Division III All-Stars Cancún All-Star Bowl Game - XXXIIIDecember 11, 2004 AFCA Division III All-Stars 23–3 Mexico All-Stars Cancún All-Star Bowl Game - XXXIVDecember 17, 2005 53–15 Toluca All-Star Bowl Game - XXXV December 17, 2006 28–7 Aguascalientes All-Star Bowl Game - XXXVIDecember 8, 2007 37–19 Chihuahua All-Star Bowl Game - XXXVIIDecember 5, 2009 Mexico All-Stars 42–17 Central Methodist Eagles Mexico City All-Star Bowl Game - XXXVIII December 10, 2011 Division II/III All-American Eagles 28–14 ONEFA Mexico All-Stars Chihuahua All-Star Bowl Game - XXXIX December 14, 2012 49–26 Monterrey All-Star Bowl Game - XL November 29, 2014 24–21 Chihuahua All-Star Bowl Game - XLI December 5, 2015 ONEFA Mexico All-Stars 17–14 Division II/III All-American Eagles Mexico City All-Star Bowl Game - XLII December 9, 2016 27–19 Monterrey All-Star Bowl Game - XLIII December 9, 2017 34–24 Texcoco All-Star Bowl Game - XLIV December 8, 2018 17–10 Mexico City All-Star Bowl Game - XLV December 11, 2022 27–2 Texas All-Stars/Air Radar Tour Texcoco All-Star Bowl Game - XLVII December 1, 2023 56–0 Division II/III All-American Eagles Monterrey All-Star Bowl Game - XLVIII

See also List of college bowl games IFAF U-19 World Cup World University American Football Championship

References