The Arizona Bowl is a postseason college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that began play in the 2015 season. The game is held at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson, and starting in 2020 has tie-ins with the Mountain West Conference and Mid-American Conference (MAC). Since 2024, the game has been sponsored by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop, the gin-based cocktail brand co-founded by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg; it was previously sponsored by the mortgage broker company Nova Home Loans (2015–2019), the real estate agency Offerpad (2020) and Barstool Sports (2021–2023).
History
Alongside the Austin Bowl and Cure Bowl, the Arizona Bowl was one of three new bowl games sanctioned by the NCAA to begin play in the 2015 season (although the Austin Bowl was delayed to 2016, before ultimately being delayed indefinitely due to a moratorium placed on new bowl games by the NCAA). In May 2015, it was reported that the game was to be held at Casino Del Sol Stadium, and feature participants from Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference. It marked a return of post-season college football to Tucson, Arizona, which previously hosted the Copper Bowl (the event now known as the Rate Bowl).
The Arizona Bowl was officially announced on October 1, 2015, as the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl. Founded by the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission (ASEC), Alan Young, Kemp Ellis, Nikki Balich, the Mountain West Conference and Campus Insiders in a joint venture, the inaugural game was scheduled to be held on December 29, 2015. It was also announced that the Sun Belt Conference would provide a secondary tie-in in case either conference did not have a bowl-eligible team to play the Arizona Bowl.
The inaugural game featured the Nevada Wolf Pack against the Colorado State Rams. As neither Conference USA or the Sun Belt had enough bowl-eligible teams that could be sent to the Arizona Bowl, the game was played between two Mountain West teams, marking the first time since the 1979 Orange Bowl that a non-championship bowl game was played between teams from the same conference. However, the two teams had not played each other during the regular season, as they competed in different divisions.
In May 2016, it was announced that the Sun Belt had reached a four-year deal to serve as a primary tie-in for the Arizona Bowl through 2019, replacing Conference USA. It was the fifth bowl game in which the Sun Belt held a primary tie-in. On July 26, 2019, the bowl announced tie-ins with the Mountain West and Mid-American Conference (MAC) beginning in the 2020 football season and running through the 2025 season.
On October 30, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 game would be played behind closed doors with no spectators admitted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona.
The 2021 game was canceled after the Boise State Broncos withdrew due to COVID-19 issues within the program. Their scheduled opponent, the Central Michigan Chippewas, were named as a replacement team for the Sun Bowl.
Sponsorship The first five editions of the bowl were sponsored by NOVA Home Loans and were officially known as the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. The company declined to renew its sponsorship in 2020. On December 23, 2020, it was announced that real estate agency Offerpad had signed on as the title sponsor of the game, making it the Offerpad Arizona Bowl.
On July 27, 2021, Barstool Sports was announced as the title sponsor of the game. On August 10, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to pull its nearly $40,000 in funding for the game, citing objections to "inflammatory statements and tweets" made in the past by Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, including a post from 2010: "Though I never condone rape, if you’re a Size 6 and wearing skinny jeans, you kind of deserve to be raped, right?" Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl remained the bowl's official name through the 2023 playing. On May 6, 2024, Snoop Dogg's drink brand, Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop, became the new Arizona Bowl title sponsor, with the bowl officially named the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice.
Game results Date Winning Team Losing TeamAttendanceNotes December 29, 2015 Nevada 28 Colorado State 23 20,425 notesDecember 30, 2016 Air Force 45 South Alabama 21 33,868 notesDecember 29, 2017 New Mexico State 26 Utah State 20 (OT) 39,132 notes December 29, 2018 Nevada 16 Arkansas State 13 (OT) 32,368 notes December 31, 2019 Wyoming 38 Georgia State 17 36,892 notesDecember 31, 2020 Ball State 34 No. 19 San Jose State 13 0 notesDecember 31, 2021 Boise State forfeited to Central Michigan University per CFP rules enacted in 2021December 30, 2022 Ohio 30 Wyoming 27 (OT) 27,691 notesDecember 30, 2023 Wyoming 16 Toledo 15 30,428 notesDecember 28, 2024 Miami (OH) 43 Colorado State 17 40,076 notesDecember 27, 2025 Fresno State 18 Miami (OH) 3 37,232 notes Source:
MVPs The bowl named an offensive and defensive MVP through the 2020 edition. Since the 2022 edition (the 2021 edition was canceled) a single MVP has been named.
Year Offensive MVP Defensive MVP Ref. Player Team Pos. Player Team Pos.2015 James Butler Nevada RB Ian Seau Nevada DE 2016 Arion Worthman Air Force QB Weston Steelhammer Air Force DB 2017 Larry Rose III New Mexico State RB Leon McQuaker New Mexico State LB 2018 Ty Gangi Nevada QB B. J. Edmonds Arkansas State S 2019 Xazavian Valladay Wyoming RB Alijah Halliburton Wyoming S 2020 Drew Plitt Ball State QB Bryce Cosby Ball State S Year Game MVP Ref.2022 CJ Harris Ohio QB 2023 John Hoyland Wyoming K 2024 Kevin Davis Miami (OH) RB 2025 E. J. Warner Fresno State QB
Most appearances Updated through the December 2025 edition (10 games, 20 total appearances).
Teams with multiple appearances RankTeamAppearancesWonLostWin pct.1 Wyoming 3 2 Nevada 2 Miami (OH) 2 Colorado State 2
Teams with a single appearance Won (5): Air Force, Ball State, Fresno State, New Mexico State, Ohio
Lost (6): Arkansas State, Georgia State, San Jose State, South Alabama, Toledo, Utah State
Appearances by conference Updated through the December 2025 edition (10 games, 20 total appearances).
ConferenceRecordAppearances by seasonGamesWLWin pct.WonLost Mountain West 11 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2025 2015, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024 MAC 5 2020, 2022, 2024 2023, 2025 Sun Belt 4 2017 2016, 2018, 2019
The 2015 game was contested between two Mountain West teams.
Game records TeamRecord, Team vs. OpponentYearMost points scored (one team) 45, Air Force vs. South Alabama 2016Most points scored (losing team) 27, Wyoming vs. Ohio 2022Most points scored (both teams) 66, Air Force (45) vs. South Alabama (21) 2016Fewest points allowed 3, Fresno State vs. Miami (OH) 2025Largest margin of victory 24, Air Force (45) vs. South Alabama (21) 2016Total yards 532, Colorado State vs. Nevada 2015Rushing yards 290, Wyoming vs. Georgia State 2019Passing yards 310, Colorado State vs. Nevada 2015First downs 30, Colorado State vs. Nevada 2015Fewest yards allowed 192, Fresno State vs. Miami (OH) 2025Fewest rushing yards allowed 68, Air Force vs. South Alabama 2016Fewest passing yards allowed 72, Fresno State vs. Miami (OH) 2025IndividualRecord, Player, TeamYearAll-purpose yards 295, Xazavian Valladay (Wyoming)(204 rushing, 91 receiving) 2019Touchdowns (all-purpose) 2, shared byJames Butler (Nevada)Jacobi Owens (Air Force) Xazavian Valladay (Wyoming)Jordon Vaughn (Wyoming) 2015201620192022Rushing yards 204, Xazavian Valladay (Wyoming) 2019Rushing touchdowns 2, shared by:James Butler (Nevada)Jacobi Owens (Air Force) Jordon Vaughn (Wyoming) 201520162022Passing yards 310, Nick Stevens (Colorado State) 2015Passing touchdowns 3, Levi Williams (Wyoming) 2019Receiving yards 154, Josh Magee (South Alabama) 2016Receiving touchdowns 1, by various players Receptions 9, Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) 2015Tackles 16, Darrell Songy (South Alabama) 2016Sacks 2, shared by:Chason Milner (South Alabama)Dajon Emory (Arkansas State) Shane Bonner (Ohio) 201620182022Interceptions 2, Justin Brent (Nevada) 2018Long PlaysRecord, Player, TeamYearTouchdown run 80 yds., Jacquez Stuart (Toledo) 2023Touchdown pass 75 yds., shared by:Josh Magee (South Alabama)Jale Robinette (Air Force) 2016Kickoff return 100 yds., Jason Huntley (New Mexico State) 2017Punt return 21 yds., Kenyon Reed (San Jose State) 2020Interception return 53 yds., Antonio Phillips (Ball State) 2020Fumble return 29 yds., Nehemiah Shelton (Ball State) 2020Punt 69 yds., Quinton Conaway (Nevada) 2018Field goal 53 yds., shared by: Cooper Rothe (Wyoming)John Hoyland (Wyoming) 20192022
Media coverage The Arizona Bowl would have a "digitally-focused" broadcasting strategy, according to organizers, who announced that the website Campus Insiders (a joint venture of IMG College and Silver Chalice) would hold online streaming rights to the game as its "primary digital media partner". Campus Insiders, in turn, partnered with 120 Sports (a digital sports network that is a joint venture of Silver Chalice, MLB Advanced Media, and Time Inc.) to provide interactive in-game content, as well as pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows for the webcast. Television rights to the 2015 and 2016 games were also held by Sinclair Broadcast Group's American Sports Network; the telecasts were syndicated to local broadcast television stations and regional sports networks.
On April 18, 2017, it was announced that CBS Sports Network had acquired rights to the Arizona Bowl under a "multi-year" deal; Campus Insiders (which merged with ASN to form the new Stadium network) is no longer involved in the broadcast.
For its 2020 edition, the game was promoted to the main CBS network, as the Sun Bowl (which is typically aired by the network) was cancelled due to COVID-19-related complications.
With Barstool Sports' sponsorship of the game, the game returned to a digital broadcast via Barstool's platforms; Barstool founder Dave Portnoy served as the play-by-play commentator, joined by Dan "Big Cat" Katz (Pardon My Take) and Jake Marsh as analysts, and Caleb Pressley and Adam "Rone" Ferrone as sideline reporters. In 2023, the game returned to broadcast television via a sublicensing agreement with The CW, who simulcast the Barstool-produced telecast.
In May 2024, CW Sports renewed its rights to the Arizona Bowl without Barstool's involvement.
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