The San Francisco Bowl was an annual postseason college football bowl game certified by the NCAA and played in the San Francisco Bay Area. Originally named the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl during its first two editions from 2002 to 2003, it was the Emerald Bowl from 2004 to 2009, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl from 2010 to 2013, the Foster Farms Bowl from 2014 to 2017, and the Redbox Bowl from 2018 to 2020. San Francisco Bowl naming returned during planning for a 2021 game.

San Francisco Bowl (defunct)
Previous stadiumsPacific Bell Park (2002–2013)
Levi's Stadium (2014–2019)
Previous locationsSan Francisco, California (2002–2013)
Santa Clara, California (2014–2019)
Operated2002–2019
Conference tie-insPac-12 (2006–2019)
Big Ten (2014–2019)
Previous conference tie-insBig East (2002–2004)
Mtn West (2002–2005)
ACC (2005–2010)
Army (2011)
Navy (2012)
BYU (2013)
PayoutUS$3.6 million (2019)[1]
Sponsors
Diamond Foods (2002–2009)
Kraft Foods (2010–2012)
Foster Farms (2014–2017)
Redbox (2018–2019)
Former names
San Francisco Bowl (2002)
Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl (2002–2003)
Emerald Bowl (2004–2009)
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (2010–2012)
Fight Hunger Bowl (2013)
Foster Farms Bowl (2014–2017)
Redbox Bowl (2018–2019)
2020 matchup
Canceled due to COVID-19 concerns
2021 matchup
Canceled due to lack of network and sponsor

The game had four sellouts—2006 (UCLA vs. Florida State), 2008 (Cal vs. Miami), 2009 (USC vs. Boston College), and 2011 (Nevada vs. Boston College)—and three of the highest rated bowls ever televised on ESPN. It also gained a national reputation for the quality of hospitality provided to the participating teams.

The game was most recently played in December 2019. From 2002 to 2013, it was played at Pacific Bell Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, in San Francisco, California.[2] From 2014 through 2019, it was played at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, in Santa Clara, California.

At the end of July 2020, organizers canceled the 2020 edition of the bowl due to the COVID-19 pandemic; at the same time, the 49ers released a statement noting that "the decision has been made to not renew the current agreement to host the game moving forward".[3] On September 10, 2021, the game was again canceled for the 2021–22 bowl season, putting its future in jeopardy.[4][5]

History

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The game was founded by John Marks, president of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, San Francisco Giants executive Pat Gallagher and sports industry veteran Gary Cavalli, former Associate Athletic Director at Stanford University and president of the pioneering American Basketball League, for the purpose of utilizing the Giants' new ballpark, bringing visitors to San Francisco during a traditionally slow time of the year, and rewarding two successful teams with a week in San Francisco.

Plans for the inaugural 2002 San Francisco Bowl were established on Dec. 2, 2002, when the Air Force Falcons football program accepted a bid to play against an undetermined team from the Big East Conference.[6] Their initial sponsor was Diamond Foods, a producer of walnuts and other nuts under the Emerald brand name, resulting in the name Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl, and later the Emerald Bowl.

In 2010, Kraft Foods became the sponsor of the bowl and announced the new name, which the corporation launched as part of a broader hunger relief program.[7][8] Mondelēz International continued to support the game and the program related with Feeding America in 2013.

In August 2014, the bowl's official website listed the game's name as the San Francisco Bowl once again.[9] However, on November 11, 2014, it was announced that the San Francisco Bowl Game Association had reached a multi-year naming rights deal with Northern California-based poultry company Foster Farms, resulting in the game being named the Foster Farms Bowl.[10]

On July 12, 2016, the San Francisco 49ers NFL team announced that it had taken over management of the Foster Farms Bowl from the San Francisco Bowl Game Association, and also announced a new, four-year broadcast rights deal with Fox Sports, replacing ESPN.[11]

In September 2018, Redbox (a chain of video rental kiosks) announced it had become the new title sponsor.[12][13]

Conference tie-ins

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The game had a contract to host the Pac-12's sixth-place team during the 2010 through 2013 seasons. There were multiple contracts that determined the opponent. In 2011, the Pac-12 team's opponent was Illinois, replacing Army, which did not achieve bowl eligibility; in 2012, it was Navy; and in 2013, it was BYU. Had these teams not qualified for bowl eligibility, they would have been replaced by teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) or the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

Beginning with the 2014 season, teams come from the Pac-12 and Big Ten conferences.[14] With Oregon's appearance in the 2018 edition, Colorado and Washington State are the only Pac-12 members who have not appeared in the game.

Field configuration

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Because Pacific Bell Park (as it was named when it first hosted the bowl) is a baseball park and not normally used for football, arrangement of the field required both teams to be on the same sideline (southeast), separated by a barrier at the 50-yard line (in shallow right-center field). The opposite sideline (northwest) ran along the third base line, with an end zone near the first base dugout, and the other near the left field wall. Primary seating was in the third base grandstand, with temporary bleacher seating in right-center field.

Results

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Rankings are based on the AP Poll prior to the game being played.

Date Bowl name Winning team Losing team Attnd.
December 31, 2002 San Francisco Bowl No. 21 Virginia Tech 20  Air Force 13   25,966
December 31, 2003 San Francisco Bowl Boston College 35 Colorado State 21 25,621
December 30, 2004 Emerald Bowl Navy 34 New Mexico 19 30,563
December 29, 2005 Emerald Bowl Utah 38 No. 24 Georgia Tech 10 25,742
December 27, 2006 Emerald Bowl Florida State 44 UCLA 27 40,331
December 28, 2007 Emerald Bowl Oregon State 21 Maryland 14 32,517
December 27, 2008 Emerald Bowl California 24 Miami (FL) 17 42,268
December 26, 2009 Emerald Bowl USC 24 Boston College 13 40,121
January 9, 2011 Fight Hunger Bowl   No. 13 Nevada 20 Boston College 13 41,063
December 31, 2011 Fight Hunger Bowl Illinois 20 UCLA 14 29,878
December 29, 2012 Fight Hunger Bowl Arizona State 62 Navy 28 34,172
December 27, 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl Washington 31 BYU 16 34,136
December 30, 2014 Foster Farms Bowl Stanford 45 Maryland 21 34,780
December 26, 2015 Foster Farms Bowl Nebraska 37 UCLA 29 33,527
December 28, 2016 Foster Farms Bowl Utah 26 Indiana 24 27,608
December 27, 2017 Foster Farms Bowl Purdue 38 Arizona 35 28,436
December 31, 2018 Redbox Bowl Oregon 7 Michigan State 6 30,212
December 30, 2019 Redbox Bowl California 35 Illinois 20 34,177
2020 Redbox Bowl Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
2021 San Francisco Bowl Canceled due to no TV deal or corporate sponsor.[16]

Source:[17]

MVPs

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Cal running back Jahvid Best (no. 4) accepts the 2008 Emerald Bowl Offensive MVP trophy from Emerald Bowl Executive Director Gary Cavalli
Game Offensive MVP Defensive MVP
Player Team Pos. Player Team Pos.
2002 Bryan Randall Virginia Tech QB Anthony Schlegel Air Force LB
2003 Derrick Knight Boston College RB T. J. Stancil Boston College FS
2004 Aaron Polanco Navy QB Vaughn Keley Navy CB
2005 Travis LaTendresse Utah WR Eric Weddle Utah CB
2006 Lorenzo Booker Florida State RB Tony Carter Florida State CB
2007 Yvenson Bernard Oregon State RB Derrick Doggett Oregon State LB
2008 Jahvid Best California RB Zack Follett California LB
2009 Damian Williams USC WR Luke Kuechly Boston College LB
Jan. 2011 Rishard Matthews Nevada WR Luke Kuechly Boston College LB
Dec. 2011 Nathan Scheelhaase Illinois QB Terry Hawthorne Illinois DB
2012 Marion Grice Arizona State RB Will Sutton Arizona State DT
2013 Bishop Sankey Washington RB Hau'oli Kikaha Washington DE
2014 Kevin Hogan Stanford QB James Vaughters Stanford LB
2015 Tommy Armstrong Jr. Nebraska QB Jaleel Wadood UCLA S
2016 Joe Williams Utah RB Tegray Scales Indiana LB
2017 Elijah Sindelar Purdue QB Ja'Whaun Bentley Purdue LB
2018 Dillon Mitchell Oregon WR Josiah Scott Michigan State CB
2019 Chase Garbers California QB Zeandae Johnson California DE

Most appearances

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Updated through the December 2019 edition (18 games, 36 total appearances).

Teams with multiple appearances
Rank Team Appearances Record Win pct.
T1 Boston College 3 1–2 .333
T1 UCLA 3 0–3 .000
T3 California 2 2–0 1.000
T3 Utah 2 2–0 1.000
T3 Illinois 2 1–1 .500
T3 Navy 2 1–1 .500
T3 Maryland 2 0–2 .000
Teams with a single appearance

Won (11): Arizona State, Florida State, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Oregon State, Purdue, Stanford, USC, Virginia Tech, Washington
Lost (9): Air Force, Arizona, BYU, Colorado State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Miami (FL), Michigan State, New Mexico

Of the members of the Pac-12 at the discontinuation of the bowl, only Washington State and Colorado never appeared in the game.

Appearances by conference

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Updated through the December 2019 edition (18 games, 36 total appearances).

Conference Record Appearances by season
Games W L Win pct. Won Lost
Pac-12 13 9 4 .692 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 2006, 2011, 2015, 2017
Big Ten 7 3 4 .429 2011, 2015, 2017 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
ACC 6 1 5 .167 2006 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010*
Mountain West 4 1 3 .250 2005 2002, 2003, 2004
Independents 3 1 2 .333 2004 2012, 2013
Big East 2 2 0 1.000 2002, 2003  
WAC 1 1 0 1.000 2010*  
  • Games marked with an asterisk (*) were played in January of the following calendar year.
  • The Pac-12's record includes appearances when the conference was the Pac-10 (3–1).
  • Virginia Tech (2002) and Boston College (2003) appeared as members of the Big East; the American Athletic Conference (The American) retains the Big East's conference charter following the 2013 split of the original Big East along football lines.
  • Independent appearances: Navy (2004, 2012) and BYU (2013).
  • The WAC no longer sponsors FBS-level football.

Game records

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Team Record, Team vs. Opponent Year
Most points scored 62, Arizona State vs Navy 2012
Most points scored (losing team) 35, Arizona vs Purdue 2017
Most points scored (both teams) 90, Arizona State vs Navy 2012
Fewest points allowed 6, Oregon vs. Michigan State 2018
Largest margin of victory 34, Arizona State vs Navy 2012
Total yards 648, Arizona State vs. Navy 2012
Rushing yards 380, Arizona State vs. Navy 2012
Passing yards 396, Purdue vs. Arizona 2017
First downs 36, Arizona State vs. Navy 2012
Fewest yards allowed 185, Nevada vs. Boston College 2011
Fewest rushing yards allowed 17, Stanford vs. Maryland 2014
Fewest passing yards allowed 37, Arizona State vs. Navy 2012
Individual Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
All-purpose yards
Touchdowns (overall) 4, Travis LaTendresse, Utah vs. Georgia Tech 2005
Rushing yards 222, Joe Williams, Utah vs. Indiana 2016
Rushing touchdowns 3, most recently:
Remound Wright, Stanford vs. Maryland

2014
Passing yards 396, Elijah Sindelar, Purdue vs. Arizona 2017
Passing touchdowns 4, most recently:
Chase Garbers, California vs. Illinois

2019
Receiving yards 214, Travis LaTendresse, Utah vs. Georgia Tech 2005
Receiving touchdowns 4, Travis LaTendresse, Utah vs. Georgia Tech 2005
Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Long Plays Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
Touchdown run 46, Chris Swain, Navy vs. Arizona State 2012
Touchdown pass 78, Brandon Breazell from Patrick Cowan, UCLA vs, Florida State 2006
Kickoff return 100, shared by:
John Ross, Washington vs. BYU
William Likely, Maryland vs. Stanford

2013
2014
Punt return 72, Rishard Matthews, Nevada vs. Boston College Jan. 2011
Interception return 86, Tony Carter, Florida State vs. UCLA 2006
Fumble return
Punt
Field goal 48, Andy Phillips, Utah vs. Indiana 2016

Media coverage

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From 2002 through 2015, the bowl was televised by ESPN or ESPN2; from 2016 to 2019, it was carried by Fox.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  2. ^ "Eye On Football". CBSSports.com. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  3. ^ Curtis, Jake (August 1, 2020). "Redbox Bowl Canceled for This Season – The 2019 Game Gave Cal Hope". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Mandel, Stewart (2021-09-10). "Redbox Bowl canceled for second straight season: source". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  5. ^ Cavalli, Gary (December 15, 2022). "The Bowl Games You Should Watch; R.I.P. San Francisco Bowl Game". Inside Track. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "Air Force accepts invitation to San Francisco Bowl". 2002-12-04. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  7. ^ "Kraft Foods to sponsor San Francisco Bowl Game" (Press release). Kraft Foods. April 15, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
  8. ^ Sports Illustrated, 15 November 2010, p. 45.
  9. ^ "NameBright - Coming Soon".
  10. ^ "Foster Farms Bowl". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. November 12, 2014. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  11. ^ "San Francisco 49ers Assume Management of Foster Farms Bowl at Levi's® Stadium". 49ers.com. Forty Niners Football Company LLC. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Bay Area bowl changing name for sixth time". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  13. ^ "Levi's Stadium picks up sponsor for their annual college bowl game". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  14. ^ Bay Area Bowl will feature Pac-12 vs. BIG TEN matchup, Fight Hunger Bowl, June 24, 2013
  15. ^ Wilmer, Brian (31 July 2020). "2020 Redbox Bowl canceled". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  16. ^ Connon, Sam (10 September 2021). "Pac-12 Affiliated San Francisco Bowl Canceled for Second Straight Year". SI.com. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Redbox Bowl" (PDF). Bowl/All Star Game Records. NCAA. 2020. p. 14. Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via NCAA.org.
  18. ^ Kelly, Doug (ed.). "2019–20 Football Bowl Association Media Guide" (PDF). footballbowlassociation.com. p. 118. Retrieved January 4, 2020.