Bowl Game Bonanza: Fun Facts and Crazy Stats

College football's bowl season is more than just games; it's a treasure trove of records and wild 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. Some of the most impressive records in college football history happened during bowl games. For example, Alabama has the most bowl game appearances, with 78, and they've also won the most bowl games, with 45 victories. But it's not just about wins and losses; there are some crazy stats too. Like the time Marshall and East Carolina combined for 125 points in a single game! And get this, there have been four bowl games where not a single point was scored. Bowl games can be high-scoring affairs. In 2015, Virginia Tech and Tulsa combined for 76 points in just the first half of their game. And in 2016, Idaho and Colorado State scored a total of 84 points in the second half alone. But it's not always about the points. Sometimes, it's about the big plays. Like the time Terry Baker ran for a 99-yard touchdown, or when Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw a 99-yard completion.And let's not forget the individual records. Ty Detmer holds the record for most yards of total offense in a bowl game with 594 yards. And Joe Burrow is responsible for the most touchdowns in a single game, with 8. But it's not all about offense. There are records for defense too, like the most interceptions thrown by a team in a single game, which is 12. Bowl games are also known for their comebacks. The largest comeback win in a bowl game history is 31 points, which has happened twice. And the largest margin of victory is 60 points, which Georgia achieved against Florida State in the 2023 Orange Bowl. But perhaps the most impressive record of all is the most points scored by a team in a single 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!