The Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl are two of the most well-known college football bowl games played each year. Both games feature high-profile matchups between top teams from various conferences. There has been some confusion over whether the Cheez-It Bowl is simply a rebranded version of the Citrus Bowl or if they are completely separate bowl games. This article will examine the history and details of each bowl game to definitively answer whether the Cheez-It Bowl is the Citrus Bowl.
Background on the Citrus Bowl
The Citrus Bowl is one of the oldest college football bowl games, with a history dating back to 1947. It has been played annually in Orlando, Florida since the first game. Here are some key facts about the history and details of the Citrus Bowl:
- First known as the Tangerine Bowl when it started in 1947
- Renamed the Florida Citrus Bowl in 1983
- Has featured teams from major conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC
- Originally played at Orlando Stadium, then moved to the Florida Citrus Bowl stadium in 1968
- Currently sponsored by Vrbo and officially called the Vrbo Citrus Bowl
- Has hosted famous coaches like Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes, Bobby Bowden over its history
The Citrus Bowl has maintained its status as one of the premier bowl games outside of the New Year’s Six bowls. It has historically provided a matchup between high-profile SEC and Big Ten teams.
History of the Cheez-It Bowl
The Cheez-It Bowl is a younger bowl game that has only been around since 2001. Here is some background on this game:
- Originally called the Cactus Bowl when it started in 1989 in Tucson, Arizona
- Moved to Phoenix in 2006 and renamed the Insight Bowl
- Changed name to Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in 2012
- Cactus Bowl name brought back in 2020 after a stint as Cheez-It Bowl from 2018-2019
- Has featured matchups between Big 12 and Pac-12 teams recently
- Played at Chase Field in Phoenix since its move from Tucson
Unlike the Citrus Bowl, the Cheez-It Bowl does not have the lengthy history and tradition. But it has quickly grown into a prominent bowl game featuring strong teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12 conferences.
Key Differences Between the Bowls
While both the Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl are high-profile college football bowls, there are some key differences between the two:
Cheez-It Bowl | Citrus Bowl |
---|---|
Located in Phoenix, AZ | Located in Orlando, FL |
Began in 1989 | Began in 1947 |
Features Big 12 vs Pac-12 | Features SEC vs Big Ten |
The location, history, and conference tie-ins show that the Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl are distinctly different games.
Sponsorship and Naming Changes
The Cheez-It Bowl was known as the Cactus Bowl when it first began. It has since had title sponsorships with Insight, Buffalo Wild Wings, and now Cheez-It. The Citrus Bowl has also been renamed multiple times due to sponsorship deals.
These naming changes for sponsorship reasons sometimes cause confusion around whether two bowl games are the same event with just a different name. However, the history shows the Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl have always been entirely separate bowl games. The title sponsors may change, but the games themselves remain distinct events with different histories.
Conclusion
After examining the origins and details of the Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl, the evidence clearly shows they are not the same bowl game. Key points:
- Citrus Bowl dates back to 1947, Cheez-It Bowl started in 1989
- The two bowls have always been held at different stadiums in different cities (Orlando vs Phoenix)
- Different lineup of conference tie-ins (SEC/Big Ten for Citrus, Big 12/Pac-12 for Cheez-It)
The fact that both bowls have had different title sponsors and naming conventions over the decades may understandably cause some confusion. But the history shows they have always been completely separate postseason games. The Cheez-It Bowl is not a rebrand or rename of the longer-running Citrus Bowl – it is its own distinct bowl game with a more recent beginning. So in conclusion, no, the Cheez-It Bowl is not the Citrus Bowl.
Other Major December College Football Bowls
While the Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl typically take place around the same time in December, they are certainly not the only prominent college football bowl games that month. Here is a look at some other major bowls also played in December:
Alamo Bowl
The Valero Alamo Bowl is held in San Antonio and has featured matchups between Big 12 and Pac-12 teams since its founding in 1993. Teams like Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah have made frequent appearances.
Holiday Bowl
San Diego has hosted the National Funding Holiday Bowl since 1978. Historically it has showcased Pac-10 vs Big 12/Big 8 matchups.
Gator Bowl
One of the older bowl games, the Gator Bowl was first played in Jacksonville in 1946. It often features ACC vs. SEC teams.
Sun Bowl
The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl is played in El Paso, Texas and is the second oldest bowl after the Rose Bowl. It began in 1935 and now traditionally pits the ACC against the Pac-12.
Liberty Bowl
Memphis has held the AutoZone Liberty Bowl annually since 1959. It was the first Southern bowl game integrated between white and black players.
Arizona Bowl
One of the newer bowl games, the Arizona Bowl began in 2015 in Tucson and features teams from the MAC and Mountain West conferences.
Independence Bowl
Shreveport, Louisiana has hosted this bowl match between SEC and ACC teams since 1976.
So while the Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl get a lot of attention, December features many other prominent bowls with their own traditions and histories. But none of them are the same event as the Cheez-It Bowl.
Potential Matchups in the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl
Now that we’ve established the Cheez-It Bowl is distinctly different from the Citrus Bowl, let’s take a quick look ahead to this season’s matchup possibilities. In 2022, the Cheez-It Bowl will once again feature Big 12 and Pac-12 teams facing off in late December.
Here are some potential showdowns we could see in Phoenix this year:
- Oklahoma State vs Oregon – These teams met in the 2021 bowl and could clash again
- Kansas State vs Utah – Two schools that have never played each other
- Texas vs Washington – Historical powers from their respective conferences
- Baylor vs UCLA – Intriguing offensive matchup
The Big 12 has improved depth this season, while the Pac-12 lacks a clear frontrunner. This could lead to an exciting matchup between two closely matched teams hoping to end 2022 on a high note. The Cheez-It Bowl will provide a quality non-playoff bowl home for two deserving squads.
Future of the Cheez-It Bowl
As one of the better non-New Year’s Six bowl games, the Cheez-It Bowl looks to have a bright future. It has established itself as an anticipated matchup between top Big 12 and Pac-12 contenders. This positioning among the bowl hierarchy appears stable for the foreseeable future.
ESPN Events owns and operates the Cheez-It Bowl as part of its slate of postseason college football contests. The multi-year sponsorship deal with Cheez-It also lends stability to the bowl’s commercial viability. Everything points to this game remaining a December staple as a top-tier bowl trip for its conference tie-ins.
The only major threat would be conference realignment impacting either the Big 12 or Pac-12. But even in the worst case scenario, the bowl organizers would likely seek out replacement conferences to keep the game going strong.
Barring major structural changes in college football, fans can count on traveling to Phoenix for more exciting Cheez-It Bowl action for years to come.
Conclusion
After analyzing the history, operations, and conference associations of the Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl, we can definitively conclude they are completely separate bowl games. The Cheez-It Bowl has never been a rebranded version of the longer-running Citrus Bowl. They have always operated as distinct postseason contests despite similar December scheduling.
Confusion is understandable given the two bowls’ naming evolution over the years with various corporate sponsors. But the evidence clearly settles any debate – the Cheez-It Bowl stands on its own and is not the Citrus Bowl under a different guise. It is its own high-profile bowl game with strong ties to the Big 12 and Pac-12. That is expected to continue showcasing exciting matchups between these two conferences for the foreseeable future.