HOUSTON, TX – Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the leading publication for all things football in Texas, and the Mercari Texas Bowl are proud to announce Hallettsville running back Jonathon Brooks as the recipient of the 2020 Mr. Texas Football High School Player of the Year. Brooks will be honored on the field at the Mercari Texas Bowl on Thursday, December 31^st at NRG Stadium in Houston, where the TCU Horned Frogs will face the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Mr. Texas Football annually recognizes the most outstanding high school football player in the state of Texas.

Brooks, a 6-foot, 185-pound running back, dazzled the Texas high school football world as a senior, running for 3,530 yards — the 7^th most in state history — and 62 touchdowns. When you add in his receiving talents and his sensational play on defense and special teams, his season is even more astounding: 3,849 total yards and 70 total touchdowns, tying former Mr. Texas Football winner Johnathan Gray of Aledo for the single-season scoring mark. His production sparked Hallettsville to its best season ever, as the Brahmas drove to the 3A Division I state championship game, their first title game appearance in their 107-year history. Brooks’ incredible play in all three phases of the game make him a worthy recipient of the 2020 Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year award.

Former winners of the award include 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray (2013 and 2014 winner, Allen), 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel (2010 winner, Kerrville Tivy), former Texas Longhorns running back Johnathan Gray (2011 winner, Aledo), former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers (2007 winner, Lamar Consolidated), current Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders (2017 winner, Denton Ryan) and Carolina Panthers quarterback Garrett Gilbert (2008 winner, Lake Travis). Frisco Lone Star and Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Marvin Mims took home the award in 2019.

The 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl will once again feature a matchup between Big 12 and SEC opponents. The 2019 Texas Bowl, which was among the top-5 most-attended bowls in the country for the sixth consecutive year, featured the Texas A&M Aggies, representing the SEC, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, representing the Big 12. The Aggies edged the Cowboys, 24-21, in a hard-hitting thriller. Overall, the Mercari Texas Bowl has ranked fourth in attendance since 2014, trailing only the Rose, Cotton and Peach Bowls in that time.

For more information on the Mr. Texas Football Award, visit www.MercariTexasBowl.com or www.TexasFootball.com.

Mercari Texas Bowl
The Mercari Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. The Bowl has showcased teams from the Big 12 and the SEC, two of the country’s premier conferences since 2014. The Mercari Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field over its first 14 years as it is the 5th most-attended bowl in the country since 2016. The bowl generates over $30 million annually for the Houston economy and has donated nearly $2 million in financial support and millions more in promotional support to DePelchin Children’s Center, the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.

About Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
For more than 60 years, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has been “the bible” to millions of football fans across the Lone Star State. The annual summer edition of the magazine remains a rite of passage for all Texans, previewing every football team in the state — from the rabid world of Texas high school football, through the college ranks, and into the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans. Over the course of six decades, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football remains the undisputed leader in Texas high school football, Texas college football and more.

TexasFootball.com is the online home of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, covering high school football, college football and recruiting all across the Lone Star State. From thought-provoking commentary to videos to podcasts to its daily live show, nobody covers football in Texas like TexasFootball.com.

HOUSTON – TCU and Arkansas have accepted bids to play in the 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl, the bowl organizing committee announced today. TCU will represent the Big 12 Conference and Arkansas will represent the Southeastern Conference. The 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl will be played on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium in Houston.  It will be televised on ESPN with radio broadcast nationally on ESPN Radio and locally in Houston on Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM). 

“We’re excited to announce the 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl matchup between TCU and Arkansas, two incredible universities from the Big 12 and the SEC,” said Board Chair Pete DeLongchamps. “We look forward to hosting the Horned Frogs and Razorbacks in the seventh consecutive Big 12 and SEC showdown. We can’t wait to welcome these teams and their fans for a great primetime matchup at NRG Stadium on New Year’s Eve.”

This will be the first time TCU and Arkansas have met at the Mercari Texas Bowl. The two schools have an outstanding history, having met 70 times with the Razorbacks leading the series with a 44-24-2 record. The two programs first met in 1920 when TCU was victorious 19-2. The last meeting occurred in 2017 when the Horned Frogs came out on top, 28-7.

Ticket prices range from $30-$150 and may be purchased online at www.MercariTexasBowl.com/tickets or on the phone at 832-667-2390. Special group packages are available by calling 832-667-2390. Fans can also call 832-667-2160 for more information on suites.  

The 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl will be the Horned Frogs’ second appearance in the bowl since 2007. In the Horned Frogs first appearance, they defeated the Houston Cougars 20-13. TCU has appeared in 34 bowl games, totaling a record of 17-16-1 in the postseason. In their 20th season under Head Coach Gary Patterson, the team finished their regular season with a 6-4 overall record and 5-4 record in Big 12 conference play. The matchup against the Razorbacks would be the first time the teams have seen each other since 2017, when the Horned Frogs defeated the Razorbacks 28-7.

The 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl would mark the Razorbacks’ second appearance in the bowl game. In their first trip to the Mercari Texas Bowl in 2014, the Razorbacks defeated the Texas Longhorns 31-7. The Razorbacks finished their regular season with a record of 3-7, in their first season under Head Coach Sam Pittman. The matchup against the Horned Frogs would be the 71st meeting between the two schools, dating back to 1920. 

Conference Call Information
The head coaches for TCU and Arkansas will conduct conference calls this evening to discuss the 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl. TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson will be available at 4:30 p.m. CT and Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman will be available at 4:45 p.m. CT. 

Zoom Link: https://houstontexans.zoom.us/j/88609217713?pwd=dlZ3ZzNNZWZUZ0JuU1FDRlc2WjF0dz09 
Zoom Call-In Number: 1-877-853-5247
Meeting ID: 886 0921 7713
Passcode: 743849
Availability:

• • TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson at 4:45 p.m. CT  
  • Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman at 5:00 p.m. CT 

MERCARI TEXAS BOWL
The Mercari Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. The Bowl has showcased teams from the Big 12 and the SEC, two of the country’s premier conferences since 2014. The Mercari Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field over its first 14 years as it is the 5th most-attended bowl in the country since 2016. The bowl generates over $30 million annually for the Houston economy and has donated nearly $2 million in financial support and millions more in promotional support to DePelchin Children’s Center, the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.

ESPN Events 
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of 35 collegiate sporting events nationwide. The roster includes four early-season college football games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, a college softball event and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 400 hours of live programming, reaches nearly 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in more than 10 markets across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as one of the leading sports event promoters in the country. In addition to hosting the Mercari Texas Bowl and the Texas Kickoff annually, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including the 2017 Manchester Derby, Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. Tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cups. LSSE has also reinvigorated the Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted major concerts featuring music superstars including George Strait, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.

CONTACTS:
Mercari Texas Bowl Contact: Allie LeClair, (832) 667-2050 or allie.leclair@houstontexans.com 
ESPN Media Contact: Anna Negron, (860) 766-2233 or anna.m.negron@espn.com ; @ItsAnnaNegron

###

HOUSTON – Tickets for the 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl will go on sale to the general public Friday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. CT. The Bowl will host up to 13,300 fans this year at NRG Stadium due to COVID-19 parameters.

This year’s game, featuring a Big 12 versus SEC showdown for the 7th straight year, will be played on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. CT, at NRG Stadium in Houston and will air on ESPN. The bowl is one of 17 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events.

Ticket prices range from $30-$150 and may be purchased online at www.MercariTexasBowl.com/tickets or on the phone at 832-667-2390. Special group packages are available by calling 832-667-2390. Fans can also call 832-667-2160 for more information on suites.  

Last year’s Mercari Texas Bowl saw the Texas A&M Aggies defeat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 24-21.  The Mercari Texas Bowl has ranked fifth in bowl game attendance since 2016, averaging over 65,000 attendees annually and trailing only the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl in that time. 

For more information including safety protocols in place for this year’s event at NRG Stadium, visit mercaritexasbowl.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook.

About Mercari
Mercari is your marketplace. Our platform connects millions of people across the U.S. to shop and sell items no longer being used. Mercari is constantly innovating to make exchanges easier, from at-home authentication to improvements in online payments and shipping. Mercari has more than 50 million downloads in the U.S. and 350,000 new listings every day, empowering the next generation to transform the way they shop. Mercari can be downloaded on app stores or accessed online through www.mercari.com. 

ESPN Events 
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of 35 collegiate sporting events nationwide. The roster includes four early-season college football games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, a college softball event and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 400 hours of live programming, reaches nearly 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in more than 10 markets across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as one of the leading sports event promoters in the country. In addition to hosting the Mercari Texas Bowl and the Texas Kickoff annually, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including the 2017 Manchester Derby, Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. Tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cups. LSSE has also reinvigorated the Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted major concerts featuring music superstars including George Strait, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.

CONTACT:
Mercari Texas Bowl Contact: Allie LeClair, (832) 667-2050 or allie.leclair@houstontexans.com. 

###

HOUSTON – Lone Star Sports & Entertainment and ESPN Events today announced Mercari, Inc. (Mercari US) as the new title sponsor of the Texas Bowl, an annual collegiate postseason showdown between teams from the Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference. Entering its 15th year, the Mercari Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment, an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans.  The title sponsorship with Mercari US is being managed by its advertising agency of record, Rain the Growth Agency, and was brokered by Denver-based Impression Sports & Entertainment.  

The 2020 Mercari Texas Bowl will be played on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. CT, at NRG Stadium in Houston and will air on ESPN. The bowl is one of 17 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events.

The Mercari Texas Bowl has ranked fifth in bowl game attendance since 2016, averaging over 65,000 attendees annually and trailing only the Rose, Peach, Fiesta and Orange Bowls in that time. The Bowl will host up to 13,300 fans this year at NRG Stadium due to COVID-19 parameters.

“Mercari is thrilled to serve as the title sponsor of the Mercari Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas” said John Lagerling, CEO of Mercari US. “This has been a challenging year for many Americans, and Mercari is committed to supporting the needs of everyone who loves and contributes to our marketplace. At its core, Mercari is about connecting people and we are looking forward to bringing football fans around the country together to enjoy the storied tradition of this iconic game."

The Bowl has generated an average impact of over $30 million annually for the Houston economy. Through the Bowl’s relationship with DePelchin Children’s Center, its official charitable beneficiary, nearly $2 million in financial support has also been donated to the city’s oldest children’s charity.

“We are excited to welcome Mercari as the new title sponsor of the Texas Bowl,” said David Fletcher, Executive Director of the Mercari Texas Bowl. “The Mercari Texas Bowl has become one of the biggest college football events in the country through a strong partnership with the Big 12, SEC and many great supporters in the Houston community. We are thrilled to add a partner in Mercari, one of the most exciting new brands and e-commerce platforms in the U.S., to further elevate the event and the experience.”

In the 2019 Bowl, the Texas A&M Aggies were victorious over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a 24-21 shootout in front of a crowd of 68,415. The 2019 game was among the top-five most-attended bowls in the country for the fourth consecutive year and was also one of the top-ten most watched bowl games of 2019.

For more information on tickets and safety protocols in place for attendees, visit mercaritexasbowl.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook.

About Mercari US
Mercari is your marketplace. Our platform connects millions of people across the U.S. to shop and sell items no longer being used. Mercari is constantly innovating to make exchanges easier, from at-home authentication to improvements in online payments and shipping. Mercari has more than 50 million downloads in the U.S. and 350,000 new listings every day, empowering the next generation to transform the way they shop. Mercari can be downloaded on app stores or accessed online through www.mercari.com. 

ESPN Events 
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of 35 collegiate sporting events nationwide. The roster includes four early-season college football games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, a college softball event and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 400 hours of live programming, reaches nearly 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in more than 10 markets across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as one of the leading sports event promoters in the country. In addition to hosting the Mercari Texas Bowl and the Texas Kickoff annually, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including the 2017 Manchester Derby, Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. Tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cups. LSSE has also reinvigorated the Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted major concerts featuring music superstars including George Strait, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.

Rain the Growth Agency
Rain the Growth Agency is an independent, women-led, performance-minded, fully integrated advertising agency. We link strategy, creative and production with audience targeting, dynamic media buying and advanced analytics to achieve sales and branding goals simultaneously, without compromise. Our holistic Transactional Brand Building approach produces transformational growth for clients ranging from DTC fast companies and category disruptors to established brands with traditional models. For more than 20 years, we have been scaling businesses such as Peloton, Chewy, Wayfair, LendingTree, Humana, 23andMe, SimpliSafe and 1-800 Contacts. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon and co-founded in 1998 by Michelle Cardinal, our agency has grown to over 250 employees in four offices across the U.S.

Impression Sports & Entertainment
Impression Sports & Entertainment provides clients with full-service sponsorship sales representation, sponsorship consulting and venue naming rights services. Founded in 2011, Impression Sports is one of the leading firms in the business, led by its staff’s widespread industry experience and results-driven approach. Impression Sports partners with top organizations in the sports world including USC, Florida Citrus Sports, The Independence Bowl Foundation, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, Auburn University, the Fiesta Bowl Organization, USA Swimming, Sun Bowl Association and ESPN Events among others. 

Based in Denver, Impression Sports is owned by Home Team Sports, a sports marketing unit of FOX Sports.  Home Team Sports helps fans extend love for their home teams to the brands that associate with and support them. Through its proud representation of all regional sports networks across the country and an ever-expanding portfolio, Home Team Sports provides game coverage of all MLB, NBA and NHL home teams in the U.S., reaching over 90 million homes across television and streaming platforms. 

CONTACT:
Mercari: Tiffany Olson, tiffany.olson@mercari.com 
Rain the Growth Agency: Steve Miller, 503-222-0025, steve.miller@rainforgrowth.com 
Mercari Texas Bowl and LSSE Contact: Allie LeClair, (832) 667-2050 or allie.leclair@houstontexans.com 
ESPN Media Contact: Anna Negron, (860) 766-2233 or anna.m.negron@espn.com; @ItsAnnaNegron

Like most things in 2020, the Heisman Trophy race is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. The winner will be awarded on January 5 in a virtual ceremony with voting running until December 21 and the finalists being announced on Christmas Eve.

Delayed seasons, cancelled and postponed games, and other COVID related challenges means that this year’s race will go down to the wire. Conference championship matchups will likely be do or die to determine this year’s finalists and ultimately a winner. 

Read on to check out who the experts think will be in the running for the 2020 Heisman Trophy.

CBS Sports

1. Justin Fields, Ohio State
2. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson 
3. Jamie Newman, Georgia
4. Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma

NFL.com

1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2. Justin Fields, Ohio State
3. Sam Ehlinger, Texas
4. Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

New York Post

1. Mac Jones, Alabama
2. Kyle Trask, Florida
3. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
4. Justin Fields, Ohio State

247Sports

1. Mac Jones, Alabama
2. Justin Fields, Ohio State
3. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
4. Kyle Trask, Florida

HOUSTON – Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the leading publication for all things football in Texas, and the Texas Bowl proudly announce the 25 semifinalists for the Mr. Texas Football High School Player of the Year Award.

Mr. Texas Football annually recognizes the most outstanding high school football player in the state of Texas. Each week, fans are given a chance to vote for the player of the week on TexasFootball.com. At the end of the high school football season, 10 finalists will be named. Fans can then cast their vote as to who should be named Mr. Texas Football. The winner of the 2020 Mr. Texas Football Award will be announced prior to the 2020 Texas Bowl, which will be played on December 31 at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Frisco Lone Star and Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Marvin Mims took home the award in 2019. Former winners of the award include 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray (2013 and 2014 winner, Allen), 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel (2010 winner, Kerrville Tivy), former Texas Longhorns running back Johnathan Gray (2011 winner, Aledo), former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers (2007 winner, Lamar Consolidated), current Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders (2017 winner, Denton Ryan) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Garrett Gilbert (2008 winner, Lake Travis).

The 2020 Bowl will once again feature a matchup between Big 12 and SEC opponents. The 2019 Texas Bowl, which was among the top-5 most-attended bowls in the country for the sixth consecutive year, featured the Texas A&M Aggies, representing the SEC, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, representing the Big 12. The Aggies edged the Cowboys, 24-21, in a hard-hitting thriller. Overall, the Texas Bowl has ranked fifth in attendance since 2016, trailing only the Rose, Cotton, Fiesta and Peach Bowls in that time.

For more information on the Mr. Texas Football Award, visit www.texasbowl.com or www.texasfootball.com .

2020 Mr. Texas Football Semifinalists 

ATH JoJo Earle, Aledo
QB Conner Weigman, Bridgeland
RB Cash Jones, Brock
QB Ryder Hernandez, Cedar Park
QB Andrew Body, Corpus Christi Miller
ATH JaTavion Sanders, Denton Ryan
QB Behren Morton, Eastland
QB Garrett Nussmeier, Flower Mound Marcus
QB Dematrius Davis, Galena Park North Shore
QB Dane Jentsch, Grandview
DT Ed Bobino, Huntsville
QB Cole Andrus, Jourdanton
QB Jalen Milroe, Katy Tompkins
QB Ace Whitehead, Lampasas
RB Jordan Jenkins, Lindale
QB Kolt Schuckers, Lindsay
QB Sawyer Robertson, Lubbock Coronado
ATH Roddrell Freeman, Mart
RB Steve Johnson, Port Lavaca Calhoun
RB De'shon Goodley, Rankin
QB Braedyn Locke, Rockwall
QB Eddie Lee Marburger, Sharyland Pioneer
QB Quinn Ewers, Southlake Carroll
LB Clayton Smith, Texarkana Texas High
RB Zach Hrbacek, Troy

About the Texas Bowl
The Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. The Bowl has showcased teams from the Big 12 and the SEC, two of the country’s premier conferences since  2014. The Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field over its first 14 years as it is the 5th most-attended bowl in the country since 2016. The bowl generates over $40 million annually for the Houston economy and has donated nearly $2 million in financial support and millions more in promotional support to DePelchin Children’s Center, the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.

About Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
For more than 60 years, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has been “the bible” to millions of football fans across the Lone Star State. The annual summer edition of the magazine remains a rite of passage for all Texans, previewing every football team in the state — from the rabid world of Texas high school football, through the college ranks, and into the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans. Over the course of six decades, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football remains the undisputed leader in Texas high school football, Texas college football and more.

TexasFootball.com is the online home of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, covering high school football, college football and recruiting all across the Lone Star State. From thought-provoking commentary to videos to podcasts to its daily live show, nobody covers football in Texas like TexasFootball.com.

The 2020 Bowl Season schedule has finally been announced! We checked in on Bowl Season predictions from the experts around the sports world. See where your favorite Big 12 and SEC teams might be spending their post season.

Plus, CLICK HERE to make your Texas Bowl picks for a chance to win $500 cash thanks to Billiard Factory!

Alamo Bowl
Match-up: Big 12 vs. Pac-12
CFN: Texas vs. Oregon
Bleacher Report: Texas vs. USC
ESPN: Iowa State vs USC
Athlon Sports Projection: Iowa State vs. USC

Armed Forces Bowl
Tie-In: AAC/Big 12/C-USA
CFN: West Virginia vs Air Force
Bleacher Report: UCF vs. West Virginia
ESPN: TCU vs. Tulsa
Athlon Sports Projection: Marshall vs. SMU

Cheez-It Bowl
Match-up: ACC vs. Big 12
CFN: Miami vs. Kansas State
Bleacher Report: North Carolina vs. Kansas State
ESPN: North Carolina vs. Kansas State
Athlon Sports Projection: Miami vs. Oklahoma State

Citrus Bowl
Match-up: Big Ten vs. SEC
CFN: Northwestern vs. South Carolina
Bleacher Report: Wisconsin vs. Auburn
ESPN: Wisconsin vs. Auburn
Athlon Sports Projection: Indiana vs. Auburn

First Responder Bowl
Match-up: American/Big 12/Sun Belt/Conference USA
CFN: SMU vs. Texas Tech
Bleacher Report: SMU vs. Baylor
ESPN: Virginia vs SMU
Athlon Sports Projection: TCU vs. Houston

Gasparilla Bowl
Match-up: SEC vs. American/ACC/C-USA
CFN: Pitt vs. Ole Miss
Bleacher Report: Florida State vs. Ole Miss
ESPN: Georgia Tech vs Ole Miss
Athlon Sports Projection: Ole Miss vs. Georgia Tech

Gator Bowl
Match-up: ACC vs. SEC
CFN: North Carolina vs. Kentucky
Bleacher Report: Purdue vs. Texas A&M
ESPN: Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina
Athlon Sports Projection: Wake Forest vs. Kentucky

Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Match-up: Big 12 vs. Big Ten
CFN: TCU vs. Purdue
ESPN: West Virginia vs. Michigan
Athlon Sports Projection: Kansas State vs. Northwestern

Las Vegas Bowl
Match-up: Pac-12 vs. SEC
Bleacher Report: Cal vs. Mississippi State
ESPN: Utah vs. Missouri
Athlon Sports Projection: Arizona State vs. Tennessee

 Liberty Bowl
Match-up: Big 12 vs. SEC
CFN: Iowa State vs. Arkansas
Bleacher Report: Oklahoma vs. Tennessee
ESPN: Texas vs. Kentucky
Athlon Sports Projection: West Virginia vs. Missouri

Music City Bowl
Match-up: Big Ten vs. SEC
CFN: Penn State vs. Tennessee
Bleacher Report: Virginia Tech vs. Iowa
ESPN: Purdue vs. Tennessee
Athlon Sports Projection: Iowa vs. South Carolina

Outback Bowl
Match-up: Big Ten vs. SEC
CFN: Michigan vs. Auburn
Bleacher Report: Michigan vs. LSU
ESPN: Indiana vs. LSU
Athlon Sports Projection: Michigan vs. LSU

Texas Bowl
Match-up: Big 12 vs. SEC
CFN: Oklahoma State vs. LSU
Bleacher Report: Iowa State vs. Kentucky
ESPN: Oklahoma vs. Arkansas
Athlon Sports Projection: Texas vs. Arkansas

New Year's Six

Cotton Bowl
Match-up: At-Large vs. At-Large
CFN: Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M
Bleacher Report: Oklahoma State vs. Miami
ESPN: Oklahoma State vs Texas A&M
Athlon Projection: Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M

Fiesta Bowl
Match-up: At-Large vs. At-Large
CFN: USC vs. Wisconsin
Bleacher Report: USC vs. Penn State
ESPN: Oregon vs BYU
Athlon Sports Projection: Oregon vs. BYU

Peach Bowl
Match-up: At-Large vs. At-Large
CFN: BYU vs. Cincinnati
Bleacher Report: Florida vs. Cincinnati
ESPN: Cincinnati vs Florida
Athlon Sports Projection: Cincinnati vs. Wisconsin

Orange Bowl
Match-up: ACC vs. SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame
CFN: Notre Dame vs. Florida
Bleacher Report: Notre Dame vs. Georgia
ESPN: Georgia vs Miami
Athlon Sports Projection: Notre Dame vs. Florida

College Football Playoff

Rose Bowl (Semifinal)
Match-up: National Semifinal
CFN: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Bleacher Report: Alabama vs. Ohio State
ESPN: Clemson vs. Ohio State
Athlon Sports Projection: Alabama vs. Ohio State

Sugar Bowl (Semifinal)
Match-up: National Semifinal
CFN: Clemson vs. Georgia
Bleacher Report: Clemson vs. Oregon
ESPN: Alabama vs. Notre Dame
Athlon Sports Projection: Clemson vs. Georgia

National Championship

Match-up: Rose Bowl Winner vs. Sugar Bowl Winner
CFN: Alabama vs. Clemson
ESPN: Alabama vs. Clemson
Athlon Sports Projection: Alabama vs. Clemson

HOUSTON – The 2020 Texas Bowl will be played on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. CT from NRG Stadium in Houston. The 15th edition of the game will air on ESPN and ESPN Radio, with a local radio broadcast on SportsRadio 610 (KILT-AM).  The 15th edition of the event will once again feature a matchup of Big 12 and SEC schools as it has since 2014. 

The Texas Bowl is the fifth most attended Bowl game in the country and most attended non-New Year’s Six game since 2016, trailing only the Rose, Peach, Fiesta and Orange Bowls.  The Texas Bowl and its sister event, the Texas Kickoff, have grown to become two of the most popular annual college football games in the country, combining to create an economic impact of close to $80 million annually for the city of Houston while raising nearly $2 million in financial support and millions more in promotional support to DePelchin Children’s Center, Houston’s oldest children’s charity and the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary. 

Last year, the Texas Bowl featured the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas A&M Aggies, marking the sixth year of the Bowl’s affiliation with the Big 12 and the SEC. With an Aggies 24-21 victory over the Cowboys, Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond was named the 2019 Texas Bowl MVP. 

The Texas Bowl is one of 15 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment.  Ticket information for the event will be shared in the near future.  To be the first to get these updates and for more information around the game, fans can sign up for the Texas Bowl Wait List at http://www.thetexasbowl.com/. 

About the Texas Bowl 
The Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. The Texas Bowl has showcased teams from the Big 12 and the SEC, two of the country’s premier conferences since 2014. The Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field over its first 14 years as it is the fifth most-attended bowl in the country since 2016. The bowl generates nearly $40 million annually for the Houston economy and has donated nearly $2 million in financial support and millions more in promotional support to DePelchin Children’s Center, the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.

ESPN Events 
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of 35 collegiate sporting events nationwide. The roster includes four early-season college football games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, a college softball event and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 400 hours of live programming, reaches nearly 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in more than 10 markets across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

-LONE STAR SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT-

DALLAS, TEXAS (October 23, 2020) -- The Football Bowl Association is getting a new name and brand: Bowl Season. The debut of the name change, logo and website for the organization is part of a major brand overhaul announced today by Executive Director Nick Carparelli.

The new Bowl Season tagline, “A Celebration of College Football,” embraces the grand tradition of the bowl system and its enduring value to student-athletes. Highlighting the broader university community, including spirit squads, marching bands, student athletic staff and fans, Bowl Season will work with all existing bowls to promote the benefits of the entire bowl system.

Carparelli has collaborated over the last six months with leaders of the 44 bowl games, each of the 10 FBS conferences, media partners and other stakeholders to build consensus and solidify plans for the new brand.

“For four decades, the Football Bowl Association has served as a staunch advocate of the bowl system,” said Carparelli. “But until now, it’s been a behind-the-scenes organization designed to facilitate conversation among bowl leadership and stakeholders. Since joining the organization last spring, I’ve listened to our membership’s clear desire for a new identity-- to rebrand the FBA to speak directly to those who love this sport.”

“The stretch from mid-December through the first week of January marks one of the most endlessly entertaining times on the sports calendar,” Carparelli continues. “Footballs are flying morning, noon and night. It creates an opportunity to honor teams that have put in the work and provides an unforgettable victory lap for student-athletes. We’re excited to build up ‘Bowl Season’ as a true celebration of college football.”

The Bowl Season logo consists of a centrally-placed, collegiate-style football inside an overhead view of a stadium or bowl, from which the term “bowl game” was derived. The logo is also evocative of the top of championship rings, which are often awarded to teams that play in bowl games. The stadium contains 10 sections, each representing a conference member of the Football Bowl Subdivision: American Athletic Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12, Big 10, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, PAC 12, Southeastern Conference and Sun Belt Conference.

The new name and visual identity were developed by Connecticut-based 1919 Productions and Joe Bosack & Co. Tony Fay Public Relations, based in Dallas, was hired to oversee communications efforts for the organization.

“Our goal was to create a new brand that is distinctive, ownable and clearly defines what Bowl Season is,” said Marc Jacobson, Owner, 1919 Productions. “The new name and logo taps into the passion and emotion of college football, which we think will resonate well with all parties involved.”

More information can be found at www.bowlseason.com.

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About Bowl Season
Bowl Season is the collective coalition of the 44 bowl games played in the traditional college football postseason. Dubbed “A Celebration of College Football,” Bowl Season promotes the grand tradition of the bowl system and its endearing value to student-athletes. It also highlights the broader university and college communities, including spirit squads, marching bands, athletic staff and fans. A nonprofit, Bowl Season spotlights the distinctiveness of each of the bowl games along with their histories and traditions, embracing and honoring the bowl experience for present and future generations.

Week 6 of college football finally brings us to one of the rivalries that we’ve been waiting for! No. 22 Texas takes on Oklahoma in what is sure to be a defining moment of the Big 12 this season. Our top four games to watch this weekend are:

(22) Texas vs OU

Kansas State at TCU

(4) Florida at (21) Texas A&M

(14) Tennessee at (3) Georgia

Think you can predict the outcome? Guess all four correct and you’re entered to win an Academy gift card!

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Here’s what we think will happen:

(22) Texas vs OU

OU is in desperate need of a big game. While they’re young QB has shown a ton of promise in the passing game when the line can give him time, the run game still has a few kinks to shake out after losing key members to opt-outs and transfers. Texas, on the other hand, has had no problems scoring points—leading the nation with an average of 51 points per game—but similar to OU, their defense is nothing special. No matter what the outcome, this game is sure to be a high-scoring thriller.

Our pick: Texas

Kansas State at TCU

Another nail biter this week, Kansas State and TCU feel pretty evenly matched in this upcoming game. Kansas State is known for winning the possession battle to force their opponents to play their style but TCU still ranks in the top five for possession minutes and may give the Wildcats a run for their money in this category. Kansas State has also been able to take advantage of their opponents by forcing turnovers and converting with seven takeaways so far this season and no turnovers of their own. But, will this change now that their starting QB is banged up from their game against Tech? TCU’s offense has been aggressive and efficient so far this season and they’re coming off a big upset win against Texas. In this case, we think TCU’s momentum and steady production will take the cake.

Our pick: TCU

(4) Florida at (21) Texas A&M

The Gators have put on a solid performance so far in 2020, averaging 7.8 yards per play and 44.5 points per game but this match-up against the Aggies will be their first test of 2020 against a ranked team. On the other hand, Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond has been disappointingly flat coming out against the top and bottom of the SEC, taking home the victory against Vanderbilt but doing little to oppose No. 2 Alabama.  Texas A&M’s opportunity will come at the expense of the Gators defense who has gotten off to a rocky start in 2020, giving up an average of 5.85 yards per play. If Mond and the Aggies offense can finally find a rhythm, they may just be able to take the day. For this week, we are going to hang our hat on the Gators offense continuing to roll. Mond showed us he can turn it on and lead his team in 2019, but we aren’t so sure this is the game he will do so.

Our pick: Florida

(14) Tennessee at (3) Georgia

The Vols are running on an eight-game winning streak leading into this weekend’s match-up. While they look way better than they have in previous years, they have yet to consistently establish the run game despite their star-studded offensive line. This weekend they’ll face their toughest opponent since that last loss against Alabama in 2019 in a Georgia Bulldogs team that—despite uncertainty at the QB position—looks to be firing on all cylinders coming off of their 27-6 win against Auburn. Despite Tennessee’s positive momentum thus far in 2020, our bet stays with the Bulldogs who are hungry to stay on top of the SEC East.

Our pick: Georgia

Think you can predict the outcome? Guess all four correct and you’re entered to win an Academy gift card!

MAKE YOUR PICKS