Myrtle Beach Bowl
StadiumBrooks Stadium
LocationConway, South Carolina
Operated2020–present
Conference tie-ins
2022 matchup
UConn vs. Marshall (Marshall 28–14)
2023 matchup
Georgia Southern vs. Ohio (Ohio 41–21)

The Myrtle Beach Bowl is an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football bowl game first played in December 2020 in the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. Coastal Carolina University hosts the game at its Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina, which has a capacity of 20,000 seats following an expansion project completed prior to the 2019 season.[1] Owned by ESPN Events, the bowl has tie-ins with Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference and the Sun Belt Conference.[2] The affiliation contract with ESPN Events has each conference supplying a team four times in a six-year bowl cycle from 2020 to 2025.[3]

Background

In 2013, "Group of Five" conferences were looking to start bowl games for their leagues, as the Power Five conferences "prefer to play each other in bowl games".[4] The NCAA had a restriction on championship games, including bowl games, being held in South Carolina due to display of the Confederate flag on State House grounds, which was lifted in July 2015.[5] Organizers for the Medal of Honor Bowl, an all-star game, announced their intent to apply for NCAA sanctioning as a traditional postseason bowl game featuring FBS college teams, with a tentative game date of December 18, 2016.[6] However, in April 2016, the NCAA announced a three-year moratorium on new bowl games.[7]

History

In June 2018, the NCAA indicated that the Grand Strand area was approved for a bowl game.[5] The Myrtle Beach Bowl was subsequently announced on November 13, 2018, by ESPN Events,[8] with tie-ins to three conferences: the Sun Belt Conference, Conference USA (C-USA), and Mid-American Conference (MAC).[9] During 2017–18 bowl season, there had been three teams that were bowl eligible but did not go to a bowl, as all slots were filled: Western Michigan and Buffalo from the MAC, and UTSA from C-USA.[3]

The bowl made its debut as part of the 2020–21 bowl season, matching North Texas of C-USA and Appalachian State of the Sun Belt.[10]

Game results

Tulsa quarterback Davis Brin takes a knee to end the 2021 game
Date Winning Team Losing Team Attendance Notes
December 21, 2020 Appalachian State 56 North Texas 28 5,000 notes
December 20, 2021 Tulsa 30 Old Dominion 17 6,557 notes
December 19, 2022 Marshall 28 UConn 14 12,023 notes
December 16, 2023 Ohio 41 Georgia Southern 21 8,059 notes

MVPs

Year Player College Position Ref.
2020 Camerun Peoples Appalachian State RB [11]
2021 Davis Brin Tulsa QB [12]
2022 Rasheen Ali Marshall RB [13]
2023 Rickey Hunt Jr. Ohio RB [14]

Appearances by team

Updated through the December 2023 edition (4 games, 8 total appearances).

Rank Team Appearances Record Win pct.
T1 Appalachian State 1 1–0 1.000
T1 Marshall 1 1–0 1.000
T1 Ohio 1 1–0 1.000
T1 Tulsa 1 1–0 1.000
T1 Georgia Southern 1 0–1 .000
T1 North Texas 1 0–1 .000
T1 Old Dominion 1 0–1 .000
T1 UConn 1 0–1 .000

Appearances by conference

Updated through the December 2023 edition (4 games, 8 total appearances).

Conference Record Appearances by season
Games W L Win pct. Won Lost
Sun Belt 3 2 1 .667 2020, 2022 2023
C-USA 2 0 2 .000   2020, 2021
The American 1 1 0 1.000 2021  
MAC 1 1 0 1.000 2023  
Independent 1 0 1 .000   2022

Independent appearances: UConn (2022)

Media coverage

Television

Year Network Play-by-play announcers Color commentators Sideline reporters Ref.
2020 ESPN Courtney Lyle Eric MacLain Marty Smith and Ryan McGee [15]
2021 Mike Corey Hutson Mason [citation needed]
2022 Mike Morgan Eric MacLain Tera Talmadge [citation needed]
2023 Drew Carter Dustin Fox Stormy Buonantony [16]

Radio

Year Network Play-by-play announcers Color commentators Sideline Reporters Ref.
2020 FirstTeam Radio Travis Jones Landry Burdine [17]
2021 Bowl Season Radio Molly Cotten
2022 Jay Sonnhalter
2023 ESPN Radio Chris Carlin Orlando Franklin

Game records

Updated through the December 2023 game.

Team Performance vs. Opponent Year
Most points scored 56, Appalachian State vs. North Texas 2020
Fewest points allowed 14, Marshall vs. UConn 2022
Margin of victory 28, Appalachian State vs. North Texas 2020
First downs 35, Tulsa vs. Old Dominion 2021
Total yards 638, Appalachian State vs. North Texas 2020
Rushing yards 502, Appalachian State vs. North Texas 2020
Passing yards 350, Georgia Southern vs. Ohio 2023
Most points scored (losing team) 28, North Texas vs. Appalachian State 2020
Most points scored (both teams) 84, Appalachian State vs. North Texas 2020
Fewest yards allowed 247, Old Dominion vs. Tulsa 2021
Fewest rushing yards allowed 33, Ohio vs. Georgia Southern 2023
Fewest passing yards allowed 93, Marshall vs. UConn 2022
Individual Player (Team) Year
Points scored 30, shared by:
Camerun Peoples (Appalachian State)
Rickey Hunt (Ohio)
2020
2023
Rushing yards 319, Camerun Peoples (Appalachian State) 2020
Passing yards 350, Davis Brin (Georgia Southern) 2023
Receiving yards 131, Austin Ogunmakin (North Texas) 2020
Touchdowns (all-purpose) 5, shared by:
Camerun Peoples (Appalachian State)
Rickey Hunt (Ohio)
2020
2023
Passing touchdowns 2, shared by:
Jason Bean (North Texas)
Davis Brin (Tulsa)
Cam Fancher (Marshall)
Davis Brin (Georgia Southern)
2020
2021
2022
2023
Rushing touchdowns 5, Camerun Peoples (Appalachian State) 2020
Receiving touchdowns 2, shared by:
Henry Pearson (Appalachian State)
Loronzo Thompson (North Texas) 		2020
Receptions 8, Josh Johnson (Tulsa) 2021
Tackles 13, shared by:
Kaiden Smith (Appalachian State)
Jason Henderson (Old Dominion)
R'Tarriun Johnson (Old Dominion)
2020
2021
2021
Tackles for loss 3, shared by:
Nick Hampton (Appalachian State)
Jordan Young (Old Dominion)
Bradley Weaver (Ohio)
2020
2021
2023
Sacks 2.0, shared by:
Vonnie Watkins (Ohio)
Bradley Weaver (Ohio)
2023
2023
Interceptions 1, shared by multiple people; most recent:
Walter Reynolds (Ohio)
Adonis Williams Jr. (Ohio)
Jeremiah Wood (Ohio)
2023
2023
2023
Long Plays Record, Player, Team Year
Touchdown run 70 yds., Marcus Williams Jr. (Appalachian State) 2020
Touchdown pass 65 yds., Davis Brin (Georgia Southern) 2023
Kickoff return 100 yds., LaMareon James (Old Dominion) 2021
Punt return 15 yds., Keegan Wilburn (Georgia Southern) 2023
Interception return 63 yds., Steven Jones (Appalachian State) 2020
Fumble return 30 yds., Roman Parodie (Ohio) 2023
Punt 52 yds., Bernardo Rodriguez (North Texas) 2020
Field goal 35 yds., Zack Long (Tulsa) 2021

References

  1. ^ Blondin, Alan (August 8, 2019). "Expansion of Brooks Stadium is complete. What the new capacity and features mean for CCU". Myrtle Beach Sun News. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "New FBS postseason game, Myrtle Beach Bowl, to start in 2020". AP News. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Nothaft, Patrick (November 13, 2018). "New college football bowl game to feature MAC, Sun Belt and C-USA teams". Kalamazoo Gazette. MLive Media Group. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  4. ^ McMurphy, Brett (June 11, 2013). "'Group of Five' look to add bowls". ESPN. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Asberry, Derrek (November 13, 2018). "Myrtle Beach Bowl to become first college football bowl game played in South Carolina". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  6. ^ Hartsell, Jeff (August 26, 2015). "Medal of Honor Bowl now a 'traditional' bowl game". The Post and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  7. ^ McMurphy, Brett (April 11, 2016). "NCAA approves three-year halt to new bowl games". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  8. ^ Taylor, John (November 13, 2018). "ESPN-owned Myrtle Beach Bowl to debut in 2020". CollegeFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  9. ^ "ESPN Events Announces Creation of Myrtle Beach Bowl Beginning in 2020". myrtlebeachbowlgame.com. November 13, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  10. ^ "Myrtle Beach Bowl Preview: App State vs. North Texas". App State Athletics. 20 December 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  11. ^ "App State's Peoples has historic day in Inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl". WCSC-TV. AP. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  12. ^ IACOBELLI, PETE (21 December 2021). "Brin, Tulsa take Myrtle Beach Bowl 30-17 over Old Dominion". Chron. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  13. ^ @LukeCreasy (December 19, 2022). "Rasheen Ali is the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl MVP" (Tweet). Retrieved December 19, 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ @OhioFootball (December 16, 2023). "MVP RICKEYYYYYY !!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Contes, Brandon (December 15, 2020). "Marty & McGee Get ESPN Myrtle Beach Bowl Assignment". barrettsportsmedia.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  16. ^ Brooks, Amanda (December 7, 2023). "Let's Go Bowling: ESPN Reveals Commentator Teams for Exclusive Coverage of the College Football Playoff, New Year's Six and Industry-Leading 40-Game Bowl Season Slate". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  17. ^ "FirstTeam Radio Myrtle Beach Bowl Assignment". Twitter. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.

External links

Myrtle Beach Bowl
NCAA Division I FBS bowl games
NCAA Division I FBS bowl game broadcasters
Categories