Learn more about the Fenway Bowl ahead of the Army-UConn game in 2025
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Army football has played in a handful of well-established college bowl games since making its debut in the postseason in 1984, and now the Black Knights will debut in one of the youngest ones.
The fourth Fenway Bowl ― set for the famed Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team ― will be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, as Army (6-6) takes on Connecticut (9-3). The first three Fenway Bowls were 11 a.m. morning starts but this will be a 2:15 p.m. kickoff.
A history of the Fenway Bowl ahead of Army vs UConn
2020: The inaugural Fenway Bowl was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also claimed the Bahamas, Celebration, Hawaii, Holiday, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pinstripe, Quick Lane, Redbox and Sun bowl games. In its place, organizer ESPN Events created the one-time Montgomery Bowl. Memphis (American Conference) beat Florida Atlantic (Conference USA) 25-10.
2021: Once again, the COVID pandemic brought about a hosts of cancellations, including this game, scheduled for Dec. 29 between Southern Methodist (American) and Virginia (Atlantic Coast). The Cavaliers withdrew with a number of COVID cases in its program, and SMU tried to find a replacement but could not. Also cancelled in 2021: Hawaii, Military, Arizona and Holiday bowls.
2022: A total of 15,000 fans showed up for the Dec. 17 inaugural event as Louisville (ACC) beat Cincinnati (American) 24-7 in a renewal of the Keg of Nails rivalry. Both teams used interim coaches as Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell was hired by Wisconsin, and ultimately replaced by Louisville’s Scott Satterfield, who recused himself; Kerry Coombs coached Cincinnati and Deion Branch coached Louisville. Jawhar Jordan (two rushing touchdowns, 117 yards rushing) was the game’s offensive MVP and Monty Montgomery (eight tackles) the defensive MVP. Maurice Turner rushed for 160 yards. Louisville finished 8-5, Cincinnati 9-4.
2023: A crowd of 16,238 was announced for the rainy Dec. 28 game as Boston College (ACC) beat SMU (American) 23-14. A year later, the Mustangs joined the Eagles in the ACC. SMU had its nine-game win streak snapped. Thomas Castellanos of BC was named the game’s offensive MVP, rushing for 155 yards and two touchdowns and completing 11 of 18 throws for 102 yards. BC (with its first bowl win since 2016) finished 7-6, SMU 11-3.
2024: An announced crowd of 27,900 saw Connecticut beat North Carolina 27-14, the Huskies reaching nine wins for only the third time and claiming their first bowl win since 2009. Quarterback Joe Fagnano was the game’s offensive MVP, completing 16 of 23 throws for 151 yards and two touchdowns. The defensive MVP was Pryce Yates, with six solo tackles, three for lost yardage. UConn held the Tar Heels to 206 yards. UConn finished 9-4, UNC 6-7 – head coach Mack Brown was fired in November, and Freddie Kitchens coached the bowl game. Bill Belichick took over the Tar Heels for 2025.
Oldest bowls
Rose Bowl (1902, 1916-2025) – “The Granddaddy of Them All,” this bowl game has been played 111 times (the last 110 consecutively) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California (save for 1942 in Durham, North Carolina, and 2021 in Arlington, Texas). Long a matchup of conference champions from the Big Ten and Pac-12 (and its previous names).
Sun Bowl (1935-2025) – Held in El Paso, Texas, usually near or on New Year’s Eve since 1976. Since 2011, the game has featured teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Pac-12 Conference (and its legacy schools).
Orange Bowl (1935-2025) – Hosted at the former Orange Bowl stadium through 1996. The bowl was traditionally not held with conference affiliation, allowing for top teams to opt in; now the Atlantic Coast Conference has been tied in since 2014. Part of the College Football Playoff lineup.
Sugar Bowl (1935-2025) – This game has traditionally been played on Dec. 31, Jan. 1 or Jan. 2 in New Orleans, making the Superdome its home since 1975. All but 12 of the 91 games have included a team from the Southeastern Conference. Now part of the College Football Playoff lineup.
Cotton Bowl (1937-2025) – A traditional member of the New Year’s Six bowl games, the game has joined the College Football Playoff schedule. The game was long held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas before moving to AT&T Stadium in Arlington in 2010. The former Southwest Conference had a tie-in for 54 years, with the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference holding affiliation from late 1990s to 2014.
Also: Gator Bowl (1945-2025); Citrus Bowl (1946-2025); Liberty Bowl (1959-2025); Peach Bowl (1968-2025); Fiesta Bowl (1971-2025); Independence Bowl (1976-2025); Holiday Bowl (1978-2025).
Newest bowls
Xbox Bowl (2025): The newest bowl pitted teams from the Conference USA and Sun Belt Conference: Missouri State and Arkansas State. The bowl, held in Frisco, Texas, replaced the Bahamas Bowl.
Fenway Bowl (2022-24): After two cancellations due to COVID, this game began in 2022 at the home of the Boston Red Sox.
LA Bowl (2021-25): This bowl game will be discontinued following last week’s 38-10 win by Washington over Boise State.
Also: Myrtle Beach Bowl (2020-25); Frisco Bowl (2017-25); Arizona Bowl (2015-25); Cure Bowl (2015-25).
The most-recent bowl games to meet their demise are the LA Bowl (its last game was Dec. 13); Bahamas Bowl (2014-24, including the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl substitution); Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (1997-2013); International Bowl (2006-09); Houston Bowl (2000-05).
kmcmillan@th-record.com
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: History of the Fenway Bowl ahead of Army-UConn in 2025
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