It’s been a bummer of a college football bowl season in terms of watching many of the games get canceled due to COVID-related issues. So far, we’ve missed out on the Hawai’i Bowl, Military Bowl, and Fenway Bowl. And we’ve had a few close calls elsewhere as well and we’re still waiting to hear about the Sun Bowl, which lost out on Miami as a participant and is struggling to find a replacement.
Sun Bowl still seeking replacement as of Sunday night for Miami, source told @ActionNetworkHQ. However, it won’t be Memphis, SMU or East Carolina, the 3 teams impacted by canceled bowls. Each program said their seasons were done after their respective bowls were recently canceled
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 27, 2021
It sounds like we’re going to lose another bowl game. However, the remaining eligible team might be able to find an opponent waiting for them if it does happen.
According to SI’s Ross Dellenger, the Boise State Broncos have dropped out of the Arizona Bowl as they don’t have enough eligible players to compete in the game. That now makes it possible for the Central. Michigan Chippewas, their scheduled opponent, to move over to the Sun Bowl to play Washington State.
Boise is working to determine if it has enough players to play Central Michigan in the Arizona Bowl, sources tell @SINow.
If Boise doesn’t play, CMU could be paired with Washington State, which is at Sun Bowl site w/o an opponent.
Tucson to El Paso is a 4-hour drive.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 27, 2021
Boise State has withdrawn from the Arizona Bowl, sources confirm to @SINow, as @stoolpresidente
announced.The MAC must now release Central Michigan from its bowl obligation if it is to play Washington State in the Sun Bowl, source say.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 27, 2021
That move would leave the Arizona Bowl in the lurch, but if the point is to provide teams with the chance to play, it’s the best solution available in this unfortunate situation. And given the difference in payout between the two games, the MAC would be crazy not to let this happen.
The Sun Bowl is televised on CBS with a payout of $4.55 million.
The Arizona Bowl is streamed on YouTube and Barstool with a payout of $350,000.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 27, 2021
The Arizona Bowl has been facing lots of controversies since Barstool signed on as its sponsor and sole broadcaster. They’re likely not going to be too happy if their bowl game doesn’t happen and we’re sure we’ll be hearing about that. Until then, there’s plenty of commentary on social media about the news.
Fire up the Greyhounds. https://t.co/VuOvlYF3mu
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 27, 2021
Wow this is madness. https://t.co/Q5BXClXFU3
— Adam Jaksa (@AdamJaksa) December 27, 2021
I'd be totally down for this. @RobbAkey coaching against @WSUCougarFB would be fun. #GoCougs https://t.co/UAayux1DCU
— Derek Deis (@DerekKXLY) December 27, 2021
The Barstool Bowl deserves to be cancelled even without COVID. https://t.co/BJqmChM3aH
— Dylan 🦆 🦆 (@timetravelduck) December 27, 2021
Crazy times https://t.co/CoXDOxlTBA
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) December 27, 2021
wazzu isn’t going to be playing in the broke bowl https://t.co/RBLFni2aQd
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) December 27, 2021
UPDATE: Dave Portnoy has officially announced that Boise is out and that they are looking for a new team to fill that spot.
Breaking: @BroncoSportsFB has pulled out of @theARIZONABOWL due to too many players contracting covid. We are actively looking for a replacement. I suggest @WSUCougarFB does a poll of players whether they want to play in Az bowl or Sun Bowl.
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 27, 2021
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.