Military Bowl#MVPs

The idea for the EagleBank Bowl originated with the Washington, D.C. Bowl Committee, a group founded by Marie Rudolph and Sean Metcalf in December 2006 with the intended purpose of bringing a bowl game to the Washington, D.C. area as a boon to the region's economy.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802377.html Proposed D.C. Bowl Would Feature Service Academies] The Washington Post. November 29, 2007. Accessed April 30, 2008. The D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission and the Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation announced their support of the proposed event in 2007.

The bowl game was one of two approved by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for the 2008 college football bowl season, the other being the St. Petersburg Bowl. The NCAA's Postseason Football Licensing Subcommittee approved the bowl on April 30, 2008, allowing the committee that had proposed the game to host it after the 2008 college football season.[https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3375759 NCAA committee approves 34 football bowl games] The Associated Press, ESPN.com. April 30, 2008. Accessed April 30, 2008. The inaugural game had its kickoff scheduled for 11 AM EST on December 20, 2008, making it the first bowl game of the 2008–09 bowl season.

In 2010, organizers announced that the NCAA had granted a four-year extension of the game's bowl certification, taking it through the 2013–14 bowl season;{{Cite web|url=http://militarybowl.org/d-cs-eaglebank-bowl-granted-four-year-extension/|title=D.C's EagleBank Bowl Granted Four-Year Extension|date=29 April 2010}} additionally, the game received sponsorship from Northrop Grumman and was renamed. In 2010, the game generated in excess of $18 million for the Washington, D.C. area. Also, over $100,000 was donated to the USO.{{Cite web|url=http://militarybowl.org/uso-district-of-columbia-to-again-benefit-from-the-military-bowls-return-to-rfk-stadium-on-december-28/|title = Uso & District of Columbia to Again Benefit from the Military Bowl's Return to RFK Stadium on December 28|date = 21 September 2011}}

On December 20, 2020, several bowls were cancelled due to a lack of available teams. The Military Bowl – which again was to have featured teams from the American Athletic Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference – was also unable to secure teams, and on December 21, 2020, organizers announced that the 2020 bowl would not be played.{{cite news |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/navy/ac-cs-military-bowl-canceled-20201221-2kupwprhc5bshfpdokeoewrlxy-story.html |title=Military Bowl in Annapolis canceled due to lack of available teams |first=Tim |last=Schwartz |website=The Capital |location=Annapolis, Maryland |date=December 21, 2020 |access-date=December 21, 2020}}

On December 26, 2021, the 2021 edition of the bowl was canceled due to COVID issues within the Boston College team; it had been set to face East Carolina on December 27.{{cite web |first=Andrea |last=Adelson |date=December 26, 2021 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32940528/military-fenway-bowls-canceled-covid-19-issues |title=Military, Fenway Bowls Canceled Because of COVID-19 Issues |work=ESPN |access-date=December 26, 2021}}

Prior to the game's approval by the NCAA, Navy and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) signed agreements to participate in the game if it was approved.[http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/12/navy_congressbowl_071212w/ Mids could play in new D.C. bowl game in 2008] The Navy Times, December 12, 2007. Accessed April 30, 2008.[http://miami.scout.com/a.z?s=13&p=2&c=742308 Johnson on DC Bowl: We'll play Navy] Scout.com. March 31, 2008. Accessed April 30, 2008. Under the agreement, the ACC would provide its ninth-best team for the bowl if the league had nine bowl eligible teams.[http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/SPORTS/306791279/1005/SPORTS Group awaits decision on bowl] Tim Lemke, The Washington Times. April 18, 2008. Accessed April 30, 2008. {{dead link|date=January 2017}} In December 2008, the initial game featured Navy against Wake Forest representing the ACC.

Along with its ACC tie-in, the bowl signed an agreement with Army to play in the 2009 edition of the game,{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}} however Army did not finish its season bowl eligible. Additionally, the ACC did not have enough eligible teams and Conference USA (C-USA) could not provide a team, so organizers chose Mid-American Conference (MAC) team Temple to fill one spot and Pac-10 Conference team UCLA to fill the other spot.

For the 2010 through 2013 games, the bowl reached agreement for an ACC team to face a C-USA team (2010), Navy (2011), Army (2012), and a Big 12 team (2013). If Navy or Army were not bowl eligible, a Big 12 team would be selected in 2011, and a C-USA team in 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://militarybowl.org/eaglebank-bowl-announces-bowl-lineups-for-2010-2013/|title = EagleBank Bowl Announces Lineups for 2010-2013|date = 3 November 2009}} In 2012, Army was not bowl eligible and the ACC could not supply a team,/http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/12/military_bowl_reports_college.html so a MAC vs. Western Athletic Conference (WAC) matchup was organized.

Starting with the 2014 game, organizers entered a six-year agreement for the game to feature an ACC vs. American Athletic Conference (The American) matchup.{{cite web |url=http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/military-bowl-strikes-deal-american |title=Military Bowl strikes deal with American {{!}} College Football |website=collegefootball.ap.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715031528/http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/military-bowl-strikes-deal-american |archive-date=2013-07-15}} In July 2019, the bowl announced that the ACC vs. AAC arrangement would continue through the 2025–26 football season.{{cite press release |url=https://militarybowl.org/military-bowl-extends-partnership-with-acc-and-the-american/ |title=Military Bowl Extends Partnership With ACC and The American |website=militarybowl.org |first=Ryan |last=Bartholomew |date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=December 27, 2019}}

Bold conference denotes winner of games played.

Rankings are based on the AP Poll prior to the game.

Source:{{cite magazine |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/Bowls.pdf |magazine=Bowl/All Star Game Records |title=Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman |page=15 |via=NCAA.org |publisher=NCAA |date=2020 |access-date=January 3, 2021}}

:First five editions played at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.

:Subsequent games played at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland

File:Riley Skinner.jpg]]

Source:{{cite web |url=https://militarybowl.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Media-Guide-MB-2019.pdf |title=Military Bowl Media Guide |website=militarybowl.org |date=2019 |access-date=December 27, 2019}}{{rp|12}}{{cite tweet |user=MatejS247 |number=1740137793991459178 |title=QB Kyron Drones. MVP. #Hokies |date=December 27, 2023 |accessdate=December 27, 2023}}{{cite tweet |user=PR927FM |number=1873196974813364240 |title=Your Military Bowl MVP, Rahjai Harris @icyy_rahjai |date=December 28, 2024 |accessdate=December 28, 2024}}

File:2018 Military Bowl Coin Toss.jpg

Updated through the December 2024 edition (15 games, 30 total appearances).

;Teams with multiple appearances

;Teams with a single appearance

Won (6): Duke, Marshall, North Carolina, San Jose State, Toledo, UCLA

Lost (7): Air Force, Bowling Green, NC State, Pittsburgh, Tulane, UCF, Virginia

Updated through the December 2024 edition (15 games, 30 total appearances).

• The WAC no longer sponsors FBS football.
• Independent appearances: Navy (2008)

Source:{{rp|24–29}}

The bowl has been televised by ESPN since its inception.

• Sports in Washington, D.C.

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{{Commons category|EagleBank Bowl}}

• {{Official website|https://militarybowl.org/bowl-home/}}

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Category:College football bowls

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2008