Sun Bowl

{{short description|Annual American college football postseason game}}

{{About|the post-season bowl game|the namesake stadium|Sun Bowl (stadium)}}

{{Infobox college football bowl game

| name = Sun Bowl

| full_name = Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

| nickname =

| logo = TonytheTigerSunBowl.png

| logo_size = 195px

| caption =

| stadium = Sun Bowl

| previous_stadiums = {{ubl

|Kidd Field
(1938–1962)

|Jones Stadium
(1935–1937)

}}

| location = El Paso, Texas, U.S.

| previous_locations =

| years = 1935–present

| champ_affiliation = Bowl Coalition
(19921994)

| conference_tie-ins = Pac-12, ACC

| website = {{URL|https://www.sunbowl.org/|sunbowl.org}}

| previous_tie-ins = {{ubl

|Border (1936–1961)

|Big Ten (1995–2005)

|Big 12 (2006–2009)

|Big East (2006–2009)

}}

| payout = 4.55 million (2019){{cite web |url=http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2019/ |title=2019 Bowl Schedule |website=collegefootballpoll.com |access-date=December 13, 2019}}

| sponsors = {{ubl

|John Hancock (1986–1993)

|Norwest Corporation (1996–1998)

|Wells Fargo (1999–2003)

|Helen of Troy Limited (2004–2009;
{{spaces|5}}through its Vitalis and Brut brands)

|Hyundai (2010–2018)

|Kellogg's (2019–2022)

|WK Kellogg Co (2023–present)

}}

| former_names = {{ubl

|Sun Bowl (1936–1985)

|John Hancock Sun Bowl (1986–1988)

|John Hancock Bowl (1989–1993)

|Sun Bowl (1994–1995)

|Norwest Bank Sun Bowl (1996)

|Norwest Sun Bowl (1997–1998)

|Wells Fargo Sun Bowl (1999–2003)

|Vitalis Sun Bowl (2004–2005)

|Brut Sun Bowl (2006–2009)

|Hyundai Sun Bowl (2010–2018)

}}

| prev_matchup_year = 2023

| prev_matchup_season = 2023

| prev_matchup_teams = Oregon State vs. Notre Dame

| prev_matchup_score = Notre Dame 40–8

| next_matchup_year = 2024

| next_matchup_season = 2024

| next_matchup_teams = Washington vs. Louisville

| next_matchup_date = Louisville 35–34

}}

The Sun Bowl is a college football bowl game that has been played since 1935 in the southwestern United States at El Paso, Texas. Along with the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl, it is the second-oldest bowl game in the country, behind the Rose Bowl. Usually held near the end of December, games are played at the Sun Bowl stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso. Since 2011, it has featured teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Pac-12 Conference. This arrangement will continue through the 2025 season, with either Pac-12 schools, or Pac-12 "legacy schools" (the 10 schools that have left the conference in 2024 for the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC) fulfilling previous Pac-12 bowl obligations for the next two seasons.{{cite news |url=https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/former-pac-12-schools-bowl-tie-ins?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=BrettMcMurphy |title=Departing Pac-12 Schools to Play in Pac-12 Affiliated Bowl Games, Brett Yormark Says |first=Brett |last=McMurphy |website=actionnetwork.com |date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=July 10, 2024}}

From 2019 to 2022, the game was sponsored by Kellogg's; when Kellogg's spun off its North American cereal division in October 2023, the sponsorship transferred to WK Kellogg Co.[https://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/news/local/2023/10/02/kellogg-co-completes-split-into-two-independent-companies/71031756007/ Kellogg Co completes split into two, independent companies – Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co] Battle Creek Enquirer October 2, 2023[https://web.archive.org/web/20231003022510/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/02/kelloggs-cereal-business-wk-kellogg-begins-trading.html Kellogg’s cereal business begins trading as stand-alone company WK Kellogg] CNBC October 2, 2023 The game is officially known as the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl,{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2019/08/20/tony-the-tiger-sun-bowl-born-from-frosted-flakes-sponsorship/2064059001/ |title=The Sun Bowl takes on Tony the Tiger as sponsor after agreement with Frosted Flakes |first=Aaron A. |last=Bedoya |website=USA Today |date=August 20, 2019 |access-date=August 20, 2019}} after the mascot for Kellogg's{{efn|Kellogg's remains a brand name for both successors to the original Kellogg's: Kellanova and WK Kellogg.}} Frosted Flakes cereal. Previous sponsors include John Hancock Financial, Norwest Corporation, Wells Fargo, Helen of Troy Limited (using its Vitalis and Brut brands) and Hyundai Motor Company.

History

The first Sun Bowl was the 1935 edition, played on New Year's Day between Texas high school teams; the 1936 edition, played one year later, was the first Sun Bowl contested between college teams.{{Cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/bowls.pdf |title=Bowl/All Star Game Records |access-date=2017-01-03 |website=NCAA.org |archive-date=2017-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510220255/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/Bowls.pdf |via=archive.org |url-status=dead }} In most of its early history, the game pitted the champion of the Border Conference against an at-large opponent.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/history|title=History - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}} The first three editions were played at El Paso High School stadium (1935–1937), then switched to Kidd Field until the present stadium was ready in 1963.{{cite web|url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/120506aag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106010450/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/120506aag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 6, 2017|title=From the Sun Bowl Vault: A History of the Sun Bowl :: A History of the Sun Bowl|website=www.cstv.com}} Through the 1957 season, the game was played on January 1 or January 2; since then, with the exception of the 1976 season, the game has been played in late December, with a majority of games played on or near New Year's Eve and on several occasions played on or after Christmas Day (1982, 1986 & 1987 on Christmas Day) as well as on or before Christmas Eve.

=Notable games=

The 1940 game set the record for fewest points scored, when the Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe Bulldogs played the Catholic University Cardinals to a scoreless tie, the only 0–0 result in Sun Bowl history.

In advance of the 1949 game, Lafayette College turned down an invitation from the Sun Bowl Committee because the committee would not allow an African American player to participate. This bid rejection led to a large student demonstration on the Lafayette campus and in the city of Easton, Pennsylvania, against segregation.

{{main|1949 Sun Bowl controversy}}

Due to a freak snowstorm before the 1974 game,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ou9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=3315%2C4493933 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Felker directs late drive as Bulldogs win Sun Bowl |date=December 29, 1974 |page=1, sports}} followed by warming temperatures as the sun created a rising steam from the field during the first half, the game was nicknamed the "Fog Bowl."

The 1992 game was the final head coaching appearance of 2001 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Grant Teaff of Baylor; his Bears won {{nowrap|20–15}} over Arizona.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/21|title=Grant Teaff - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}

The 1994 game was voted the greatest Sun Bowl ever played, and included four touchdowns by Priest Holmes, as Texas defeated North Carolina, 35–31.

The 2005 game set the record for most points scored (88), as UCLA defeated Northwestern, 50–38.

The 2011 game is the only Sun Bowl decided in overtime (the NCAA started the use of overtime in Division I bowl games in 1995);{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/adopting-overtime-built-20-years-of-thrills-into-college-football-an-oral-history/|title=Adopting overtime has built 20 years of thrills into college football: An oral history|date=13 October 2016 }} Utah defeated Georgia Tech, 30–27.

The 2020 edition of the bowl was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite press release |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/news/254-sun-bowl-association-cancels-tony-the-tiger-sun-bowl |title=Sun Bowl Association Cancels Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl |publisher=Sun Bowl Association |website=sunbowl.org |date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2020}}

On December 26, 2021, the Miami Hurricanes announced they would not be able to play in the 2021 edition due to COVID-19 issues so organizers stated they would try to secure a replacement team to face the Washington State Cougars.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32943308/miami-sun-bowl-washington-state-due-covid-19-issues-football-program |title=Miami out of Sun Bowl against Washington State due to COVID-19 issues in football program |first=Andrea |last=Adelson |website=ESPN.com |date=December 26, 2021 |accessdate=December 26, 2021}} The following day, the Central Michigan Chippewas were named as the Sun Bowl replacement team.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/central-michigan-to-play-washington-state-in-sun-bowl-after-miami-pulls-out-due-to-covid-19-issues/ |title=Central Michigan to play Washington State in Sun Bowl after Miami pulls out due to COVID-19 issues |first=Barrett |last=Sallee |website=CBS Sports |date=December 27, 2021 |accessdate=December 27, 2021}} The Chippewas had originally been scheduled to face the Boise State Broncos in the Arizona Bowl, until Boise State withdrew from that bowl due to COVID-19 issues.{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2021/12/27/barstools-dave-portnoy-boise-state-out-of-arizona-bowl/ |title=Dave Portnoy announces Boise State out of Barstool Bowl due to COVID-19 |first=Ryan |last=Glasspiegel |website=New York Post |date=December 27, 2021 |accessdate=December 27, 2021}}

Sponsorship

File:2014 Hyundai Sun Bowl.jpg signage in the foreground in 2014]]

{{Location map

|USA

|relief = 1

|label = El Paso

|lat = 31.773

|long = -106.508

|caption = Location in the United States

|marksize = 7

|float =

|background =

|width = 240

}}

{{Location map

|Texas

|relief = 1

|label = El Paso

|lat = 31.773

|long = -106.508

|caption = Location in Texas

|marksize = 7

|float =

|background =

|width = 180

}}

The bowl's first title sponsor was John Hancock Financial, who entered a three-year, $1.5 million partnership in June 1986.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66017895/sponsorships-a-new-way-to-pay/ |title=Sponsorships: A new way to pay |first=Herschel |last=Nissenson |agency=AP |newspaper=The Anniston Star |location=Anniston, Alabama |page=3B |date=June 27, 1986 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} This came at a time that corporate sponsorship was not common for bowl games,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66017111/corporations-playing-ball-as-year-ends/ |title=Corporations playing ball as year ends |first=Kenneth |last=Ross |newspaper=Hartford Courant |location=Hartford, Connecticut |page=B8 |date=December 31, 1986 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} and followed the Fiesta Bowl entering a sponsorship agreement that had made its January 1986 edition the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65966770/sunkist-agrees-to-sponsor-fiesta-bowl/ |title=Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl |first=Bob |last=Young |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |location=Phoenix, Arizona |page=G1 |date=September 27, 1985 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} In March 1989, with Sun Bowl organizers and John Hancock Financial negotiating a renewal of the sponsorship agreement, it was reported that an extension might involve renaming the bowl.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66019632/sun-bowl-may-get-new-name/ |title=Sun Bowl may get new name |first=Don |last=Henry |newspaper=El Paso Times |page=1 |date=March 2, 1989 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} That came to pass in June 1989, with the annual game changing its name to John Hancock Bowl. Cited as the reason for the change was that, under the prior agreement, the sponsor's name "wasn't mentioned enough in national media to justify the expense."{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66020185/sun-bowl-renamed-john-hancock-bowl/ |title=Sun Bowl renamed John Hancock Bowl |agency=AP |newspaper=Kerrville Times |location=Kerrville, Texas |page=8 |date=June 20, 1989 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66020655/john-hancock-puts-signature-on-sun-bowl/ |title=John Hancock puts signature on Sun Bowl |first=Bill |last=Modoono |agency=The Pittsburgh Press |newspaper=The Daily Item |location=Sunbury, Pennsylvania |page=9D |date=December 17, 1989 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} Even after the formal name change, some newspapers continued to refer to it as the Sun Bowl.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66021267/pitt-wins-31-28-with-44-yard-touchdown/ |title=Pitt wins 31-28 with 44-yard touchdown pass |agency=AP |newspaper=Statesman Journal |location=Salem, Oregon |page=5E |date=December 31, 1989 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} Five editions of the game were staged as the John Hancock Bowl, from 1989 through 1993. After the 1993 playing, John Hancock Financial reduced its support of the bowl game, to dedicate more of its promotional budget to the 1996 Summer Olympics.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66023726/hancock-name-could-stay-for-94-game/ |title=Hancock name could stay for '94 game |first=Don |last=Henry |newspaper=El Paso Times |page=1E |date=June 3, 1994 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} The name reverted to Sun Bowl, and to ensure the game would continue, the El Paso city council allocated $600,000 to cover expenses in case of a shortfall.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66024137/el-paso-puts-up-cash-to-keep-sun-bowl/ |title=El Paso puts up cash to keep Sun Bowl |agency=AP |newspaper=Galveston Daily News |location=Galveston, Texas |page=1B |date=August 31, 1994 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}

Subsequent title sponsorship came from Norwest Corporation (1996–1998), which then merged into Wells Fargo (1999–2003), El Paso{{En dash}}based Helen of Troy Limited—using its brand names of Vitalis (2004–2005) and Brut (2006–2009)—and Hyundai Motor Company (2010–2018).{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/hyundai_title_sponsors_college_footballs_sun_bowl |title=Hyundai title sponsors college football's Sun Bowl |website=SportsPro Media |date=25 June 2010 |access-date=2019-09-04}} In August 2019, it was announced that Kellogg's had been named the new title sponsor, and that the game would be branded as the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl—referencing Tony the Tiger, the mascot of the company's cereal brand Frosted Flakes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/08/20/sun-bowl-tony-the-tiger-sponsor-university-of-texas-at-el-paso/2063685001/|title=It's official: The Sun Bowl grabs 'Tony the Tiger' as a sponsor|last1=Bedoya|first1=Aaron A.|last2=Bloomquist|first2=Bret|website=El Paso Times|language=en|access-date=2019-09-04}} A tradition begun during the Helen of Troy sponsorship is that gift packages given to players include a Sun Bowl-branded hair dryer, as Helen of Troy is a major manufacturer of that product.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Conference tie-ins

{{unreferenced section|date=February 2024}}

Until the league's demise in 1962, the Sun Bowl usually featured the champion of the Border Conference who was considered the "host" team against an at-large team.

Starting with the 2011 edition, the bowl has been contested between teams from the Pac-12 Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Sun Bowl is part of the ACC's pool arrangement where the Duke's Mayo (formerly Belk), Pinstripe, Music City, and Gator bowls each share choice of the conference's eligible teams following the College Football Playoff (CFP) and the Pop-Tarts Bowl (formerly known by several other names). The Sun Bowl can take any team ranked fourth through eighth in the ACC.

The Pac-12 currently{{when|date=February 2024}} employs the Sun Bowl as its fifth choice, behind the CFP and the Alamo Bowl and Holiday Bowl.

Game results

Three editions of the bowl ended in a tie—1936, 1940, and 1985—they are denoted by italics in the below table; overtime has been used in bowl games since the 1995–96 bowl season. The inaugural game in 1935 was contested between high school teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/17|title=Ken Heineman - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}} For sponsorship reasons, the 1989 through 1993 editions were known as the John Hancock Bowl.

Rankings are based on the AP poll, prior to game being played.

class="wikitable"

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|No.

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Date played

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" colspan="2" | Winning team

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" colspan="2" | Losing team

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Attnd.

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Notes

1align=right|January 1, 1935El Paso All-Stars25Ranger (Texas)21{{nbsp}}3,000notes
2align=right|January 1, 1936Hardin–Simmons14New Mexico A&M1412,000notes
3align=right|January 1, 1937Hardin–Simmons34Texas Mines6{{nbsp}}8,000notes
4align=right|January 1, 1938West Virginia7Texas Tech612,000notes
5align=right|January 2, 1939Utah26New Mexico013,000notes
6align=right|January 1, 1940Arizona State0Catholic013,000notes
7align=right|January 1, 1941Western Reserve26Arizona State1314,000notes
8align=right|January 1, 1942Tulsa6Texas Tech014,000notes
9align=right|January 1, 1943Second Air Force13Hardin–Simmons718,000notes
10align=right|January 1, 1944Southwestern7New Mexico018,000notes
11align=right|January 1, 1945Southwestern35{{cfb link|year=1944|team=Pumas CU|school=National Autonomous University of Mexico|title=UNAM}}013,000notes
12align=right|January 1, 1946New Mexico34Denver2415,000notes
13align=right|January 1, 1947Cincinnati18Virginia Tech610,000notes
14align=right|January 1, 1948Miami (Ohio)13Texas Tech1218,000notes
15align=right|January 1, 1949West Virginia21Texas Mines1213,000notes
16align=right|January 2, 1950Texas Western33Georgetown2015,000notes
17align=right|January 1, 1951West Texas State14Cincinnati1316,000notes
18align=right|January 1, 1952Texas Tech25Pacific1417,000notes
19align=right|January 1, 1953Pacific26Mississippi Southern711,000notes
20align=right|January 1, 1954Texas Western37Mississippi Southern14{{nbsp}}9,500notes
21align=right|January 1, 1955Texas Western47Florida State2014,000notes
22align=right|January 2, 1956Wyoming21Texas Tech1414,500notes
23align=right|January 1, 1957No. 17 George Washington13Texas Western013,500notes
24align=right|January 1, 1958Louisville34Drake2013,000notes
25December 31, 1958Wyoming14Hardin–Simmons612,000–13,000notes
26December 31, 1959New Mexico A&M28North Texas State814,000notes
27December 31, 1960No. 17 New Mexico State20Utah State1316,000–16,200notes
28December 30, 1961Villanova17Wichita915,000notes
29December 31, 1962West Texas State15Ohio1413,000–16,000notes
30December 31, 1963Oregon21SMU1418,646notes
31December 26, 1964Georgia7Texas Tech023,292notes
32December 31, 1965Texas Western13TCU1224,598notes
33December 24, 1966Wyoming28Florida State2017,965notes
34December 30, 1967UTEP14Ole Miss728,630notes
35December 28, 1968Auburn34Arizona1027,062notes
36December 20, 1969No. 14 Nebraska45Georgia626,668notes
37December 19, 1970No. 13 Georgia Tech17No. 19 Texas Tech926,188notes
38December 18, 1971No. 10 LSU33No. 17 Iowa State1529,377notes
39December 30, 1972No. 16 North Carolina32Texas Tech2827,877notes
40December 29, 1973Missouri34Auburn1726,108notes
41December 28, 1974Mississippi State26North Carolina2426,035notes
42December 26, 1975No. 20 Pittsburgh33No. 19 Kansas1930,272notes
43align=right|January 2, 1977No. 10 Texas A&M37Florida1431,896notes
44December 31, 1977Stanford24LSU1430,621notes
45December 23, 1978No. 14 Texas42No. 13 Maryland030,604notes
46December 22, 1979No. 13 Washington14No. 11 Texas730,124notes
47December 27, 1980No. 8 Nebraska31No. 17 Mississippi State1731,332notes
48December 26, 1981Oklahoma40Houston1429,985notes
49December 25, 1982North Carolina26No. 8 Texas1029,055notes
50December 24, 1983Alabama28No. 6 SMU741,412notes
51December 22, 1984No. 12 Maryland28Tennessee2750,126notes
52December 28, 1985Arizona13Georgia1350,203notes
53December 25, 1986No. 13 Alabama28No. 12 Washington648,722notes
54December 25, 1987No. 11 Oklahoma State35West Virginia3343,240notes
55December 24, 1988No. 20 Alabama29Army2843,661notes
56December 30, 1989No. 24 Pittsburgh31No. 16 Texas A&M2844,887notes
57December 31, 1990No. 22 Michigan State17No. 21 USC1650,562notes
58December 31, 1991No. 22 UCLA6Illinois342,281notes
59December 31, 1992Baylor20No. 22 Arizona1541,622notes
60December 24, 1993No. 19 Oklahoma41Texas Tech1043,684notes
61December 30, 1994Texas35No. 19 North Carolina3150,612notes
62December 29, 1995Iowa38No. 20 Washington1849,116notes
63December 31, 1996Stanford38Michigan State042,721notes
64December 31, 1997No. 16 Arizona State17Iowa749,104notes
65December 31, 1998TCU28USC1946,612notes
66December 31, 1999Oregon24No. 12 Minnesota2048,757notes
67December 29, 2000Wisconsin21UCLA2049,093notes
68December 31, 2001No. 13 Washington State33Purdue2747,812notes
69December 31, 2002Purdue34Washington2448,917notes
70December 31, 2003No. 24 Minnesota31Oregon3049,864notes
71December 31, 2004No. 21 Arizona State27Purdue2351,288notes
72December 30, 2005No. 17 UCLA50Northwestern3850,426notes
73December 29, 2006No. 24 Oregon State39Missouri3848,732notes
74December 31, 2007Oregon56No. 23 South Florida2149,867notes
75December 31, 2008No. 24 Oregon State3No. 18 Pittsburgh049,037notes
76December 31, 2009Oklahoma31No. 19 Stanford2753,713notes
77December 31, 2010Notre Dame33Miami (FL)1754,021notes
78December 31, 2011Utah30Georgia Tech27 (OT)48,123notes
79December 31, 2012Georgia Tech21USC747,922notes

|80

December 31, 2013No. 17 UCLA42Virginia Tech1247,912notes

|81

December 27, 2014No. 15 Arizona State36Duke3147,809notes

|82

December 26, 2015Washington State20Miami (FL)1441,180notes

|83

December 30, 2016No. 16 Stanford25North Carolina2342,166notes

|84

December 29, 2017NC State52Arizona State3139,897notes
85December 31, 2018Stanford14Pittsburgh1340,680notes
86December 31, 2019Arizona State20Florida State1442,212notes
87December 31, 2020colspan=4 style="text-align:center"|Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemicalign=center|{{mdash}}{{cite news |url=https://kvia.com/sports/2020/12/01/watch-live-at-2pm-official-announcement-of-sun-bowl-games-cancellation/ |title='Very sad decision to make': Sun Bowl game officially cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic |first=Jim |last=Parker |website=KVIA-TV |date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2020}}
88December 31, 2021Central Michigan24Washington State2134,540notes

| 89

December 30, 2022Pittsburgh37No. 18 UCLA3541,104notes

| 90

December 29, 2023No. 15 Notre Dame40No. 21 Oregon State848,223notes

| 91

December 31, 2024Louisville35Washington3440,826notes

Note: the bowl's game programs indicate that organizers consider the unplayed 2020 game to have been the 87th edition, as the 2021 game is referred to as the 88th edition, the 2022 game as the 89th edition, etc.{{cite web |url=https://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/recaps |title=Recaps |website=sunbowl.org |accessdate=December 25, 2023}}

Source:{{cite magazine |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/Bowls.pdf |magazine=Bowl/All Star Game Records |title=Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl|page=6 |via=NCAA.org |publisher=NCAA |date=2020 |access-date=January 3, 2021}}

Awards

=C. M. Hendricks Most Valuable Player Trophy=

Awarded since 1950; named after the first Sun Bowl Association president, Dr. C. M. Hendricks.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/about|title=About - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}

Two players have been two-time MVPs; Charley Johnson (1959, 1960) and Billy Stevens (1965, 1967).

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Game

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|MVP(s)

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Team

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Position

1950Harvey GabrelTexas WesternHB
1951Bill CrossWest Texas StateE
1952Junior ArteburnTexas TechQB
1953Tom McCormickPacificHB
1954Dick ShinautTexas WesternQB
1955Jesse Whittenton{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/9|title=Jesse Whittenton - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}Texas WesternQB
1956Jim CrawfordWyomingHB
1957Claude AustinGeorge WashingtonRB
1958 (Jan.)Ken PorcoLouisvilleRB
1958 (Dec.)Leonard KucewskiWyomingG
1959Charley Johnson{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/3|title=Charley Johnson - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}New Mexico A&MQB
1960Charley JohnsonNew Mexico StateQB
1961Billy JoeVillanovaFB
1962Jerry LoganWest Texas StateHB
1963Bob BerryOregonQB
1964Preston RidlehuberGeorgiaQB
1965Billy Stevens{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/2|title=Bill Stevens - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}Texas WesternQB
1966Jim KiickWyomingTB
1967Billy StevensUTEPQB
1968Buddy McClintonAuburnDB
1969Paul RogersNebraskaHB
1970Rock PerdoniGeorgia TechDT
1971Bert JonesLSUQB
1972George SmithTexas TechHB
1973Ray BybeeMissouriFB
1974Terry VitranoMississippi StateFB
1975Robert HaygoodPittsburghQB
1977 (Jan.)Tony Franklin{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/22|title=Tony Franklin - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}Texas A&MK
1977 (Dec.)Charles AlexanderLSUTB
1978Johnny "Lam" JonesTexasRB
1979Paul SkansiWashingtonWR
1980Jeff QuinnNebraskaQB
1981Darrell ShepardOklahomaQB
rowspan=3 | 1982Rob RogersNorth CarolinaTB
Ethan HortonNorth CarolinaTB
Brooks BarwickNorth CarolinaTB
1983Walter LewisAlabamaQB
1984Rick BadanjekMarylandFB
1985Max ZendejasArizonaK
1986Cornelius Bennett{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/23|title=Cornelius Bennett - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}AlabamaDE

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Game

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|MVP(s)

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Team

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Position

1987Thurman Thomas{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/16|title=Thurman Thomas - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}Oklahoma StateRB
1988David SmithAlabamaQB
1989Alex Van Pelt{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/18|title=Alex Van Pelt - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}PittsburghQB
1990Courtney HawkinsMichigan StateWR
1991Arnold AleUCLALB
1992Melvin BonnerBaylorWR
1993Cale GundyOklahomaRB
1994Priest Holmes{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/26|title=Priest Holmes - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}TexasRB
1995Sedrick ShawIowaRB
1996Chad HutchinsonStanfordQB
1997Mike MartinArizona StateRB
1998Basil MitchellTCUTB
1999Billy CockerhamMinnesotaQB
2000Freddie MitchellUCLAWR
2001Lamont ThompsonWashington StateS
2002Kyle OrtonPurdueQB
2003Samie ParkerOregonWR
2004Sam KellerArizona StateQB
rowspan = "2" | 2005Kahlil BellUCLARB
Chris MarkeyUCLARB
2006Matt MooreOregon StateQB
2007Jonathan StewartOregonRB
2008Victor ButlerOregon StateDE
2009Ryan BroylesOklahomaWR
2010Michael FloydNotre DameWR
2011John White IVUtahRB
2012Rod SweetingGeorgia TechCB
rowspan=2 | 2013Brett HundleyUCLAQB
Jordan ZumwaltUCLALB
2014Demario RichardArizona StateRB
2015Luke FalkWashington StateQB
2016Solomon ThomasStanfordDE
2017Nyheim HinesNC StateRB
2018Cameron ScarlettStanfordRB
2019Jayden DanielsArizona StateQB
2021Lew Nichols IIICentral MichiganRB
2022Rodney Hammond Jr.PittsburghRB
2023Jordan FaisonNotre DameWR
2024Harrison BaileyLouisvilleQB

{{col-end}}

Source:{{rp|26}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/news/198-stanford-claims-fourth-sun-bowl-victory |title=Stanford Claims Fourth Sun Bowl Victory |website=sunbowl.org |date=December 31, 2018 |access-date=December 31, 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/college/sunbowl/2019/12/31/asu-quarterback-jayden-daniels-wins-tony-tiger-sun-bowl-mvp-award/2784577001/ |title=ASU quarterback Daniels wins Sun Bowl MVP award |first=Bret |last=Bloomquist |newspaper=El Paso Times |date=December 31, 2019 |access-date=January 1, 2020}}{{cite tweet |user=ItsTravisGreen |number=1477021591066218497 |title=Central Michigan's Lew Nichols III named mvp of the Sun Bowl |date=December 31, 2021 |accessdate=December 31, 2021}}{{cite tweet |user=TonyTheTigerSB |number=1608976101728202752 |title=MVP @RodneyLHammond1 |date=December 30, 2022 |accessdate=December 30, 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/college/sunbowl/2024/12/31/louisville-quarterback-harrison-bailey-wins-tony-the-tiger-sun-bowl-mvp/77357017007/ |title=Louisville quarterback Harrison Bailey wins Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl MVP in first start |first=Bret |last=Bloomquist |website=El Paso Times |date=December 31, 2024 |accessdate=December 31, 2024}}

=Jimmy Rogers Jr. Most Valuable Lineman Trophy=

Awarded since 1961; named after former Sun Bowl president Jimmy Rogers Jr.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/11|title=Jimmy Rogers, Jr. - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Game

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Player

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Team

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Position

1961Rich RossVillanovaG
1962Don HoovlerOhioG
1963Dun HughesSMUG
1964Jim WilsonGeorgiaT
1965Ronny NixonTCUT
1966Jerry DurlingWyomingMG
1967Fred CarrUTEPLB
1968David CampbellAuburnT
1969Jerry MurtaughNebraskaLB
1970Bill FlowersGeorgia TechLB
1971Matt BlairIowa StateLB
1972Ecomet BurleyTexas TechDT
1973John KelseyMissouriTE
1974Jimmy WebbMississippi StateDT
1975Al RomanoPittsburghMG
1977 (Jan.)Edgar FieldsTexas A&MDT
1977 (Dec.)Gordon CeresinoStanfordLB
1978Dwight JeffersonTexasDT
1979Doug MartinWashingtonDT
1980Jimmy WilliamsNebraskaDE
1981Rick BryanOklahomaDT
1982Ronnie MullinsTexasDB
1983Wes NeighborsAlabamaC
1984Carl ZanderTennesseeLB
1985Peter AndersonGeorgiaC
1986Steve AlvordWashingtonMG
1987Darren WarrenWest VirginiaLB
1988Derrick Thomas{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/12|title=Derrick Thomas - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}AlabamaLB
1989Anthony WilliamsTexas A&MLB
1990Craig HartsuykerUSCLB
1991Mike PloskeyIllinoisDT
1992Rob WaldropArizonaNT
1993Shawn JacksonTexas TechDE
1994Blake Brockermeyer{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/29|title=Blake Brockermeyer - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}TexasOT
1995Jared DeVriesIowaDL
1996Kailee WongStanfordDE
1997Jeremy StaatArizona StateDT
1998London DunlapTCUDE
1999Dyron RussMinnesotaDT
2000Oscar CabreraUCLAOG
2001Akin AyodelePurdueDE
2002Shaun PhillipsPurdueDE
2003Junior SiavaiiOregonDT
2004Brandon VillarealPurdueDT
2005Kevin MimsNorthwesternDT
2006Xzavie JacksonMissouriDE
2007Fenuki TupouOregonOT
2008Greg RomeusPittsburghDE
2009Gerald McCoyOklahomaDE
2010Zach MartinNotre DameOT
2011Star LotuleleiUtahDT
2012Jay FinchGeorgia TechC
2013Kenny ClarkUCLADT
2014Marcus HardisonArizona StateDE
2015Hercules Mata'afaWashington StateDE
2016Nazair JonesNorth CarolinaDT
2017Kentavius StreetNC StateDE
2018Thomas BookerStanfordDE
2019Robert CooperFlorida StateDT
2021Ron Stone Jr.Washington StateDE
2022Jay ToiaUCLADL
2023Jordan BotelhoNotre DameDL
2024Jordan GueradLouisvilleDL

Source:{{rp|27}}{{cite tweet |user=Fchavezeptimes |number=1608987869963759617 |title=UCLA's Jay Toia named Sun Bowl Most Valuable Lineman today in 37-35 win by Pittsburgh. |date=December 30, 2022 |accessdate=December 30, 2022}}

=John Folmer Most Valuable Special Teams Player Trophy=

Awarded since 1994; named after former Sun Bowl president John Folmer.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/legend/15|title=John H. Folmer - Legends of the Sun Bowl - Hyundai Sun Bowl - December 29, 2017 - El Paso, Texas|website=www.sunbowl.org}}
Positions: P=Punter, K=Kicker, PR=Punt returner, KR=Kickoff returner

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Game

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Player

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Team

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Position

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Statistics

!style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Ref.

1994Marcus WallNorth CarolinaKR/PR3 returns, long 82{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/61/original/1994.pdf |title=1994 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
1995Brion HurleyIowaK/P3/3 FG, 0/0 XP{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/62/original/1995.pdf |title=1995 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
1996Troy WaltersStanfordPR5 returns, long 24{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/63/original/1996.pdf |title=1996 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
1997Tim DwightIowaKR/PR6 returns, long 26{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/64/original/1997.pdf |title=1997 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
1998Adam AbramsUSCK2/2 FG, 1/1 XP{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/65/original/1998.pdf |title=1998 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
1999Ryan RindelsMinnesotaP7 punts, avg. 46.1{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/66/original/1999.pdf |title=1999 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2000Michael BennettWisconsinKR2 returns, long 54{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/67/original/2000.pdf |title=2000 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2001Drew DunningWashington StateK4/4 FG, 3/3 XP{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/68/original/2001.pdf |title=2001 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2002Anthony ChambersPurdueKR/PR3 returns, long 51{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/69/original/2002.pdf |title=2002 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2003Jared SiegelOregonK3/3 FG, 3/3 XP{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/70/original/2003.pdf |title=2003 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2004Dave BrytusPurdueP8 punts, avg. 48.9{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/system/game_recaps/documents/71/original/Purdue-ASU%202004.pdf |title=2004 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2005Brandon BreazellUCLAKR2 TD returns{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/recap/72 |title=2005 Sun Bowl recap |website=sunbowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2006Jeff WolfertMissouriK1/1 FG, 5/5 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=263630142 |title=2006 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2007Matt EvensenOregonK2/2 FG, 5/5 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=273652483 |title=2007 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2008Johnny HekkerOregon StateP10 punts, avg. 45.0{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=283660221 |title=2008 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2009Ryan BroylesOklahomaPR4 returns, long 42{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293650024 |title=2009 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2010David RufferNotre DameK3/4 FG, 3/3 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=303652390 |title=2010 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2011DeVonte ChristopherUtahKR2 returns, long 68{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=313650254 |title=2011 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2012Jamal GoldenGeorgia TechKR/PR3 returns, long 56{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=323660059 |title=2012 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2013Kaʻimi FairbairnUCLAK0/1 FG 6/6 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=333650026 |title=2013 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2014Kalen BallageArizona StateKR3 returns, long 96{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400610211 |title=2014 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2015Erik PowellWashington StateK2/2 FG, 2/2 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400610211 |title=2015 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2016Conrad UkropinaStanfordK4/5 FG, 1/1 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400878692 |title=2016 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2017Kyle BambardNC StateK1/1 FG, 7/7 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400953417 |title=2017 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2018Alex KessmanPittsburghK2/2 FG, 1/1 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=401035251 |title=2018 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2019Cristian ZendejasArizona StateK4/4 FG, 0/0 XP{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=401136255 |title=2019 Sun Bowl box score |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2020}}
2021Marshall MeederCentral MichiganK3/5 FG, 1/1 XP{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/recap/87

|title=2021 Sun Bowl recap| website=SunBowl.org |access-date=January 1, 2022}}

2022Ben SaulsPittsburghK5/5 FG, 2/2 XP{{cite tweet |user=TonyTheTigerSB |number=1608976238475120640 |title=Specialist @BSauls22 |date=December 30, 2022 |accessdate=December 30, 2022}}
2023Spencer ShraderNotre DameK1/2 FG, 5/5 XP
2024Carter SchwartzLouisvilleP6 punts, avg. 43.7

Most appearances

Updated through the December 2024 edition (90 games, 180 total appearances), excluding the unplayed 87th edition of December 2020.

;Teams with multiple appearances

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

class = "wikitable"

! class="unsortable" style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Rank

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Team

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Appearances

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Record

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Win pct.

1Texas Tech91–8{{winpct|1|8}}
2UTEP85–3{{winpct|5|3}}
3Arizona State74–2–1{{winpct|4|2|1}}
T4Stanford54–1{{winpct|4|1}}
T4UCLA53–2{{winpct|3|2}}
T4Pittsburgh53–2{{winpct|3|2}}
T4North Carolina52–3{{winpct|2|3}}
T4Washington51–4{{winpct|1|4}}
T9Oregon43–1{{winpct|3|1}}
T9Texas42–2{{winpct|2|2}}
T9Hardin–Simmons41–2–1{{winpct|1|2|1}}
T12Alabama33–0{{winpct|3|0}}
T12Oklahoma33–0{{winpct|3|0}}
T12Wyoming33–0{{winpct|3|0}}
T12New Mexico State32–0–1{{winpct|2|0|1}}
T12Georgia Tech32–1{{winpct|2|1}}
T12Washington State32–1{{winpct|2|1}}
T12West Virginia32–1{{winpct|2|1}}
T12Oregon State32–1{{winpct|2|1}}
T12Georgia31–1–1{{winpct|1|1|1}}
T12New Mexico31–2{{winpct|1|2}}
T12Purdue31–2{{winpct|1|2}}
T12Arizona30–2–1{{winpct|0|2|1}}
T12Florida State30–3{{winpct|0|3}}
T12USC30–3{{winpct|0|3}}

{{col-break}}

class = "wikitable"

! class="unsortable" style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Rank

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Team

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Appearances

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Record

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Win pct.

T26Nebraska22–0{{winpct|2|0}}
T26Notre Dame22–0{{winpct|2|0}}
T26Southwestern22–0{{winpct|2|0}}
T26Utah22–0{{winpct|2|0}}
T26West Texas State22–0{{winpct|2|0}}
T26Louisville22–0{{winpct|2|0}}
T26Auburn21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Cincinnati21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26High school teams21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Iowa21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26LSU21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Maryland21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Michigan State21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Minnesota21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Mississippi State21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Missouri21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Pacific21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26TCU21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Texas A&M21–1{{winpct|1|1}}
T26Miami (Florida)20–2{{winpct|0|2}}
T26Mississippi Southern20–2{{winpct|0|2}}
T26SMU20–2{{winpct|0|2}}
T26Virginia Tech20–2{{winpct|0|2}}

{{col-end}}

;Teams with a single appearance

Won (11): Baylor, Central Michigan, George Washington, Miami (Ohio), NC State, Oklahoma State, Second Air Force, Tulsa, Villanova, Western Reserve, Wisconsin


Lost (19): Army, Denver, Drake, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, North Texas State, Northwestern, Ohio, Ole Miss, South Florida, Tennessee, UNAM, Utah State, Wichita


Tied (1): Catholic

;Notes

  • UTEP's record includes appearances when it was known as Texas Mines and Texas Western.
  • New Mexico State's record includes appearances when it was known as New Mexico A&M.
  • {{as of|2024}}, California and Colorado are the only Pac-12 legacy members that have not appeared in the Sun Bowl.
  • Northern Arizona (now in the FCS) is the only former member of the Border Conference that has not appeared in the Sun Bowl.

Appearances by conference

Updated through the December 2024 edition (90 games, 180 total appearances), excluding the unplayed 87th edition of December 2020.

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" rowspan=2|Conference

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" colspan=5|Record

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" colspan=3|Appearances by season

style="border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" |Games

! style="border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" |W

! style="border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" |L

! style="border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" |T

! style="border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" |Win pct.

! style="border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" class=unsortable|Won

! style="border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" class=unsortable|Lost

! style="border: 2px solid #FDAF17;" class=unsortable|Tied

Pac-1234{{WinLossPct|19|14|1}}

| 1977, 1979, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

| 1986, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023

| 1985

Independents31{{WinLossPct|18|11|2}}

| 1936*, 1937*, 1942*, 1946*, 1947*, 1948*, 1952*, 1957*, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1975, 1989, 2010, 2023

| 1943*, 1944*, 1949*, 1951*, 1952*, 1953*, 1954*, 1957*, 1966, 1987, 1988

| 1935*, 1939*

bgcolor=lightgrey|Border21{{WinLossPct|8|11|2}}

| 1945*, 1949*, 1950*, 1951*, 1953*, 1954*, 1959, 1960

| 1936*, 1937*, 1938*, 1940*, 1941*, 1942*, 1947*, 1948*, 1955*, 1956*, 1958

| 1935*, 1939*

ACC18{{WinLossPct|7|11|0}}

| 1972, 1982, 1984, 2012, 2017, 2022, 2024

| 1974, 1978, 1994, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

SEC15{{WinLossPct|7|7|1}}

| 1964, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1983, 1986, 1988

| 1967, 1969, 1973, 1976*, 1977, 1980, 1984

| 1985

bgcolor=lightgrey|SWC15{{WinLossPct|4|11|0}}

| 1976*, 1978, 1992, 1994

| 1963, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1993

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

Big Ten13{{WinLossPct|5|8|0}}

| 1990, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003

| 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2024

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

bgcolor=lightgrey|Big Eight8{{WinLossPct|6|2|0}}

| 1969, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1993

| 1971, 1975

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

bgcolor=lightgrey|Mountain States5{{WinLossPct|3|2|0}}

| 1938*, 1955*, 1958

| 1945*, 1960

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

bgcolor=lightgrey|WAC3{{WinLossPct|2|1|0}}

| 1966, 1998

| 1968

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

bgcolor=lightgrey|MVC3{{WinLossPct|1|2|0}}

| 1941*

| 1959, 1961

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

MAC3{{WinLossPct|1|2|0}}

| 2021

| 1950*, 1962

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

bgcolor=lightgrey|Texas Conference2{{WinLossPct|2|0|0}}

| 1943*, 1944*

|

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

Big 122{{WinLossPct|1|1|0}}

| 2009

| 2006

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

bgcolor=lightgrey|SoCon2{{WinLossPct|1|1|0}}

| 1956*

| 1946*

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

bgcolor=lightgrey|{{nowrap|High school teams}}2{{WinLossPct|1|1|0}}

| 1934*

| 1934*

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

Big East2{{WinLossPct|0|2|0}}

|

| 2007, 2008

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

bgcolor=lightgrey|Big Four (Ohio)1{{WinLossPct|1|0|0}}

| 1940*

|

| bgcolor=lightgrey| 

  • Games marked with an asterisk (*) were played in January of the following calendar year.
  • The first edition of the game, played in January 1935, was contested between high school teams.
  • Records are based on teams' conferences at the time each game was played.
  • Conferences that are defunct or not currently active in FBS are marked in italics.
  • The American Athletic Conference (The American), retains the conference charter of the Big East following the 2013 split of the original Big East along football lines. Big East appearances: South Florida (2007) and Pittsburgh (2008).
  • The Pac-12's record includes appearances by teams when the conference was the Pac-8 and Pac-10.
  • The Mountain States Conferences was popularly known as the Skyline Conference from 1947 through 1962.
  • Independent appearances (30): Army (1988), Catholic (1939*), Cincinnati (1946*), Drake (1957*), Florida State (1954*, 1966), Georgetown (1949*), Georgia Tech (1970), Hardin–Simmons (1935*, 1936*), Louisville (1957*), Miami (OH) (1947*), New Mexico (1943*), Notre Dame (2010, 2023), Oregon (1963), Pacific (1951*, 1952*), Pittsburgh (1975, 1989), Second Air Force (1942*), Southern Miss (1952*, 1953*), UNAM (1944*), UTEP (1965, 1967), Villanova (1961), West Texas State (1962), and West Virginia (1937*, 1948*, 1987).

Game records

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Team

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Record, Team vs. Opponent

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Year

Most points scored (one team)

|56, Oregon vs. South Florida

|2007

Most points scored (both teams)

|88, UCLA (50) vs. Northwestern (38)

|2005

Most points scored (losing team)

|38, most recent:
Missouri vs. Oregon State

|
2006

Fewest points allowed

|0, most recent:
Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh

|
2008

Largest margin of victory

|42, Texas (42) vs. Maryland (0)

|1978

Total yards

| 561, Missouri vs. Oregon State

| 2006

Rushing yards

| 455, Mississippi State vs. North Carolina

| 1974

Passing yards

| 419, Purdue vs. Washington State

| 2001

First downs

| 33, Northwestern vs. UCLA

| 2005

Fewest yards allowed

| (-21), Southwestern vs. UNAM

| 1945

Fewest rushing yards allowed

| (-23), TCU vs. USC

| 1998

Fewest passing yards allowed

| (-50), Southwestern vs. UNAM

| 1945

style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Individual

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Year

All-purpose yards282, Jonathan Stewart, Oregon vs. South Florida
253 rush, 29 return
2007
Touchdowns (all-purpose)4, shared by:
Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia
Priest Holmes, Texas vs. North Carolina
Demario Richard, Arizona State vs. Duke
 
1987
1994
2014
Rushing yards253, Jonathan Stewart, Oregon vs. South Florida2007
Rushing touchdowns4, shared by:
Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia
Priest Holmes, Texas vs. North Carolina
 
1987
1994
Passing yards419, Kyle Orton, Purdue vs. Washington2002
Passing touchdowns4, shared by:
Matt Moore, Oregon State vs. Missouri
Justin Roper, Oregon vs. South Florida
 
2006
2007
Receiving yards200, Samie Parker, Oregon vs. Minnesota2003
Receiving touchdowns3, Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma vs. Stanford2009
Tackles24, Carl Zander, Tennessee vs. Maryland
14 solo, 10 assist
1984
Sacks4.5, Reggie McKenzie, Tennessee vs. Maryland1984
Interceptions3, shared by:
Buddy McClinton, Auburn vs. Arizona
Harrison Smith, Notre Dame vs. Miami (FL)
 
1968
2010
style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Long Plays

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Year

Touchdown run94, Hascall Henshaw, Arizona State vs. Western Reserve1941
Touchdown pass91, James Blackman to Tamorrion Terry, Florida State vs. Arizona State2019
Kickoff return100, Peter Panuska, Tennessee vs. Maryland1984
Punt return82, Marcus Wall, North Carolina vs. Texas1994
Interception return91, Don "Skip" Hoovler, Ohio vs. West Texas1962
Fumble return
Punt78, Scott Blanton, Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech1993
Field goal62, Tony Franklin, Texas A&M vs. Florida1977
style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Miscellaneous

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Record, Teams

! style="background:#004B8E; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #FDAF17;"|Year

Largest attendance54,021, Notre Dame vs. Miami (FL)2010

Source:{{cite web |url=https://indd.adobe.com/view/d248185c-8284-4f58-82ff-68dab515fe0c |title=Sun Bowl Media Guide |date=2018 |website=sunbowl.org |via=adobe.com |access-date=December 31, 2018}}{{rp|28–32}}{{cite tweet |user=TonyTheTiger_SB |number=1212133673543372801 |title=The 91 yard touchdown pass from James Blackman to Tamorrion Terry for @FSUFootball in the third quarter breaks the record for longest pass play in Sun Bowl history. |date=December 31, 2019 |access-date=December 31, 2019}}

Media coverage

NBC broadcast the Sun Bowl nationally in 1964 and 1966. From 1968 until the present, the game has been broadcast by CBS Sports.{{cite web |url=https://footballbowlassociation.com/documents/2019/10/23/FBA_Media_Guide_2019_digital.pdf |title=2019–20 Football Bowl Association Media Guide |website=footballbowlassociation.com |editor=Kelly, Doug |pages=133–134 |access-date=January 4, 2020}} The Sun Bowl's contract with CBS Sports is the longest continuous relationship between a bowl game and one television network.{{cite press release |url=http://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/view?id=13562|title=CBS SPORTS EXTENDS BRUT SUN BOWL BROADCAST AGREEMENT THROUGH 2009 |website=cbspressexpress.com |date=August 9, 2006}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbowl.org/news/222-cbs-celebrates-150-years-of-college-football-and-its-partnership-with-the-sun-bowl |title=CBS CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SUN BOWL |website=sunbowl.org |date=November 6, 2019 |access-date=January 4, 2020}}

Footnotes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}