NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl was a postseason college football all-star game for National Football League Draft-eligible players, held annually in January. The event was founded in 2012 by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). In 2023, the NFLPA decided to cancel the game after 12 years.^[1]

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (defunct)
Stadium	Rose Bowl
Location	Pasadena, California
Previous stadiums	Home Depot Center / StubHub Center (2012–2017)
Previous locations	Carson, California (2012–2017)
Operated	2012–2023
Preceded by	Texas vs The Nation
Sponsors
NFL Players Association
2022 matchup
National vs. American (National 25–24)
2023 matchup
National vs. American (American 19–17)

Players predominantly, but not exclusively, were from teams within the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The first six editions of the game were played in Carson, California, at the venue first known as Home Depot Center and later as StubHub Center. Starting with the 2018 edition, the game was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

History

In January 2012, the NFLPA founded the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl after sponsoring the Texas vs The Nation game in previous years.^[2] The inaugural NFLPA Collegiate Bowl was open to NFL draft-eligible underclassmen players but, beginning with the second annual event, only draft-eligible seniors were allowed to participate.^[3][4]

The event was established in part to prepare draft-eligible college football players for a career in the NFL. During the week preceding the game, the NFLPA provides an introduction to the players union and educates players on the business side of an NFL career. Current and former NFL players are invited to attend the week's events to share their NFL experiences with the draft eligible players.^[4][3][5] The NFLPA also hosts community-focused events including a youth football clinic.^[6]

The 2012 and 2013 games were hosted at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.^[4][6] The Home Depot Center was renamed the StubHub Center in June 2013; the venue subsequently hosted the 2014 through 2017 games. In November 2017, bowl organizers announced the game would relocate to the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California, effective with the 2018 game.^[7] The game was sponsored by AstroTurf in 2012,^[3][6] Winnol in 2013,^[8] and Panini America in 2014.^[9]

The game utilizes some special rules. As of the 2018 edition, a kickoff starts each half (per normal rules), while the second and fourth quarters begin with the team that kicked off the half starting with a first-and-ten at their 25-yard-line. Also, a team trailing by 20 or more points retains possession of the ball following a score.^[10]

According to the game's official website, 112 players participated in the 2018 game, representing 84 colleges; 42 players were invited to the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, with 19 selected in the 2018 NFL draft.^[11]

Game results

Dick Vermeil led the National team to victory three times.

Through the 2023 playing of the game, the National team leads the series, 9–2. Coach and score of the winning team are in bold font.

Date	National team		American team		Box score	Rosters	Video	Ref.
	Coach	Score		Coach
January 21, 2012	Dick Vermeil	20	14	Tom Flores	box	rosters		[6]
January 19, 2013	Dick Vermeil	34	0	Herman Edwards	box	rosters		[12]
January 18, 2014	Dick Vermeil	31	17	Dennis Green	box	rosters		[13]
January 17, 2015	Mike Martz	17	0	Mike Holmgren	box	rosters	video	[14]
January 23, 2016	Mike Martz	18	17	Mike Holmgren	box	rosters	video	[15]
January 21, 2017	Mike Martz	27	7	Jim Zorn	box	rosters	video	[16]
January 20, 2018	Mike Martz	23	0	Darrell Green	box	rosters	video	[17][18]
January 19, 2019	Mike Tice	7	10	Chuck Pagano	box	rosters	video	[19][20]
January 18, 2020	Marvin Lewis	30	20	Hue Jackson	box	rosters	video	[21][22][23]
2021	Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic							[24]
January 29, 2022	Marvin Lewis	25	24	Jeff Fisher	box	rosters	video	[25]
January 28, 2023	Eddie George	17	19	Jeff Fisher	box	rosters	video	[26][27]

Source:^[11]

MVPs

Troy Apke was MVP of the 2018 game.

Year	Name	Position	College team
2012	G. J. Kinne	QB	Tulsa
2013	Dayne Crist	QB	Kansas
2014	J. C. Copeland	RB	LSU
2015	Terrell Watson	RB	Azusa Pacific (D-II)
2016	Andrew Baggett	K	Missouri
2017	Lorenzo Jerome	S	Saint Francis (FCS)
2018	Troy Apke	DB	Penn State
2019	Wes Hills	RB	Slippery Rock (D-II)
2020	Nick Tiano	QB	Chattanooga (FCS)
2022	Cole Kelley	QB	SE Louisiana (FCS)
2023	Holton Ahlers	QB	East Carolina

Source: ^[11][28]

Broadcasting

In 2012, the inaugural NFLPA Collegiate Bowl was broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.^[29] In December 2012, the NFLPA and ESPN signed a multiyear agreement to air the game on the ESPN network.^[30] The 2013 game was broadcast on ESPN2 and, as part of the agreement, some of the practices leading up to the event were aired on ESPNU.^[3][5] ESPN continued as the broadcaster through the 2016 game. In 2017, the game moved to Fox Sports 1.^[31] In 2020, it moved to the NFL Network, the first game in an agreement to run through the 2024 edition.^[32]

See also

• College football portal

• List of college bowl games