Where is the Military Bowl played?
The Military Bowl, also known as the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman, is an annual college football bowl game played in Norfolk, Virginia, on the campus of Norfolk State University. The game is typically played on December 27 or 28, and is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) postseason.
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History of the Military Bowl
The Military Bowl was first played in 2008, and was previously known as the EagleBank Bowl. The game was played at RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. from 2008 to 2009. In 2010, the game moved to FedExField in Landover, Maryland, and was known as the Military Bowl. In 2011, the game moved to Byrd Stadium at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2012, the game returned to RFK Memorial Stadium for one final year before moving to Branch Bank Stadium at the Naval Station Norfolk in 2013. The game has been played at its current location, S.B. Ballard Stadium at Norfolk State University, since 2017.
Current Venue: S.B. Ballard Stadium
S.B. Ballard Stadium is a 30,000-seat stadium located on the campus of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. The stadium is known for its unique setting, with the Elizabeth River running along one side of the field. The stadium has undergone several renovations and expansions since its original construction in 1965, including a major renovation in 2015.
Game Format and History
The Military Bowl typically features a matchup between a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and a team from the American Athletic Conference (AAC) or Conference USA (C-USA). The game is played with a six-bowl rotation, meaning that teams from the two conferences are rotated in and out of the game every year.
Here is a breakdown of the Military Bowl’s game format and history:
- Game Date: Typically played on December 27 or 28
- Game Time: 2:30 pm ET
- Broadcast: Televised on ESPN
- Game Type: Postseason college football game
- Conferences: Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and American Athletic Conference (AAC) or Conference USA (C-USA)
- Winner’s Trophy: The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Falcon Trophy
Past Winners and MVPs
Here is a list of past Military Bowl winners and MVPs:
| Year | Winner | Score | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Wake Forest | 30-0 | Darius Butler (Wake Forest CB) |
| 2009 | Navy | 17-14 | Eric Kettani (Navy RB) |
| 2010 | MD | 51-20 | Da’Rel Scott (MD RB) |
| 2011 | Temple | 37-13 | Bernard Pierce (Temple RB) |
| 2012 | Rice | 33-14 | Turner Petersen (Rice RB) |
| 2013 | Marshall | 31-20 | Steward Butler (Marshall WR) |
| 2014 | Virginia Tech | 33-14 | Michael Branthover (Virginia Tech S) |
| 2015 | Virginia Tech | 24-21 | Sam Rogers (Virginia Tech RB) |
| 2016 | Wake Forest | 34-10 | Sam Harden (Wake Forest DE) |
| 2017 | Navy | 49-7 | Chris Swain (Navy FB) |
| 2018 | Virginia Tech | 42-20 | Travon McMillian (Virginia Tech RB) |
| 2019 | North Carolina | 55-13 | Michael Carter (North Carolina RB) |
Conclusion
The Military Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Norfolk, Virginia, on the campus of Norfolk State University. The game features a matchup between teams from the ACC and the AAC or C-USA, and has a rich history dating back to 2008. The game is played with a six-bowl rotation, and the winner receives the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Falcon Trophy. Whether you’re a college football fan or just looking for a fun and unique sporting event, the Military Bowl is definitely worth checking out.
Table: Military Bowl Past Winners and MVPs
| Year | Winner | Score | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Wake Forest | 30-0 | Darius Butler |
| 2009 | Navy | 17-14 | Eric Kettani |
| 2010 | MD | 51-20 | Da’Rel Scott |
| … | … | … | … |
Bullets: Key Points
- The Military Bowl is played on the campus of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia
- The game features a matchup between teams from the ACC and the AAC or C-USA
- The game has a six-bowl rotation
- The winner receives the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Falcon Trophy
- The game is played with a 2:30 pm ET kickoff on ESPN
