Mercari Texas Bowl Cancelled

Courtesy: ESPN

Less than a week after getting a new title sponsor, the Texas Bowl is now a no-go

The Mercari Texas Bowl will not happen this year. ESPN made the announcement Tuesday through a press release. According to information provided by ESPN, the cancellation — now the 16th on the year — is due to “an increased number of positive COVID-19 tests and other circumstances within the TCU football team.”

This year’s Texas Bowl was scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 31 on ESPN from NRG stadium. It was going to feature a matchup of TCU and Arkansas.

Texas Bowl Executive Director David Fletcher addressed the cancellation in a prepared statement.

“While we are disappointed in canceling this year’s game, we look forward to hosting both the Texas Kickoff and Texas Bowl next season,” said Fletcher. “We appreciate everyone’s support, including our new title sponsor, Mercari.”

Refunds are available for all ticketholders through the outlets through which they purchased tickets.

Tuesday’s announcement is now the fifth this month as well as being the 16th this season. The Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl was cancelled Dec. 23.

The list of bowl games cancelled is noted below.

1. Bahamas Bowl (C-USA vs. MAC)
2. Celebration Bowl (MEAC vs. SWAC)
3. Fenway Bowl (AAC vs. ACC)
4. Hawaii Bowl (AAC vs. Mountain West)
5. Holiday Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
6. Las Vegas Bowl (Pac-12 vs. SEC)
7. Los Angeles Bowl (Pac-12 vs. Mountain West)
8. Pinstripe Bowl (ACC vs. Big Ten)
9. Quick Lane Bowl (ACC, Big Ten, MAC)
10. Redbox Bowl (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
11. Sun Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
12. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl (AAC vs. WAC)
13. Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl (SEC vs. AAC)
14. Perspecta Military Bowl (AAC vs. ACC)
15. Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (SEC vs. C-USA)
16. Mercari Texas Bowl (Big 12 vs. SEC)

The remaining schedule for Capital One Bowl Mania is noted below.

Date	Time (ET)	Event/Commentators	Network
Tue, Dec. 29	5:30 p.m.	Cheez-It Bowl Oklahoma State vs. Miami Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Fla. Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
	9 p.m.	Valero Alamo Bowl Texas vs. Colorado Alamodome – San Antonio, Texas Dave Pasch, Mike Golic Sr., Kris Budden Radio: Marc Kestecher, Trevor Matich	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Wed, Dec. 30	Noon	Duke’s Mayo Bowl Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, N.C. Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Marty Smith	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
	4 p.m.	TransPerfect Music City Bowl Iowa vs. Missouri Nissan Stadium – Nashville, Tenn. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Thu, Dec. 31	Noon	Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl* Tulsa vs. Mississippi State Amon G. Carter Stadium – Fort Worth, Texas Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Ian Fitzsimmons	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
	4 p.m.	AutoZone Liberty Bowl West Virginia vs. Tennessee Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium – Memphis, Tenn. Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Eric Wood Radio: Jay Alter, Brad Edwards	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
	1 p.m.	Vrbo Citrus Bowl Auburn vs. Northwestern Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Fla. Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Paul Carcaterra	ABC
Fri, Jan. 1	Noon	TaxSlayer Gator Bowl N.C. State vs. Kentucky TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville, Fla. Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Lericia Harris	ESPN
Sat, Jan. 2	12:30 p.m.	Outback Bowl Ole Miss vs. Indiana Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Fla. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic	ABC

* — ESPN owned and operated event

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl Cancelled

Courtesy: ESPN/ESPN Events

Yet another of 2020’s scheduled college football bowl games has been cancelled.

ESPN announced late Tuesday, that the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl has been cancelled. The game is now the fourth bowl game cancelled this month and 15th this season. The game, which was scheduled to take place at noon Saturday, was to feature a matchup between South Carolina and the University of Alabama Birmingham.

According to a press release distributed by ESPN, the cancellation happened due to “an increased number of COVID-19 cases.” The bowl game is one of 17 total that is owned and operated by ESPN and ESPN Events.

Scott Glaser, Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl Executive Director, addressed the cancellation in a prepared statement.

“The current environment has presented many challenges,” said Glaser. “We looked into a number of options for UAB, but ultimately could not identify any opportunities for them to play at this time. We are appreciative of the many supporters in the community, including our new title sponsor – Union Home Mortgage, and look forward to staging the game in 2021.”

According to information in the noted press release, ticket refunds are available through Etix. Refunds can take up to five business days to process, depending on the banking institution.

The Military Bowl was the latest bowl game cancellation, coming Monday. The game is not owned and operated by ESPN and ESPN Events. According to information about the cancellation, it was due to a lack of teams to play in the bowl.

Tulsa, which fell to Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game, and Virginia Tech were originally believed to be the potential opponents for the game, but the Hokies opted out. The Golden Hurricane meanwhile will now play in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 31 against Mississippi State.

The list of bowl games cancelled is noted below.

1. Bahamas Bowl (C-USA vs. MAC)
2. Celebration Bowl (MEAC vs. SWAC)
3. Fenway Bowl (AAC vs. ACC)
4. Hawaii Bowl (AAC vs. Mountain West)
5. Holiday Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
6. Las Vegas Bowl (Pac-12 vs. SEC)
7. Los Angeles Bowl (Pac-12 vs. Mountain West)
8. Pinstripe Bowl (ACC vs. Big Ten)
9. Quick Lane Bowl (ACC, Big Ten, MAC)
10. Redbox Bowl (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
11. Sun Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
12. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl (AAC vs. WAC)
13. Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl (SEC vs. AAC)
14. Perspecta Military Bowl (AAC vs. ACC)
15. Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (SEC vs. C-USA)

ESPN’s Capital One Bowl Mania schedule is underway. The month-long schedule is in its third day. Appalachian State defeated North Texas in the schedule’s opening game, the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl, Monday.

Nevada defeated Tulane 38-27 Tuesday in the first of two games, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. BYU defeat UCF 49-23 in the Boca Raton Bowl, the second of the day’s games.

Bowl action continues today with another double header. Up first is the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at 3 p.m., featuring a matchup of Louisiana tech and Georgia Southern. Coverage is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN Deportes/ESPN Radio.

Memphis and Florida Atlantic are set to face off in the day’s second game, the Montgomery Bowl, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

The remaining schedule for Capital One Bowl Mania is noted below.

Date	Time (ET)	Event/Commentators	Network
Wed, Dec. 23	3 p.m.	R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Louisiana Tech vs. Georgia Southern Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, La. Matt Barrie, Mike Golic Jr, Dawn Davenport Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
	7 p.m.	Montgomery Bowl* Memphis vs. Florida Atlantic Cramton Bowl – Montgomery, Ala. Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman, Lauren Sisler	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Thu, Dec. 24	3:30 p.m.	New Mexico Bowl* Hawai‘i vs. Houston Toyota Stadium – Frisco, Texas John Schriffen, Rene Ingoglia, Kris Budden Radio: Kevin Winter, Craig Haubert	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Fri, Dec. 25	2:30 p.m.	Camellia Bowl* Marshall vs. Buffalo Cramton Bowl – Montgomery, Ala. Bill Roth, Dustin Fox, Lauren Sisler	ESPN
Sat, Dec. 26	Noon	Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl* South Carolina vs. UAB Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Fla. Jason Benetti, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra	ABC / ESPN Deportes
	3:30 p.m.	SERVPRO First Responder Bowl* Louisiana vs. UTSA Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Quint Kessenich	ABC / ESPN Deportes
		LendingTree Bowl Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State Ladd-Peebles Stadium – Mobile, Ala. Mike Couzens, Jay Walker, Dawn Davenport	ESPN
	7:30 p.m.	FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl* Liberty vs. Coastal Carolina Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Fla. Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer, Alex Chappell	ESPN
Tue, Dec. 29	5:30 p.m.	Cheez-It Bowl Oklahoma State vs. Miami Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Fla. Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
	9 p.m.	Valero Alamo Bowl Texas vs. Colorado Alamodome – San Antonio, Texas Dave Pasch, Mike Golic Sr., Kris Budden Radio: Marc Kestecher, Trevor Matich	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Wed, Dec. 30	Noon	Duke’s Mayo Bowl Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, N.C. Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Marty Smith	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
	4 p.m.	TransPerfect Music City Bowl Iowa vs. Missouri Nissan Stadium – Nashville, Tenn. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Thu, Dec. 31	Noon	Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl* Tulsa vs. Mississippi State Amon G. Carter Stadium – Fort Worth, Texas Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Ian Fitzsimmons	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
	4 p.m.	AutoZone Liberty Bowl West Virginia vs. Tennessee Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium – Memphis, Tenn. Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Eric Wood Radio: Jay Alter, Brad Edwards	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
	8 p.m.	Mercari Texas Bowl* Arkansas vs. TCU NRG Stadium – Houston Jason Benetti, Andre Ware, Dawn Davenport Radio: Marc Kestecher, Ben Hartsock	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Fri, Jan. 1	1 p.m.	Vrbo Citrus Bowl Auburn vs. Northwestern Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Fla. Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Paul Carcaterra	ABC
Sat, Jan. 2	Noon	TaxSlayer Gator Bowl N.C. State vs. Kentucky TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville, Fla. Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Lericia Harris	ESPN
	12:30 p.m.	Outback Bowl Ole Miss vs. Indiana Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Fla. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic	ABC

* — ESPN owned and operated event

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Announces ‘Capital One Bowl Mania’ Broadcast Schedule

Corutesy: ESPN

It is officially time to go bowling.

The 2020-21 college football season’s bowl schedule, dubbed Capital One Bowl Mania, opens at 2:30 p.m. ET today. The inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl opens this season’s bowl schedule on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Appalachian State and North Texas will face off in this afternoon’s bowl, with the broadcast team of Eric Mac Lain, Ryan McGee, and Marty Smith on the call.

The month-long schedule culminates with the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T on Jan. 11. The College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T is scheduled to take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL.

While Capital One Bowl Mania will feature 27 bowl games, 13 bowl games had been cancelled as of Sunday. Among those games cancelled were bowls, such as the Cricket Celebration Bowl, Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl, and Holiday Bowl. The list of bowl games cancelled is noted below.

1. Bahamas Bowl (C-USA vs. MAC)
2. Celebration Bowl (MEAC vs. SWAC)
3. Fenway Bowl (AAC vs. ACC)
4. Hawaii Bowl (AAC vs. Mountain West)
5. Holiday Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
6. Las Vegas Bowl (Pac-12 vs. SEC)
7. Los Angeles Bowl (Pac-12 vs. Mountain West)
8. Pinstripe Bowl (ACC vs. Big Ten)
9. Quick Lane Bowl (ACC, Big Ten, MAC)
10. Redbox Bowl (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
11. Sun Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
12. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl (AAC vs. WAC)
13. Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl (SEC vs. AAC)

This year’s Capital One Bowl Mania schedule is noted below.

ESPN’s 2020-21 Bowl Season Schedule (excluding NY6 Bowls)

Date	Time (ET)	Event/Commentators	Network
Mon, Dec. 21	2:30 p.m.	Myrtle Beach Bowl* Appalachian State vs. North Texas Brooks Stadium – Conway, S.C. Courtney Lyle, Eric Mac Lain, Ryan McGee/Marty Smith	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Tue, Dec. 22	3:30 p.m.	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl* Tulane vs. Nevada Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium – Boise, Idaho Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Taylor Davis	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
	7 p.m.	RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl* UCF vs. BYU Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium – Boca Raton, Fla. Dave Neal, DJ Shockley, Lericia Harris Radio: Chris Carlin, Craig Haubert	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Wed, Dec. 23	3 p.m.	R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Louisiana Tech vs. Georgia Southern Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, La. Matt Barrie, Mike Golic Jr, Dawn Davenport Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
	7 p.m.	Montgomery Bowl* Memphis vs. Florida Atlantic Cramton Bowl – Montgomery, Ala. Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman, Lauren Sisler	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Thu, Dec. 24	3:30 p.m.	New Mexico Bowl* Hawai‘i vs. Houston Toyota Stadium – Frisco, Texas John Schriffen, Rene Ingoglia, Kris Budden Radio: Kevin Winter, Craig Haubert	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Fri, Dec. 25	2:30 p.m.	Camellia Bowl* Marshall vs. Buffalo Cramton Bowl – Montgomery, Ala. Bill Roth, Dustin Fox, Lauren Sisler	ESPN
Sat, Dec. 26	Noon	Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl* South Carolina vs. UAB Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Fla. Jason Benetti, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra	ABC / ESPN Deportes
	3:30 p.m.	SERVPRO First Responder Bowl* Louisiana vs. UTSA Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Quint Kessenich	ABC / ESPN Deportes
		LendingTree Bowl Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State Ladd-Peebles Stadium – Mobile, Ala. Mike Couzens, Jay Walker, Dawn Davenport	ESPN
	7:30 p.m.	FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl* Liberty vs. Coastal Carolina Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Fla. Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer, Alex Chappell	ESPN
Tue, Dec. 29	5:30 p.m.	Cheez-It Bowl Oklahoma State vs. Miami Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Fla. Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
	9 p.m.	Valero Alamo Bowl Texas vs. Colorado Alamodome – San Antonio, Texas Dave Pasch, Mike Golic Sr., Kris Budden Radio: Marc Kestecher, Trevor Matich	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Wed, Dec. 30	Noon	Duke’s Mayo Bowl Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, N.C. Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Marty Smith	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
	4 p.m.	TransPerfect Music City Bowl Iowa vs. Missouri Nissan Stadium – Nashville, Tenn. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Thu, Dec. 31	Noon	Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl* Tulsa vs. Mississippi State Amon G. Carter Stadium – Fort Worth, Texas Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Ian Fitzsimmons	ESPN / ESPN Deportes
	4 p.m.	AutoZone Liberty Bowl West Virginia vs. Tennessee Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium – Memphis, Tenn. Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Eric Wood Radio: Jay Alter, Brad Edwards	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
	8 p.m.	Mercari Texas Bowl* Arkansas vs. TCU NRG Stadium – Houston Jason Benetti, Andre Ware, Dawn Davenport Radio: Marc Kestecher, Ben Hartsock	ESPN and ESPN Radio / ESPN Deportes
Fri, Jan. 1	1 p.m.	Vrbo Citrus Bowl Auburn vs. Northwestern Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Fla. Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Paul Carcaterra	ABC
Sat, Jan. 2	Noon	TaxSlayer Gator Bowl N.C. State vs. Kentucky TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville, Fla. Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Lericia Harris	ESPN
	12:30 p.m.	Outback Bowl Ole Miss vs. Indiana Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Fla. Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic	ABC

* — ESPN owned and operated event

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.