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.
- Bahamas Bowl (C-USA vs. MAC)
- Celebration Bowl (MEAC vs. SWAC)
- Fenway Bowl (AAC vs. ACC)
- Hawaii Bowl (AAC vs. Mountain West)
- Holiday Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
- Las Vegas Bowl (Pac-12 vs. SEC)
- Los Angeles Bowl (Pac-12 vs. Mountain West)
- Pinstripe Bowl (ACC vs. Big Ten)
- Quick Lane Bowl (ACC, Big Ten, MAC)
- Redbox Bowl (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
- Sun Bowl (ACC vs. Pac-12)
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl (AAC vs. WAC)
- Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl (SEC vs. AAC)
- Perspecta Military Bowl (AAC vs. ACC)
- 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
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