2006–07 NCAA Football Bowl Games

The 2006–07 NCAA football bowl games concluded the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season in college football.

A record of 32 team-competitive plus five all-star postseason games were played, with the addition of the new stand-alone Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, the International Bowl in Toronto, Ontario (the first all-USA bowl game played outside the country since the 1937 Bacardi Bowl in Cuba), the Papajohns.com Bowl, the New Mexico Bowl, and the post-season-ending all-star Texas vs. The Nation Game. To fill the 64 available bowl slots from the 119 schools in the Bowl Subdivision, a record 7 teams (11% of all participants) with non-winning seasons participated in bowl games—all seven had a .500 (6-6) season.

Along with the increase in bowl games, the NCAA ruled that teams could schedule twelve regular-season games (up from eleven) beginning in the 2006 season. NCAA teams in Alaska and Hawaii, and their home opponents, are allowed to schedule an extra game over and above this limit. Two teams in any conferences with a championship final could play a 13th game in that conference championship he Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference">Atlantic_Coast_Conference.html" ;"title="he Atlantic Coast Conference">he Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference, Conference USA (C-USA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), and Southeastern Conference (SEC)]. The increase in bowl games and season schedule resulted in the NCAA deciding to allow teams with a 6–6 record to be bowl eligible if either the team or their conference has negotiated a bowl contract.

Selection of the teams

NCAA regulations stipulate any team finishing 6–6 can only be selected to fill a conference tie-in bowl slot once all other available conference teams are chosen. For example, the Big East had six bowl-eligible teams, but only five bowl tie-ins, so 6–6 Pittsburgh was automatically the odd team out. The same rule also applies to at-large bowl selections. With only a pair of at-large bowl positions available and two remaining 7–5 teams, the MAC's Northern Illinois's selection to the Poinsettia Bowl and the Sun Belt's Middle Tennessee's selection to the Motor City Bowl meant any remaining 6–6 teams had no chance of playing in a bowl game. Thus, this season marked the first time in NCAA history that every team with a winning record in the regular season played in a bowl game.

Besides Pitt, those who didn't go bowling with a .500 record were Kansas from the Big 12, Pac-10 members Arizona and Washington State, SMU from Conference USA, the MAC's Kent State, Sun Belt members Arkansas State and Louisiana–Lafayette and Mountain West member Wyoming, which drew controversy on the subject of the New Mexico Bowl, listed below.

''NOTE: All payouts mentioned are in US$.''

Schedule

Non-BCS bowls

Poinsettia Bowl

*TCU (10–2) 37, Northern Illinois (7–5) 7
The post-season kicked off with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium on December 19, 2006, the first of two scheduled bowl games in that stadium. The Mountain West's Texas Christian University Horned Frogs held the Mid-American Conference's NIU Huskies' star running back Garrett Wolfe to 28 yards en route to a 37–7 win. TCU quarterback Jeff Ballard rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another. The Horned Frogs entered the game ranked 25th in the final regular season AP Poll, while the Huskies entered the Poinsettia Bowl after finishing in third place in the MAC's West Division. Each team earned $750,000 for their conference by participating in the game. Among those in attendance were San Diego Chargers running backs LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU alumnus) and his backup, NIU alum Michael Turner.

Las Vegas Bowl

*Brigham Young (10–2) 38, Oregon (7–5) 8
The first meeting between a BCS AQ conference and a BCS non-AQ conference took place in the Pioneer Pure Vision Las Vegas Bowl on December 21 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada. The Mountain West Conference champion Brigham Young University Cougars, led by game MVP tight end Jonny Harline, handily trounced the Pac 10's University of Oregon Ducks by a score of 38–8. Each team earned $950,000 for their conference by participating in the game.

New Orleans Bowl

*Troy (7–5) 41, Rice (7–5) 17
One relative newcomer to the Division I Bowl Subdivision, and one team that last won a bowl game in 1954, squared off in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, which returned to the Louisiana Superdome in the titular city on December 22 after the 2005 game was held at Cajun Field on the campus of University of Louisiana at Lafayette due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Conference USA's Rice University Owls, who made their first post-season appearance in 45 years, were trounced by the Sun Belt Conference co-champion Troy University Trojans 41–17. The Trojans, winning their first bowl game in school history, were playing in their second post-season game in three years, having appeared two years beforehand in the now-defunct Silicon Valley Football Classic. Each team earned $325,000 for their conference by participating in the game. Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook and cornerback Elbert Mack were named co-MVPs.

Papajohns.com Bowl

*South Florida (8–4) 24, East Carolina (7–5) 7
The city known as the "Football Capital of the South" returned to the post-season for the first time since 1990 and the defunct All-American Bowl when Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field hosted the inaugural Papajohns.com Bowl, the first of three games that were scheduled Saturday, December 23. Conference USA's East Carolina University, coached by Skip Holtz, the son of Lou Holtz, fell to the Big East's University of South Florida by the score of 24–7, in the Bulls' second post-season game in as many years, having been shut out 14–0, the last year in the Meineke Car Care Bowl by North Carolina State. Both teams earned a $300,000 paycheck for their conferences by playing this contest. Game MVP Benjamin Williams scored the game's historic first points as well as the Bulls' first points as a member of the Bowl Subdivision with a touchdown, one of two he scored, ninety seconds into the game. The game evened the BCS AQ/non-AQ tally at one game apiece.

New Mexico Bowl

*San Jose State (8–4) 20, New Mexico (6–6) 12
The second game of this December 23 triple-header was another first annual bowl game, the New Mexico Bowl, played at University Stadium on the campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The Spartans of San Jose State University, representing the Western Athletic Conference, faced the host school, who represented the Mountain West. The Lobos were chosen over the University of Wyoming Cowboys, despite Wyoming beating them on said field, 14–10, on October 7, and having a better record in the MWC (5–3 vs. New Mexico's 4–4). John Broussard of the Spartans scored the first points in the bowl's history just ten seconds into the second quarter on a 78-yard pass from quarterback Adam Tafralis, and five turnovers did the Lobos in as SJSU won, 20–12. Each team earned $750,000 for their conference by participating in the game.

Armed Forces Bowl

*Utah (7–5) 25, Tulsa (8–4) 13
The last of three games on December 23 was the Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl, formerly known as the Fort Worth Bowl, played at Texas Christian University's Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The Mountain West's University of Utah Utes trailed at the half, but beat Conference USA's Golden Hurricane of the University of Tulsa (which, like Utah, was once in the WAC), 25–13. Utah's versatile defensive back Eric Weddle helped lead the Utes by grabbing an interception and scoring a rushing touchdown. Each team earned $600,000 for their conference by participating in the game.

Hawaii Bowl

*Hawaii (10–3) 42, Arizona State (7–5) 24
The Christmas Eve tradition known as the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl returned to Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 24 as the host school, the University of Hawaii Warriors, representing the WAC, returning after a one-year absence because of a losing record, defeated the Pac 10's Sun Devils from Arizona State University, 41–24. Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan set a new NCAA record for most touchdown passes in a single season, breaking David Klingler's standard set in 1989 at Houston with his 55th touchdown toss in the second quarter. He then added three more to bring his final total to 58. This was Dirk Koetter's final game as the head coach of ASU, as Dennis Erickson will take over, coming in from Idaho. On top of the $398,000 for each team to divide among fellow conference members, the Pac-10 also gave Arizona State an additional $300,000 in travel expenses as "a special case" exemption. The Warriors' win gave the BCS non-AQ conferences a 3–1 lead in their rivalry.

Motor City Bowl

*Central Michigan (9–4) 31, Middle Tennessee (7–5) 14
The Motor City Bowl, played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on December 26, featured the only newcomer to the Bowl Division in the 2006–07 campaign. The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University, co-champions of the Sun Belt Conference, made their bowl debut against the MAC champions, the Central Michigan University Chippewas, who won 31–14. Each school made $750,000 for their conferences. As MTSU was chosen as an at-large school after the Big Ten sent two teams to the BCS, and their 7–5 record shut out 6-6 Pitt (as, under NCAA FBS rules, a 6–6 team cannot be considered until all 7–5 teams have been assigned bowl slots, even if they are not "power conference" teams).

Emerald Bowl

*Florida State (6–6) 44, UCLA (7–5) 27
The Emerald Bowl was played at AT&T Park in San Francisco, home of the San Francisco Giants on December 27. The ACC's Florida State University Seminoles, who finished the regular season at 6–6, defeated the Pac-10's University of California Los Angeles Bruins 44–27, who were coming off defeating Southern California at home on December 2, eliminating them from national championship contention. Each team earned $850,000 for their conference by participating in the game.

Independence Bowl

*Oklahoma State (6–6) 34, Alabama (6–6) 31
The first of three games played on Thursday, December 28 was the PetroSun Independence Bowl played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, pitting the SEC's University of Alabama Crimson Tide against the Big 12's Oklahoma State University Cowboys. With 8.9 seconds left in the game, Oklahoma State kicker Jason Ricks kicked a 27-yard field goal to defeat the Crimson Tide, 34–31. Alabama had mounted a 14-point comeback in the fourth quarter, with their last touchdown coming with 8:41 left to play. The SEC and Big 12, the conferences represented in this game, each received a check for $1.2 million. The Tide was coached on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Joe Kines (who had previously served as an interim coach at another SEC West school, the University of Arkansas, in the past) as this game was played between the firing of Mike Shula and the eventual hiring of Nick Saban.

Texas Bowl

*Rutgers (10–2) 37, Kansas State (7–5) 10
Rising from the ashes of the former Houston Bowl, the Texas Bowl was the second game played on December 28 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Lone Star Sports and Entertainment, an arm of the Houston Texans, took over the game in June with NCAA approval, and for their first game saw the Big 12's Kansas State University Wildcats lose to the Big East runner-up, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights, 37–10. The Wildcats earned $750,000 for the Big 12 as a gift of their participation, while Rutgers earned $500,000 for the Big East. The win was the first for college football's oldest program, having played its first game in 1869 against Princeton's Tigers, winning by a score of 6–4. Rutgers' Ray Rice scored two touchdowns and personally outgained the KSU offense 170 yards to 162 yards.

Music City Bowl

*Kentucky (7–5) 28, Clemson (8–4) 20
The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl presented by Bridgestone was the first of five games scheduled for December 29, the second-busiest schedule of games outside New Year's Day. In this game, played at LP Field in Nashville, the ACC's Clemson University Tigers lost to the SEC's University of Kentucky Wildcats, 28–20. Kentucky jumped to a big early lead; Clemson cut the margin late but not enough to win. Kentucky's Andre Woodson was the bowl game MVP. The two teams had last faced each other in the 1993 Peach Bowl; Kentucky has won 8 of the 12 meetings between the two teams. This was the first bowl win for the Wildcats since 1984. Each team earned $1.6 million for their conference by participating in the game.

Sun Bowl

* Oregon State (9–4) 39, Missouri (8–4) 38
The Brut Sun Bowl was the second of the five games played December 29, held in the self-named stadium in El Paso, Texas on the campus of UTEP, pitting the Big 12's University of Missouri Tigers against the Oregon State University Beavers from the Pac 10. Oregon State coach Mike Riley was told by Yvenson Bernard to go for the win. Bernard barely pushed into the end zone on the gutsy two-point conversion run, giving the 24th-ranked Beavers a 39–38 victory, having been down by 14 points earlier in the game. Among Missouri's big plays were a 40-yard catch by Chase Coffman that led to Temple's 7-yard scoring run on the opening drive. A 47-yard run by Temple was followed by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Chase Daniel to Coffman on the next play for a 38–24 lead with 12:08 left in the game. Missouri's Tony Temple missed setting a Sun Bowl record for rushing, which was 197 yards by Charles Alexander of LSU in 1977, by losing four yards on his final carry. Each team earned $1.9 million for their conference by participating in the game.

Liberty Bowl

*South Carolina (7–5) 44, Houston (10–3) 36
The third game on the docket for December 29 was the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at the self-named stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, pitting the Conference USA champions, the University of Houston Cougars against the SEC's University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Both teams had considerable success passing the ball in the second quarter; as a result, the halftime score had Houston leading 28–27. The shootout continued into the second half, however, South Carolina held off Houston to win by a score of 44–36. The offensive showcase set records for most points in the first half (55), most receiving yards (201 by Houston's Vincent Marshall), and most total yards gained (1,039 – 527 by Houston and 512 by South Carolina) and tied the record for touchdown passes by a single player (4 by South Carolina's Blake Mitchell). The conferences each received a check for $1.5 million for the teams' appearances.

Insight Bowl

*Texas Tech (7–5) 44, Minnesota (6–6) 41 (OT)
The fourth game in the quintet of contests scheduled on December 29 was the Insight Bowl, which moved from Chase Field in downtown Phoenix to Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in nearby Tempe, former home of the Fiesta Bowl. The game pitted the Texas Tech University Red Raiders from the Big 12 against the Big Ten's University of Minnesota Twin Cities' Golden Gophers. The Gophers took a 38–7 lead midway through the third quarter, only to see the Red Raiders storm back to tie the game and eventually win in overtime in the biggest comeback ever in Division I FBS bowl history, surpassing Marshall's 30-point comeback against East Carolina in the 2001 GMAC Bowl. Each conference received a check for $1.2 million for their teams' appearances. Two days after the Gophers' collapse in the game left them with a losing record on the year, head coach Glen Mason was dismissed by the school's athletic department.

Champs Sports Bowl

*Maryland (8–4) 24, Purdue (8–5) 7
The fifth and final game December 29 pitted the University of Maryland, College Park Terrapins from the ACC and the Purdue University Boilermakers from the Big Ten in the Champs Sports Bowl, the first of two bowl games in four days played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Maryland played an efficient and mistake-free game in cruising to a 24–7 victory. The Terrapins were able to dominate the game with a balanced offense and stingy defense that shutdown Purdue's potent passing game. Each team earned $2.25 million for their conference by participating in the game.

Meineke Car Care Bowl

*Boston College (9–3) 25, Navy (9–3) 24
The first game of three scheduled for Saturday, December 30 was the Meineke Car Care Bowl, played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the game, the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen played against the Boston College Eagles from the ACC. Both teams received a $750,000 payment, with Navy keeping the entire amount as they play as an independent, while Boston College sent their check to their conference to be divided with all other bowl payouts. Walk-on placekicker Steve Aponavicius, who joined the team in October after the regular kicker was suspended, kicked the walk-off field goal as time expired to give Boston College their seventh straight bowl win, which leads the nation.

Alamo Bowl

*Texas (9–3) 26, Iowa (6–6) 24
The second contest on December 30 was the Alamo Bowl, played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It pitted the defending 2005 national champions, the University of Texas Austin Longhorns, who did not make the 2006 Big 12 Championship Game, against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes from the Big Ten. The game, without corporate sponsorship for the first time as former title sponsor MasterCard pulled out, still paid each conference $2.2 million in television revenue for their participation. The 2006 meeting set a new attendance record for the bowl and the facility, at 65,875.. The bowl would get a new sponsor in 2007 as Valero Energy, a San Antonio-based company assumed sponsorship of the game.

MPC Computers Bowl

* Miami (Florida) (6–6) 21, Nevada (8–4) 20
The only game to be played on New Year's Eve (December 31) was the MPC Computers Bowl on the Blue Turf of Bronco Stadium on the campus of Boise State University in the state capital of Idaho. The ACC's University of Miami Hurricanes, who were playing their final game for departing head coach Larry Coker, who was dismissed from his job after their regular season was completed, defeated the WAC's University of Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack by one point in a game that wasn't decided until the final minute. Both teams earned $250,000 for their conferences, and the BCS AQ conferences now had a 3–2 deficit against the BCS non-AQ conferences. Starting with the 2007 game, the title reverted to the "Humanitarian Bowl", with Roady's Truck Stops taking over as title sponsor.

International Bowl

*Cincinnati (7–5) 27, Western Michigan (8–4) 24
The first International Bowl featured the MAC's Western Michigan University Broncos and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats from the Big East Conference. The game was played on January 6, 2007, at Toronto, Ontario's Rogers Centre (formerly known as SkyDome) making it the first game played outside the United States since Notre Dame and Navy played their annual game in Dublin in 1996 and the first postseason game outside the U.S. since the Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba

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