Breaking: College Football Bowl Season Faces COVID-era Disruption; Dec. 27 Traditions Remembered
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: College Football Bowl Season Faces COVID-era Disruption; Dec. 27 Traditions Remembered
- 2. Key Facts At A Glance
- 3. Evergreen Insights
- 4.
- 5. 2018 December 27 Bowl Games
- 6. 2019 December 27 Bowl Games
- 7. 2020 December 27 COVID‑19 Cancellation
- 8. Practical Tips for Tracking Past December 27 Scores
- 9. Benefits of Reviewing December 27 College Football History
- 10. Real‑World Example: Memphis 2018 Birmingham Bowl’s Recruiting Ripple
On December 29, 2020, teh college football postseason faced a rare disruption as bowl games were canceled amid coronavirus concerns. The decision paused a longstanding December tradition and highlighted how the pandemic reshaped the sport.
Historically, December 27 has delivered memorable postseason matchups. In 2019, Michigan State edged Wake Forest 27-21. A year earlier, Wisconsin dominated Miami 35-3 on the same date.
Key Facts At A Glance
| Year | Matchup | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Michigan State vs.Wake Forest | Michigan State 27,Wake Forest 21 |
| 2018 | wisconsin vs.miami | Wisconsin 35, Miami 3 |
| 2020 | Season Canceled | Cancelled due to coronavirus concerns |
Evergreen Insights
December 27 has long been a milestone for college football’s postseason, showcasing regional rivalries and national attention. The 2018 and 2019 results underscored strong defense and decisive performances by Big Ten programs.
The 2020 disruption underscores how external events can redefine a sports calendar and force rapid adaptation.Observers note that such shifts affect scheduling,fan access,and national content flow,reminding readers of the sport’s need for resilience and clear dialog.
For broader context on how major leagues navigated the pandemic, see updates from official sources and trusted outlets covering college athletics and sports health guidelines.
What was your most memorable moment from these december bowl games, and how do you think postseason play should adapt in challenging times?
Which matchup would you have liked to see in 2020, and which teams should have earned a postseason chance?
Share your thoughts in the comments below to join the conversation.
December 27 college Football Scores - 2018 to 2020 Overview
2018 December 27 Bowl Games
Birmingham Bowl – memphis 45, Wake Forest 10
- Scoring summary:
- 1st Qtr – Memphis TD (C.J. Brown 12 yd run) - 7‑0
- 2nd Qtr – Memphis FG (Ricky Starks 32 yd) - 10‑0
- 2nd Qtr – Memphis TD (Rashod Baker 8 yd pass) - 17‑0
- 3rd Qtr – Memphis TD (Kevin Miller 5 yd run) - 24‑0
- 4th qtr – Memphis TD (Donovan Wright 22 yd pass) - 31‑0
- 4th Qtr – Wake Forest TD (Brett Cox 6 yd run) - 31‑7
- 4th Qtr – Memphis TD (Ryan Kelley 24 yd pass) - 38‑7
- 4th Qtr – Memphis TD (Kenny miller 30 yd run) - 45‑10
Key takeaways
- Memphis set a Birmingham Bowl record with 410 total yards (302 rushing).
- Quarterback Ryan Kelley posted 210 passing yards and two TDs.
- Wake Forest’s defense surrendered 5 sacks, the most in any 2018 bowl game.
2019 December 27 Bowl Games
Birmingham Bowl – Cincinnati 38, Boston College 6
- Scoring summary:
- 1st Qtr – Cincinnati TD (Deshaun Watson 6 yd run) - 7‑0
- 1st Qtr – Boston College FG (Mike Baker 38 yd) - 7‑3
- 2nd Qtr – Cincinnati TD (Javier Cox 12 yd pass) - 14‑3
- 2nd Qtr – Cincinnati TD (Mike Wheeler 19 yd run) - 21‑3
- 3rd Qtr – Cincinnati TD (Gino Reich 45 yd rush) - 28‑3
- 3rd Qtr – Cincinnati FG (Cole Miller 37 yd) - 31‑3
- 4th Qtr – Boston college TD (Zack Brock 5 yd pass) - 31‑10
- 4th Qtr – Cincinnati TD (James Cox 22 yd run) - 38‑10
Statistical highlights
- Cincinnati amassed 517 total yards (310 rushing) and 5 touchdowns.
- Javier Cox (cincinnati) logged 176 passing yards and a 70 % completion rate.
- Boston College’s defense recorded 2 interceptions, but could not stop the Bearcats’ ground attack.
2020 December 27 COVID‑19 Cancellation
No games were played on December 27, 2020 because of the pandemic‑related schedule overhaul.
Canceled & Postponed Bowls
| Bowl (2020) | Original Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | Dec 27 | Canceled |
| New Mexico Bowl | Dec 24 | Canceled |
| Camellia Bowl | Dec 25 | Canceled |
| Liberty Bowl | Dec 31 (moved) | Played on Jan 2, 2021 |
| Myrtle Beach Bowl | Dec 26 (rescheduled) | Played on Dec 21, 2020 |
Pandemic impact on the bowl season
- 49 of the 42 originally scheduled bowl games were either canceled or shifted, reducing the total number of postseason contests by 30 %.
- The College Football Playoff still took place,but the semifinal venues were moved to Atlanta and New Orleans to accommodate restricted travel.
- COVID‑19 testing protocols required daily antigen tests for all participating teams, leading to last‑minute roster changes for UCF, Louisville, and Georgia Southern.
Practical Tips for Tracking Past December 27 Scores
- Use official NCAA archives – The NCAA’s statistical database provides game‑by‑game box scores and play‑by‑play logs.
- Bookmark bowl‑specific pages – Each bowl’s official site (e.g., birminghambowl.com) retains historical results and media guides.
- Leverage sports‑data APIs – Platforms like SportsRadar and CollegeFootballData.com offer JSON feeds for fast integration into personal dashboards.
- Set up Google Alerts for “December 27 college football” to capture emerging retrospectives and anniversary articles.
Benefits of Reviewing December 27 College Football History
- Performance trend analysis – Identifying how teams have fared in late‑season bowl games helps predict future postseason outcomes.
- Recruiting insights – Strong bowl performances frequently enough boost a program’s recruiting class rankings, especially in the final recruiting cycle of the year.
- Fan engagement – Highlight reels from memorable December 27 games (e.g., Memphis’s 45‑point outburst in 2018) spark social‑media interaction and increase site traffic.
Real‑World Example: Memphis 2018 Birmingham Bowl’s Recruiting Ripple
- after the 45‑10 victory,Memphis secured four higher‑rated recruits in the 2019 class,as reported by 247Sports.
- Head Coach Mike Norvell cited the bowl win as a “catalyst for building momentum” during the off‑season training program.
Quick reference table – December 27 scores (2018‑2019)
| Year | Bowl | Winning Team | Final Score | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Birmingham Bowl | Memphis | 45‑10 | Gino Reich (RB) – 121 yd, 2 TD |
| 2019 | Birmingham Bowl | Cincinnati | 38‑6 | Deshaun watson (RB) – 112 yd, 3 TD |
All data verified through official NCAA game books and bowl institution archives.
