Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
StadiumAlbertsons Stadium
LocationBoise, Idaho, U.S.
Operated1997–present
Conference tie-insMWC, MAC
Previous conference tie-ins
PayoutUS$800,000 (2019 season)[1]
Sponsors
Former names
  • Sports Humanitarian Bowl (1997)
  • Humanitarian Bowl (1998)
  • Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl (1999–2003)
  • MPC Computers Bowl (2004–2006)
  • Roady's Humanitarian Bowl (2007–2009)
  • uDrove Humanitarian Bowl (2010)
2022 matchup
Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State
(Eastern Michigan 41–27)
2023 matchup
Utah State vs. Georgia State
(Georgia State 45–22)

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, previously the Humanitarian Bowl (1997–2003, 2007–2010) and the MPC Computers Bowl (2004–2006), is an NCAA-sanctioned post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually since 1997 at Albertsons Stadium on the campus of Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. The game is televised nationally on the ESPN family of networks. Cincinnati defeated Utah State in the inaugural game in 1997.

History

Conference tie-ins

The Humanitarian Bowl was launched, in part, as a response to changes made to the Las Vegas Bowl’s selection process.[2] When the bowl was launched in 1992 as the successor to the California Bowl, it inherited the bowl’s contracted matchup of the champions of the Big West Conference and the Mid-American Conference (MAC) that had been taking place since 1982. However, after the 1996 edition, the Las Vegas Bowl dropped its affiliations with the Big West and the MAC in favor of offering a bid to a team from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), forcing the conferences to find other solutions. This resulted in two new bowl games being launched for the 1997 season, one of which was awarded to Boise and initially named the Humanitarian Bowl. The Big West, which had Boise State as a member at the time, agreed to terms to send its champion to the bowl. The MAC, meanwhile, sent its champion to the Motor City Bowl in Detroit.

Season(s)Conferences
HostOpponent
Actual participants
1997–1999Big WestC-USA
2000WAC
2001WACACC
2002Big 12
2003–2008ACC
2009–2012MAC
2013–2015Mountain West
2016Sun Belt
2017MAC
2018Independent
2019Mountain West
2020The American
2021MAC
2022
2023Sun Belt

From 1997 to 1999, the Big West champion was matched with a team from Conference USA (C-USA), while in 2000 the WAC sent a representative. The Big West stopped sponsoring football after the 2000 season, and bowl organizers extended a permanent invite to the WAC to replace the Big West as host of the game, and struck an agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to provide a bowl-eligible team if it had yet to fill its bowl allotment. The WAC champion received the automatic bid to the game unless that team received a better offer from another bowl game or qualified for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS).

The WAC and ACC met in the 2001 through 2008 editions of the bowl, except for 2002 when the ACC's slot was filled by Iowa State of the Big 12 Conference. In 2009, the Mountain West Conference was to provide a team, but Mountain West champion TCU was selected for the Fiesta Bowl and the conference did not have enough bowl-eligible teams to send a replacement; as a result, Bowling Green of the MAC was invited. In 2010, the bowl inherited the MAC's International Bowl tie-in after that Toronto-based bowl folded; the bowl featured a MAC vs. WAC matchup through 2012.

After the WAC stopped sponsoring football in 2012, Mountain West inherited its spot as host, reaching agreement with the bowl to provide a team, starting with the December 2013 edition.[3] The bowl featured MAC vs. Mountain West matchups in the 2013 through 2015 games. In 2016, the bowl invited in-state Idaho of the Sun Belt Conference in place of a MAC team. The 2017 edition returned to MAC vs. Mountain West, while in the 2018 edition, independent BYU was invited in place of a Mountain West team. In late July 2019, it was announced that the Mountain West and MAC would maintain their tie-ins to the bowl through the 2025–26 football season. The December 2020 edition included the first invitation to a team from the American Athletic Conference (AAC or "The American").

Sponsors

The game originally named for the Idaho-based World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.[4] It was sponsored by Micron Technology, an Idaho-based manufacturer, from 1999 to 2002 under the name Crucial.com, which sold computer memory upgrades from Micron. The bowl game then briefly had no sponsor for the January 2004 game. In December 2004, the name was changed to the MPC Computers Bowl. MPC Computers, which is also based in Idaho, was formerly MicronPC, the computer manufacturing division of Micron, but was later split off as a separate company. In April 2007, it was announced that the bowl would again be called the Humanitarian Bowl.[5] In May 2007, Boise-based Roady's Truck Stops was announced as the new sponsor, thus renaming the game the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl.[6] On May 25, 2010, uDrove, a maker of applications for the transportation industry, became the sponsor of the Humanitarian Bowl, signing a four-year agreement to replace Roady's.[7] On August 3, 2011, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) signed a six-year naming rights deal to sponsor the bowl, renaming it the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.[8] In December 2017, IPC announced that they would be sponsoring the bowl for an additional five years.[9]

The game is the longest running cold weather bowl game currently in operation. The payout is $750,000, but teams are required to provide a corporate sponsor, purchase a minimum number of tickets, and stay at a selected hotel for a minimum stay. Because of this, 7–4 UCLA declined an invitation to the 2001 Humanitarian Bowl.[10]

Highway Angel

From 2008 through 2012, bowl organizers, in conjunction with the Truckload Carriers Association, featured a "Highway Angel of the Year" to game attendees. Highway Angels are truck drivers who performed a heroic feat to save the life of another motorist.

Year Honoree Description
2008 Leonard T. Roach Roach pulled a driver from a water-filled ditch near South Bend, Indiana, even though the wind chill factor was −20 °F (−29 °C).[11]
2009 Michael Hunt Hunt used his truck to push away a vehicle (and its driver) from a fiery collision near Spring Lake, North Carolina, which had already claimed the life of the other driver.[12]
2010 Shawn L. Hubbard While driving his truck near Diamond Bar, California, Hubbard came upon a fiery car crash in which the driver was deceased, but the passenger was still alive and trapped in the burning car. Hubbard freed the passenger and pulled him from the vehicle just moments before it was completely engulfed in flames.[13]
2011 Marcus Beam While driving near Benson, North Carolina, Beam observed a speeding car strike another vehicle, causing the second car to overturn and roll down an embankment. While other motorists watched without offering help, Beam freed the female driver from the wreckage, and pulled two small children from the mangled vehicle as well.[14]
2012 Kenny Cass While driving in Portland, Oregon, Cass witnessed a pick-up truck rear-end a 53' tractor trailer and become wedged up to its windshield under the trailer. Cass made the scene safe by placing emergency triangles on the road, freed the pick-up truck driver from his vehicle while smoke billowed from beneath the truck and tended to the drivers wounds until emergency personnel arrived 20 minutes later.[15]

Game results

No. Date Bowl name Winning Team Losing Team Attendance
1December 29, 1997Humanitarian BowlCincinnati35Utah State1916,289
2December 30, 1998Humanitarian BowlIdaho42Southern Miss3519,667
3December 30, 1999Humanitarian BowlBoise State34Louisville3129,283
4December 28, 2000Humanitarian BowlBoise State38UTEP2326,203
5December 31, 2001Humanitarian BowlClemson49Louisiana Tech2425,364
6December 31, 2002Humanitarian BowlBoise State34Iowa State1630,446
7January 3, 2004Humanitarian BowlGeorgia Tech52Tulsa1023,114
8December 27, 2004MPC Computers BowlFresno State37Virginia34 (OT)28,516
9December 28, 2005MPC Computers BowlBoston College27Boise State2130,493
10December 31, 2006MPC Computers BowlMiami (FL)21Nevada2028,654
11December 31, 2007Humanitarian BowlFresno State40Georgia Tech2827,062
12December 30, 2008Humanitarian BowlMaryland42Nevada3526,781
13December 30, 2009Humanitarian BowlIdaho43Bowling Green4226,726
14December 18, 2010Humanitarian BowlNorthern Illinois40Fresno State1725,449
15December 17, 2011Famous Idaho Potato BowlOhio24Utah State2328,076
16December 15, 2012Famous Idaho Potato BowlUtah State41Toledo1529,243
17December 21, 2013Famous Idaho Potato BowlSan Diego State49Buffalo2421,951
18December 20, 2014Famous Idaho Potato BowlAir Force38Western Michigan2418,223
19December 22, 2015Famous Idaho Potato BowlAkron23Utah State2118,876
20December 22, 2016Famous Idaho Potato BowlIdaho61Colorado State5024,975
21December 22, 2017Famous Idaho Potato BowlWyoming37Central Michigan1416,512
22December 21, 2018Famous Idaho Potato BowlBYU49Western Michigan1818,711
23January 3, 2020Famous Idaho Potato BowlOhio30Nevada2113,611
24December 22, 2020Famous Idaho Potato BowlNevada38Tulane270
25December 21, 2021Famous Idaho Potato BowlWyoming52Kent State3810,217
26December 20, 2022Famous Idaho Potato BowlEastern Michigan41San Jose State2710,122
27December 23, 2023Famous Idaho Potato BowlGeorgia State45Utah State2212,168

Source:[16]

The December 2020 game was played behind closed doors without fans, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MVPs

2017 MVP Josh Allen

From 1997 through 2014, the bowl named an MVP from each team; since 2015, a single MVP has been named.

Year Winning team MVP Losing team MVP
PlayerTeamPos.PlayerTeamPos.
1997Chad PlummerCincinnatiQBSteve SmithUtah StateWR
1998John WelshIdahoQBLee RobertsSouthern MissQB
1999Brock ForseyBoise StateRBChris RedmanLouisvilleQB
2000Bart HendricksBoise StateQBChris PorterUTEPRB
2001Woodrow DantzlerClemsonQBDelwyn DaigreLouisiana TechWR
2002Bobby HammerBoise StateDTAnthony ForrestIowa StateDB
Jan. 2004P. J. DanielsGeorgia TechRBCort MoffittTulsaP
Dec. 2004Paul PinegarFresno StateQBMarques HagansVirginiaQB
2005Matt RyanBoston CollegeQBJared ZabranskyBoise StateQB
2006Kirby FreemanMiami (FL)QBJeff RoweNevadaQB
2007Tom BrandstaterFresno StateQBJonathan DwyerGeorgia TechRB
2008Da'Rel ScottMarylandRBColin KaepernickNevadaQB
2009DeMaundray WoolridgeIdahoRBFreddie BarnesBowling GreenWR
2010Chandler HarnishNorthern IllinoisQBJamel HamlerFresno StateWR
2011LaVon BrazillOhioWRMichael SmithUtah StateRB
2012Kerwynn WilliamsUtah StateRBBernard ReedyToledoWR
2013Adam MuemaSan Diego StateRBBranden OliverBuffaloRB
2014Shayne DavernAir ForceRBCorey DavisWestern MichiganWR
2015Robert SteinAkronK
2016Matt LinehanIdahoQB
2017Josh AllenWyomingQB
2018Zach WilsonBYUQB
Jan. 2020Nathan RourkeOhioQB
Dec. 2020Carson StrongNevadaQB
2021Levi WilliamsWyomingQB
2022Taylor PowellEastern MichiganQB
2023Darren Grainger[17]Georgia StateQB

Most appearances

Blue turf of Albertsons Stadium

Boise State, the game's host school, is tied with Idaho for most wins with three. Boise State, Utah State, and Nevada share the most appearances, with four each (Boise State last played in the bowl 18 years ago, in 2005). Idaho was a member of a different conference for each of its three appearances (Big West in 1998, WAC in 2009, and Sun Belt in 2016).

Of the current 12 members of Mountain West, nine have appeared in the bowl—Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, Utah State, and Wyoming—either as members of Mountain West or the WAC. The three that have yet to play are Hawaii, New Mexico and UNLV.

The below summary has been updated through the December 2023 edition (27 games, 54 total appearances).

Teams with multiple appearances
Team Games Wins Losses Win pct.
Utah State514.200
Boise State431.750
Nevada413.250
Idaho3301.000
Fresno State321.667
Ohio2201.000
Wyoming2201.000
Georgia Tech211.500
Western Michigan202.000
Teams with a single appearance

Won (12): Air Force, Akron, Boston College, BYU, Cincinnati, Clemson, Eastern Michigan, Georgia State, Maryland, Miami, Northern Illinois, San Diego State
Lost (15): Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Colorado State, Iowa State, Kent State, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, San Jose State, Southern Miss, Toledo, Tulane, Tulsa, UTEP, Virginia

Appearances by conference

Updated through the December 2023 edition (27 games, 54 total appearances).

Conference Record Appearances by season
Games W L Win pct. Won Lost
WAC1358.3852002, 2004, 2007, 2009, 20122000, 2001, 2003*, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
MAC1257.4172010, 2011, 2015, 2019*, 20222009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021
Mountain West1055.5002013, 2014, 2017, 2020, 20212015, 2016, 2019*, 2022, 2023
ACC752.7142001, 2003*, 2005, 2006, 20082004, 2007
Big West431.7501998, 1999, 20001997
C-USA312.33319971998, 1999
Sun Belt2201.0002016, 2023 
Independent1101.0002018 
The American101.000 2020
Big 12101.000 2002
  • Games marked with an asterisk (*) were played in January of the following calendar year.
  • Records reflect conference membership at the time each game was played.
  • Conferences that are defunct or no longer active in FBS are marked in italics.
  • Independent appearances: BYU (2018)

Game records

Team Performance vs. Opponent Year
Most points scored (one team) 61, Idaho vs. Colorado State 2016
Most points scored (losing team) 50, Colorado State vs. Idaho 2016
Most points scored (both teams) 111, Idaho (61) vs. Colorado State (50) 2016
Fewest points allowed 10, Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa Jan. 2004
Largest margin of victory 42, Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa Jan. 2004
Total yards 656, Kent State vs. Wyoming 2021
Rushing yards 386, Georgia State vs. Utah State 2023
Passing yards 445, Colorado State vs. Idaho 2016
First downs 30, Idaho vs. Colorado State 2016
Fewest yards allowed 144, Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa Jan. 2004
Fewest rushing yards allowed –56, Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa Jan. 2004
Fewest passing yards allowed 19, Tulsa vs. Georgia Tech Jan. 2004
Individual Player, Team Year
All-purpose yards307, P. J. Daniels (Georgia Tech)Jan. 2004
Touchdowns (all-purpose)5, Levi Williams (Wyoming)Jan. 2021
Rushing yards 307, P. J. Daniels (Georgia Tech)Jan. 2004
Rushing touchdowns4, shared by
P. J. Daniels (Georgia Tech)
Levi Williams (Wyoming)

Jan. 2004
2021
Passing yards 445, Nick Stevens (Colorado State)2016
Passing touchdowns 5, shared by:
Paul Pinegar (Fresno State)
Nick Stevens (Colorado State)
Carson Strong (Nevada)

2004
2016
Dec. 2020
Receiving yards 265, Bisi Johnson (Colorado State)2016
Receiving touchdowns3, most recent:
Corey Davis (Western Michigan)

2014
Tackles20, Ryan Skinner (Idaho)1998
Sacks3.0, most recent:
Paul Fitzgerald (Utah State)
2023
Interceptions2, most recent:
Ryan Glasper (Boston College)

2005
Long Plays Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
Touchdown run80 yds., Levi Williams (Wyoming)2021
Touchdown pass80 yds., Dustin Crum to Dante Cephas (Kent State)2021
Kickoff return99 yds., Torrey Smith (Maryland)2008
Punt return92 yds., Quinton Jones (Boise State)2005
Interception return80 yds., Shanaurd Harts (Boise State)1999
Fumble return60 yds., Dexter Walker (Air Force)2014
Punt69 yds., Aaron Dalton (Utah State)2015
Field goal51 yds., shared by:
Michael Cklamovski (Northern Illinois)
Brandon Talton (Nevada)
Jesus Gomez (Eastern Michigan)

2010
Jan. 2020
2022

Source:[18]

Media coverage

The bowl has been televised on ESPN or ESPN2 since its inception.

References

  1. "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  2. "Boise planning to push bowl game to NCAA". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). April 19, 1997. p. 2B.
  3. "Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be Mountain West partner in 2013 - SB Nation Denver". Denver.sbnation.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  4. "208 Redial: The old Idaho Humanitarian Bowl". ktvb.com. December 22, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  5. "Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell news by Idaho Statesman". Idahostatesman.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  6. "Humanitarian bowl teams up with Idaho-based truck stop chain - College Football - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. May 30, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  7. Archived May 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Boise Bowl Game Gets New Name". Reno Gazette-Journal. August 4, 2011. p. 4C. Retrieved December 16, 2021 via newspapers.com.
  9. Vanderhorst, Daniel (December 29, 2017). "IPC to sponsor Potato Bowl five more years". thepacker.com. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  10. "UCLA Addresses Bowl Situation - Statement from UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis". Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  11. "ESPN will Broadcast Heroic Trucking Story to Millions of Non-Trucking Viewers". Truckload.org. December 19, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  12. "Selfless Truck Driver to Be Honored as "2009 Highway Angel of the Year"". Truckload.org. December 14, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  13. "TCA's Highway Angel of the Year to Share Moment in Spotlight with Motorist He Saved". Truckload.org. November 16, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  14. "Marcus Beam to Receive 2011 Highway Angel of the Year Trophy at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho". Truckload.org. December 14, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  15. "Truckload Carriers Association Selects Highway Angel of the Year". Truckload.org. December 3, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  16. "Famous Idaho Potato Bowl" (PDF). Bowl/All Star Game Records. NCAA. 2020. p. 12. Retrieved January 3, 2021 via NCAA.org.
  17. Werner, Barry (December 23, 2023). "Georgia State gives Shawn Elliott french fry bath after Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win". Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  18. "Record Book". Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. 2018. pp. 95–106. Retrieved January 3, 2020 via publogix.com.
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