The Military Bowl stands as one of college football’s distinctive postseason traditions, combining athletic competition with a meaningful mission to honor and support the nation’s military service members. Since its inception in 2008, the game has become an annual December fixture in the Washington metropolitan area, bringing together college football programs while raising awareness and funds for veterans and active-duty personnel.
History and Evolution
The bowl game was originally conceived as the Congressional Bowl during planning stages but debuted in 2008 as the EagleBank Bowl, sponsored by a Washington-area financial institution. The inaugural game took place at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C., featuring Navy against Wake Forest from the ACC. This historic first kickoff was scheduled for 11 AM EST on December 20, 2008, making it the opening game of that bowl season.
The event underwent a significant transformation in 2010 when Northrop Grumman became the title sponsor, officially renaming it the Military Bowl and establishing the military-focused identity that continues today. The game remained at RFK Stadium through 2012 before relocating to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland in 2013, where it has been played ever since. This venue change brought the game to the first service academy campus to host a college bowl game regularly.
Over the years, sponsorship has evolved. Northrop Grumman remained the primary sponsor through 2019, followed by Perspecta Inc. in 2020 and Peraton in 2021. In 2023, GoBowling.com became the sponsor, and the game is now known as the Go Bowling Military Bowl.
Conference Affiliations and Team Selection
Starting with the 2014 game, organizers established a six-year agreement for matchups between teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference. This arrangement proved successful and was extended. In July 2019, organizers announced that the ACC versus AAC format would continue through the 2025-26 football season.
The selection process typically involves choosing bowl-eligible teams from each conference, with the ACC historically providing its ninth-best team when nine eligible teams are available. Bowl eligibility generally requires teams to finish with at least a 6-6 record during the regular season. Team selection is announced on Selection Sunday in early December, giving fans approximately three weeks to prepare for the game.
The format has occasionally varied due to circumstances. In 2012, when Army wasn’t bowl eligible and the ACC couldn’t supply a team, organizers arranged a matchup between the MAC and Western Athletic Conference. More significantly, the 2020 and 2021 games were cancelled—the 2020 edition due to a lack of available teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 game after Boston College had to withdraw due to COVID issues within their program just before kickoff.
The 2025 Military Bowl
The 2025 Military Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. Kickoff is set for 11:00 AM ET, and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. This timing makes it the first of seven bowl games scheduled for that day, followed by an NFL tripleheader later in the afternoon.
The matchup features the Pittsburgh Panthers from the ACC against the East Carolina Pirates from the American Athletic Conference. Both teams finished their 2025 regular seasons with identical 8-4 records, setting up what promises to be a competitive contest. This represents the fifth all-time meeting between these programs, with the series currently tied at two wins apiece. The teams haven’t faced each other since 1992, making this a long-awaited renewal of their rivalry.
For Pittsburgh, this marks their 39th all-time postseason appearance and their second trip to the Military Bowl, having previously played Navy in the 2015 edition. Head coach Pat Narduzzi is leading the Panthers to their eighth bowl game during his 11-year tenure at Pittsburgh. The team features true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel, who has impressed with 2,098 passing yards and 15 touchdowns in his debut season.
East Carolina returns to the Military Bowl for the fourth time in five years, having won the 2024 edition by defeating NC State 26-21 in dramatic fashion. The Pirates are seeking to become back-to-back Military Bowl champions, which would be a historic achievement for the program. Under head coach Blake Harrell, who took over midseason in 2024 and was subsequently hired full-time, the Pirates have built momentum with a strong defensive unit that ranks among the nation’s best in several statistical categories.
Bowl Week Experience
The Military Bowl is more than just a game—it’s a week-long celebration culminating in gameday festivities. Teams typically arrive in the Washington, D.C. area several days before the game, practicing and participating in various events throughout the nation’s capital. Players often visit monuments, museums, and military installations, gaining a deeper appreciation for the military service the bowl honors.
The festivities include the Military Bowl Parade, which proceeds through downtown Annapolis to the stadium, featuring youth groups, community organizations, military-themed groups, participating team marching bands, and spirit groups. The parade has traditionally been led by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, adding pageantry to the celebration. A tailgate festival takes place in the stadium parking lot before kickoff, offering fans opportunities to visit booths, take photos, and purchase official merchandise.
The pre-game ceremony includes special elements honoring military service, such as the Fastrax Parachute Jump Team and tributes to Medal of Honor recipients, setting a distinctive tone that separates the Military Bowl from other postseason games.
Mission and Impact
The Military Bowl Foundation operates Patriot Point, a 294-acre retreat for recovering service members, their families, and caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. All proceeds from the bowl game support this facility and other programs benefiting veterans and active-duty personnel. Since establishing a charitable partnership in 2010, the Military Bowl has donated more than $1 million and provided more than 25,000 complimentary tickets to active-duty service members and their families through the USO.
The bowl’s connection to the bowling industry through its current sponsor has created additional avenues for supporting veterans. The Bowlers to Veterans Link, founded in 1942, has raised more than $56 million since its inception, providing recreational and therapeutic programs for service members. This partnership between college football, bowling, and military support creates a unique charitable platform in the bowl game landscape.
Competitive History
Through the 2024 edition, 15 Military Bowl games have been completed, featuring 30 different team appearances. The bowl has showcased memorable moments and close contests, with several games being decided in the final minutes. East Carolina’s 2024 victory over NC State featured a game-winning 86-yard touchdown run in the closing moments, though the game was unfortunately marred by a late-game brawl that resulted in multiple player ejections.
Since the American Athletic Conference’s formation in 2013, AAC teams hold a combined 3-5 record in the Military Bowl, indicating the competitive balance between the two conferences. Notable participants over the years have included Duke, Marshall, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and the service academies themselves, all contributing to the bowl’s rich history.
The Military Bowl continues to serve its dual purpose: providing a quality postseason opportunity for college football programs while maintaining its core mission of supporting those who serve in the United States Armed Forces. As it approaches its 20th anniversary, the bowl has firmly established itself as a meaningful tradition in both the college football calendar and the broader landscape of military appreciation events.