College football bowl season is upon us with eligible teams closing out their seasons in hopefully warmer and sunnier locations than their respective campuses.
With bowl games on their schedules, coaches get bonuses, and players get gift packages, which don’t make up for the fact that they’re unpaid while putting their bodies on the line every week as everyone else in the sport gets a paycheck. And the NCAA limits the total value of each package at $550 per participant.
But free stuff is free stuff, and even if players don’t love the items in their gift packages, maybe a difficult-to-buy-for friend or family member will during the holiday season.
Sports Business Journal recently shared its annual comprehensive list of bowl game gifts, so we ranked the top 10 — and highlighted the worst one. Some bowl games declined to provide a list of their gift packages, including the Goodyear Cotton Bowl and the national championship game.
Also, as the Sports Business Journal noted, gift suites are private events where players select gifts up to a certain value determined by each bowl but that still don’t exceed the $550 limit. So we excluded bowls where the primary element is a gift suite because we don’t really know what’s included, even if it’s probably a great option.
Best 2019 bowl game gift packages
10. Quick Lane Bowl: Pitt vs. Eastern Michigan
When: Thursday, December 26, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
Gift: We wish we knew how much the Best Buy gift card is worth, but for players eyeing a new phone, computer or a mini fridge, a gift card could help with the price. Other items in this gift package include JBL E55BT over-ear wireless headphones by Harman, a Sticker Genius life-sized PhotoSlap decal for each participant of his likeness (because who hasn’t always wanted that?), a hoodie, a T-shirt, a pom hat, a backpack and tag, a football and a mini helmet.
9. Outback Bowl: Minnesota vs. Auburn
When: Wednesday, January 1, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Gift: Obviously, this package comes with an Outback Steakhouse gift card, which is hopefully for an amount large enough for a hungry football player and at least one other person to enjoy a sizable meal. But this package also includes a $125 Amazon gift card, a Fossil watch, a Jostens ring and a hat of some sort.
8. TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Indiana vs. Tennessee
When: Thursday, January 2, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
Gift: The highlights of this package are the noise-canceling headphones and a Bluetooth speaker in a personalized box. Players will also get fitted Maui Jim sunglasses, a Fossil watch, a backpack, and the History of The Bowls: Celebrating the Good of The Game book.
7. AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Kansas State
When: Tuesday, December 31, 3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis
Gift: If hunting, fishing, camping or similar outdoor activities are your thing, this is a great gift package. If not, hopefully you have a friend or family member who would enjoy a something that could be purchased on a Bass Pro Shops shopping trip. Bummer if not, but there’s still a Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker II, a Caravelle by Bulova watch and a football, along with Nike athletic shoes, sport sandals, backpack and sunglasses in this package.
6. Redbox Bowl: Cal vs. Illinois
When: Monday, December 30, 4 p.m. ET, FOX
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Gift: The Nintendo Switch Lite is pretty cool, and even if it’s not your thing, it would make a nice gift for a close friend or family member. This package also comes with a Nixon watch, Turtle Beach gaming headphones, Goodr sunglasses and a Herschel Supply Co. backpack, which is a really nice backpack.
5. Valero Alamo Bowl: Utah vs. Texas
When: Tuesday, December 31, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
Gift: Between the Apple AirPods Pro, which are about $250, and the $115 Amazon gift card, this is a solid package. It also comes with a Michael Kors watch, a helmet and a team panoramic photo if you’re sentimental.
4. Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force vs. Washington State
When: Friday, December 27, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where: Chase Field, Phoenix
Gift: The big winner here is the GoPro Hero 7 that comes with accessories and a carrying case because these are awesome cameras that players could have so much fun with. Other gifts include a Fossil watch, Oakley sunglasses, an Ogio Shuttle Pack backpack, the History of The Bowls: Celebrating the Good of The Game book, an Ice Shaker insulated bottle and a Branded Bills cap and travel case. But that GoPro…
3. PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State
When: Saturday, December 28, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Gift: Leading the way in this College Football Playoff game is a PlayStation PS4 gift package, and it seems reasonable to assume it comes with a PS4 and more. Players will also get a Fossil watch, an Ogio Shuttle Pack backpack, the History of The Bowls: Celebrating the Good of The Game book and an Ice Shaker insulated bottle.
2. Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Oklahoma vs. LSU
When: Saturday, December 28, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Gift: This package comes with a $390 Vanilla Visa gift card, which is basically $390 cash and presumably the largest amount this College Football Playoff bowl game could give away when combined with the value of the other items: a Fossil watch and a football.
1. VRBO Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Alabama
When: Wednesday, January 1, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Gift: A $400 Best Buy gift card, which players can do a lot with. That much money at Best Buy is enough for a TV, a drone or a ton of video games, or it could help cut the price of a laptop or appliance. This package also comes with a watch and a Herschel backpack with luggage tag.
Note: The Camping World Bowl between Notre Dame and Iowa State has the same gift.
Worst 2019 bowl game gift package
FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern
When: Saturday, December 21, 2:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN
Where: Orlando City Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Gift: Does anyone really want a Bluetooth backpack? Well, players in this game are getting one, along with a watch of some sort, warm-up jacket and pants (because players don’t have enough of those), a Sportek long sleeve T-shirt, a mid-fit structured hat and Pebble Beach slides.
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