Heritage Bowl (Corsicana)

Last updated

Heritage Bowl
Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot
Logo of the Heritage Bowl.png
Stadium Community National Bank & Trust Stadium
Location Corsicana, Texas
United States
Operated2017–present
Conference tie-insAt-large picks from GAC, LSC, or MIAA
Website heritagebowl.org
Sponsors
Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot
Former names
Corsicana Bowl (2017–2018)

The Heritage Bowl is an annual American NCAA Division II college football bowl game held at Community National Bank & Trust Stadium in Corsicana, Texas.

Contents

Currently, the Heritage Bowl is one of three Division II sanctioned bowl games, along with the Albanese Candy Bowl and First Americans Bowl. The participants are selected on an at-large basis from teams of the Lone Star Conference (LSC), Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), and Great American Conference (GAC) that do not qualify for the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs. [1]

History

The game was established in 2017 by Antwone "Tony" Taulton. Since 2018 the bowl has operated under the non-profit Corsicana Area Foundation, and proceeds from the game go to local Corsicana and Navarro County charities. [2] Initially called the Corsicana Bowl, the game was given its current name in 2019. [3] After the game was not played in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fun Town RV served as title sponsor from 2021–23. On May 31, 2024, Riot Platforms was named the presenting sponsor and the game rebranded as the Heritage Bowl Powered by Riot.

Throughout its existence, the Heritage Bowl has been unique among Division II bowl games in having no fixed conference tie-in. This feature enabled bowl organizers to secure ten different teams for the first five games, and fourteen for the first eight games. Emporia State, invited in 2018 and 2023, and UT Permian Basin, in 2021 and 2024, are the only repeat participants thus far. The game has included each of the three possible combinations of the participating conferences. An LSC-GAC matchup has been the most common (four times), followed by LSC-MIAA (twice) and GAC-MIAA (twice).

Game results

Date playedWinning teamLosing teamAttendanceNotes
December 2, 2017 Central Oklahoma (MIAA)38 Tarleton State (LSC)313,422 [4]
December 1, 2018 Emporia State (MIAA)30 Arkansas–Monticello (GAC)223,900 [5]
December 7, 2019 Eastern New Mexico (LSC)20 Southern Arkansas (GAC)132,000 [6]
December 4, 2021 Oklahoma Baptist (GAC)24 UT Permian Basin (LSC)213,576 [7]
December 3, 2022 East Central (GAC)38 Texas A&M–Kingsville (LSC)212,000 [8]
December 2, 2023 Emporia State (MIAA)55 Southern Nazarene (GAC)24 [9]
December 7, 2024 Central Missouri (MIAA)39 UT Permian Basin (LSC)373,500 [10]
December 6, 2025 West Texas A&M (LSC)28 Arkansas Tech (GAC)274,685 [11]

Wins by conference

ConferenceGamesWinLossPct
Mid-America4401.000
Great American624.333
Lone Star624.333

Appearances by team

TeamAppearancesRecord
Emporia State 22–0
West Texas A&M 11–0
Central Missouri 11–0
Central Oklahoma 11–0
East Central 11–0
Eastern New Mexico 11–0
Oklahoma Baptist 11–0
Arkansas–Monticello 10–1
Southern Arkansas 10–1
Tarleton State 10–1
Texas A&M–Kingsville 10–1
Southern Nazarene 10–1
Arkansas Tech 10–1
UT Permian Basin 20–2

References

  1. ↑ Phillips, Mike. "Corsicana Bowl on its way" . Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Heritage Bowl full of surprises: Events kick off Dec. 6".
  3. ↑ "Blog • Corsicana, TX • CivicEngage".
  4. ↑ "UCO beats Tarleton State in Corsicana Bowl". The Oklahoman. December 2, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Emporia State tops Arkansas-Monticello, 30-22". The Daily Review (Morgan City, LA). December 4, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ "ENMU 20, Southern Ark 13". Albuquerque Journal. December 8, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Falcons' defense solid as offense sputters against Bison". The Odessa American. December 5, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Texas A&M Kingsville ends season with loss to East Central". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. December 4, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Champs: Emporia State dispatches Southern Nazarene, 55-24". Emporia State University Athletics. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ "No. 20 Mules Football Wins Heritage Bowl, 39-37, in Double Overtime Over Texas Permian Basin Saturday". University of Central Missouri Athletics. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Buffs Win a Wild Heritage Bowl in Corsicana; Martinez named MVP". West Texas A&M University Athletics. December 6, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
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