Detroit’s bowl game axed after 29 years

The GameAbove Sports Bowl, formerly known as the Quick Lane Bowl, Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl, and Motor City Bowl, will be discontinued from the college football bowl rotation as of 2026. This marks the end of a 29-year tradition of hosting a bowl game in Detroit, Michigan, beginning at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1997 and later moving to Ford Field in 2002. The bowl was known for its strong ties to the Mid-American Conference (MAC), which participated in 25 out of the 28 games, often facing opponents from the Big Ten or ACC.

The bowl game was notable for its Northern U.S. location, drawing significant attendance, including a peak of 60,624 spectators for a game between Purdue and Central Michigan in 2007. The most memorable game occurred in 2024 when Toledo defeated Pittsburgh 48-46 in the first-ever 6-overtime bowl game. Northwestern won the final edition of the bowl against Central Michigan in