The 1985–86 NCAA football bowl games were a series of post-season games played in December 1985 and January 1986 to end the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. A total of 18 team-competitive games,[1] and two all-star games, were played. The post-season began with the California Bowl on December 14, 1985, and concluded on January 18, 1986, with the season-ending Senior Bowl.
Schedule
| Date
|
Game
|
Site
|
Time
(US EST)
|
TV
|
Matchup
(pre-game record)
|
AP
pre-game
rank
|
UPI (Coaches)
pre-game
rank
|
| 12/14
|
California Bowl
|
Bulldog Stadium
Fresno, California
|
|
|
Fresno State 51 (10–0–1) (PCAA Champion),
Bowling Green 7 (11–0) (MAC Champion)
|
NR
#20
|
#18
NR
|
| 12/21
|
Cherry Bowl
|
Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac, Michigan
|
|
USA Network
|
Maryland 35 (8–3) (ACC Champion),
Syracuse 18 (7–4) (Independent)
|
#20
NR
|
NR
NR
|
| 12/21
|
Independence Bowl
|
Independence Stadium
Shreveport, Louisiana
|
|
Mizlou
|
Minnesota 20 (6–5) (Big Ten),
Clemson 13 (6–5) (ACC)
|
NR
NR
|
NR
NR
|
| 12/22
|
Holiday Bowl
|
Jack Murphy Stadium
San Diego, California
|
|
USA Network
|
Arkansas 18 (10–2) (SWC),
Arizona State 17 (8–4) (Pac-10)
|
#14
NR
|
#12
NR
|
| 12/27
|
Liberty Bowl
|
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, Tennessee
|
|
Raycom
|
Baylor 21 (8–3) (SWC),
LSU 7 (9–1–1) (SEC)
|
NR
#12
|
NR
#10
|
| 12/28
|
Sun Bowl
|
Sun Bowl
El Paso, Texas
|
|
CBS
|
Arizona 13 (8–3) (Pac-10),
Georgia 13 (7–3–1) (SEC)
|
NR
NR
|
#20
NR
|
| 12/28
|
Aloha Bowl
|
Aloha Stadium
Honolulu, Hawaii
|
|
|
Alabama 24 (8–2–1) (SEC),
USC 3 (6–5) (Pac-10)
|
#15
NR
|
#14
NR
|
| 12/28
|
Florida Citrus Bowl
|
Florida Citrus Bowl
Orlando, Florida
|
|
NBC
|
Ohio State 10 (8–3) (Big Ten),
BYU 7 (11–2) (WAC Co-Champion)
|
#17
#9
|
#17
#9
|
| 12/30
|
Freedom Bowl
|
Anaheim Stadium
Anaheim, California
|
|
Lorimar
|
Washington 20 (6–5) (Pac-10),
Colorado 17 (7–4) (Big Eight)
|
NR
NR
|
NR
NR
|
| 12/30
|
Gator Bowl
|
Gator Bowl Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
|
|
ABC
|
Florida State 34 (8–3) (Independent),
Oklahoma State 23 (8–3) (Big Eight)
|
#18
#19
|
#16
#19
|
| 12/31
|
Bluebonnet Bowl
|
Rice Stadium
Houston, Texas
|
|
Lorimar
|
Air Force 24 (11–1) (WAC Co-Champion),
Texas 16 (8–3) (SWC)
|
#10
NR
|
#7
NR
|
| 12/31
|
Peach Bowl
|
Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta
|
|
CBS
|
Army 31 (8–3) (Independent),
Illinois 29 (6–4–1) (Big Ten)
|
NR
NR
|
NR
NR
|
| 12/31
|
Hall of Fame Classic
|
Legion Field
Birmingham, Alabama
|
|
WTBS
|
Georgia Tech 17 (8–2–1) (ACC),
Michigan State 14 (7–4) (Big Ten)
|
NR
NR
|
NR
NR
|
| 1/1
|
Cotton Bowl Classic[2]
|
Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
|
1:30 PM
|
CBS
|
Texas A&M 36 (9–2) (SWC Champion),
Auburn 16 (8–3) (SEC)
|
#11
#16
|
#11
#15
|
| 1/1
|
Fiesta Bowl[3]
|
Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Arizona
|
1:30 PM
|
NBC
|
Michigan 27 (9–1–1) (Big Ten),
Nebraska 23 (9–2) (Big Eight)
|
#5
#7
|
#5
#6
|
| 1/1
|
Rose Bowl[4]
|
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
|
4:30 PM
|
NBC
|
UCLA 45 (8–2–1) (Pac-10 Champion),
Iowa 28 (10–1) (Big Ten Champion)
|
#13
#4
|
#13
#3
|
| 1/1
|
Sugar Bowl[5]
|
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
|
8:00 PM
|
ABC
|
Tennessee 35 (8–1–2) (SEC Champion),
Miami (FL) 7 (10–1) (Independent)
|
#8
#2
|
#8
#4
|
| 1/1
|
Orange Bowl[6]
|
Orange Bowl
Miami, Florida
|
8:00 PM
|
NBC
|
Oklahoma 25 (10–1) (Big Eight Champion),
Penn State 10 (11–0) (Independent)
|
#3
#1
|
#2
#1
|
References
- ^ "1985 College Football Bowl Games". Sports Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "Cotton Bowl; Bo Gets the Yards, but Aggies Get the Win". Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1986. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "Fiesta Bowl; Michigan Rallies to Win". The New York Times. January 2, 1986. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "Iowa Has No Fun, but UCLA Has a Ball". Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1986. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "Tennessee's Defense Controls Hurricanes In Sugar Bowl, 35-7". The Washington Post. January 2, 1986. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "Orange Bowl; Oklahoma Upends Penn State, Stakes Claim to No. 1". The New York Times. January 2, 1986. Retrieved October 30, 2017.