Ford Field Announces It Will Not Host a College Bowl Game in 2026

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Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan has announced that it will not host a college football bowl game in 2026, ending a 29-year run of hosting postseason bowl games in the city. The announcement was made on the stadium's Facebook page, citing the end of their current naming rights partnership as the reason for the change in focus.

Why it matters

The loss of the bowl game will be disappointing for college football fans in Michigan, who have had an in-state option to attend a postseason game for nearly three decades. The bowl game has historically matched up teams from the MAC conference against opponents from the ACC or Big Ten.

The details

Ford Field first hosted a college football bowl game in 2002, when it took over hosting duties from the Pontiac Silverdome. The game was originally known as the Motor City Bowl, before going through several name changes over the years, most recently becoming the GameAbove Sports Bowl in 2024.

• Ford Field first hosted a college football bowl game in 1997 at the Pontiac Silverdome.
• The Motor City Bowl moved to Ford Field in 2002, the first year the stadium was open.
• The bowl game's name changed to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2009, then to the Quick Lane Bowl in 2014, and finally to the GameAbove Sports Bowl in 2024.
• The 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl featured Central Michigan University and Northwestern.

What’s next

It's unclear if Ford Field will host a college football bowl game in the future, but the stadium's announcement indicates they plan to focus on other sports and entertainment events.