© Kirby Lee/Imagn
The Holiday Bowl is one of the oldest and most historic bowl games in all of college football. Founded in 1978, the San Diego-based game has as rich a history as almost any non-College Football Playoff Bowl.
In fact, in 1984, the Holiday Bowl became one of only two non-New Year’s Six bowls to clinch a national championship for a team when BYU defeated Michigan to complete an undefeated season.
But college football, and the world as a whole, are in unprecedented times. This calls for unprecedented measures.
Holiday Bowl Tried And Failed To Move To Saudi Arabia
Former BroBible editor David Covucci revealed on Friday via FOIA Ball that officials for the Holiday Bowl, which has been in San Diego since its inception, attempted to sell the game to Saudi Arabia in 2025.
The Holiday Bowl proposed moving to Saudi Arabia, according to an agenda for an ACC ADs call this summer. pic.twitter.com/qMHjXVGpjb
— David Covucci (@DavidCovucci) October 17, 2025
Holiday Bowl officials even flew to Saudi Arabia in the spring and met with officials about playing this year’s game in the Middle East, according On3 Sports.
Ultimately, the plan died when ACC athletic director informed the bowl that it had no interest in playing in Saudi Arabia. The Holiday Bowl traditionally pits a team from the ACC against a current or former member of the Pac-12.
“It was explored, there were a lot of pieces to the puzzle, but it ain’t happening,” one person with knowledge of the situation told On3.
Interestingly enough, just months after the proposed move, North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi also went to Saudi Arabia in search of funding for the Tar Heels program.
That venture also came up empty.
Ultimately, it’s hard to see what the Holiday Bowl would gain from the move beyond a quick paycheck. Of course, non-playoff bowl games have sadly become devalued. But leaving your tradition home of over 30 years only furthers that trend.
Thankfully, the move got shut down. Sadly, it feels as if sooner or later, that won’t be the case.