It’s quite possible that Cal or Stanford will receive an invitation to play in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl in December.
Maybe the invitation will be to play against San Jose State.
Laughable as it seems, the new bowl game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will be called the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl in what was referred to in a statement on the stadium’s website as an “unprecedented multi-year partnership to appoint the late-night host the official naming rights partner of LA Bowl.”
The late-night talk show host made the official announcement on his program Wednesday night as he unveiled a new logo for the game.
“This is not a joke,” Kimmel said during his opening monologue. “This is a real bowl game named after me, so mark your calendars.
“It’s like an early Christmas gift for all of us.”
The Dec. 18 game will feature the Mountain West Conference’s No. 1 selection against the Pac-12 No. 5 selection.
We teamed up with @JimmyKimmel to come up with a new name for LA Bowl..introducing Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl! #LABowl #ComeWriteYourStory https://t.co/EuSooh0NgI pic.twitter.com/6GhNx69Jxp
— Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk (@LABowlGame) June 17, 2021
“There are a few American traditions more exciting than a college football bowl game,” Kimmel said. “Ever since I was 52, which was last year, I have dreamed of having a college football bowl game named after me. Tonight, I’m thrilled to announce that dream is finally coming true.”
Kimmel said the deal was “history in the making. Never before has a ball game been named after a human being, and Papa John doesn’t count. He’s barely human.”
Perhaps the deal isn’t preposterous considering the names of other games, including the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, and the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. There are over 40 bowl games scheduled between Dec. 17 and Jan. 4.
“Stan Kroenke designed Hollywood Park to be a sports and entertainment destination for Angelenos and visitors from across the world to enjoy,” said Jason Gannon, the executive director of Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, in a statement.
“We cannot think of a better way to bring sports and entertainment together than by collaborating with celebrated late-night host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel on our collegiate bowl game.”
San Jose State was supposed to play in the inaugural LA Bowl last year against a Pac-12 opponent after it went 7-0 and captured the MWC championship. But the game was canceled due to local COVID-19 restrictions.
The Spartans went on to play in the Arizona Bowl in Tucson on New Year’s Eve and lost 34-13 to Ball State at Arizona Stadium.
San Jose State will play its first game this year on Aug. 28 at home against Southern Utah. Stanford is scheduled to play its first game Sept. 4 on the road against Kansas State at 9 a.m. (PT). That night, Cal will host Nevada.
