Detroit’s nearly three-decade run as a host city for a college football bowl game has reach to an finish, with Ford Field not scheduled to host a postseason game in 2026. The decision, announced Tuesday, marks the first time since 1997 that Detroit will not play host to a bowl game.
Ford Field cited the expiration of its naming rights partnership as a key factor in the decision. “With the end of our current naming rights partnership, we felt this was the right time to adjust our focus to invest in sports at all levels and other entertainment events,” the venue said in a statement posted on social media. The bowl game was most recently known as the GameAbove Sports Bowl, having undergone several name changes throughout its history.
The game debuted as the Motor City Bowl in 1997 at the Pontiac Silverdome, before moving to Ford Field in 2002. It was rebranded as the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2009 and the Quick Lane Bowl in 2014, before becoming the GameAbove Sports Bowl in 2024. The Detroit Lions have operated the annual bowl game since 2014.
For much of its history, the Detroit bowl game featured teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) from 2014 to 2019. More recently, the game featured a team from the Big Ten Conference, a partnership that lasted from 2020 to 2025. Central Michigan and Northwestern met in the most recent game in December 2025, with Northwestern winning 34-7.
The cancellation of the Detroit bowl game is part of a broader trend in college football, with non-playoff bowls facing increasing challenges in the current landscape. The LA Bowl recently announced it would cease operations after five years. According to reporting from MLive, the Detroit bowl has been centered around Mid-American Conference programs, with a MAC school participating in eight of the past 11 seasons.
While the bowl game is ending, Ford Field will continue to host the Mid-American Conference championship game, a tradition that began in 2004. The venue did not comment on potential future bowl game arrangements.
