Stadium Hughes Stadium Operated 1961–1975, 1980 | Location Sacramento, California | |
The Camellia Bowl was a college football playoff game in Sacramento, California, the Camellia City. It was held sixteen times at Hughes Stadium, from 1961 through 1975, and once more in 1980.
From 1964 through 1972, the Camellia Bowl was one of four season-ending regional finals (quarterfinals) in the NCAA College Division, the predecessor of Division II (and III). There were no semifinals or finals and the College Division championship was determined by a poll prior to these games; the other three regionals were the Tangerine (later Boardwalk), Pecan (later Pioneer), and Grantland Rice bowls.
The system was revised in 1973 with the creation of Division II and its full playoff structure. The Camellia Bowl was the Division II championship game for the first three years, then the title game moved to the Pioneer Bowl in Texas. After a four-year hiatus, the Camellia Bowl returned in 1980 as the Division I-AA title game.