In winning the Bowl Season Team Challenge, Nebraska accomplished all three components over every other FBS institution:
ON-FIELD SUCCESS
To qualify for team challenge consideration, the team must first qualify for participation in a non-CFP bowl game. There were 82 teams that finished the season with six or more wins, meeting the criteria for bowl eligibility. Nebraska punched their ticket to Bowl Season by defeating Wisconsin on the second to last weekend of the season to qualify for their first bowl game in 8 years.
The team then must win their non-CFP bowl game to advance. There were 36 teams who met this standard. Nebraska defeated Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
As part of their bowl week activities, the entire Nebraska team decorated cards for the children at Memorial Sloan Kettering's Pediatric Cancer Center. The day before the game, a smaller group of players and staff, including University President Gold, delivered the cards and beanies as they spent an afternoon sharing holiday cheer and Big Red spirit with the patients.
FAN ENGAGEMENT
Lastly, the Bowl Season Pick'em game was launched this year, allowing fans to predict the winners of the 47 postseason football games (Bowl Season and CFP) and follow the action throughout December and early January. This free-to-play game also gave fans the ability to win prizes, including tickets and airfare to next year's CFP Championship Game.
Of the 36 teams that met the first two criteria for the team challenge, Nebraska had more fans play the pick'em game than any other school. By winning this final fan engagement criterion, the Cornhuskers are the winners of the first annual Bowl Season Team Challenge.
The Bowl Season Pick'em Game, including the Team Challenge, has been a hit with fans across the country, and Bowl Season is excited to continue growing the game and its fan engagement in the years to come.
