Bowl Game Gifts: Ranking the 10 best player swag packages

Every year, college football players are given gifts for qualifying for a bowl game. Here is a look at the some of the top gift packages this bowl season.

Well it’s bowl season, which means Christmas comes early for all those participants in this year’s 40 bowl games. It’s one of the greatest traditions of college football to say the least. NCAA rules allow each student-athlete to receive up to $550 worth of gifts for participating in a bowl game.

Between ugly Christmas sweaters and Apple Watches, some teams will fare very well while others should just be happy with what they receive. Bowl game sponsors aren’t cashing in, per se, as they are gifts but it’s worth a look at what the players receive. Some players will receive gifts pre-selected for them while others will walk through gift suites.

Essentially with gift suites, items are placed in a room and their prices are removed for a points system. Through the point system, players are allowed to spend a certain amount of points to spend to accumulate items. 25 out of 40 bowl games this year will feature a gift suite.

Here are the top 10 swag packages from this year’s bowl season.

Dec 10, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

10. Armed Forces Bowl: Navy vs. Louisiana Tech

Navy and Louisiana Tech players kick off the list of gift packages. They will receive a gift suite, a Finrod’s Festive Wear holiday sweater, a commemorative football, and a beanie. It may not seem like much, but it’s a well-handed gesture that keeps the season in mind as well as the players.

In fact, it is the first sweater of Finrods 2016 designs, with the name “The Legacy” Ugly Christmas sweater. I hope it comes with a matching beanie.

Nov 26, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

9. TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky

Players from Georgia Tech and the University of Kentucky got a plethora in goodies in their swag package from the TaxSlayer Bowl. Players got a Fossil watch, a carry-on bag, Under Armour sunglasses, a commemorative football and a bobblehead with the player’s face, name and uniform number. They will receive one of the more unique bowl gifts this season.

Who doesn’t want to own their bobblehead doll? A lot of creativity will go into the gift and I’m sure players from both schools will enjoy the gesture. Players also get a nice Fossil watch and sunglasses out of the deal as well. The Under Armour sunglasses aren’t Oakley or Ray-Bans but hey, free is free, right?

Oct 7, 2016; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports

8. Gildan New Mexico Bowl: UT-San Antonio vs. New Mexico

Players from New Mexico and UT-San Antonio will enjoy a nice swag package from the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. They received Oakley sunglasses, an Enduro 25 backpack, Bluetooth earbuds, a beanie, a Gildan stadium blanket, a cap and a selfie stick. And to add a little extra, they’ll also received a gift suite and LIT Coolers.

Not a bad deal for each team. Bluetooth earbuds are reasonable enough. I’m not so sure about the beanie though. They probably won’t need them based on their respective locations, but maybe they’re stylish enough. The cap and Oakley sunglasses work out in terms of keeping the sun out of their eyes. They could always use the selfie stick to show us a tour of their gift suite too. We all have dreams, right?

Nov 26, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports

7 Quick Lane Bowl – Boston College vs. Maryland

Boston College and Maryland players came out well with their swag packages. Players got a $200 Best Buy gift card, a pair of JBL headphones, a life-sized Fathead decal of themselves, a hoodie, a winter hat, a pair of Rock ’Em Apparel socks, a backpack and a vintage football.

Who doesn’t want their very own Fathead decal for their room? They’ll be able to add something to it with their $200 gift card to Best Buy too. Luckily, they won’t need headphones either. They received a solid pair from JBL, which should be very reliable.

Nov 26, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

6. Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami vs. West Virginia

Miami and West Virginia players got a good deal with their swag package from the Russell Athletic Bowl. Each team received $300 Best Buy shopping trip, a Timely Watch Company watch, ISlide sandals, a beach towel and a performance pullover. And to add even more swag to the bowl, one 4-star recruit will be choose the school he’ll attend based on the winner.

Things can get very exciting with a $300 Best Buy shopping trip, especially for a college athlete. The ISlide sandals and beach towel serves as a good present for Miami players, given their access to the beach. The performance pullover can go with the collection they’ve already got in the closet.

Nov 25, 2016; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; Boise State Broncos cornerback Jonathan Moxey (2) takes a snap in the third quarter against the Boise State Broncos at Falcon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

5. Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl: South Alabama vs. Air Force

The players from South Alabama and the Air Force Academy got swag packages that could make some teams jealous. Players received a red, inflatable couch, a Selco watch, an Ogio rucksack, Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats2 headphones and No Sweat Specialties socks. This swag package has more comfort than expense in it but hey, college students need to relax too.

Who needs class when you’ve got a red, inflatable couch and Beats by Dre Powerbeats 2 to jam out to? Let’s just hope the No Sweat Specialties socks don’t promote them to not change their socks. With the rucksack and watch, players from both schools came out nicely with their Arizona Bowl swag packages. Reasonable enough considering this bowl game should also be fun to watch.

Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

4. Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl: Louisville vs. LSU

Well Louisville and LSU players were treated well by the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. In their swag package, they got a $305 Best Buy shopping trip, a Timely Watch Company watch, an EA Sports video game, ISlide sandals and a $25 Buffalo Wild Wings gift card.

Quite a hefty haul, especially if you’re Heisman trophy winner Lamar Jackson. A $305 trip to Best Buy will do players on both teams very well. With a new EA Sports video game and watch, things can’t get much better. Now let’s just hope the $25 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings serves a purpose.

Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

3. Playstation Fiesta Bowl – Clemson vs. Ohio State

Making the College Football Playoff Semifinal certainly has its perks. Players from Clemson and Ohio State received swag packages worth talking about. They got a Sony gift suite or a PS4 game and accessory bundle, an Ogio Throttle backpack, a Fossil watch and a commemorative football.

Players were certainly treated well as made evident by the above video. The gift suite was probably one of the more chosen offers than the game and accessory bundle. The swag packages get a bit more intriguing the higher up teams go. The winner of this game is eligible for another swag package. That certainly ups the ante for each team going forward.

December 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA;

2 Valero Alamo Bowl – Oklahoma State vs. Colorado

The Valero Alamo Bowl was in a gift-giving mood with their swag package to Oklahoma State and Colorado players. Players got an Apple Watch with Nike+, a $110 Best Buy gift card, myCharge HubPlus portable charger, a team panoramic photo and a mini-helmet.

An Apple Watch and Best Buy gift card certainly raises the bar for swag packages in the future. Players from both teams were given quite the reward for qualifying for their bowl game this season. The team photo and mini-helmet are a nice touch as is the portable charger. The game couldn’t come soon enough for these guys. Let’s just hope they leave their new watches in the locker room though.

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide players celebrate winning the trophy with fans after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Alabama vs. Washington

Well it’s no surprise the top swag package comes from one of the College Football Playoff Semifinal games. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl gave Alabama and Washington players a $300 Vanilla Visa gift card, a JBL Bluetooth speaker, a Fossil watch and a commemorative football.

Getting to the College Football Playoff Semifinal was good to the Crimson Tide and Huskies players this season. With a $300 gift card from Visa, last-minute shopping should be a breeze this holiday season. A new bluetooth speaker from JBL should help with the waking up process. The Fossil watch and football serve as reasonable souvenirs. The winner of this game advances with the possibility of another swag package as well.

More from Saturday Blitz

This article originally appeared on