Camellia Bowl (1961–1980)

The Camellia Bowl was a college football bowl game played annually from 1961 to 1980. It was initially held in Lafayette, Louisiana, from 1961 to 1975, and then moved to Sacramento, California, for its final five years (1976-1980).

The game primarily featured teams from the NCAA's College Division (later Division II). Over its two decades of existence, the Camellia Bowl served as a postseason opportunity for smaller college football programs, often pitting conference champions against each other. While not considered a major bowl game, it provided valuable exposure and experience for the participating teams and players.

Notable teams that played in the Camellia Bowl include Western Kentucky, Northern Iowa, and Cal State Sacramento (later Sacramento State). The game's history is tied to the growth and evolution of college football outside of the major conferences during the mid-20th century. The discontinuation of the Camellia Bowl after 1980 was due to a combination of factors, including difficulty attracting competitive matchups and securing adequate sponsorship.

The name "Camellia Bowl" has since been revived for a different bowl game held annually in Montgomery, Alabama, starting in 2014. The modern Camellia Bowl is a separate entity from the historical bowl game covered in this entry, featuring teams from the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).