Wheat Bowl

{{Collegebowl | name = Wheat Bowl | full_name = Wheat Bowl Football Classic | nickname = | defunct = yes | logo = Image:Wheatbowl.png | image_size = | caption = The only sanctioned NAIA pre-season bowl game | stadium = Great Bend High School Memorial Stadium<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usd428.net/Football/Field.htm |title=Memorial Stadium Photo |access-date=2008-05-05 |archive-date=2008-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908070142/http://www.usd428.net/Football/Field.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> | previous_stadiums = | location = Great Bend, Kansas | previous_locations = Ellinwood, Kansas | years = 1995–2006 | previous_tie-ins = | payout = | sponsors = various<ref>[http://www.wheatbowl.net/index.php?page=facts Wheat Bowl – Great Bend – Kansas – Football]</ref> | former_names = | prev_matchup_year = 2006 | prev_matchup_season= 2006 | prev_matchup_teams = Northwestern Oklahoma vs Lindenwood (14–13) | prev_matchup_score = | next_matchup_year = | next_matchup_season= | next_matchup_teams = | next_matchup_date = }} The '''Wheat Bowl''' was the only National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics endorsed pre-season bowl game that operated from 1995 until 2006. The Wheat Bowl Football Classic was headquartered in the Central Kansas town of Ellinwood and was played in nearby Great Bend annually as the kickoff for the NAIA season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://football.victorysportsnetwork.com/fb/wheatbowlinfo/wheatbowl.php |title=NAIAFOOTBALL.NET-The Nation's Home for NAIA Football |access-date=2007-11-15 |archive-date=2008-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503225937/http://football.victorysportsnetwork.com/fb/wheatbowlinfo/wheatbowl.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1995 and 1996, the game was played as a "post-season" game. Beginning in 1997, the Wheat Bowl Football Classic was successfully switched to a pre-season contest to eliminate several potential obstacles: the possibility of inclement weather, conflicts with Kansas State University and University of Kansas home games as well as conflicts with high school playoffs.

Due to facilities not being available, no game was played in 2007. The next game was scheduled for August 23, 2008 at the newly renovated Great Bend Memorial Stadium.<ref>[http://www.wheatbowl.net/index.php?page=home Wheat Bowl – Great Bend – Kansas – Football]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> According to the bowl website, it appears that the game was not played as originally scheduled and the bowl is now considered defunct. The College Fanz First Down Classic preseason bowl began in 2007 and was considered the kick-off of the NAIA season<ref>[http://www.collegefanz.com/docs/DOC-10634 CollegeFanz] "Avila University Wins College Fanz First Down Classic"</ref> until its final game in 2011.

==Game results== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! colspan="2" | Winning Team !! colspan="2" | Losing Team |- | 1995 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#bf0d3e|MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers}}'''|| '''38''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Ottawa Braves|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffbe28|Ottawa Braves}}'''|| 0 |- | 1996 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Southwestern Moundbuilders|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffffff|Southwestern Moundbuilders}}'''|| '''28''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Baker Wildcats|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#f4761c|Baker Wildcats}}'''|| 20 |- | 1997 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Sioux Falls Cougars|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffffff|Sioux Falls Cougars}}'''|| '''35''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Benedictine Ravens|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#b41c32|Benedictine Ravens}}'''|| 10 |- | 1998 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color| #cc0a2f|NW Oklahoma State Rangers}}'''|| '''40''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#bf0d3e|MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers}}'''|| 7 |- | 1999 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color| #cc0a2f|No. 12 NW Oklahoma State Rangers}}'''|| '''49''' | style="background:#7a2e78;"|'''{{color|#e28227|Missouri Valley Vikings}}'''|| 14 |- | 2000 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Concordia Bulldogs|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffffff|Concordia Bulldogs}}'''|| '''31''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Lindenwood Lions|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#dccf87|Lindenwood Lions}}'''|| 14 |- | 2001 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Peru State Bobcats|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffffff|No. 19 Peru State Bobcats}}'''|| '''21''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Baker Wildcats|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#f4761c|No. 13 Baker Wildcats}}'''|| 14 |- | 2002 | style="background:#0a2140;"|'''{{color|#f58025|Midland Warriors}}'''|| '''25''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Bacone Warriors|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffffff|Bacone Warriors}}'''|| 15 |- | 2003 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#bf0d3e|No. 10 MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers}}'''|| '''21''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffffff|Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm}}'''|| 14 |- | 2004 | style="background:#0a2140;"|'''{{color|#f58025|No. 22 Midland Warriors}}'''|| '''31''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Avila Eagles|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#fecf02|Avila Eagles}}'''|| 9 |- | 2005 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Graceland Yellowjackets|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffcb09|No. 23 Graceland Yellowjackets}}'''|| '''24''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#ffffff|Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm}}'''|| 20 |- | 2006 | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color| #cc0a2f|NW Oklahoma State Rangers}}'''|| '''14''' | style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Lindenwood Lions|border=0|color=white}}|'''{{color|#dccf87|No. 15 Lindenwood Lions}}'''|| 13 |}

==Community College==

There was a game called the "Wheat Bowl" played between Kansas Community Colleges from 1948 to 1950. Although the name is the same, the organization was completely different. This particular bowl is now defunct.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/bowl_results.php?bowlid=321 |title=Games |access-date=2007-11-30 |archive-date=2006-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020012011/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/bowl_results.php?bowlid=321 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}} {{College football kickoff games}}

Category:Defunct college football bowls Category:American football in Kansas