Rapper’s delight: Snoop sponsors Arizona Bowl
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Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
Snoop Dogg is getting into the college football bowl business with a historic sponsorship that recognizes his 1993 hit song and recent beverage line with Dr. Dre, “Gin & Juice.”
The rapper on Monday revealed the new Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, announcing his intent “to bring the juice back to college football.” The game, previously sponsored by Barstool Sports, will take place Dec. 28 in Tucson, Arizona, and pair teams from the Mountain West and Mid-American conferences.
The partnership marks the first with an alcohol product as the presenting sponsor of an NCAA-sanctioned bowl game. In February, the new beverage company introduced “Gin & Juice” as their first ready-to-drink product — a nod to Snoop Dogg’s hit from the album “Doggystyle,” produced by Dr. Dre and Death Row Records.
“The Arizona Bowl is bringing sports, libations and entertainment into a singular bowl game, and we are changing the definition of what a brand partnership is in the NCAA,” Kym Adair, executive director of the Arizona Bowl, said in a statement.
PlayFly Premier Partnerships, a sports media and marketing company that has worked with the Arizona Bowl since 2021, finalized the agreement between Snoop Dogg and the bowl game.
“College football fans are exhausted by the constant talk around NIL, conference realignment, coach movement, transfer portal and super conferences, so it’s time that we get back to the roots of college football,” Snoop Dogg said in announcing the partnership on social media. “When it was focused on the colleges, the players, the competition, the community, the fan experience and the pageantry. … So it’s only fitting that I step up and get this thing right.”
Snoop Dogg has long been involved in football, launching the Snoop Youth Football League in 2005 and often attending USC practices and games. His son Cordell Broadus initially signed to play wide receiver at UCLA but ended up stepping away from the sport.
The Army–Navy game will be honored as the recipient of the 2025 National Football Foundation’s Distinguished American Award, the NFF announced on Wednesday in conjunction with the College Hall of Fame.
The prestigious award recognizes an outstanding person or entity who has maintained a “lifetime of interest in the game and, over a long period of time, has exhibited enviable leadership qualities and made a significant contribution to the betterment of amateur football in the United States.”
The Army-Navy game was first played on Nov. 29, 1890, and remains one of college football’s oldest and most storied rivalries. The official recognition is Dec. 9 during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas at the Bellagio Resort & Casino.
“Few traditions in sports capture the heart of a nation the way the Army-Navy Game does,” said NFF president and CEO Steve Hatchell. “For more than a century, the game has transcended football, reminding us of the values of sacrifice, unity and service. It is a timeless celebration of young men who are not only great athletes but also future leaders of our military, willing to defend our freedoms. The game’s history, pageantry, and enduring significance make it more than a rivalry — it is a national treasure, to be honored, protected, and respected.”
Navy leads the series 63-55-7, and Baltimore will host the Brigade of Midshipmen and Corps of Cadets this year. The rivalry is played on the second Saturday of December, unopposed by any FBS or NFL game.
“Every December, the Army-Navy Game becomes one of the most powerful scenes in all of sports,” said NFF chairman Archie Manning. “Two fierce rivals play their hearts out for 60 minutes, and then, side by side, they stand together to honor each other’s alma maters. It’s a vivid reminder that while they compete on the field, they are united in a higher calling to serve our country. Honoring the Army-Navy Game with the Distinguished American Award is a recognition of not only a tradition, but of its importance to our country.”
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Adam Rittenberg
Texas A&M safety Bryce Anderson avoided “catastrophic injury” after being taken to a hospital for testing following a serious collision in Saturday’s game at Notre Dame.
Anderson returned to campus with the team following the game and is continuing to recover from the incident, which took place late in the first half of Saturday’s game when his head collided with Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon on a 25-yard passing play.
The senior from Beaumont, Texas, initially lay motionless on the field, and medical personnel spent about 10 minutes attending to him before stabilizing his neck and carting him off. Texas A&M said later Saturday that Anderson had feeling in all of his limbs.
“We are thankful to report that no catastrophic injury was found,” Texas A&M said in a statement Wednesday. “Bryce is in great spirits, and our focus now is on supporting him through his recovery.”
Aggies coach Mike Elko said the team expects Anderson to return at some point later this season.
“It was a blessing to have him on the plane with us,” Elko said. “It was obviously great for all the boys to see him. It was great that that we kind of skated through what could have possibly been a really, really bad situation. He’s still in the process of recovering, and so hard to kind of gauge a timeline right now, but we do expect that we’ll have him back at some point.”
Anderson has 10 tackles this season. He has 116 career tackles with two interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and eight passes defended.
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