Plot Synopsis

In December 2014, the inaugural Popeyes Bahamas Bowl featured Western Kentucky of Conference USA against Central Michigan of the Mid-American Conference in the first FBS-level bowl game outside of the United States or Canada since 1937. In May 2015, ESPN Events announced the acquisition of the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl from Bahamas Bowl, LLC, which owned the inaugural game. Three years later -- in July 2018 -- Elk Grove Village, Illinois, using its business slogan, "Makers Wanted," was announced as the title sponsor of the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, marking the first time a non-tourist municipality had ever sponsored a bowl game. After six games from 2014-2019 and a cancellation of the 2020 game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seventh bowl game was played on Friday, December 17, 2021 in Nassau's Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, featuring Middle Tennessee State of Conference USA and Toledo of the Mid-American Conference. Re-branded as the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl for 2022, that year's game featured UAB, representing Conference USA, and Miami (Ohio) from the Mid-American Conference kicking off the 2022 Bowl Season on Friday, December 16, 2022 at 11:30am ET/8:30am PT on ESPN. The Bahamas Bowl was not held in 2023, because of stadium renovations at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau.