UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – Nov. 23, 2020 – Some of the greatest rivalries among the nation’s universities are being moved from the playing field to the quiz show space as NBC has given a series order to the iconic program “College Bowl,” hosted by two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Peyton Manning, with his brother Cooper Manning as sideline reporter.
The 10-episode series is a reboot of the classic “College Bowl” that previously aired successfully on NBC in the U.S, internationally and on college campuses for many decades. All in the spirit of fun, “College Bowl” has been a beloved competition where universities get to see who comes out on top in a battle of the brains.
Participating teams will be selected from schools of all sizes with the individuals receiving a significant scholarship for participating in “College Bowl.” The winning team members will have a chance to take home even bigger scholarships, in addition to bragging rights as the “College Bowl” champions.
“We’re excited to bring this beloved college game show back to primetime with a fresh new spin that is sure to not only entertain but also inspire,” said Jenny Groom, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content. “Peyton’s love for competition, sport and education makes him the perfect host and partner. It will be so much fun to showcase these college rivalries and, more importantly, the incredibly smart and talented students behind them.”
Added Peyton Manning, “I have always loved intense college competition, so I’m thrilled to be part of the team bringing back ‘College Bowl.’ I can’t wait for the moment when we get to award life-changing scholarships to the winning team.”
Twelve schools will compete in a bracketed tournament over four rounds where teams vie for the most points. The top two teams will advance to the final where they compete head-to-head and where one will ultimately declare victory.
Host Peyton Manning played 18 seasons in the NFL. He won two Super Bowls in his career – first with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was named the game’s MVP, and then Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos in what was the final game of his career. He holds several NFL records, including most MVP Awards (5), most Pro Bowl appearances (14), single-season passing yards (5,477) and single-season touchdowns (55).
Beyond football, Manning is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Tennessee, a member of the Academic All-America Hall of Fame and a leading force in educational programs.
Cooper Manning is the oldest of the three Manning brothers. He has long been a successful businessman, currently serving as a high-ranking executive in the financial and real estate fields and hosts “The Manning Hour” on “FOX NFL Sunday.”
“College Bowl” was one of the most sought-after shows brought to the production marketplace over the last several months based on a revitalized concept from Village Roadshow Television, who partnered with Universal Television Alternative Studio to produce.
“College Bowl” will be executive produced by Peyton Manning, Cooper Manning, Eli Manning, Richard Reid via Richard Reid Productions, Inc., and Mark Itkin via his Tough Lamb Media. David Friedman will showrun the series.