The Outback Bowl was once a fixture of the college football postseason. Known for its exciting B1G/SEC matchups and its strong ties to the Tampa Bay area, the bowl game enjoyed significant popularity before evolving into what is now the ReliaQuest Bowl.

The Outback Bowl was first played on January 1, 1986, as a successor to the "Hall of Fame Bowl". Located at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, it quickly became a popular destination for college football fans. Its name, “Outback Bowl,” was derived from its primary sponsor, Outback Steakhouse. As an aside, the first Outback Steakhouse in the United States was opened in Tampa. In 2023, the Outbackers attempted a pilgrimage to the first Outback Steakhouse location, but in a tragic twist of fate, only one Outbacker arrived. This is a story for another day.

For nearly three decades, the Outback Bowl enjoyed a reputation as a solid, if somewhat disappointing, postseason stop. One of the most memorable moments in the Outback Bowl’s history occurred during the 2013 game, where South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney made a jaw-dropping hit against Michigan’s Vincent Smith. Clowney's explosive play, a crushing tackle that resulted in a fumble recovery, became one of the most iconic highlights of that bowl season and further cemented the Outback Bowl’s place in college football lore.

In 2022, the Outback Bowl underwent a significant transformation. The sponsorship was acquired by ReliaQuest, a cybersecurity company, leading to a rebranding of the bowl game. The new name, “ReliaQuest Bowl,” marked a shift from the familiar Outback Steakhouse branding.