NBC college bowl game broadcasts

NBC broadcast the Rose Bowl beginning in 1952 until the 1988 Rose Bowl when ABC took over. It had the Orange Bowl from 1965 through 1995. (The 1971 contest was the very last sporting event on US television to carry cigarette ads.) NBC also aired the Gator Bowl in 1949 and again from 1969 through 1971 and 1996 through 2006, the Sugar Bowl from 1958 through 1969, the Sun Bowl in 1964 and again in 1966, the Fiesta Bowl from 1978 through 1995, the Citrus Bowl from 1984 through 1985, the Hall of Fame Bowl from 1988 through 1992, and the Cotton Bowl  from 1993 to 1995.

Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl began in 1971, but was considered a “minor bowl” until the January 1, 1982 game between Penn State–USC. Since then, the Fiesta Bowl has been considered a major bowl.

Rose Bowl
The 1952 Rose Bowl, on NBC, was the first national telecast of a college football game. The network broadcast both the Tournament of Roses Parade and the following game.