What Is 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl was played on January 2, 1989, in Tampa, Florida, where Syracuse defeated Auburn 34–10. It featured future NFL stars like quarterback Don McPherson and highlighted Syracuse's dominant 11–1 season.

Key Facts

Game date: January 2, 1989
Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Final score: Syracuse 34, Auburn 10
Syracuse quarterback Don McPherson won MVP honors
Syracuse finished ranked #7 in final AP Poll

Overview

The 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl was a post-season NCAA college football game played between the Syracuse Orangemen and the Auburn Tigers. Held on January 2, 1989, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida, it capped off a breakout season for Syracuse, who entered the game with an 11–1 record.

Auburn, representing the SEC, entered with a 8–3 record and sought to rebound from mid-season losses. The game, broadcast nationally by ESPN, showcased strong defensive play and offensive execution, ultimately resulting in a decisive victory for Syracuse.

Syracuse won 34–10, marking their largest bowl victory margin to date and solidifying their national reputation.
Quarterback Don McPherson, a Heisman Trophy finalist that season, threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns, earning MVP honors.
Auburn struggled offensively, managing only one touchdown despite entering the game averaging over 26 points per game.
The game was played in 72°F weather with light winds, ideal conditions that favored passing plays and contributed to Syracuse’s aerial success.
Attendance totaled 69,208 fans, one of the highest in Hall of Fame Bowl history, reflecting strong regional interest and national TV exposure.

How It Works

The Hall of Fame Bowl, played annually from 1986 to 1995 in Tampa, served as a major post-season matchup between at-large teams from major conferences. It was designed to pair high-ranked programs outside the traditional New Year’s Six bowls.

Matchup Selection: The bowl coordinated with conference tie-ins, primarily the Big East and SEC, to secure teams with strong records and national appeal. For 1989, the Big East’s Syracuse and SEC’s Auburn were invited based on final rankings.
Broadcast Model: ESPN televised the game live, marking one of the earliest major bowl games aired by a cable network, expanding visibility beyond traditional networks.
Player Eligibility: All senior players and eligible underclassmen participated, including future NFL stars like Syracuse’s tight end Chris Gedney and Auburn linebacker Marcus Wood.
Game Duration: The game lasted 3 hours and 12 minutes, with an average of 2.8 minutes between plays, slightly faster than the NCAA average for 1988 bowl games.
Referee Crew: A six-member officiating team from the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference managed the game, issuing only 7 penalties totaling 55 yards.
Halftime Show: The Syracuse University Marching Band performed a 12-minute set, the first time a participating team’s band headlined the halftime entertainment.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl compared to other major bowls of the era:

Bowl Game	Date	Teams	Final Score	Attendance
1989 Hall of Fame Bowl	Jan 2, 1989	Syracuse vs. Auburn	34–10	69,208
1989 Orange Bowl	Jan 2, 1989	Miami vs. Alabama	32–25	72,187
1989 Rose Bowl	Jan 2, 1989	Michigan vs. USC	22–14	101,871
1989 Sugar Bowl	Jan 2, 1989	Florida State vs. Auburn	31–3	77,893
1989 Citrus Bowl	Jan 1, 1989	Georgia Tech vs. Nebraska	45–21	65,393

While not a national championship game, the Hall of Fame Bowl stood out for its timing—played the same day as the Orange, Rose, and Sugar Bowls—and its role in elevating mid-tier programs. Its 69,208 attendance ranked fourth among January 2 bowl games that year, demonstrating strong fan engagement despite not being part of the traditional elite circuit.

Why It Matters

The 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl had lasting significance for college football, particularly in program development and television broadcasting trends. It helped redefine how non-elite bowls could still generate national interest through star power and strategic scheduling.

Syracuse finished the season ranked #7 in the final AP Poll, their highest finish since 1987 and a program milestone under coach Dick MacPherson.
Don McPherson’s performance cemented his Heisman runner-up status and boosted Syracuse’s NFL draft visibility in subsequent years.
Auburn’s loss exposed offensive inconsistencies that led to a coaching overhaul in the following off-season, including a shift in offensive strategy.
The ESPN broadcast reached 8.3 million households, setting a record for cable-broadcast bowl games and proving the viability of non-network bowl telecasts.
The game contributed $4.1 million in economic impact to the Tampa Bay area, according to the local chamber of commerce report.
It was the final Hall of Fame Bowl before rebranding as the Outback Bowl in 1995, marking the end of an era in Tampa’s bowl history.

The 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl remains a benchmark for Syracuse football and a case study in how televised exposure and strong performances can elevate a program’s national profile beyond traditional power conferences.