The Kickoff Classic was a season-opening college football game played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey from 1983 to 2002.
There were four such bowl games held, but attendance was lower than hoped by the NJSEA due to December weather and less attractive teams.
[citation needed] Consequently, NJSEA decided to host a "bowl" game in the beginning of the season instead.
[1] The game featured the defending national champions Penn State Nittany Lions and the pre-season No.
Participation in the Kickoff Classic allowed teams to play a twelve-game regular season.