Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun college-themed quiz show promotes its sponsor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
College Bowl
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Hosted by former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and his older football-playing brother and sidekick Cooper, COLLEGE BOWL (aka Capital One College Bowl) is a modern adaptation of the classic 1953 quiz show. The revival of the original series hosts a total of 12 rival college teams, each consisting of three students. It begins with two teams facing off to answer a series of questions designed to test them on a wide variety of academic subjects. The group that succeeds in earning the most points moves to the next round of the tournament. The college team that makes it to the end wins $1 million in scholarship money, a giant trophy, and endless bragging rights.
Is It Any Good?
The entertaining game show features a diverse group of college students showing off their academic skills and representing their well-known universities. Host and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning is an awkward and serious straight man as he asks the question; meanwhile, his brother Cooper delivers humorous (but clearly preplanned) one-liners throughout. Thanks to the TV show's history being rooted in football, and the backgrounds of the hosts, there's lots of sports-related comments too. Adding to the fun are prerecorded appearances by some of the featured universities' famous alums, cheering their team on. Overall, College Bowl is a competition that's easy to get caught up in, even if you don't like school.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the universities represented on the show. What makes them each unique? What is the history of the rivalries between them?
Did you know that the original College Bowl first aired as a radio show in 1953, and then ran on television from 1959 to 1973? How was the original adapted to make it work for television? What made it so popular? Is this version of the quiz show just as entertaining?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 22, 2021
- Cast : Peyton Manning , Cooper Manning
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Game Shows
- Topics : History , STEM
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate