Mid-South hosts AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Photo: Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams stands with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Champions Trophy at Olive Branch City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 27 (Courtesy photo)

Bowl season again comes to the Mid-South Wednesday when the 64th AutoZone Liberty Bowl is held at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. and the game receives national television coverage from ESPN.  

Arkansas of the SEC meets Kansas of the Big 12 in Wednesday’s game. Both teams have 6-6 records entering the contest.  

With water and weather concerns active leading up to the game, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium General Manager Thomas Carrier Tuesday offered this information for fans coming to the game, stressing the plans that the game will go on.  

“The City of Memphis and MLGW are working to ensure that the 2022 AutoZone Liberty Bowl Game will continue tomorrow despite water pressure issues in Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium,” Carrier said.  

If you come to the game, expect the following: 

• All Stadium Seating will be available 
• 400+ standard ADA porta-johns placed in front of existing restrooms along concourse areas 
• 80 hand sanitizer pumps placed near all existing restrooms and concession area
• All Stadium Concessions will remain fully operational 
• Tailgating in Tiger Lane is accessible. 

This marks the first time in nearly 30 years (1993) the AutoZone Liberty Bowl will be played in one of ESPN’s prestigious primetime slots. The AutoZone Liberty Bowl’s history of delivering exciting games and excellent television viewership created the opportunity for this marquee game date and time.

“Playing in primetime is a terrific opportunity for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to showcase two outstanding universities from the SEC and Big 12, the Memphis community and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to a large primetime national audience,” said Steve Ehrhart, Executive Director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. “The AutoZone Liberty Bowl is thrilled to play our game in this highly coveted television window as part of ESPN’s bowl game lineup.”

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl was founded in 1959, making it the seventh oldest bowl game in America. Sixty-three different universities have participated in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl Champions Trophy, which will go to the winning team, made a tour of some locations ahead of the game Tuesday, including a visit to Olive Branch City Hall to meet with Mayor Ken Adams.