68 Ventures Bowl
68 Ventures Bowl | |
---|---|
Stadium | Hancock Whitney Stadium |
Location | Mobile, Alabama |
Previous stadiums | Ladd-Peebles Stadium |
Operated | 1999–present |
Conference tie-ins | Sun Belt,MAC |
Previous conference tie-ins | ACC,C-USA,WAC |
Payout | US$1.5 million (2019 season)[1] |
Sponsors | |
| |
Former names | |
| |
2022 matchup | |
Ricevs.Southern Miss(Southern Miss 38–24) | |
2023 matchup | |
South Alabamavs.Eastern Michigan (South Alabama 59–10) |
The68 Ventures Bowlis a postseasonNCAA-sanctionedDivision I FBScollege footballbowl gamethat has been played annually inMobile, Alabamasince 1999. In 2021, the game was moved fromLadd-Peebles StadiumtoHancock Whitney Stadium,on the campus of theUniversity of South Alabama.The game currently matches teams from theSun Belt Conferenceand theMid-American Conference.Originally known as theMobile Alabama Bowlduring its first two playings, it has undergone many name changes.
History
[edit]The game was known as theMobile Alabama Bowlfor its first two playings, in 1999 and 2000. GMAC (nowAlly Financial) had become the title sponsor for the 2000 playing, and the game was renamed as theGMAC Bowlfor the 2001 though January 2010 playings. It was then theGoDaddy Bowlfor the January 2011 to January 2013 playings whenGoDaddytook over sponsorship.[2]In May 2013, it was announced that the "" would be dropped from the bowl's name, rebranding it as theGoDaddy Bowlfor the January 2014 through December 2015 editions.[3]Dollar Generaltook over sponsorship on August 17, 2016,[4]with the 2016 through 2018 playings branded as theDollar General Bowl.It was announced on May 29, 2019, that Dollar General would no longer sponsor the bowl.[5]It was temporarily called by its original name, the Mobile Alabama Bowl,[5]until new sponsorship byLendingTreewas announced on November 15, 2019, making it theLendingTree Bowl.[6]On May 15, 2023, the game came under new sponsorship and was renamed as the68 Ventures Bowl.[7]
When the bowl first began, it was played as one of the first games of the bowl season in December. The 2006 season saw the game moved to January, and it served as one of the last bowls played before the national championship game of either theBowl Championship Seriesor theCollege Football Playoff.For the 2015 season, the bowl was moved back to December, where it remained for every subsequent playing except for the 2019 season.[5]
Conference tie-ins
[edit]From 1999 to 2009, the bowl pitted aConference USA(C-USA) team against a team from theMid-American Conference(MAC), except for the first two playings, when theWestern Athletic Conference(WAC) could receive the bid if one of its easternmost teams qualified asbowl eligible.
For theJanuary 2010 edition,theAtlantic Coast Conference(ACC) was to participate in the bowl as its ninth bowl tie-in. The ACC failed to have sufficient bowl-eligible teams to fill the slot, and the bowl choseSun Belt ConferencechampionTroyas a replacement.[8]A MAC vs. Sun Belt matchup was then featured for a total of 11 consecutive bowls, through theJanuary 2020 edition.That streak was broken when theDecember 2020 editioninvited teams from C-USA and the Sun Belt. After Arkansas State of the Sun Belt appeared in the 2012 through 2015 editions of the bowl, the conference and bowl committee agreed on changing the team selection bylaws to avoid repeat appearances by teams in consecutive years.[citation needed]
Notable games
[edit]The2001 gamebetween theMarshall Thundering HerdandEast Carolina Piratesset the record as the highest-scoring bowl game of all time, and Marshall achieved what was then the greatest scoring comeback in bowl history.[9]In this contest, Marshall battled back from a 38–8 deficit to win. 64–61, in double overtime. Thundering Herd quarterbackByron Leftwichthrew for 576 yards in the game. The2008 gamehad the largest margin of victory in bowl history, withTulsadefeatingBowling Green,63–7. Following the2023 game,a 59–10 win bySouth AlabamaoverEastern Michigan,an altercation took place on-field between the teams prior to the trophy presentation, initiated by an Eastern Michigan playersucker punchinga South Alabama player while the South Alabama marching band and team were singing the school'salma mater.[10][11]
Game results
[edit]Source:[37]
MVPs
[edit]Date played | MVP | School | Position |
---|---|---|---|
December 22, 1999 | Casey Printers | TCU | QB |
December 20, 2000 | LaDainian Tomlinson | TCU | RB |
December 19, 2001 | Byron Leftwich | Marshall | QB |
December 18, 2002 | Byron Leftwich | Marshall | QB |
December 18, 2003 | Ben Roethlisberger | Miami (OH) | QB |
December 22, 2004 | Omar Jacobs | Bowling Green | QB |
December 21, 2005 | Bruce Gradkowski | Toledo | QB |
January 7, 2007 | Damion Fletcher | Southern Miss | RB |
January 6, 2008 | Paul Smith | Tulsa | QB |
January 6, 2009 | Tarrion Adams | Tulsa | RB |
January 6, 2010 | Dan LeFevour | Central Michigan | QB |
January 6, 2011 | Austin Boucher | Miami (OH) | QB |
January 8, 2012 | Chandler Harnish | Northern Illinois | QB |
January 6, 2013 | Ryan Aplin | Arkansas State | QB |
January 5, 2014 | Fredi Knighten | Arkansas State | QB |
January 4, 2015 | Kareem Hunt | Toledo | RB |
December 23, 2015 | Favian Upshaw | Georgia Southern | QB |
December 23, 2016 | Justin Lucas | Troy | LB |
December 23, 2017 | Jalin Moore | Appalachian State | RB |
December 22, 2018 | Sawyer Smith | Troy | QB |
January 6, 2020 | Levi Lewis | Louisiana | QB |
December 26, 2020 | Cornelious Brown IV[38] | Georgia State | QB |
December 18, 2021 | Malik Willis[39] | Liberty | QB |
December 17, 2022 | Frank Gore Jr.[40] | Southern Miss | RB |
December 23, 2023 | Gio Lopez[41] | South Alabama | QB |
Most appearances
[edit]Updated through the December 2023 edition (25 games, 50 total appearances).
- Teams with multiple appearances
Rank | Team | Appearances | Record |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Arkansas State | 4 | 2–2 |
2 | Southern Miss | 3 | 3–0 |
Miami (OH) | 3 | 2–1 | |
Toledo | 3 | 2–1 | |
Troy | 3 | 2–1 | |
Bowling Green | 3 | 1–2 | |
7 | Marshall | 2 | 2–0 |
Tulsa | 2 | 2–0 | |
TCU | 2 | 1–1 | |
Ball State | 2 | 0–2 | |
East Carolina | 2 | 0–2 | |
Eastern Michigan | 2 | 0–2 | |
Louisville | 2 | 0–2 | |
Ohio | 2 | 0–2 |
- Teams with a single appearance
Won (8):Appalachian State,Central Michigan,Georgia Southern,Georgia State,Liberty,Louisiana,Northern Illinois,South Alabama
Lost (7):Buffalo,Kent State,Memphis,Middle Tennessee State,Rice,UTEP,Western Kentucky
Appearances by conference
[edit]Updated through the December 2023 edition (25 games, 50 total appearances).
Conference | Record | Appearances by season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Games | W | L | Win pct. | Won | Lost | |
MAC | 21 | 9 | 12 | .429 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2014* | 2006*, 2007*, 2008*, 2012*, 2013*, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019*, 2021, 2023 |
Sun Belt | 14 | 10 | 4 | .714 | 2012*, 2013*, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019*, 2020, 2022, 2023 | 2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2014* |
C-USA | 12 | 4 | 8 | .333 | 2000, 2006*, 2007*, 2008* | 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2020, 2022 |
WAC | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1999 | 2000 |
Independent | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2021 |
- Games marked with an asterisk (*) were played in January of the following calendar year.
- The WAC no longer sponsors FBS football.
- Independent appearances: Liberty (2021)
Game records
[edit]Team | Record, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
---|---|---|
Most points scored (one team) | 64,Marshall vs. East Carolina | 2001 |
Most points scored (losing team) | 61,East Carolina vs. Marshall | 2001 |
Most points scored (both teams) | 125,Marshall vs. East Carolina | 2001 |
Fewest points allowed | 0,Appalachian State vs. Toledo | 2017 |
Largest margin of victory | 56,Tulsa vs. Bowling Green | 2008 |
Total yards | 649,Marshall vs. East Carolina | 2001 |
Rushing yards | 482,Tulsa vs. Ball State | 2009 |
Passing yards | 576,Marshall vs. East Carolina | 2001 |
First downs | 36,Marshall vs. East Carolina | 2001 |
Fewest yards allowed | 146,Appalachian State vs. Toledo | 2017 |
Fewest rushing yards allowed | –16,TCU vs. East Carolina | 1999 |
Fewest passing yards allowed | 73,South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan | 2023 |
Individual | Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
All-purpose yards | ||
Touchdowns (all-purpose) | 5,Kareem Hunt(Toledo) | Jan. 2015 |
Rushing yards | 329,Frank Gore Jr.(Southern Miss) | 2022 |
Rushing touchdowns | 5,Kareem Hunt(Toledo) | Jan. 2015 |
Passing yards | 576,Byron Leftwich(Marshall) | 2001 |
Passing touchdowns | 5,most recent: Fredi Knighten (Arkansas State) |
Jan. 2015 |
Receiving yards | 234,Denero Marriott (Marshall) | 2001 |
Receiving touchdowns | 3,most recent: Booker Mays (Arkansas State) |
Jan. 2015 |
Tackles | ||
Sacks | ||
Interceptions | ||
Long plays | Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
Touchdown run | 88 yds.,Lionel Gates(Louisville) | 2003 |
Touchdown pass | 70 yds.,Austin Boucher toArmand Robinson(Miami (OH))† 66, Fredi Knighten to Tres Houston, Arkansas State vs. Toledo[42] |
2011 Jan. 2015 |
Kickoff return | 95 yds.,Antonio Brown(Central Michigan) | 2010 |
Punt return | 44 yds.,DeMarco Paine (Miami (OH)) | 2011 |
Interception return | 94 yds.,Money Hunter (Arkansas State) | Jan. 2015 |
Fumble return | 93 yds.,Tyrone Hill[43](Buffalo) | 2018 |
Punt | 65 yds.,Britt Barefoot (Southern Miss) ‡ 73, Joseph Davidson, (Bowling Green)[44] |
2007 Dec. 2015 |
Field goal | 49 yds.,Jesus Gomez (Eastern Michigan) | 2023 |
Source:[45]
- † While listed in the record book as the bowl's longest touchdown pass, contemporary box scores indicate that this play did not result in a touchdown.[46]
- ‡ While listed in the record book as the bowl's longest punt, contemporary box scores indicate the longest punt happened in 2015, not 2007.[47]
Media coverage
[edit]The bowl has been televised onESPNorESPN2since its inception.
References
[edit]- ^"2019 Bowl Schedule".collegefootballpoll.RetrievedDecember 13,2019.
- ^"GODADDY.COM JOINS COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL LINEUP".2010-10-18. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-10-23.Retrieved2010-10-18– viaWayback Machine.
- ^Inabinett, Mark (May 15, 2013)."GoDaddy Bowl tweaks name, sets date for 2014 game".AL /mobile.Mobile Press-Register.RetrievedDecember 2,2013.
- ^Stephenson, Creg (August 17, 2016)."Dollar General takes over as title sponsor of Mobile bowl game".AL.RetrievedAugust 18,2016.
- ^abc"Mobile's college bowl game no longer called 'Dollar General Bowl'".WKRG-TV.May 29, 2019. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2019.RetrievedMay 29,2019.
- ^"Mobile's college bowl game renamed LendingTree Bowl".WPMI-TV.November 15, 2019.RetrievedNovember 19,2019.
- ^"68 Ventures is New Title Sponsor for Mobile Alabama Bowl".68venturesbowl.May 15, 2023.RetrievedMay 15,2023.
- ^"ACC adds GMAC Bowl to its postseason lineup: News-Record: Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-09-05.Retrieved2009-05-10.
- ^"Leftwich throws for 576 yards in 64–61 GMAC Bowl win".sportsillustrated.cnn.December 19, 2001. Archived fromthe originalon December 29, 2001.
- ^Salerno, Cameron (December 24, 2023)."Eastern Michigan-South Alabama brawl: Postgame chaos erupts after sucker punch at 68 Ventures Bowl".CBS Sports.RetrievedDecember 24,2023.
- ^Bumbaca, Chris (December 24, 2023)."EMU player sucker punches South Alabama player, ignites wild fight after 68 Ventures Bowl".USA Today.RetrievedDecember 24,2023.
- ^"1999 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2000 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2001 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2002 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2003 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2004 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2005 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2007 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2008 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2009 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2010 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2011 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2012 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2013 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2014 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2015 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"Dec. 2015 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2016 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2017 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"2018 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
- ^"Louisiana vs. Miami (OH) - Game Summary".ESPN.RetrievedJanuary 6,2020.
- ^"Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State - Game Summary".ESPN.RetrievedDecember 26,2020.
- ^Stephenson, Creg (December 18, 2021)."Malik Willis, Liberty rout Eastern Michigan in LendingTree Bowl, 56-20".al.RetrievedDecember 18,2021.
- ^Busby, Garrett (December 17, 2022)."Gore Jr.'s record night highlights Southern Miss' first bowl victory since 2016".WLBT.RetrievedDecember 17,2022.
- ^"Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to 59-10 rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl".apnews.AP.December 23, 2023.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
- ^"Lending Tree Bowl"(PDF).Bowl/All Star Game Records.NCAA. 2020. p. 13.RetrievedJanuary 3,2021– via NCAA.org.
- ^@JMacDonaldSport (December 26, 2020)."Cornelious Brown is the LendingTree Bowl MVP, Destin Coates is the Offensive MVP, Jontrey Hunter was the Defensive MVP and Noel Ruiz was the Special Teams MVP"(Tweet).RetrievedDecember 26,2020– viaTwitter.
- ^@CregStephenson (December 18, 2021)."Malik Willis is your game MVP after accounting for 289 yards & 5 TDs"(Tweet).RetrievedDecember 18,2021– viaTwitter.
- ^Busby, Garrett (December 17, 2022)."Gore Jr.'s record night highlights Southern Miss' first bowl victory since 2016".WLBT.RetrievedDecember 17,2022.
- ^"Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl".triblive.AP.December 24, 2023.RetrievedDecember 24,2023.
- ^"Toledo vs. Arkansas State - Play-By-Play".ESPN.January 4, 2015.RetrievedDecember 26,2020.
Fredi Knighten pass complete to Tres Houston for 66 yds for a TD.
- ^"2018 Dollar General Bowl Highlights".Troy Trojans. 22 December 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.RetrievedJanuary 4,2020– viaYouTube.
- ^"Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green - Play-By-Play".ESPN.December 23, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 3,2024.
4th & 11 at BGSU 19 (6:42 - 2nd) Joseph Davidson punt for 73 yds, downed at the GeoSo 8.
- ^"LendingTree Bowl Records".LendingTree Game Day Program.LendingTree Bowl Media Relations Department. December 2020. pp. 18–19.RetrievedDecember 26,2020– via lendingtreebowl.
- ^"Middle Tennessee vs. Miani (OH) - Play-By-Play".ESPN.January 6, 2011.RetrievedDecember 26,2020.
Austin Boucher pass complete to Armand Robinson for 70 yards to the MTnSt 3 for a 1ST down.
- ^"Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green - Play-By-Play".ESPN.December 23, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 3,2024.
4th & 11 at BGSU 19 (6:42 - 2nd) Joseph Davidson punt for 73 yds, downed at the GeoSo 8.