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68 Ventures Bowl

FBS bowl game in Mobile, Alabama

FBS bowl game in Mobile, Alabama

FieldValue
name68 Ventures Bowl
logo68 Ventures Bowl Logo.png
logo_size210px
stadiumHancock Whitney Stadium
previous_stadiumsLadd–Peebles Stadium
locationMobile, Alabama
years1999–present
conference_tie-insSun Belt, MAC
previous_tie-insACC, C-USA, WAC
payout1.5 million (2019 season)
website
sponsors{{ubl
former_names{{ubl
prev_matchup_year2025
prev_matchup_season2025
prev_matchup_teamsLouisiana vs. Delaware
prev_matchup_scoreDelaware 20–13
next_matchup_year

| conference_tie-ins = Sun Belt, MAC | previous_tie-ins = ACC, C-USA, WAC |Mobile Alabama Bowl, Inc. (1999) |GMAC (2000–2010) |GoDaddy (2011–2015) |Dollar General (2016–2018) |LendingTree (2019–2022) |68 Ventures (2023–present) |Mobile Alabama Bowl (1999, May–Nov. 2019) |GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl (2000) |GMAC Bowl (2001–2010) |GoDaddy.com Bowl (2011–2013) |GoDaddy Bowl (2014–2015) |Dollar General Bowl (2016–2018) |LendingTree Bowl (2019–2022)

The 68 Ventures Bowl is a postseason NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS college football bowl game that has been played annually in Mobile, Alabama since 1999. In 2021, the game was moved from Ladd–Peebles Stadium to Hancock Whitney Stadium, on the campus of the University of South Alabama. The game currently matches teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference. Originally known as the Mobile Alabama Bowl during its first two editions, it has since undergone numerous name changes.

History

The game was known as the Mobile Alabama Bowl for its first two playings, in 1999 and 2000. GMAC (now Ally Financial) had become the title sponsor for the 2000 playing, and the game was renamed as the GMAC Bowl for the 2001 though January 2010 playings. It was then the GoDaddy.com Bowl for the January 2011 to January 2013 playings when GoDaddy took over sponsorship. In May 2013, it was announced that the ".com" would be dropped from the bowl's name, rebranding it as the GoDaddy Bowl for the January 2014 through December 2015 editions. Dollar General took over sponsorship on August 17, 2016, with the 2016 through 2018 playings branded as the Dollar General Bowl. It was announced on May 29, 2019, that Dollar General would no longer sponsor the bowl. It was temporarily called by its original name, the Mobile Alabama Bowl, On May 15, 2023, the game was renamed as the 68 Ventures Bowl for its new sponsor, Daphne based 68 Ventures, a real estate investment company.

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 the Bowl Championship Series or the College 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.

Conference tie-ins

From 1999 to 2009, the bowl pitted a Conference USA (C-USA) team against a team from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), except for the first two playings, when the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) could receive the bid if one of its easternmost teams qualified as bowl eligible.

For the January 2010 edition, the Atlantic 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 chose Sun Belt Conference champion Troy as a replacement. A MAC vs. Sun Belt matchup was then featured for a total of 11 consecutive bowls, through the January 2020 edition. That streak was broken when the December 2020 edition invited 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.

Notable games

  • The 2001 game between the Marshall Thundering Herd and East Carolina Pirates set the record as the highest-scoring bowl game of all time, and Marshall achieved what was then the greatest scoring comeback in bowl history. In this contest, Marshall battled back from a 38–8 deficit to win 64–61, in double overtime. Thundering Herd quarterback Byron Leftwich threw for 576 yards in the game.
  • The 2008 game had the largest margin of victory in the bowl's history, with Tulsa defeating Bowling Green, 63–7.
  • Following the 2023 game, a 59–10 win by South Alabama over Eastern Michigan, an altercation took place on-field between the teams prior to the trophy presentation, initiated by an Eastern Michigan player sucker punching a South Alabama player while the South Alabama marching band and team were singing the school's alma mater.

Game results

DateBowl nameWinning teamLosing teamAttnd.Ref.
December 22, 1999Mobile Alabama Bowl**TCU**28East Carolina14
December 20, 2000Mobile Alabama Bowl**Southern Miss**28TCU21
December 19, 2001GMAC Bowl**Marshall**64East Carolina61 (2OT)
December 18, 2002GMAC Bowl**Marshall**38Louisville15
December 18, 2003GMAC Bowl**Miami (Ohio)**49Louisville28
December 22, 2004GMAC Bowl**Bowling Green**52Memphis35
December 21, 2005GMAC Bowl**Toledo**45UTEP13
January 7, 2007GMAC Bowl**Southern Miss**28Ohio7
January 6, 2008GMAC Bowl**Tulsa**63Bowling Green7
January 6, 2009GMAC Bowl**Tulsa**45Ball State13
January 6, 2010GMAC Bowl**Central Michigan**44Troy41 (2OT)
January 6, 2011GoDaddy.com Bowl**Miami (Ohio)**35Middle Tennessee21
January 8, 2012GoDaddy.com Bowl**Northern Illinois**38Arkansas State20
January 6, 2013GoDaddy.com Bowl**Arkansas State**17Kent State13
January 5, 2014GoDaddy Bowl**Arkansas State**23Ball State20
January 4, 2015GoDaddy Bowl**Toledo**63Arkansas State44
December 23, 2015GoDaddy Bowl**Georgia Southern**58Bowling Green27
December 23, 2016Dollar General Bowl**Troy**28Ohio23
December 23, 2017Dollar General Bowl**Appalachian State**34Toledo0
December 22, 2018Dollar General Bowl**Troy**42Buffalo32
January 6, 2020LendingTree BowlLouisiana27Miami (Ohio)17
December 26, 2020LendingTree BowlGeorgia State39Western Kentucky21
December 18, 2021LendingTree BowlLiberty56Eastern Michigan20
December 17, 2022LendingTree BowlSouthern Miss38Rice24
December 23, 202368 Ventures BowlSouth Alabama59Eastern Michigan10
December 26, 202468 Ventures BowlArkansas State38Bowling Green31
December 17, 202568 Ventures BowlDelaware20Louisiana13

Source:

MVPs

Date playedstyle="background:#242021; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #EA1C24;"MVPstyle="background:#242021; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #EA1C24;"Schoolstyle="background:#242021; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #EA1C24;"Position
December 22, 1999
December 20, 2000
December 19, 2001
December 18, 2002
December 18, 2003
December 22, 2004
December 21, 2005
January 7, 2007
January 6, 2008
January 6, 2009
January 6, 2010
January 6, 2011
January 8, 2012
January 6, 2013
January 5, 2014
January 4, 2015
December 23, 2015
December 23, 2016
December 23, 2017
December 22, 2018
January 6, 2020
December 26, 2020
December 18, 2021
December 17, 2022
December 23, 2023
December 26, 2024
December 26, 2024
December 26, 2024
December 17, 2025

Most appearances

Updated through the December 2025 edition (27 games, 54 total appearances).

;Teams with multiple appearances

RankTeamAppearancesRecord
1Arkansas State53–2
2Bowling Green41–3
3Southern Miss33–0
Miami (OH)32–1
Toledo32–1
Troy32–1
7Marshall22–0
Tulsa22–0
Louisiana21–1
TCU21–1
Ball State20–2
East Carolina20–2
Eastern Michigan20–2
Louisville20–2
Ohio20–2

;Teams with a single appearance Won (8): Appalachian State, Central Michigan, Delaware, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Northern Illinois, South Alabama Lost (7): Buffalo, Kent State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Rice, UTEP, Western Kentucky

Appearances by conference

Updated through the December 2025 edition (27 games, 54 total appearances).

ConferenceRecordAppearances by seasonGamesWLWin pct.WonLost
MAC222001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 20142006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
Sun Belt162012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019*, 2020, 2022, 2023, 20242009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2025
CUSA132000, 2006, 2007, 2008*, 20251999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2020, 2022
WAC219992000
Independent12021
  • 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

TeamRecord, Team vs. OpponentYearIndividualRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYearLong playsRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYear
Most points scored (one team)64, Marshall vs. East Carolina2001
Most points scored (losing team)61, East Carolina vs. Marshall2001
Most points scored (both teams)125, Marshall vs. East Carolina2001
Fewest points allowed0, Appalachian State vs. Toledo2017
Largest margin of victory56, Tulsa vs. Bowling Green2008
Total yards649, Marshall vs. East Carolina2001
Rushing yards482, Tulsa vs. Ball State2009
Passing yards576, Marshall vs. East Carolina2001
First downs36, Marshall vs. East Carolina2001
Fewest yards allowed146, Appalachian State vs. Toledo2017
Fewest rushing yards allowed–16, TCU vs. East Carolina1999
Fewest passing yards allowed73, South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan2023
All-purpose yards566, Byron Leftwich (Marshall)2001
Touchdowns (all-purpose)5, Kareem Hunt (Toledo)Jan. 2015
Rushing yards329, Frank Gore Jr. (Southern Miss)2022
Rushing touchdowns5, Kareem Hunt (Toledo)Jan. 2015
Passing yards576, Byron Leftwich (Marshall)2001
Passing touchdowns5, most recent:
Fredi Knighten (Arkansas State)
Jan. 2015
Receptions17, Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green)2024
Receiving yards234, Denero Marriott (Marshall)2001
Receiving touchdowns3, most recent:
Booker Mays (Arkansas State)
Jan. 2015
Tackles17, Chris Chamberlain (Tulsa)2008
Sacks3, most recent:
Daylen Gill (Southern Miss)2022
Interceptions2, Toran Davis (Ohio)2016
Touchdown run88 yds., Lionel Gates (Louisville)2003
Touchdown pass79 yds., Jaylen Raynor to Corey Rucker (Arkansas State)2024
Kickoff return95 yds., Antonio Brown (Central Michigan)2010
Punt return60 yds., Courtney Jackson (Arkansas State)2024
Interception return94 yds., Money Hunter (Arkansas State)Jan. 2015
Fumble return93 yds., Tyrone Hill (Buffalo)2018
Punt65 yds., Britt Barefoot (Southern Miss)
73 yds., Joseph Davidson (Bowling Green)2007
Dec. 2015
Field goal49 yds., Jesús Gómez (Eastern Michigan)2023

Source: While listed in the record book as the bowl's longest punt, contemporary box scores indicate the longest punt happened in the December 2015 game.

Media coverage

The bowl has been televised on ESPN or ESPN2 since its inception.

References

References

  1. "2019 Bowl Schedule".
  2. (2010-10-18). "GODADDY.COM JOINS COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL LINEUP".
  3. Inabinett, Mark. (May 15, 2013). "GoDaddy Bowl tweaks name, sets date for 2014 game". Mobile Press-Register.
  4. Stephenson, Creg. (August 17, 2016). "Dollar General takes over as title sponsor of Mobile bowl game". AL.com.
  5. (May 29, 2019). "Mobile's college bowl game no longer called 'Dollar General Bowl'".
  6. (November 15, 2019). "Mobile's college bowl game renamed LendingTree Bowl".
  7. (May 15, 2023). "68 Ventures is New Title Sponsor for Mobile Alabama Bowl".
  8. "ACC adds GMAC Bowl to its postseason lineup : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis".
  9. (December 19, 2001). "Leftwich throws for 576 yards in 64–61 GMAC Bowl win".
  10. Salerno, Cameron. (December 24, 2023). "Eastern Michigan-South Alabama brawl: Postgame chaos erupts after sucker punch at 68 Ventures Bowl".
  11. Bumbaca, Chris. (December 24, 2023). "EMU player sucker punches South Alabama player, ignites wild fight after 68 Ventures Bowl".
  12. "1999 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  13. "2000 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  14. "2001 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  15. "2002 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  16. "2003 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  17. "2004 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  18. "2005 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  19. "2007 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  20. "2008 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  21. "2009 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  22. "2010 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  23. "2011 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  24. "2012 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  25. "2013 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  26. "2014 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  27. "2015 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  28. "Dec. 2015 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  29. "2016 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  30. "2017 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  31. "2018 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl".
  32. "Louisiana vs. Miami (OH) - Game Summary".
  33. "Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State - Game Summary".
  34. Stephenson, Creg. (December 18, 2021). "Malik Willis, Liberty rout Eastern Michigan in LendingTree Bowl, 56-20".
  35. Busby, Garrett. (December 17, 2022). "Gore Jr.'s record night highlights Southern Miss' first bowl victory since 2016".
  36. (December 23, 2023). "Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to 59-10 rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl".
  37. Stephenson, Creg. (December 26, 2024). "Arkansas State holds off Bowling Green in 68 Ventures Bowl, 38-31".
  38. Stephenson, Creg. (December 17, 2025). "Delaware takes down Louisiana 20-13 in Mobile’s 68 Ventures Bowl".
  39. (2020). "Lending Tree Bowl". NCAA.
  40. (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.".
  41. (December 18, 2021). "Malik Willis is your game MVP after accounting for 289 yards & 5 TDs.".
  42. Busby, Garrett. (December 17, 2022). "Gore Jr.'s record night highlights Southern Miss' first bowl victory since 2016".
  43. (December 24, 2023). "Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl".
  44. (December 27, 2024). "TAKEAWAYS: Arkansas State Win 68 Ventures Bowl Despite Huge Passing Day From Bowling Green".
  45. (December 27, 2024). "ed Wolves Top Bowling Green in 68 Ventures Bowl, 38-31".
  46. (December 27, 2024). "ed Wolves Top Bowling Green in 68 Ventures Bowl, 38-31".
  47. (22 December 2018). "2018 Dollar General Bowl Highlights". Troy Trojans.
  48. (December 23, 2015). "Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green - Play-By-Play".
  49. (December 2020). "LendingTree Bowl Records". LendingTree Bowl Media Relations Department.
  50. (December 23, 2015). "Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green - Play-By-Play".
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