2023 New Orleans Bowl
Postseason college football bowl game
College football game
The 2023 New Orleans Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 16, 2023, at Caesars Superdome located in New Orleans, Louisiana . The 23rd annual New Orleans Bowl game featured the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns of the Sun Belt Conference and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks of Conference USA . The game began at approximately 2:15 p.m. CST and was aired on ESPN .[ 4] [ 5] The New Orleans Bowl was one of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season . The game was sponsored by freight shipping company R+L Carriers and officially known as the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl . Jacksonville State defeated Louisiana in overtime, 34–31, on a game-winning field goal, to claim their first bowl win in program history.[ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
Teams
The game featured the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns from the Sun Belt Conference and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks from Conference USA . This was the first time that Louisiana and Jacksonville State have played at the FBS level, with the Gamecocks having defeated the Ragin' Cajuns as an FCS school in 2000 , 28–14.[ 9]
Louisiana
The Ragin' Cajuns started the year 4-2, scoring at least 24 points in each of their first six games, including a 35–24 loss to Big Ten foe Minnesota . After defeating South Alabama 33–20 to improve to 5-3, starting quarterback Zeon Chriss suffered a broken fibula in the middle of their ninth game, which was followed by a three-game losing streak as the team fell to 5-6. Needing a win in the Battle on the Bayou to clinch bowl eligibility, backup quarterback Chandler Fields led the Ragin' Cajuns to a rout of rival Louisiana–Monroe , 52–21, securing Louisiana a spot in the New Orleans Bowl.
This was Louisiana's seventh New Orleans Bowl, extending their record for most appearances in the game. The Ragin' Cajuns' overall New Orleans Bowl record entering the 2023 game was 3–1 (excluding two wins vacated by the NCAA).
Jacksonville State
Due to NCAA transition rules for teams moving from FCS to FBS, Jacksonville State would be ineligible to play in a bowl unless not enough six-win teams were available to fill all of the season's bowl games. The Gamecocks won five of their first six games competing as an FBS school, with the sole loss coming in Week 3 to Coastal Carolina . They reached the six-win threshold on October 17 by defeating Western Kentucky , 20–17, on a walk-off field goal. The Gamecocks finished their season with an 8–4 record and secured bowl eligibility when not enough teams reached six wins to fill all available bowl games.
Game summary
Game information
First Quarter
(13:17) LA – Jalen Clark 46 yard fumble return, Kenneth Almendares kick (Louisiana 7–0 )
(3:06) JVST – Cole Fuller 1 yard run, Garrison Rippa kick (Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 4:42; Tied 7–7 )
Second Quarter
(4:22) LA – Jalen Clark 16 yard interception return, Kenneth Almendares kick (Louisiana 14–7 )
(0:23) JVST – Ron Wiggins 7 yard run, Garrison Rippa kick (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 3:59; Tied 14–14 )
Third Quarter
(7:55) JVST – Garrison Rippa 22 yard field goal (Drive: 16 plays, 72 yards, 5:37; Jacksonville State 17–14 )
(5:47) LA – Chandler Fields 1 yard run, Kenneth Almendares kick (Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:08; Louisiana 21–17 )
(2:53) JVST – Logan Smothers 10 yard run, Garrison Rippa kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:54; Jacksonville State 24–21 )
Fourth Quarter
(14:02) LA – Kenneth Almendares 33 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 3:51; Tied 24–24 )
(5:32) LA – Tyree Skipper 43 yard interception return, Kenneth Almendares kick (Louisiana 31–24 )
(1:46) JVST – Perry Carter 18 yard pass from Zion Webb , Garrison Rippa kick (Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 1:51; Tied 31–31 )
Overtime
JVST – Garrison Rippa 27 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 16 yards; Jacksonville State 34–31 )
Statistics
Statistics
JSU
LA
First downs
31
14
Plays–yards
109–526
62–247
Rushes–yards
74–290
35–92
Passing yards
236
155
Passing: comp –att –int
20–35–3
13–27–0
Time of possession
33:00
27:00
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Zion Webb
14/26, 156 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Ron Wiggins
27 carries, 126 yards, TD
Receiving
Quinton Lane
7 receptions, 86 yards
Louisiana
Passing
Chandler Fields
13/26, 155 yards
Rushing
Dre'lyn Washington
16 carries, 73 yards
Receiving
Pearse Migl
2 receptions, 34 yards
References
^ @ThomasAshworth0 (December 16, 2023). "Jacksonville State running back Ron Wiggins is the New Orleans Bowl MVP" (Tweet ). Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Twitter .
^ Parks, James (December 11, 2023). "College football bowl schedule, game odds, point spreads for 2023-24" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved December 12, 2023 .
^ Austro, Ben (December 3, 2023). "2023-24 bowl officiating assignments" . footballzebras.com . Retrieved December 5, 2023 .
^ Straka, Dean. "2023-24 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels" . CBS Sports . Retrieved June 30, 2023 .
^ Lewis, Barry. "2023-24 College Football Bowl Schedule, Dates, Times Announced" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved June 30, 2023 .
^ Stephenson, Creg (December 16, 2023). "Jax State caps first FBS season with 34-31 overtime win vs. Louisiana in New Orleans Bowl" . AL.com . Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023 .
^ Edwards, Mark (December 16, 2023). "Zion Webb adds one more shining moment to his Jax State legacy" . The Anniston Star . Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023 .
^ Diaz, Cory (December 16, 2023). "Louisiana football lets Jacksonville State off hook to lose to Jacksonville State in New Orleans Bowl" . The Daily Advertiser . Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023 .
^ "Louisiana Opponent History vs. Jacksonville State" . ragincajuns.com . Retrieved December 3, 2023 .
External links