2023 Las Vegas Bowl

Postseason college football bowl game

College football game

2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

31st Las Vegas Bowl
| Utah Utes | Northwestern Wildcats

|

(8–4) | (7–5)
Pac-12 | Big Ten
7 | 14
Head coach:
Kyle Whittingham | Head coach:
David Braun
|  | 1| 2| 3| 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Utah | 0| 0| 0| 7 | 7
Northwestern | 0| 7| 0| 7 | 14
Date| December 23, 2023
Season| 2023
Stadium| Allegiant Stadium
Location| Paradise, Nevada
MVP| Ben Bryant (QB, Northwestern)[1]
Favorite| Utah by 6.5[2]
Referee| Kevin Boitmann (Big 12)[3]
Attendance| 20,897
United States TV coverage
Network| ABC
Announcers| Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
International TV coverage
Network| ESPN Deportes
|  Las Vegas Bowl

< 2022 |  2024 >

The 2023 Las Vegas Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 23, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, southwest of adjacent Las Vegas. The 31st annual Las Vegas Bowl featured the Utah Utes from the Pac-12 Conference and the Northwestern Wildcats from the Big Ten Conference. The game began at approximately 4:30 p.m. PST and was aired on ABC.[4][5] The Las Vegas Bowl was one of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by SRS Distribution, a roofing materials and building supplies company, and was officially known as the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl.

## Teams

[edit]

Consistent with conference tie-ins, the game featured the Northwestern Wildcats from the Big Ten Conference and the Utah Utes from the Pac-12 Conference.

This was the fourth meeting between Northwestern and Utah. Entering the game, the Wildcats held a 2–1 series lead, including a win over the Utes in the 2018 Holiday Bowl.[6]

### Northwestern Wildcats

[edit]

Main article: 2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team

The Wildcats entered the game with a 7–5 record (5–4 in the Big Ten), tied for second place in their conference's West Division.

This was the first Las Vegas Bowl appearance for Northwestern.

### Utah Utes

[edit]

Main article: 2023 Utah Utes football team

The Utes entered the game with an 8–4 record (5–4 in the Pac-12), tied for fourth place in their conference.

This was Utah's sixth Las Vegas bowl, tying in-state rival BYU for the most appearances in the game. Entering the game, the Utes held a 4–1 record in the Las Vegas Bowl, tied with Boise State for most Las Vegas Bowls wins.

This was Utah's final game as a member of the Pac-12, as the Utes committed to join the Big 12 Conference for the 2024 season.

## Game summary

[edit]

2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Utah | 0 | 0 | 0| 7| 7
Northwestern | 0 | 7 | 0| 7| 14

at Allegiant Stadium • Paradise, Nevada

* Date: Saturday, December 23, 2023
* Game time: 4:30 p.m. PST
* Game weather: N/A (indoor stadium)
* Game attendance: 20,897
* Referee: Kevin Boitmann
* TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
* Box score

Game information

First quarter

* No scoring plays

Second quarter

* NU – Camron Johnson 12-yard pass from Ben Bryant (Jack Olsen kick), 1:20. Wildcats 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards, 2:22.

Third quarter

* No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

* UTAH – Micah Bernard 6-yard run (Cole Becker kick), 12:38. Tied 7–7. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 3:59.
* NU – Bryce Kirtz 19-yard pass from Ben Bryant (Jack Olsen kick), 6:19. Wildcats 14–7. Drive: 3 plays, 53 yards, 0:51.

### Statistics

[edit]

Statistics  | UTAH  | NU

|
|

First downs | 13 | 18
Plays–yards | 65–211 | 70–290
Rushes–yards | 51–138 | 31–65
Passing yards | 73 | 225
Passing: comp–att–int | 9–14–2 | 24–39–0
Time of possession | 34:21 | 25:39
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

|
|
|

Utah  | Passing | Bryson Barnes | 8/13, 55 yards, 2 INT
Rushing | Ja'Quinden Jackson | 8 rushes, 55 yards
Receiving | Micah Bernard | 3 receptions, 24 yards
Northwestern  | Passing | Ben Bryant | 23/34, 222 yards, 2 TD
Rushing | Cam Porter | 10 rushes, 33 yards
Receiving | Bryce Kirtz | 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD

## References

[edit]

1. ^ @insidenu (December 23, 2023). "Your 2023 Las Vegas Bowl MVP. BEN BRYANT" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2023 - via Twitter.
2. ^ Parks, James (December 11, 2023). "College football bowl schedule, game odds, point spreads for 2023-24". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
3. ^ Austro, Ben (December 3, 2023). "2023-24 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
4. ^ Straka, Dean. "2023-24 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
5. ^ Lewis, Barry. "2023-24 College Football Bowl Schedule, Dates, Times Announced". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
6. ^ "Winsipedia - Northwestern Wildcats vs. Utah Utes". Winsipedia. Retrieved December 8, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Game statistics at statbroadcast.com

* v
* t
* e

2023–24 NCAA football bowl game season

* Myrtle Beach (Dec. 16)
* Celebration (Dec. 16)
* New Orleans (Dec. 16)
* Cure (Dec. 16)
* New Mexico (Dec. 16)
* LA (Dec. 16)
* Independence (Dec. 16)
* Famous Toastery (Dec. 18)
* Frisco (Dec. 19)
* Boca Raton (Dec. 21)
* Gasparilla (Dec. 22)
* Birmingham (Dec. 23)
* Camellia (Dec. 23)
* Armed Forces (Dec. 23)
* Famous Idaho Potato (Dec. 23)
* 68 Ventures (Dec. 23)
* Las Vegas (Dec. 23)
* Hawaii (Dec. 23)
* Quick Lane (Dec. 26)
* First Responder (Dec. 26)
* Guaranteed Rate (Dec. 26)
* Military (Dec. 27)
* Duke's Mayo (Dec. 27)
* Holiday (Dec. 27)
* Texas (Dec. 27)
* Fenway (Dec. 28)
* Pinstripe (Dec. 28)
* Pop-Tarts (Dec. 28)
* Alamo (Dec. 28)
* Gator (Dec. 29)
* Sun (Dec. 29)
* Liberty (Dec. 29)
* Cotton (Dec. 29)
* Peach (Dec. 30)
* Music City (Dec. 30)
* Orange (Dec. 30)
* Arizona (Dec. 30)
* ReliaQuest (Jan. 1)
* Fiesta (Jan. 1)
* Citrus (Jan. 1)

* College Football Playoff games: Rose (Jan. 1)
* Sugar (Jan. 1)
* National Championship Game (Jan. 8)

All-Star Games
Hula Bowl (Jan. 13)
Tropical Bowl (Jan. 20)
East–West Shrine Bowl (Feb. 1)
Senior Bowl (Feb. 3)
HBCU Legacy Bowl (Feb. 24)

* v
* t
* e

Las Vegas Bowl

History & tie-ins|

* History
* California Bowl

* Mountain West Conference
* Pac-12 Conference
* Las Vegas Bowl Champion seasons

Venues|

* Sam Boyd Stadium (1992–2019)
* Allegiant Stadium (2021–present)

Games|

* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Northwestern Wildcats bowl games

* 1949 Rose Bowl
* 1996 Rose Bowl
* 1997 Florida Citrus Bowl
* 2000 Alamo Bowl
* 2003 Motor City Bowl
* 2005 Sun Bowl
* 2008 Alamo Bowl
* 2010 Outback Bowl
* 2011 TicketCity Bowl
* 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
* 2013 Gator Bowl
* 2016 Outback Bowl
* 2016 Pinstripe Bowl
* 2017 Music City Bowl
* 2018 Holiday Bowl
* 2021 Citrus Bowl
* 2023 Las Vegas Bowl

* v
* t
* e

Utah Utes bowl games

* 1939 Sun Bowl
* 1964 Liberty Bowl
* 1992 Copper Bowl
* 1993 Freedom Bowl
* 1994 Freedom Bowl
* 1996 Copper Bowl
* 1999 Las Vegas Bowl
* 2001 Las Vegas Bowl
* 2003 Liberty Bowl
* 2005 Fiesta Bowl
* 2005 Emerald Bowl
* 2006 Armed Forces Bowl
* 2007 Poinsettia Bowl
* 2009 Sugar Bowl
* 2009 Poinsettia Bowl
* 2010 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas
* 2011 Sun Bowl
* 2014 Las Vegas Bowl
* 2015 Las Vegas Bowl
* 2016 Foster Farms Bowl
* 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl
* 2018 Holiday Bowl
* 2019 Alamo Bowl
* 2022 Rose Bowl
* 2023 Rose Bowl
* 2023 Las Vegas Bowl

*[comp]: Completions
*[att]: Attempts
*[int]: Interceptions
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template