2023 Las Vegas Bowl

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.

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 >

Teams

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

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

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Utah	0	0	0	7	7
Northwestern	0	7	0	7	14

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.

2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

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

Statistics

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

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

• Game statistics at statbroadcast.com