2023 Gasparilla Bowl

The 2023 Gasparilla Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 22, 2023, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The 15th annual Gasparilla Bowl featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the UCF Knights from the Big 12 Conference. The game began at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST and was aired on ESPN.^[4][5] The Gasparilla Bowl was one of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by mortgage loan company Union Home Mortgage and was officially known as the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl.

2023 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
15th Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the site of the Gasparilla Bowl.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets UCF Knights (6–6) (6–6) ACC Big 12 30 17 Head coach:  Brent Key Head coach:  Gus Malzahn
1 2 3 4 Total Georgia Tech 0 17 3 10 30 UCF 14 3 0 0 17
Date	December 22, 2023
Season	2023
Stadium	Raymond James Stadium
Location	Tampa, Florida
MVP	Jamal Haynes (RB, Georgia Tech)[1]
Favorite	UCF by 4.5[2]
Referee	Cravonne Barrett (Pac-12)[3]
Attendance	30,281
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst), and Taylor Tannebaum (sideline)
International TV coverage
Network	ESPN Deportes and ESPN Brazil
Announcers	ESPN Brazil: Vinicius Moura (play-by-play) and Eduardo Zolin (analyst)
Gasparilla Bowl  < 2022  2024 >

Teams

This game features the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the UCF Knights from the Big 12 Conference.

This is the sixth meeting between Georgia Tech and UCF—entering the game, the Yellow Jackets led the Knights in the all-time series, 3–2.^[6]

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Main article: 2023 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

The Yellow Jackets entered the game with a 6–6 record (5–3 in the ACC), having tied for fourth place in their conference.

This is Georgia Tech's first appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl.

UCF Knights

Main article: 2023 UCF Knights football team

The Knights entered the game with a 6–6 record (3–6 in the Big 12), having tied for ninth place in their conference. In their inaugural season in the Big 12, the Knights were the only one of the conference's four 2023 newcomers to become bowl-eligible.

This is UCF's sixth Gasparilla Bowl, extending their record for most appearances in the game. The Knights' record in prior Gasparilla Bowl appearances was 3–2, tied with Marshall for most Gasparilla Bowl wins by a team.

Game summary

2023 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Georgia Tech	0	17	3	10	30
UCF	14	3	0	0	17

at Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, Florida

• Date: Friday, December 22, 2023
• Game time: 6:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Wind: 6 mph (9.7 km/h) NE
• Game attendance: 30,281
• Referee: Cravonne Barrett
• TV announcers (ESPN): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst), and Taylor Tannebaum (sideline)
• Box score

Game information

First quarter (13:37) UCF – Javon Baker 23-yard pass from John Rhys Plumlee, Colton Boomer kick (Drive: 4 plays, 51 yards, 1:23; UCF 7–0) (6:26) UCF – Kobe Hudson 17-yard pass from John Rhys Plumlee, Colton Boomer kick (Drive: 10 plays, 98 yards, 4:41; UCF 14–0) Second quarter (14:17) GT – Aidan Birr 36-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 3:00; UCF 14–3) (8:23) UCF – Colton Boomer 27-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 59 yards, 5:54; UCF 17–3) (4:23) GT – Haynes King 5-yard run, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 4:00; UCF 17–10) (0:56) GT – Malik Rutherford 41-yard pass from Haynes King, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:59; Tied 17–17) Third quarter (12:07) GT – Aidan Birr 29-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 54 yards, 2:53; Georgia Tech 20–17) Fourth quarter (13:37) GT – Dontae Smith 1-yard run, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:51; Georgia Tech 27–17) (4:52) GT – Aidan Birr 38-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 42 yards, 5:53; Georgia Tech 30–17)

Statistics

Statistics	GT	UCF
First downs	21	19
Plays–yards	69–371	69–424
Rushes–yards	53–284	34–169
Passing yards	87	255
Passing: comp–att–int	7–13–1	17–33–1
Time of possession	33:30	26:30

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Tech	Passing	Haynes King	7/13, 87 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Jamal Haynes	18 carries, 128 yards
	Receiving	Malik Rutherford	2 receptions, 40 yards, 1 TD
UCF	Passing	John Rhys Plumlee	16/29, 198 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	RJ Harvey	15 carries, 120 yards
	Receiving	Javon Baker	9 receptions, 173 yards, 1 TD