2023 Military Bowl

The 2023 Military Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 27, 2023, at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. The 14th annual Military Bowl featured Tulane from the American Athletic Conference (The American) and Virginia Tech from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The game began at approximately 2:00 p.m. EST and was aired on ESPN.^[5][6] The Military Bowl was one of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by bowling consumer website GoBowling.com and was officially known as the Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com.

2023 Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com
14th Military Bowl
Virginia Tech Hokies Tulane Green Wave (6–6) (11–2) ACC The American 41 20 Head coach:  Brent Pry Head coach:  Slade Nagle (interim) AP Coaches CFP 23 24 NR
1 2 3 4 Total Virginia Tech 10 7 10 14 41 Tulane 7 3 7 3 20
Date	December 27, 2023
Season	2023
Stadium	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Location	Annapolis, Maryland
MVP	Kyron Drones (QB, Virginia Tech)[1]
Favorite	Virginia Tech by 7.5[2]
Referee	Trennis Livingston (Sun Belt)[3][4]
Attendance	35,849
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Jay Alter (play-by-play), Rene Ingoglia (analyst), and Alex Chappell (sideline)
Military Bowl  < 2022 2024 >

Teams

The game featured the Virginia Tech Hokies of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Tulane Green Wave of the American Athletic Conference (The American).

This was the 10th meeting between Virginia Tech and Tulane; entering the game, the Hokies led the Green Wave in their all-time series, 5–4.^[7]

Virginia Tech Hokies

Main article: 2023 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

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

This was Virginia Tech's third Military Bowl, tying Navy and Temple for the most appearances in the game. The Hokies previously won the 2014 edition and lost the 2018 edition.

Tulane Green Wave

Main article: 2023 Tulane Green Wave football team

The Green Wave entered the game ranked 23rd in the AP poll, with an 11–2 record (8–0 in The American). Hosting the 2023 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, the Green Wave lost to SMU, 26–14.

This was Tulane's first Military Bowl.

Game summary

2023 Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Virginia Tech	10	7	10	14	41
Tulane	7	3	7	3	20

at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland

• Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2023
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind: 10 mph (16 km/h) W
• Game attendance: 35,849
• Referee: Trennis Livingston
• TV announcers (ESPN): Jay Alter (play-by-play), Rene Ingoglia (analyst), and Alex Chappell (sideline)
• Box score

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP VT TUL 1 12:01 6 1 1:55 TUL Tyler Grubbs (TUL) 21 Yd Fumble Return 0 7 1 5:33 14 57 6:28 VT 35-yard field goal by John Love 3 7 1 2:20 1 11 0:09 VT Kyron Drones 11-yard touchdown run, John Love kick good 10 7 2 5:33 7 23 3:58 TUL 49-yard field goal by Valentino Ambrosio 10 10 2 0:09 11 75 4:32 VT Harrison Saint Germain 1-yard touchdown reception from Kyron Drones, John Love kick good 17 10 3 12:52 3 17 1:23 TUL Kai Horton 6-yard touchdown run, Valentino Ambrosio kick good 17 17 3 10:31 5 73 2:21 VT Bhayshul Tuten 9-yard touchdown run, John Love kick good 24 17 3 5:28 6 58 3:01 VT 35-yard field goal by John Love 27 17 4 14:56 11 73 5:32 TUL 20-yard field goal by Valentino Ambrosio 27 20 4 12:38 5 75 2:18 VT Benji Gosnell 10-yard touchdown reception from Kyron Drones, John Love kick good 34 20 4 9:33 6 44 2:32 VT Bhayshul Tuten 12-yard touchdown run, John Love kick good 41 20 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 41 20

Statistics

Statistics	VT	TUL
First downs	24	15
Plays–yards	71–453	54–252
Rushes–yards	50–362	33–133
Passing yards	91	119
Passing: comp–att–int	13–21–0	13–21–0
Time of possession	33:09	26:51

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Virginia Tech	Passing	Kyron Drones	13/21, 91 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Kyron Drones	20 carries, 176 yards, TD
	Receiving	Benji Gosnell	2 receptions, 21 yards, TD
Tulane	Passing	Kai Horton	13/20, 119 yards
	Rushing	Makhi Hughes	15 carries, 88 yards
	Receiving	Yulkeith Brown	63 yards