The 68 Ventures Bowl: Mobile’s Enduring College Football Tradition
The 68 Ventures Bowl stands as one of college football’s most enduring postseason traditions, having brought exciting matchups to Mobile, Alabama for more than a quarter-century. Since its debut in 1999, the bowl game has been played annually in Mobile, evolving through multiple sponsorships while maintaining its commitment to showcasing competitive football and supporting the local community.
A History of Evolution and Name Changes
The bowl was originally known as the Mobile Alabama Bowl for its first two playings in 1999 and 2000. TCU defeated East Carolina 28-14 in the inaugural contest on December 22, 1999, launching what would become a beloved Gulf Coast tradition.
GMAC (now Ally Financial) became the title sponsor for the 2000 playing, and the game was renamed as the GMAC Bowl for the 2001 through January 2010 playings. The GMAC Bowl era saw some of the most memorable moments in bowl game history, including several record-breaking performances.
The sponsorship evolution continued as the bowl adapted to the changing landscape of college football. It became the GoDaddy.com Bowl for January 2011 to January 2013 playings when GoDaddy took over sponsorship. In May 2013, the “.com” was dropped from the bowl’s name, rebranding it as the GoDaddy Bowl for January 2014 through December 2015.
Dollar General took over sponsorship on August 17, 2016, with the 2016 through 2018 playings branded as the Dollar General Bowl. After Dollar General’s departure, the bowl temporarily reverted to its original Mobile Alabama Bowl name before LendingTree stepped in as sponsor from 2019 through 2022.
On May 15, 2023, the Mobile Alabama Bowl announced 68 Ventures as its new title sponsor, with the Daphne, Alabama-based company headlining the game beginning with that year’s December matchup. 68 Ventures is a real estate investment company that focuses on development, construction, and investment along the Gulf Coast.
Venue History
For its first two decades, the bowl called Ladd-Peebles Stadium home, a historic venue that hosted numerous memorable contests. In 2021, the game was moved from Ladd-Peebles Stadium to Hancock Whitney Stadium, on the campus of the University of South Alabama. This modern facility, which opened in 2020, seats approximately 25,000 fans and has provided an excellent home for the bowl game in recent years.
Conference Affiliations and Team Selection
The game currently matches teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference, though Conference USA teams have occasionally participated as well. This arrangement has created competitive matchups between two strong Group of Five conferences.
A MAC versus Sun Belt matchup was featured for a total of 11 consecutive bowls, through the January 2020 edition. The selection process typically involves choosing bowl-eligible teams (those with at least six wins) from the participating conferences, with the bowl committee coordinating with conference officials to determine the best matchups.
After Arkansas State of the Sun Belt appeared in the 2012 through 2015 editions of the bowl, the conference and bowl committee agreed on changing the team selection bylaws to avoid repeat appearances by teams in consecutive years, ensuring greater variety in the participating schools.
The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl
The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Kickoff is set for 8:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM CT, and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. This marks the 27th edition of the bowl game.
The matchup features the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns from the Sun Belt Conference against the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens from Conference USA, with both teams entering with identical 6-6 records. This represents the first-ever meeting between these two programs on the football field.
Louisiana is making its second appearance in this bowl, having previously won the 2019 LendingTree Bowl over Miami (Ohio) 27-17 to cap an 11-3 season. The Ragin’ Cajuns are making their eighth consecutive bowl appearance, the longest active streak in the Sun Belt Conference. Louisiana won their last four games of the regular season to secure bowl eligibility.
Delaware is making its first-ever FBS bowl appearance in program history. The Blue Hens joined the FBS this season and were technically ineligible for the postseason due to restrictions applied to teams transitioning from the FCS, but gained eligibility due to a lack of qualifying teams. Under head coach Ryan Carty, Delaware impressed in their FBS debut, defeating three teams with winning records including UConn, FIU, and Louisiana Tech.
Louisiana’s offense is built around a strong running game, ranking 30th nationally with 189.8 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Lunch Winfield has thrown for 1,324 yards and 10 touchdowns, while running backs Bill Davis and Zylan Perry have combined for 1,407 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively, linebacker Jaden Dugger ranks 11th nationally with 9.8 tackles per game.
Delaware features a high-powered passing attack led by quarterback Nick Minicucci, who has passed for over 3,500 yards with a 22/7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Blue Hens rank sixth nationally in passing offense, averaging 302.8 yards per game through the air. Wide receiver Sean Wilson is one of Minicucci’s primary targets in an offense that relies heavily on the aerial attack.
Historic Moments and Records
The 2001 game between the Marshall Thundering Herd and East Carolina Pirates set the record as the highest-scoring bowl game of all time. Marshall prevailed 64-61 in double overtime, with the 125 combined points standing as an NCAA bowl game record. East Carolina’s 61 points remain the most ever scored by a losing team in bowl history. Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich threw for an NCAA bowl-record 576 yards in that epic contest.
The 2008 game had the largest margin of victory in the bowl’s history, with Tulsa defeating Bowling Green 63-7. The bowl has also featured numerous future NFL stars earning MVP honors, including Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU), Byron Leftwich (Marshall), Ben Roethlisberger (Miami University), and Bruce Gradkowski (Toledo).
In 2022, Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr. (son of NFL legend Frank Gore) shattered the NCAA single-game bowl rushing record with 329 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Rice, showcasing the explosive offensive performances that have become a hallmark of games played in Mobile.
Recent Bowl Results
The 2024 68 Ventures Bowl was played on December 26, 2024, at Hancock Whitney Stadium, featuring Arkansas State and Bowling Green. Arkansas State emerged victorious with a 38-31 win, earning their first bowl victory since 2019.
Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor was named the game’s Offensive MVP after posting 221 yards and two touchdowns on 18-for-30 passing. Safety Justin Parks earned Defensive MVP honors with 10 tackles and a forced fumble, while Courtney Jackson was named Special Teams MVP for returning a punt 60 yards for a touchdown—the first punt return touchdown in 68 Ventures Bowl history.
The game featured dramatic special teams plays and remained competitive throughout, with Arkansas State building an early lead but never pulling away comfortably. A 79-yard touchdown pass from Raynor to Corey Rucker stood as the longest pass play in both Arkansas State postseason history and 68 Ventures Bowl history.
Bowl Week Experience and Community Impact
The 68 Ventures Bowl provides more than just a football game—it offers a week-long celebration for participating teams and their fans. Teams typically arrive in Mobile several days before the game, practicing at local facilities and participating in community events throughout the city and surrounding Gulf Coast region.
The mission of the 68 Ventures Bowl is to showcase the city of Mobile, advance tourism and economic impact, provide educational and athletic opportunities to the youth of Mobile, while providing a cultural and exceptional bowl experience to collegiate student-athletes, administrators and fans.
Bowl week festivities often include community service projects, youth football clinics, and opportunities for players to explore Mobile’s rich history and vibrant culture. The game day experience features tailgating, fan festivals, and pre-game entertainment that creates a festive atmosphere throughout the stadium grounds.
The bowl has maintained strong support from the Mobile community, with local businesses, civic organizations, and volunteers working together to ensure a memorable experience for visiting teams and fans. The partnership with 68 Ventures has strengthened the bowl’s commitment to supporting local educational initiatives and youth sports programs throughout the year.
Notable Statistics and Trends
Through 26 completed games (with the 27th set for December 2025), the 68 Ventures Bowl has showcased high-scoring, entertaining football. The bowl has hosted teams from various conferences over the years, with Arkansas State holding the record for most appearances with seven trips to Mobile.
The game has traditionally been played in late December, initially serving as one of the first bowl games of the season before moving to January for several years. Recent editions have returned to December dates, fitting into the early portion of bowl season alongside other mid-tier bowl games.
The 68 Ventures Bowl continues to provide a quality postseason opportunity for programs from the Group of Five conferences, giving players and coaches a chance to end their seasons on a positive note while competing on a national stage. As the bowl approaches its 30th anniversary, it remains a fixture in Mobile’s sports landscape and an important part of college football’s postseason tradition.
Looking Ahead
With the 2025 edition featuring an intriguing matchup between Louisiana’s experienced bowl program and Delaware’s historic first FBS bowl appearance, the 68 Ventures Bowl continues to deliver compelling storylines. The game represents not just a contest between two 6-6 teams fighting for a winning record, but a celebration of the determination and resilience that defines college football.
As 68 Ventures enters its third year as title sponsor, the bowl’s future looks bright. The partnership has brought renewed energy and investment to the event, ensuring that Mobile will continue to host exciting college football for years to come. Whether you’re a longtime follower of the bowl or discovering it for the first time, the 68 Ventures Bowl exemplifies the passion, tradition, and community spirit that make college football’s postseason special.