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
1234 Total
Utah 0007 7
Northwestern 0707 14
DateDecember 23, 2023
Season2023
StadiumAllegiant Stadium
LocationParadise, Nevada
MVPBen Bryant (QB, Northwestern)[1]
FavoriteUtah by 6.5[2]
RefereeKevin Boitmann (Big 12)[3]
Attendance20,897
United States TV coverage
NetworkABC
AnnouncersSean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Deportes

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

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

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

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

2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Period 1 2 34Total
Utah 0 0 077
Northwestern 0 7 0714

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

Statistics UTAH NU
First downs1318
Plays–yards65–21170–290
Rushes–yards51–13831–65
Passing yards73225
Passing: comp–att–int9–14–224–39–0
Time of possession34:2125:39
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Utah PassingBryson Barnes8/13, 55 yards, 2 INT
RushingJa'Quinden Jackson8 rushes, 55 yards
ReceivingMicah Bernard3 receptions, 24 yards
Northwestern PassingBen Bryant23/34, 222 yards, 2 TD
RushingCam Porter10 rushes, 33 yards
ReceivingBryce Kirtz5 receptions, 68 yards, TD

References

  1. ↑ @insidenu (December 24, 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.
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