2024 ReliaQuest Bowl (January)

2024 ReliaQuest Bowl
38th ReliaQuest Bowl
Wisconsin Badgers LSU Tigers
(7–5) (9–3)
Big Ten SEC
31 35
Head coach: 
Luke Fickell		 Head coach: 
Brian Kelly
APCoachesCFP
131313
1234 Total
Wisconsin 147100 31
LSU 014147 35
DateJanuary 1, 2024
Season2023
StadiumRaymond James Stadium
LocationTampa, Florida
MVPGarrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU)
FavoriteLSU by 10.5[1]
RefereeMark Duddy (Pac-12)[2]
Attendance31,424
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2
AnnouncersBrian Custer (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), and Lauren Sisler (sideline)
ReliaQuest Bowl
 < 2023 2024 (Dec.) > 

The 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 2024, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The 38th annual ReliaQuest Bowl featured Wisconsin from the Big Ten Conference and LSU from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The game began at approximately 12:00 p.m. EST and was aired on ESPN2.[3][4] It was one of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season. Tampa-based cybersecurity company ReliaQuest was the title sponsor.

Teams

Consistent with conference tie-ins, the bowl featured the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference and the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

This was the fifth meeting between Wisconsin and LSU; entering the game, the Tigers led the Badgers in their all-time series, 3–1.[5]

Wisconsin Badgers

Main article: 2023 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The Badgers entered the game with a 7–5 record (5–4 in the Big Ten), tied for second place in the Big Ten West Division.

This was Wisconsin's sixth ReliaQuest Bowl; entering the game, the Badgers were 2–3 in prior editions of the game.

LSU Tigers

Main article: 2023 LSU Tigers football team

The Tigers entered the game with a 9–3 record (6–2 in the SEC), tied for second place in the SEC West Division, and ranked 13th in each of the major polls. Heisman winning quarterback Jayden Daniels sat out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft, with backup Garrett Nussmeier getting his first start of the season and earning MVP honors after throwing for 395 yards and three touchdowns.[6]

This was LSU's third ReliaQuest bowl; entering the game, their official record in the game was 0–1, as their win the 2014 edition was vacated by the NCAA during 2023 for a booster-related violation.[7] Their loss came in the 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl, when the bowl was known by that name.

Game summary

2024 ReliaQuest Bowl (January)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wisconsin 14 7 10031
No. 13 LSU 0 14 14735

at Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, Florida

  • Date: Monday, January 1, 2024
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind: 2 mph (3.2 km/h) N
  • Game attendance: 31,424
  • Referee: Mark Durry
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Brian Custer (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), and Lauren Sisler (sideline)
  • Box score
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP WIS LSU
1 8:28 5 78 2:15 WIS Bryson Green 20-yard touchdown reception from Tanner Mordecai, Nathanial Vakos kick good 7 0
1 0:23 2 60 0:28 WIS Will Pauling 53-yard touchdown reception from Tanner Mordecai, Nathanial Vakos kick good 14 0
2 6:00 8 60 3:11 LSU Harold Perkins 1-yard touchdown run, Damian Ramos kick good 14 7
2 1:28 7 67 2:28 LSU Kaleb Jackson 12-yard touchdown run, Damian Ramos kick good 14 14
2 0:47 5 75 0:41 WIS Will Pauling 9-yard touchdown reception from Tanner Mordecai, Nathanial Vakos kick good 21 14
3 12:14 8 75 2:46 WIS Jackson Acker 33-yard touchdown run, Nathanial Vakos kick good 28 14
3 10:33 5 75 1:36 LSU Brian Thomas Jr. 38-yard touchdown reception from Garrett Nussmeier, Damian Ramos kick good 28 21
3 4:44 8 70 3:10 LSU Chris Hilton Jr. 14-yard touchdown reception from Garrett Nussmeier, Damian Ramos kick good 28 28
3 1:18 6 42 3:19 WIS 21-yard field goal by Nathanial Vakos 31 28
4 3:08 8 98 3:02 LSU Brian Thomas Jr. 4-yard touchdown reception from Garrett Nussmeier, Damian Ramos kick good 31 35
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 6 45

Statistics

Statistics WIS LSU
First downs 22 26
Plays–yards 74–506 70–492
Rushes–yards 34–128 25–97
Passing yards 378 395
Passing: comp–att–int 27–40–0 31–45–1
Time of possession 31:00 29:00
Team Category Player Statistics
Wisconsin Passing Tanner Mordecai 27–40–3–0
Rushing Jackson Acker 14–86–1
Receiving Will Pauling 8–143–2
LSU Passing Garrett Nussmeier 31–45–3–1
Rushing Josh Williams 12–51–0
Receiving Brian Thomas Jr. 8–98–2

References

  1. ^ Parks, James (December 11, 2023). "College football bowl schedule, game odds, point spreads for 2023-24". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Austro, Ben (December 3, 2023). "2023-24 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Straka, Dean. "2023-24 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  4. ^ "About the Bowl". ReliaQuest Bowl. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  5. ^ "Winsipedia – Wisconsin Badgers vs. LSU Tigers". Winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Alexander, Wilson. "How Garrett Nussmeier led LSU's game-winning drive to beat Wisconsin in his first start". NOLA.com. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Mandel, Stewart. "Vacated LSU wins leave Les Miles out of CFB Hall of Fame consideration". The Athletic. Retrieved June 22, 2023.