View source for 68 Ventures Bowl

{{Short description|FBS bowl game in Mobile, Alabama}}
{{Infobox college football bowl game
| name = 68 Ventures Bowl
| full_name =
| nickname = 
| defunct =
| logo = 68 Ventures Bowl Logo.png
| logo_size = 210px
| caption =
| stadium = [[Hancock Whitney Stadium]]
| previous_stadiums = [[Ladd–Peebles Stadium]]
| location = [[Mobile, Alabama]]
| previous_locations =
| years = 1999–present
| conference_tie-ins = [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]], [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]]
| previous_tie-ins = [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]], [[Conference USA|C-USA]], [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]]
| payout = 1.5 million (2019 season)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2019/ |title=2019 Bowl Schedule |website=collegefootballpoll.com |access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://68venturesbowl.com/}}
| sponsors = {{ubl
 |Mobile Alabama Bowl, Inc. (1999)
 |[[Ally Financial|GMAC]] (2000–2010)
 |[[GoDaddy]] (2011–2015)
 |[[Dollar General]] (2016–2018)
 |[[LendingTree]] (2019–2022)
 |68 Ventures (2023–present)
 }}
| former_names = {{ubl
 |Mobile Alabama Bowl (1999, May–Nov. 2019)
 |GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl (2000)
 |GMAC Bowl (2001–2010)
 |GoDaddy.com Bowl (2011–2013)
 |GoDaddy Bowl (2014–2015)
 |Dollar General Bowl (2016–2018)
 |LendingTree Bowl (2019–2022)
 }}
| prev_matchup_year  = 2023
| prev_matchup_season= 2023
| prev_matchup_teams = [[2023 South Alabama Jaguars football team|South Alabama]] vs. [[2023 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team|Eastern Michigan]]
| prev_matchup_score = South Alabama 59–10
| next_matchup_year  = 2024
| next_matchup_season= 2024
| next_matchup_teams = [[2024 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|Arkansas State]] vs. [[2024 Bowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]]
| next_matchup_date  = Arkansas State 38–31
}}

The '''68 Ventures Bowl''' is a postseason [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]-sanctioned [[Division I (NCAA)#Football Bowl Subdivision|Division I FBS]] [[college football]] [[bowl game]] that has been played annually in [[Mobile, Alabama]] since 1999. In 2021, the game was moved from [[Ladd–Peebles Stadium]] to [[Hancock Whitney Stadium]], on the campus of the [[University of South Alabama]]. The game currently matches teams from the [[Sun Belt Conference]] and the [[Mid-American Conference]]. Originally known as the '''Mobile Alabama Bowl''' during its first two playings, it has undergone numerous name changes.

==History==
The game was known as the '''Mobile Alabama Bowl''' for its first two playings, in 1999 and 2000. GMAC (now [[Ally Financial]]) had become the title sponsor for the 2000 playing, and the game was renamed as the '''GMAC Bowl''' for the 2001 though January 2010 playings. It was then the '''GoDaddy.com Bowl''' for the January 2011 to January 2013 playings when [[GoDaddy]] took over sponsorship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://godaddybowl.com/PRESS/Press-Releases.aspx?233_Pages=1&233_Page=1&233_RecordCount=1&233_ItemID=433&233_Month=10&233_Year=2010&233_CalendarMode=&233_Day=1&233_Categories= |title=GODADDY.COM JOINS COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL LINEUP |date=2010-10-18 |access-date=2010-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023211753/http://godaddybowl.com/PRESS/Press-Releases.aspx?233_Pages=1&233_Page=1&233_RecordCount=1&233_ItemID=433&233_Month=10&233_Year=2010&233_CalendarMode=&233_Day=1&233_Categories= |archive-date=2010-10-23 |via=[[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref> In May 2013, it was announced that the ".com" would be dropped from the bowl's name, rebranding it as the '''GoDaddy Bowl''' for the January 2014 through December 2015 editions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/05/godaddy_bowl_tweaks_name_sets.html | title=GoDaddy Bowl tweaks name, sets date for 2014 game | publisher=Mobile Press-Register | work=AL.com/mobile | date=May 15, 2013 | access-date=December 2, 2013 | author=Inabinett, Mark}}</ref> [[Dollar General]] took over sponsorship on August 17, 2016,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/08/dollar_general_takes_over_as_t.html | title=Dollar General takes over as title sponsor of Mobile bowl game | work=AL.com | date=August 17, 2016 | access-date=August 18, 2016 | author=Stephenson, Creg}}</ref> with the 2016 through 2018 playings branded as the '''Dollar General Bowl'''. It was announced on May 29, 2019, that Dollar General would no longer sponsor the bowl.<ref name=WKRG>{{cite news |url=https://www.wkrg.com/sports/mobile-s-college-bowl-game-no-longer-called-dollar-general-bowl-/2037323362 |title=Mobile's college bowl game no longer called 'Dollar General Bowl' |website=[[WKRG-TV]] |date=May 29, 2019 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531164725/https://www.wkrg.com/sports/mobile-s-college-bowl-game-no-longer-called-dollar-general-bowl-/2037323362 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was temporarily called by its original name, the Mobile Alabama Bowl,<ref name=WKRG/> until new sponsorship by [[LendingTree]] was announced on November 15, 2019, making it the '''LendingTree Bowl'''.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://mynbc15.com/sports/local-sports/lendingtree-becomes-title-sponsor-of-mobile-alabama-bowl-game |title=Mobile's college bowl game renamed LendingTree Bowl |website=[[WPMI-TV]] |date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>  On May 15, 2023, the game was renamed as the '''68 Ventures Bowl''' for its new sponsor, [[Daphne, Alabama|Daphne]] based 68 Ventures, a real estate investment company.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://68venturesbowl.com/2023/05/68-ventures-is-new-title-sponsor-for-mobile-alabama-bowl/ |title=68 Ventures is New Title Sponsor for Mobile Alabama Bowl |website=68venturesbowl.com |date=May 15, 2023 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}}</ref>

When the bowl first began, it was played as one of the first games of the bowl season in December. The 2006 season saw the game moved to January, and it served as one of the last bowls played before the national championship game of either the [[Bowl Championship Series]] or the [[College Football Playoff]]. For the 2015 season, the bowl was moved back to December, where it remained for every subsequent playing except for the 2019 season.<ref name=WKRG/>

===Conference tie-ins===
From 1999 to 2009, the bowl pitted a [[Conference USA]] (C-USA) team against a team from the [[Mid-American Conference]] (MAC), except for the first two playings, when the [[Western Athletic Conference]] (WAC) could receive the bid if one of its easternmost teams qualified as [[bowl eligible]].

For the [[2010 GMAC Bowl|January 2010 edition]], the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] (ACC) was to participate in the bowl as its ninth bowl tie-in. The ACC failed to have sufficient bowl-eligible teams to fill the slot, and the bowl chose [[Sun Belt Conference]] champion [[Troy Trojans football|Troy]] as a replacement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/05/08/article/acc_adds_gmac_bowl_to_its_postseason_lineup |title=ACC adds GMAC Bowl to its postseason lineup : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis |access-date=2009-05-10 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905111814/http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/05/08/article/acc_adds_gmac_bowl_to_its_postseason_lineup |archive-date=2012-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A MAC vs. Sun Belt matchup was then featured for a total of 11 consecutive bowls, through the [[2020 LendingTree Bowl (January)|January 2020 edition]]. That streak was broken when the [[2020 LendingTree Bowl (December)|December 2020 edition]] invited teams from C-USA and the Sun Belt. 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.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

===Notable games===
*The [[2001 GMAC Bowl|2001 game]] between the [[2001 Marshall Thundering Herd football team|Marshall Thundering Herd]] and [[2001 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina Pirates]] set the record as the highest-scoring bowl game of all time, and Marshall achieved what was then the greatest scoring comeback in bowl history.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/2001/bowls/news/2001/12/19/marshall_ecu_ap/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011229230957/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/2001/bowls/news/2001/12/19/marshall_ecu_ap/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 29, 2001 | website=sportsillustrated.cnn.com | title=Leftwich throws for 576 yards in 64–61 GMAC Bowl win |date=December 19, 2001}}</ref> In this contest, Marshall battled back from a 38–8 deficit to win 64–61, in double overtime. Thundering Herd quarterback [[Byron Leftwich]] threw for 576 yards in the game.
*The [[2008 GMAC Bowl|2008 game]] had the largest margin of victory in the bowl's history, with [[2007 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa]] defeating [[2007 Bowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]], 63–7.
*Following the [[2023 68 Ventures Bowl|2023 game]], a 59–10 win by [[2023 South Alabama Jaguars football team|South Alabama]] over [[2023 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team|Eastern Michigan]], an altercation took place on-field between the teams prior to the trophy presentation, initiated by an Eastern Michigan player [[sucker punch]]ing a South Alabama player while the South Alabama marching band and team were singing the school's ''[[alma mater (song)|alma mater]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/eastern-michigan-south-alabama-brawl-post-game-chaos-erupts-after-sucker-punch-at-68-ventures-bowl/ |title=Eastern Michigan-South Alabama brawl: Postgame chaos erupts after sucker punch at 68 Ventures Bowl |first=Cameron |last=Salerno |website=[[CBS Sports]] |date=December 24, 2023 |accessdate=December 24, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2023/12/24/emu-south-alabama-sucker-punch-68-ventures-bowl-fight/72024748007/ |title=EMU player sucker punches South Alabama player, ignites wild fight after 68 Ventures Bowl |first=Chris |last=Bumbaca |website=[[USA Today]] |date=December 24, 2023 |accessdate=December 24, 2023}}</ref>

==Game results==

{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Date
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Bowl name
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;" colspan=2| Winning team
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;" colspan=2| Losing team
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Attnd.
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Ref.
|-
| December 22, 1999 || [[1999 Mobile Alabama Bowl|Mobile Alabama Bowl]] || [[1999 TCU Horned Frogs football team|'''TCU''']] || 28 || [[1999 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina]] || 14 || 34,200 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/1999-game-recap/|title=1999 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 20, 2000 || [[2000 Mobile Alabama Bowl|Mobile Alabama Bowl]] || [[2000 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team|'''Southern Miss''']] || 28 || [[2000 TCU Horned Frogs football team|TCU]] || 21 || 40,300 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2000-game-recap/|title=2000 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 19, 2001 || [[2001 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2001 Marshall Thundering Herd football team|'''Marshall''']] || 64 || [[2001 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina]] || 61 <small>(2OT)</small> || 40,139 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2001-game-recap/|title=2001 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 18, 2002 || [[2002 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2002 Marshall Thundering Herd football team|'''Marshall''']] || 38 || [[2002 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]] || 15 || 40,646 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2002-game-recap/|title=2002 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 18, 2003 || [[2003 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2003 Miami RedHawks football team|'''Miami (Ohio)''']] || 49 || [[2003 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]] || 28 || 40,620 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2003-game-recap/|title=2003 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 22, 2004 || [[2004 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2004 Bowling Green Falcons football team|'''Bowling Green''']] || 52 || [[2004 Memphis Tigers football team|Memphis]] || 35 || 29,500 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2004-game-recap/|title=2004 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 21, 2005 || [[2005 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2005 Toledo Rockets football team|'''Toledo''']] || 45 || [[2005 UTEP Miners football team|UTEP]] || 13 || 35,422 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2005-game-recap/|title=2005 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 7, 2007 || [[2007 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2006 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team|'''Southern Miss''']] || 28 || [[2006 Ohio Bobcats football team|Ohio]] || 7 || 28,706 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2007-game-recap/|title=2007 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 6, 2008 || [[2008 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2007 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|'''Tulsa''']] || 63 || [[2007 Bowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]] || 7 || 36,932 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2008-game-recap/|title=2008 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 6, 2009 || [[2009 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2008 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|'''Tulsa''']] || 45 || [[2008 Ball State Cardinals football team|Ball State]] || 13 || 32,816 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2009-game-recap/|title=2009 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 6, 2010 || [[2010 GMAC Bowl|GMAC Bowl]] || [[2009 Central Michigan Chippewas football team|'''Central Michigan''']] || 44 || [[2009 Troy Trojans football team|Troy]] || 41 <small>(2OT)</small> || 34,486 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2010-game-recap/|title=2010 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 6, 2011 || [[2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl|GoDaddy.com Bowl]] || [[2010 Miami RedHawks football team|'''Miami (Ohio)''']] || 35 || [[2010 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team|Middle Tennessee]] || 21 || 38,168 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2011-game-recap/|title=2011 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 8, 2012 || [[2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl|GoDaddy.com Bowl]] || [[2011 Northern Illinois Huskies football team|'''Northern Illinois''']] || 38 || [[2011 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|Arkansas State]] || 20 || 38,734 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2012-game-recap/|title=2012 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 6, 2013 || [[2013 GoDaddy.com Bowl|GoDaddy.com Bowl]] || [[2012 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|'''Arkansas State''']] || 17 || [[2012 Kent State Golden Flashes football team|Kent State]] || 13 || 37,913 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2013-game-recap/|title=2013 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 5, 2014 || [[2014 GoDaddy Bowl|GoDaddy Bowl]] || [[2013 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|'''Arkansas State''']] || 23 || [[2013 Ball State Cardinals football team|Ball State]] || 20 || 36,119 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2014-game-recap/|title=2014 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 4, 2015 || [[2015 GoDaddy Bowl (January)|GoDaddy Bowl]] || [[2014 Toledo Rockets football team|'''Toledo''']] || 63 || [[2014 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|Arkansas State]] || 44 || 36,811 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/sunday-january-5-2015/|title=2015 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 23, 2015 || [[2015 GoDaddy Bowl (December)|GoDaddy Bowl]] || [[2015 Georgia Southern Eagles football team|'''Georgia Southern''']] || 58 || [[2015 Bowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]] || 27 || 28,656 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/dec-2015-game-recap/|title=Dec. 2015 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 23, 2016 || [[2016 Dollar General Bowl|Dollar General Bowl]] || [[2016 Troy Trojans football team|'''Troy''']] || 28 || [[2016 Ohio Bobcats football team|Ohio]] || 23 || 32,377 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2016-game-recap/|title=2016 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 23, 2017 || [[2017 Dollar General Bowl|Dollar General Bowl]] || [[2017 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team|'''Appalachian State''']] || 34 || [[2017 Toledo Rockets football team|Toledo]] || 0 || 28,706 ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2017-game-recap/|title=2017 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| December 22, 2018 || [[2018 Dollar General Bowl|Dollar General Bowl]] || [[2018 Troy Trojans football team|'''Troy''']] || 42 || [[2018 Buffalo Bulls football team|Buffalo]] || 32 || 31,818 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lendingtreebowl.com/about/game-recaps/2018-game-recap/|title=2018 Game Recap – LendingTree Bowl}}</ref>
|-
| align=right|January 6, 2020 || [[2020 LendingTree Bowl (January)|LendingTree Bowl]] || '''[[2019 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team|Louisiana]]''' || 27 || [[2019 Miami RedHawks football team|Miami (Ohio)]] || 17 || 29,212 || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401135294 |title=Louisiana vs. Miami (OH) - Game Summary |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| December 26, 2020 || [[2020 LendingTree Bowl (December)|LendingTree Bowl]] || '''[[2020 Georgia State Panthers football team|Georgia State]]''' || 39 || [[2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team|Western Kentucky]] || 21  || {{spaces|2}}5,128 || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401256145 |title=Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State - Game Summary |website=ESPN.com |access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| December 18, 2021 || [[2021 LendingTree Bowl|LendingTree Bowl]] || '''[[2021 Liberty Flames football team|Liberty]]''' || 56 || [[2021 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team|Eastern Michigan]] || 20 || 15,186 || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2021/12/malik-willis-liberty-rout-eastern-michigan-in-lendingtree-bowl-56-20.html |title=Malik Willis, Liberty rout Eastern Michigan in LendingTree Bowl, 56-20 |first=Creg |last=Stephenson |website=al.com |date=December 18, 2021 |accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| December 17, 2022 || [[2022 LendingTree Bowl|LendingTree Bowl]] || '''[[2022 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team|Southern Miss]]''' || 38 || [[2022 Rice Owls football team|Rice]] || 24 || 20,512 || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wlbt.com/2022/12/18/gore-jrs-record-night-highlights-southern-miss-first-bowl-victory-since-2016/ |title=Gore Jr.'s record night highlights Southern Miss' first bowl victory since 2016 |first=Garrett |last=Busby |website=WLBT.com |date=December 17, 2022 |accessdate=December 17, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| December 23, 2023 || [[2023 68 Ventures Bowl|68 Ventures Bowl]] || '''[[2023 South Alabama Jaguars football team|South Alabama]]''' || 59 || [[2023 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team|Eastern Michigan]] || 10 || 20,926 || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/south-alabama-eastern-michigan-68-ventures-bowl-8d746eda07bd43d98b0c27a0de5aef83 |title=Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to 59-10 rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |website=apnews.com |date=December 23, 2023 |accessdate=December 23, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| December 26, 2024 || [[2024 68 Ventures Bowl|68 Ventures Bowl]] ||  '''[[2024 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|Arkansas State]]''' || '''38''' || [[2024 Bowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]] || 31 || 19,582 || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2024/12/arkansas-state-holds-off-bowling-green-in-68-ventures-bowl-38-31.html |title=Arkansas State holds off Bowling Green in 68 Ventures Bowl, 38-31 |first=Creg |last=Stephenson |website=al.com |date=December 26, 2024 |accessdate=December 27, 2024}}</ref>
|}
Source:<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/Bowls.pdf |magazine=Bowl/All Star Game Records |title=Lending Tree Bowl |page=13 |via=NCAA.org |publisher=NCAA |date=2020 |access-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref>

==MVPs==

{|class = "wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Date played || style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|MVP || style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|School || style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Position
|-
| December 22, 1999 || [[Casey Printers]] || TCU || QB
|-
| December 20, 2000 || [[LaDainian Tomlinson]] || TCU || RB
|-
| December 19, 2001 || [[Byron Leftwich]] || Marshall || QB
|-
| December 18, 2002 || [[Byron Leftwich]] || Marshall || QB
|-
| December 18, 2003 || [[Ben Roethlisberger]] || Miami (OH) || QB
|-
| December 22, 2004 || [[Omar Jacobs]] || Bowling Green || QB
|-
| December 21, 2005 || [[Bruce Gradkowski]] || Toledo || QB
|-
| January 7, 2007 || [[Damion Fletcher]] || Southern Miss || RB
|-
| January 6, 2008 || [[Paul Smith (quarterback)|Paul Smith]] || Tulsa || QB
|-
| January 6, 2009 || Tarrion Adams || Tulsa || RB
|-
| January 6, 2010 || [[Dan LeFevour]] || Central Michigan || QB
|-
| January 6, 2011 || Austin Boucher || Miami (OH) || QB
|-
| January 8, 2012 || [[Chandler Harnish]] || Northern Illinois || QB
|-
| January 6, 2013 || Ryan Aplin || Arkansas State || QB
|-
| January 5, 2014 || Fredi Knighten || Arkansas State || QB
|-
| January 4, 2015 || [[Kareem Hunt]] || Toledo || RB
|-
| December 23, 2015|| Favian Upshaw || Georgia Southern || QB
|-
| December 23, 2016 || Justin Lucas || Troy || LB
|-
| December 23, 2017 || Jalin Moore || Appalachian State || RB
|-
| December 22, 2018 || Sawyer Smith || Troy || QB
|-
| January 6, 2020 || [[Levi Lewis (American football)|Levi Lewis]] || Louisiana || QB
|-
| December 26, 2020 || Cornelious Brown IV<ref>{{cite tweet |user=JMacDonaldSport |number=1342985650094694401 |title=Cornelious Brown is the LendingTree Bowl MVP, Destin Coates is the Offensive MVP, Jontrey Hunter was the Defensive MVP and Noel Ruiz was the Special Teams MVP. |date=December 26, 2020 |access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref> || Georgia State || QB
|-
| December 18, 2021 || [[Malik Willis]]<ref>{{cite tweet |user=CregStephenson |number=1472394882023104519 |title=Malik Willis is your game MVP after accounting for 289 yards & 5 TDs. |date=December 18, 2021 |accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref> || Liberty || QB
|-
| December 17, 2022 || [[Frank Gore Jr.]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wlbt.com/2022/12/18/gore-jrs-record-night-highlights-southern-miss-first-bowl-victory-since-2016/ |title=Gore Jr.'s record night highlights Southern Miss' first bowl victory since 2016 |first=Garrett |last=Busby |website=WLBT.com |date=December 17, 2022 |accessdate=December 17, 2022}}</ref> || Southern Miss || RB
|-
| December 23, 2023 || [[Gio Lopez]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://triblive.com/sports/gio-lopez-leads-south-alabama-to-rout-of-eastern-michigan-in-68-ventures-bowl/ |title=Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |website=[[triblive.com]] |date=December 24, 2023 |accessdate=December 24, 2023}}</ref> || South Alabama || QB
|-
| December 26, 2024 || [[Jaylen Raynor]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/college/group-five/cusa/frank-ponce-returning-to-fiu-football-after-stint-as-appalachian-state-oc/ |title=TAKEAWAYS: Arkansas State Win 68 Ventures Bowl Despite Huge Passing Day From Bowling Green |agency=[[Sports Illustrated]] |website=[[si.com]] |date=December 27, 2024 |accessdate=December 29, 2024}}</ref>|| Arkansas State || QB
|-
| December 26, 2024 || [[Justin Parks]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://astateredwolves.com/news/2024/12/27/football-red-wolves-top-bowling-green-in-68-ventures-bowl-38-31.aspx |title=ed Wolves Top Bowling Green in 68 Ventures Bowl, 38-31 |agency=[[Arkansas State Athletics]] |website=[[astateredwolves.com]] |date=December 27, 2024 |accessdate=December 29, 2024}}</ref>|| Arkansas State || S
|-
| December 26, 2024 || [[Courtney Jackson]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://astateredwolves.com/news/2024/12/27/football-red-wolves-top-bowling-green-in-68-ventures-bowl-38-31.aspx |title=ed Wolves Top Bowling Green in 68 Ventures Bowl, 38-31 |agency=[[Arkansas State Athletics]] |website=[[astateredwolves.com]] |date=December 27, 2024 |accessdate=December 29, 2024}}</ref>|| Arkansas State || PR/WR
|}

==Most appearances==
Updated through the December 2024 edition (26 games, 52 total appearances).

;Teams with multiple appearances
{|class = "wikitable"
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Rank
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Team
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Appearances
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Record
|-
| 1 || [[Arkansas State Red Wolves football|Arkansas State]] || 5 || 3–2
|-
| 2 || [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green]] || 4 || 1–3
|-
| rowspan=4|3 || [[Southern Miss Golden Eagles football|Southern Miss]] || 3 || 3–0
|-
| [[Miami RedHawks football|Miami (OH)]] || 3 || 2–1
|-
| [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo]] || 3 || 2–1
|-
| [[Troy Trojans football|Troy]] || 3 || 2–1
|-
| rowspan=8|7 || [[Marshall Thundering Herd football|Marshall]] || 2 || 2–0
|-
| [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa]] || 2 || 2–0
|-
| [[TCU Horned Frogs football|TCU]] || 2 || 1–1
|-
| [[Ball State Cardinals football|Ball State]] || 2 || 0–2
|-
| [[East Carolina Pirates football|East Carolina]] || 2 || 0–2
|-
| [[Eastern Michigan Eagles football|Eastern Michigan]] || 2 || 0–2
|-
| [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]] || 2 || 0–2
|-
| [[Ohio Bobcats football|Ohio]] || 2 || 0–2
|}

;Teams with a single appearance
Won (8): [[Appalachian State Mountaineers football|Appalachian State]], [[Central Michigan Chippewas football|Central Michigan]], [[Georgia Southern Eagles football|Georgia Southern]], [[Georgia State Panthers football|Georgia State]], [[Liberty Flames football|Liberty]], [[Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football|Louisiana]], [[Northern Illinois Huskies football|Northern Illinois]], [[South Alabama Jaguars football|South Alabama]]
<br>
Lost (7): [[Buffalo Bulls football|Buffalo]], [[Kent State Golden Flashes football|Kent State]], [[Memphis Tigers football|Memphis]], [[Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders football|Middle Tennessee State]], [[Rice Owls football|Rice]], [[UTEP Miners football|UTEP]], [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football|Western Kentucky]]

==Appearances by conference==
Updated through the December 2024 edition (26 games, 52 total appearances).

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;" rowspan=2|Conference
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;" colspan=4|Record
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;" colspan=2|Appearances by season
|-
! style="border: 2px solid #000000;" |Games
! style="border: 2px solid #000000;" |W
! style="border: 2px solid #000000;" |L
! style="border: 2px solid #000000;" |Win pct.
! style="border: 2px solid #000000;" class=unsortable|Won
! style="border: 2px solid #000000;" class=unsortable|Lost
|-
| [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] || 22 || {{WinLossPct|9|13}}
| align=left|2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2014*
| align=left|2006*, 2007*, 2008*, 2012*, 2013*, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019*, 2021, 2023, 2024
|-
| [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] || 15 || {{WinLossPct|11|4}}
| align=left|2012*, 2013*, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019*, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
| align=left|2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2014*
|-
| [[Conference USA|C-USA]] || 12 || {{WinLossPct|4|8}}
| align=left|2000, 2006*, 2007*, 2008*
| align=left|1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2020, 2022
|-
| bgcolor=lightgrey|''[[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]]'' || 2 || {{WinLossPct|1|1}}
| align=left|1999
| align=left|2000
|-
| [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Independent]] || 1 || {{WinLossPct|1|0}}
| align=left|2021
| align=left|{{nbsp}}
|}

* Games marked with an asterisk (*) were played in January of the following calendar year.
* The WAC no longer sponsors FBS football.
* Independent appearances: Liberty (2021)

==Game records==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Team
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Record, Team vs. Opponent
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Year
|-
|Most points scored (one team)
|'''64''', Marshall vs. East Carolina
|2001
|-
|Most points scored (losing team)
|'''61''', East Carolina vs. Marshall
|2001
|-
|Most points scored (both teams)
|'''125''', Marshall vs. East Carolina
|2001
|-
|Fewest points allowed 
|'''0''', Appalachian State vs. Toledo
|2017
|-
|Largest margin of victory
|'''56''', Tulsa vs. Bowling Green
|2008
|-
|Total yards
|'''649''', Marshall vs. East Carolina 
|2001
|-
|Rushing yards
|'''482''', Tulsa vs. Ball State
|2009
|-
|Passing yards
|'''576''', Marshall vs. East Carolina 
|2001
|-
|First downs 
|'''36''', Marshall vs. East Carolina
|2001
|-
|Fewest yards allowed 
|'''146''', Appalachian State vs. Toledo
|2017
|-
|Fewest rushing yards allowed 
|'''–16''', TCU vs. East Carolina
|1999
|-
|Fewest passing yards allowed 
|'''73''', South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan
|2023
|-
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Individual
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Year
|-
|All-purpose yards ||  || 
|-
|Touchdowns (all-purpose) || '''5''', [[Kareem Hunt]] (Toledo) || Jan. 2015
|-
|Rushing yards || '''329''', [[Frank Gore Jr.]] (Southern Miss) || 2022
|-
|Rushing touchdowns || '''5''', [[Kareem Hunt]] (Toledo) || Jan. 2015
|-
|Passing yards ||'''576''', [[Byron Leftwich]] (Marshall)  || 2001
|-
|Passing touchdowns || '''5''', most recent:<br>Fredi Knighten (Arkansas State) || <br>Jan. 2015 
|-
|Receptions || '''17''', [[Harold Fannin Jr.]] (Bowling Green) || 2024
|-
|Receiving yards || '''234''', Denero Marriott (Marshall) || 2001
|-
|Receiving touchdowns || '''3''', most recent:<br>Booker Mays (Arkansas State) || <br>Jan. 2015
|-
|Tackles ||  || 
|-
|Sacks ||  || 
|-
|Interceptions ||  || 
|-
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Long plays
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent
! style="background:#00B67C; color:#ffffff; border: 2px solid #000000;"|Year
|-
|Touchdown run  || '''88 yds.''', [[Lionel Gates]] (Louisville) || 2003
|-
|Touchdown pass  || '''79 yds.''', [[Jaylen Raynor]] to Corey Rucker (Arkansas State) || 2024
|-
|Kickoff return  || '''95 yds.''', [[Antonio Brown]] (Central Michigan) || 2010
|-
|Punt return || '''60 yds.''', Courtney Jackson (Arkansas State) || 2024
|-
|Interception return || '''94 yds.''', Money Hunter (Arkansas State) || Jan. 2015
|-
|Fumble return || '''93 yds.''', Tyrone Hill<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB4jF7j8Om0&t=5m51s  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/KB4jF7j8Om0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=2018 Dollar General Bowl Highlights |date=22 December 2018 |publisher=Troy Trojans |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=January 4, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (Buffalo) || 2018
|-
|Punt || '''65 yds.''', Britt Barefoot (Southern Miss) {{dagger}}<br>73, Joseph Davidson, (Bowling Green)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay/_/gameId/400852711 |title=Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green - Play-By-Play |website=ESPN.com |date=December 23, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2024 |quote=4th & 11 at BGSU 19 (6:42 - 2nd) Joseph Davidson punt for 73 yds, downed at the GeoSo 8.}}</ref>|| 2007 <br>Dec. 2015
|-
|Field goal || '''49 yds.''', [[Jesús Gómez (American football)|Jesús Gómez]] (Eastern Michigan) || 2023
|}
Source:<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=LendingTree Game Day Program |title=LendingTree Bowl Records |pages=18–19 |url=https://lendingtreebowl.com/game-program/ |publisher=LendingTree Bowl Media Relations Department |via=lendingtreebowl.com |date=December 2020 |access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref>
<br>
*{{dagger}} While listed in the record book as the bowl's longest punt, contemporary box scores indicate the longest punt happened in 2015, not 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay/_/gameId/400852711 |title=Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green - Play-By-Play |website=ESPN.com |date=December 23, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2024 |quote=4th & 11 at BGSU 19 (6:42 - 2nd) Joseph Davidson punt for 73 yds, downed at the GeoSo 8.}}</ref>

==Media coverage==
The bowl has been televised on [[ESPN]] or [[ESPN2]] since its inception.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://68venturesbowl.com/}}

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