One to Go: The 68 Ventures Bowl

Of all the college football bowl games named after southern Alabama real estate development companies, none have greater tradition, history and prestige than Mobile, Alabama’s 68 Ventures Bowl! This year’s exciting matchup will feature two of the country’s top teams with 6-6 records: the Sun Belt’s Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, and Conference USA’s Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens! This will be the first ever meeting between the two squads, which is sure to start the rivalry off with a bang.

Mobile's Biggest Night

The 68 Ventures Bowl has seen a number of iterations over the years, first starting in 1999 as the Mobile Alabama Bowl at South Alabama’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Since 2021, the game has been played at Hancock Whitney Stadium, the new home of South Alabama football. Traditionally played between members of the Sun Belt and the MAC, the game has also seen participants from the ACC, Conference USA, and the old WAC. Arkansas State leads all schools in appearances with five, while they are even with Southern Miss in wins with three.

This bowl game has had a number of memorable moments. The 2001 GMAC Bowl tilt between Marshall and East Carolina saw a two-overtime shootout with a final score of 64-61 in favor of the Thundering Herd, setting a record for the highest scoring bowl game ever that still stands today. In more recent years, the 2023 playing of the 68 Ventures Bowl went viral when a postgame brawl was started by an Eastern Michigan player sucker punching a South Alabama player during the postgame playing of the alma mater. This was after South Alabama narrowly defeated EMU 59-10.

The Mobile Alabama/GMAC/GoDaddy/Dollar General/LendingTree/68 Ventures Bowl has seen some truly notable talent over the years, with a list of former MVPs that could rival the best in the nation. LaDanian Tomlinson, Byron Leftwich (twice), Ben Roethlisberger, Bruce Gradkowski, Dan LeFevour, Chandler Harnish, Kareem Hunt and Malik Willis are just a few of the great players to raise the MVP trophy in Mobile.

Meet the Fightin' Blue Hens

The home team on the scoreboard in this one will be the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens, who just completed their first season as an FBS program. The team has been playing football since 1889 with six claimed national championships including six in Division II, and one in FCS in 2003. Despite not playing at the FBS level until this year, the Hens have produced notable professional talent including 2002 NFL MVP Rich Gannon, and Super Bowl XLVII Champion and MVP Joe Flacco.

This year’s squad is led by head coach Ryan Carty in his fourth season with the team. The team’s dominant 6-6 season contained notable wins against UConn, Middle Tennessee and a dramatic 61-31 season finale against UTEP. No players have announced their intention to opt-out of this game, but a number of injuries have plagued the team, most notably to leading rusher Jo Silver.

The Fightin’ Blue Hen offense is led by Junior quarterback Nick Minicucci, who has 3,505 yards on the season with 22 touchdowns, although sacks and interceptions have been a problem throughout the year. With Jo Silver, Sophomore Tulsa transfer Viron Ellison Jr. will be getting the lion's share of touches at running back, as he will attempt to improve on his 3.9 yards per carry. A duo of wide receivers in Sean Wilson and Kyre Duplessis will be looking to bolster the Hen’s aerial assault, as both have over 55 receptions and 750 yards on the year. The defense is led by Junior standout linebacker Gavin Moul, who has 104 total tackles on the season and a scoop-and-score to go with it.

Meet the Ragin' Cajuns

On the other sideline will be the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, who will be playing in their eighth straight bowl game, and second in Mobile. Their first trip to the hallowed grounds of Ladd-Peebles resulted in a 27-17 victory over the Miami Redhawks in December of 2020 under then head coach Billy Napier. The program has undergone several changes since its first season in 1901, including a change of mascot from the Bulldogs to the much cooler Ragin’ Cajuns in 1973, and several different school brandings including Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, University of Southwest Louisiana, Louisiana-Lafayette, and now just Louisiana (although the school is technically still the University of Louisiana at Lafayette).

The current head Ragin’ Cajun is Michael Desormeaux, who is in his fourth season as head coach, and tenth with the team overall. After a dismal start to the season, the team raged on to bowl eligibility with a four game winning streak to end the season. Notable wins include against South Alabama at Hancock Whitney Stadium where the 68 Ventures Bowl is played, and in the season finale to their archrival Louisiana-Monroe in the Battle on the Bayou for the Wooden Boot. It appears that there are no opt-outs for the game, and the Cajuns should be at full strength save possibly for center Cooper Fordham.

The Ragin’ Cajun offense was led this season by Sophomore quarterback Lunch Winfield (All-Name Team Honorable Mention) who struggled a bit over the course of the season, only throwing for 1,324 yards and 10 touchdowns with 6 interceptions. When he was on, fellow sophomore Shelton Sampson Jr. was his most reliable receiver, bringing in 29 receptions for 495 yards and 5 touchdowns. Lunch himself was the third leading rusher on the team, with Bill Davis and Zylan Perry splitting duties at running back beside him. The defense was led this season by Senior linebacker Jaden Dugger who led the team with 118 total tackles, 3 sack, an interception and a forced fumble.

Whether you’re Fightin’ like a Blue Hen or Ragin’ like a Cajun, everybody in Mobile is ready and rearing for the 68 Ventures Bowl, where both teams will be seeking to answer one final question: Wouldn’t it be nice to have just one more venture?