2020 Birmingham Bowl

The 2020 Birmingham Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 2020, with kickoff at 3:00 p.m. EST (2:00 p.m. local CST) on ESPN.[5] It was the 14th edition of the Birmingham Bowl, and was one of the 2019–20 bowl games concluding the 2019 FBS football season. Sponsored by the TicketSmarter ticket sales company, the game was officially known as the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.[6]

2020 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl
14th Birmingham Bowl
Boston College Eagles Cincinnati Bearcats
(6–6) (10–3)
ACC The American
6 38
Head coach: 
Rich Gunnell (interim)		 Head coach: 
Luke Fickell
APCoachesCFP
232221
1234 Total
Boston College 0060 6
Cincinnati 710714 38
DateJanuary 2, 2020
Season2019
StadiumLegion Field
LocationBirmingham, Alabama
MVPDesmond Ridder (QB, Cincinnati)[1]
FavoriteCincinnati by 7.5[2]
RefereeGreg Sujack (MAC)[3]
Attendance27,193
PayoutUS$1,374,545[4]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersKevin Brown (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (sideline)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Brasil
AnnouncersEveraldo Marques (play-by-play)
Weinny Eirado (analyst)

With 7:55 remaining in the first quarter, the game was delayed due to lightning.[7] This was Boston College's second consecutive bowl game that has been impacted by weather, as the 2018 First Responder Bowl (in which Boston College played Boise State) was canceled and ruled a no contest due to inclement weather.[8] The delay lasted a total of 91 minutes before the game resumed at 4:55 p.m. EST.[9][10]

Teams

The game featured the Boston College Eagles of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) going up against the Cincinnati Bearcats of the American Athletic Conference (The American). This was the eighth overall meeting between the two programs; the Eagles led the all-time series, 4–3.[11]

Boston College Eagles
Main article: 2019 Boston College Eagles football team

Boston College entered the game with a 6–6 record (4–4 in conference). They finished in a three-way tie for third place in the ACC's Atlantic Division. The Eagles lost to both ranked opponents they faced, Clemson and Notre Dame. This was the first Birmingham Bowl appearance for Boston College.

Cincinnati Bearcats
Main article: 2019 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

Cincinnati entered the game with a 10–3 record (7–1 in conference). They finished atop the East Division of The American, then lost the AAC Championship Game to Memphis, 29–24. The Bearcats were 1–3 against ranked opponents, defeating UCF while falling to Ohio State and Memphis twice. This was Cincinnati's second Birmingham Bowl; their 2007 team won the then-PapaJohns.com Bowl over Southern Miss, 31–21.

Game summary
2020 Birmingham Bowl
Period 1 2 34Total
Boston College 0 0 606
No. 21 Cincinnati 7 10 71438

at Legion Field • Birmingham, Alabama

  • Date: Thursday, January 2, 2020
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST (2:00 p.m. CST)
  • Game weather: Rainy • Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: 9 mph
  • Game attendance: 27,193
  • Referee: Greg Sujack
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Kevin Brown (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (sideline)
  • ESPN game summary
Game information
First Quarter
  • (2:16) CIN – Desmond Ridder 13 yard rush, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 10 plays, 79 yards, 3:45; Cincinnati 7–0)
Second Quarter
  • (8:20) CIN – Sam Crosa 32 yard field goal (Drive: 16 plays, 63 yards, 6:31; Cincinnati 10–0)
  • (7:05) CIN – Desmond Ridder 14 yard rush, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 1 play, 19 yards, 0:06; Cincinnati 17–0)
Third Quarter
  • (9:02) CIN – Desmond Ridder 8 yard pass to Malick Mbodj, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:51; Cincinnati 24–0)
  • (4:56) BC – Brandon Sebastian 67 yard blocked field goal return, 2-point pass failed (Cincinnati 24–6)
Fourth Quarter
  • (13:06) CIN – Desmond Ridder 13 yard rush, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 6:50; Cincinnati 31–6)
  • (0:39) CIN – Ryan Montgomery 1 yard rush, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 5:13; Cincinnati 38–6)

Statistics
Statistics BC CIN
First downs833
Plays–yards47–16491–459
Rushes–yards28–7760–343
Passing yards87116
Passing: comp–att–int8–19–017–31–0
Time of possession18:3141:29
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Boston College PassingDennis Grosel8/17, 87 yards
RushingDavid Bailey8 carries, 28 yards
ReceivingHunter Long2 receptions, 45 yards
Cincinnati PassingDesmond Ridder14/24, 95 yards, 1 TD
RushingDesmond Ridder21 carries, 105 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingJayshon Jackson2 receptions, 33 yards

References
  1. @Williams_Justin (January 2, 2020). "Desmond Ridder wins MVP of the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl" (Tweet). Retrieved January 2, 2020 – via Twitter.
  2. "Boston College vs. Cincinnati - Game Summary". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  3. "2019-20 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  5. "2019-20 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, times, TV channels". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  6. Heim, Mark (November 26, 2019). "Birmingham Bowl Announces New Title Sponsor in TicketSmarter". Alabama Media Group. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  7. "Lightning has been detected in the area and the game is now in a delay". @Birmingham_Bowl. January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  8. Vautour, Matt (January 2, 2020). "BC-Cincinnati in weather delay: Birmingham Bowl is Boston College football's latest weather adventure". masslive. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  9. "Box Score (PDF) - Birmingham Bowl: Boston College vs. Cincinnati" (PDF). Boston College Athletics. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  10. "And after a 90 minute weather delay, HERE. WE. GO!The Birmingham Bowl is back, baby!". @Birmingham_Bowl. January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  11. "Boston College Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bearcats football series history". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
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