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2018 Outback Bowl
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| 2018 Outback Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32nd Outback Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
| Date | January 1, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Raymond James Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Tampa, Florida | ||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Jake Bentley (QB, South Carolina)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Michigan by 9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Stuart Mullins (ACC) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 45,687[2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$$6,308,560[3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Adam Amin, Dusty Dvoracek, Molly McGrath | ||||||||||||||||||
The 2018 Outback Bowl was an American college football bowl game played on January 1, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The 32nd annual Outback Bowl was one of the 2017–18 NCAA football bowl games concluding the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The game was nationally televised on ESPN2, and its title sponsor is the Outback Steakhouse restaurant franchise.
Teams
[edit]The game featured the Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference, and the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference in their fourth meeting against each other, and second meeting in the Outback Bowl.[4]
Michigan
[edit]After finishing their regular season with an 8–4 record, the Wolverines were selected to their sixth Outback Bowl appearance, the most Outback Bowl appearances by any team.[5] This was their 46th bowl game appearance, the 11th-highest total all-time among FBS schools.[6]
South Carolina
[edit]After finishing their regular season with an 8–4 record, the Gamecocks were selected to their fifth Outback Bowl appearance, tying them with four other teams for the second-most Outback Bowl appearances. This was their 22nd bowl game appearance. South Carolina won the previous meeting against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2013 Outback Bowl, by a score of 33–28.[7]
Game summary
[edit]Scoring summary
[edit]| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Statistics
[edit]| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverines | 6 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 19 |
| Gamecocks | 0 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 26 |
| Statistics | MICH | SCAR |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 17 | 13 |
| Plays–yards | 78–277 | 58–302 |
| Rushes–yards | 33–74 | 26–61 |
| Passing yards | 203 | 239 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–45–2 | 19–32–1 |
| Time of possession | 34:17 | 25:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICH | Passing | Brandon Peters | 20/44, 186 yds, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Karan Higdon | 17 car, 65 yds | |
| Receiving | Kekoa Crawford | 5 rec, 61 yds | |
| SCAR | Passing | Jake Bentley | 19/32, 239 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Rico Dowdle | 6 car, 45 yds, 1 TD | |
| Receiving | Bryan Edwards | 5 rec, 88 yds, 1 TD |
Mascot
[edit]The 2018 Outback Bowl marked the first appearance of SB Nation sportswriter and mixed martial artist Ryan Nanni as the Bloomin' Onion mascot.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Outback Bowl MVP Jake Bentley". outbackbowl.com. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ "Bentley leads South Carolina past Michigan 26-19 in Outback". ESPN. Associated Press. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ "Bowl Payout". collegefootballpoll.com. December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ "Michigan and South Carolina to Meet in Outback Bowl". outbackbowl.com. December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "Outback Bowl". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
- ^ "Michigan, South Carolina to Meet in Outback Bowl on New Year's Day". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "Gamecocks Accept Outback Bowl Bid". gamecocksonline.com. CBS Interactive. December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ Diaz, Hector (December 5, 2017). "Local man achieves his dreams, becomes Bloomin' Onion mascot thanks to 10,000 retweets". SB Nation. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ Rock, Taylor (December 8, 2017). "Outback Bowl Bloomin' Onion costume hijacked by persistent sportswriter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
2018 Outback Bowl
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Background
Game and venue
The 2018 Outback Bowl was played on January 1, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. EST.[10] The game took place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, a venue with a capacity of 65,618.[10] Weather conditions during the game featured overcast skies with temperatures in the mid-40s to low-50s °F, winds up to 17 mph, and periods of light rain and drizzle.[11] Attendance was recorded at 45,687.[1] The bowl was sponsored by Outback Steakhouse, which had held the title sponsorship since 1995.[12] This marked the 32nd edition of the game, which has traditionally featured a matchup between teams from the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences since 1996 as part of their bowl tie-ins.[13][14] Each participating team received a payout of $6,308,560 from the bowl.[15]Team selection process
The Outback Bowl maintained longstanding tie-in agreements with the Big Ten Conference and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), enabling it to select teams from each league's respective bowl pools based on final regular-season standings and rankings within those pools. For the 2018 game, organizers chose the Michigan Wolverines, who finished sixth in the Big Ten with an 8-4 overall record (5-4 conference), and the South Carolina Gamecocks, seventh in the SEC at 8-4 overall (5-3 conference).[16][17][18] The selection timeline culminated in the official announcement on December 3, 2017, shortly after conference championships and initial assignments for New Year's Six bowls, with decisions influenced by factors including team performance metrics, complementary opponent matchups evaluated through analytics, large fan bases, and efforts to avoid recent rematches.[10][19][20] This matchup represented the fourth historical meeting between the programs, following South Carolina's 33-28 victory over Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl.[21][22] Both teams qualified as bowl-eligible under NCAA rules by achieving at least six regular-season victories, with no reported opt-outs, academic issues, or selection controversies affecting their invitations.[23][24]Participating teams
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines entered the 2018 Outback Bowl with an 8–4 regular season record, including a 5–4 mark in Big Ten Conference play that placed them fourth in the East Division and sixth overall in the league.[25] The team started strong with a 4–0 non-conference record, highlighted by a 33–17 victory over then-No. 22 Florida in the season opener at AT&T Stadium, but stumbled in league action with losses to rivals Michigan State (14–10), Penn State (42–13), Wisconsin (24–10), and Ohio State (31–20).[25] These defeats, particularly the late-season skid against ranked opponents, eliminated Michigan from College Football Playoff contention and underscored inconsistencies in finishing close games, despite a balanced schedule that included wins over Purdue, Indiana, Rutgers, Minnesota, and Maryland.[26] Under head coach Jim Harbaugh in his third year, Michigan's offense struggled with quarterback instability and limited aerial production, averaging just 25.2 points per game while relying heavily on the ground attack.[27] Senior quarterback John O'Korn started most games, completing 84 of 157 passes for 973 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions, often hampered by a thin receiving corps.[28] Running back Karan Higdon emerged as a standout, rushing for 994 yards and eight touchdowns on 164 carries, providing a reliable option in an offense that totaled only 1,645 passing yards for the season.[27] Defensively, the Wolverines excelled under coordinator Don Brown, allowing 18.8 points per game and ranking among the nation's top units in sacks and turnovers forced, led by junior linebacker Devin Bush with 100 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and one interception.[28] Michigan's selection for the Outback Bowl was announced on December 3, 2017, pairing them with an SEC opponent as one of the Big Ten's bowl-eligible teams outside the playoff picture.[10] The Wolverines, motivated by a desire to salvage the season and build momentum under Harbaugh, traveled to Tampa on December 26, 2017, where they conducted practices at Berkeley Preparatory School, focusing on sharpening defensive schemes and integrating younger players into the offensive line.[29] Sessions emphasized physicality and special teams, with notable visits from coaches like Lane Kiffin adding external perspective during the week-long preparation.[30]South Carolina Gamecocks
The South Carolina Gamecocks entered the 2018 Outback Bowl with an 8-4 regular season record, including a 5-3 mark in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play that secured second place in the East Division.[6] Under head coach Will Muschamp in his second year, the team showed marked improvement from a 6-7 finish in 2016, emphasizing a stout defense that ranked among the SEC's top units in scoring defense (allowing 21.2 points per game) and a balanced run game that complemented the passing attack.[31] The Gamecocks experienced an unexpected mid-season surge with six consecutive wins from October 7 to November 11, including victories over Arkansas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Florida, which propelled them into bowl contention despite closing losses to Georgia and Clemson.[6] Key contributors included sophomore quarterback Jake Bentley, who passed for 2,794 yards and 18 touchdowns while starting all 12 regular-season games, providing stability to the offense.[32] Running back A.J. Turner led the rushing attack with 531 yards on 98 carries (5.4 average) and three touchdowns, helping establish a ground game that averaged 152.5 yards per contest.[33] On defense, linebacker Skai Moore anchored the unit as the leading tackler with 93 total stops (62 solo), adding three interceptions and earning All-SEC honors for his role in limiting opponents to 367.1 yards per game.[31] South Carolina's path to the Outback Bowl stemmed from their No. 4 ranking in the final SEC standings, earning an invitation as one of the conference's top non-championship eligible teams and marking their second consecutive postseason appearance after the 2016 Birmingham Bowl. The selection generated significant fan excitement, buoyed by the team's resurgence and a prior 33-28 victory over Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl. In preparation, the Gamecocks arrived in Tampa on December 26, 2017, basing operations at The Westin Tampa Bay hotel and participating in media day events at the Raymond James Stadium practice facility to build momentum ahead of the matchup.[34]Pre-game events
Ceremonies and festivities
The pre-game ceremonies for the 2018 Outback Bowl began with the performance of the national anthem, followed by formal team introductions of the Michigan Wolverines and South Carolina Gamecocks on the field at Raymond James Stadium.[1] Fans gathered in Outback Steakhouse-themed tailgates and fan zones outside the stadium starting at 9:00 a.m., featuring live music, a pep rally, and interactive displays from sponsors including Outback Steakhouse, Busch Gardens, and GEICO to build excitement for the matchup.[35] The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN2, with play-by-play announcer Adam Amin, analyst Dusty Dvoracek, and sideline reporter Molly McGrath providing coverage.[36] Radio listeners tuned in via SiriusXM's ESPN Radio broadcast on Channel 84.[37] An attendance of 45,687 created a vibrant atmosphere.[1] At halftime, the University of Michigan Marching Band and University of South Carolina Marching Band delivered performances, joined by a mass band ensemble of local high school groups for a collaborative show.[38] The Bloomin' Onion mascot, a promotional character tied to the bowl's title sponsor, made appearances during festivities to engage fans.[39] Promotional tie-ins highlighted Outback Steakhouse's sponsorship, culminating in a nationwide giveaway of free Bloomin' Onion appetizers on January 2 for customers mentioning "Outback Bowl," celebrating South Carolina's victory as part of the event's tradition.[40] Corporate activations included fan interactions and branded experiences throughout the pre-game zones, emphasizing the bowl's Australian-themed branding.[41]Mascot debut
The 2018 Outback Bowl introduced an anthropomorphic Bloomin' Onion mascot, a costumed character modeled after Outback Steakhouse's signature fried onion appetizer, complete with petal-like layers and a humorous, oversized design to embody the bowl's branding.[39] This mascot marked a novel addition to the event's traditions, drawing directly from the restaurant chain's promotional tie-in with the game.[42] The selection process for the mascot's performer gained widespread attention through a social media campaign led by Ryan Nanni, a writer for SB Nation and amateur MMA fighter. In January 2017, Nanni publicly expressed his desire to don the costume via Twitter, and Outback Steakhouse responded by challenging him to secure 10,000 retweets on a dedicated post. On December 5, 2017, the tweet reached the milestone in under five hours, thanks to viral sharing across sports communities, securing Nanni's role without any prior official mascot appearances in this capacity.[39][43][44] During the game on January 1, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, Nanni debuted as the mascot in the second half, performing on-field antics such as dances, crowd interactions, and cheers favoring South Carolina—the designated "Bloomin' Onion team." His appearance, captured on ESPN's broadcast and narrated by play-by-play announcer Adam Amin, included energetic routines during timeouts that amplified the event's lively atmosphere. The debut quickly went viral on social media, with clips and photos garnering significant engagement and extending the bowl's promotional reach.[45][46] This mascot debut underscored the Outback Bowl's emphasis on fan-driven humor and interactive traditions, transforming a simple appetizer promotion into a memorable symbol of community involvement in college football bowl games. By leveraging social media for selection, it exemplified innovative engagement strategies that boosted the event's cultural footprint without precedent in the bowl's history.[43][47]Game summary
Scoring summary
The 2018 Outback Bowl between the Michigan Wolverines and South Carolina Gamecocks featured a low-scoring first half dominated by field goals, with Michigan building a 9-3 lead. The Wolverines opened the scoring at 3:42 of the first quarter on a 35-yard field goal by Quinn Nordin, capping a 12-play, 54-yard drive that consumed over eight minutes.[8] Michigan extended the advantage to 6-0 late in the first quarter with a 26-yard Nordin field goal following a South Carolina punt.[8] The Gamecocks responded in the second quarter with a 44-yard field goal by Parker White at 8:45, narrowing the gap to 6-3 after a seven-play, 52-yard drive aided by a Michigan penalty.[8] Michigan closed the half with a 45-yard Nordin field goal as time expired, pushing the score to 9-3 after a steady drive from their own 20-yard line.[8] The first half saw limited scoring from turnovers, with South Carolina fumbling twice (both recovered by Michigan without immediate points), as both defenses otherwise forced punts and limited big plays. The second half saw Michigan extend their lead to 19-3 before South Carolina mounted a 23-point comeback fueled by five Michigan turnovers—two interceptions and three fumbles—all occurring after halftime. The Wolverines struck first in the third quarter at 9:56 with a 1-yard touchdown run by Ben Mason, followed by Nordin's extra point, concluding a 10-play, 75-yard drive for a 16-3 advantage.[8] At 5:42, Nordin added a 48-yard field goal after a defensive stop, making it 19-3.[8] Momentum shifted when Michigan fumbled on their next possession, with running back Karan Higdon losing the ball near midfield, giving South Carolina prime field position.[48] The Gamecocks capitalized at 2:25 on a 17-yard touchdown run by Rico Dowdle, though a two-point conversion failed, trimming the deficit to 19-9 after an eight-play, 80-yard drive.[8] South Carolina forced another turnover—a fumble recovered deep in Michigan territory—and tied the game shortly after when quarterback Jake Bentley connected with Bryan Edwards for a 21-yard touchdown pass at 0:51 of the third quarter, with White's extra point making it 19-16 following a quick six-play, 45-yard drive.[8] Michigan's offense stalled again in the fourth quarter, with an interception by South Carolina's defense providing good field position near midfield; the Gamecocks responded with a 53-yard touchdown pass from Bentley to Shi Smith, plus White's kick, for a 23-19 lead after a six-play, 81-yard scoring drive.[8] Michigan fumbled once more on their ensuing possession, setting up South Carolina at favorable field position; the Gamecocks drove for a 22-yard field goal by White at 3:47 after a 12-play, 65-yard drive, finalizing the 26-19 victory.[8] South Carolina's defense forced a final interception at 1:05, allowing the Gamecocks to run out the clock.[49] Michigan held a significant edge in time of possession at 34:17 compared to South Carolina's 25:43, reflecting their early control before the turnovers disrupted drives.[50] Jake Bentley was named the game's MVP for his performance, completing 19 of 32 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.[4]| Quarter | Time | Team | Description | Score (MICH - SCAR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3:42 | MICH | Quinn Nordin 35 yd FG | 3-0 |
| 1st | 0:09 | MICH | Quinn Nordin 26 yd FG | 6-0 |
| 2nd | 8:45 | SCAR | Parker White 44 yd FG | 6-3 |
| 2nd | 0:00 | MICH | Quinn Nordin 45 yd FG | 9-3 |
| 3rd | 9:56 | MICH | Ben Mason 1 yd run (Nordin kick) | 16-3 |
| 3rd | 5:42 | MICH | Quinn Nordin 48 yd FG | 19-3 |
| 3rd | 2:25 | SCAR | Rico Dowdle 17 yd run (2-pt failed) | 19-9 |
| 3rd | 0:51 | SCAR | Bryan Edwards 21 yd pass from Jake Bentley (White kick) | 19-16 |
| 4th | 11:33 | SCAR | Shi Smith 53 yd pass from Jake Bentley (White kick) | 19-23 |
| 4th | 3:47 | SCAR | Parker White 22 yd FG | 19-26 |
Game statistics
The 2018 Outback Bowl featured a closely contested matchup between the Michigan Wolverines and South Carolina Gamecocks, with statistical disparities highlighting South Carolina's edge in passing efficiency despite Michigan's dominance in time of possession.[8][51]Team Offensive Statistics
South Carolina outgained Michigan in total offense, accumulating 300 yards compared to Michigan's 277, driven primarily by a stronger passing game.[8] Michigan relied more on the run but managed only 74 rushing yards on 33 attempts for one touchdown, while South Carolina gained 61 yards on 26 rushes for one score.[51] Passing totals favored South Carolina at 239 yards versus Michigan's 203, with Michigan attempting more passes (45 to 32).[8] Turnovers plagued both teams, but Michigan committed five (two interceptions and three lost fumbles) to South Carolina's three (one interception and two lost fumbles).[51] Penalties were more frequent for South Carolina (seven for 68 yards) than Michigan (six for 40 yards).[8]| Category | Michigan | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards (Att-TD) | 74 (33-1) | 61 (26-1) |
| Passing Yards (Cmp-Att-TD-INT) | 203 (21-45-0-2) | 239 (19-32-2-1) |
| Total Offense (Yards) | 277 | 300 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 3 |
| Penalties (No-Yards) | 6-40 | 7-68 |