We are living in unprecedented times in the world of college football.
With the newness of the transfer portal, NIL and the 12 team playoff, the long term future of bowl games is unknown. You almost have to have an edible mascot (PopTart Bowl) or a mayonnaise gatorade bath (Duke's Mayo Bowl) just to stay relevant in this era of college football bowl games. We have already seen the impacts of the transfer portal on bowl games as Marshall announced they will be dropping out of the Independence Bowl due to too many players entering the transfer portal.
Even though the future of bowl games like Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, GameAbove Sports Bowl, and the Rate Bowl are all uncertain past 2024, one thing remains certain. This year's Birmingham Bowl is one of the top matchups in the Nation.
As dubbed the "Nerd Bowl” by Birmingham Sports Media, the Vanderbilt vs. Georgia Tech rivalry runs deep. This is the 39th meeting of Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt. (First 1892, Last 2016) in the Battle for the Gold Cowbell. The two former SoCon teams meet at Protective Stadium for the first time in history.
These two teams caused chaos this season.
2024 Georgia Tech Recap:
- Defeated #10 Florida State 24-21 in Ireland.
- Defeated #4 Miami 28-23.
- Suffered an exhausting 44-42 loss to #7 Georgia in 8 overtimes.
2024 Vanderbilt Recap:
- Defeated Virginia Tech 34-27 in overtime.
- Defeated #1 Alabama 40-35 in Nashville and tossed the field goal into the Cumberland River.
- Lost 24-27 to #5 Texas.
- Defeated Auburn 17-7 in Jordan-Hare.
Both dynamic QB’s return. Diego Pavia (The Bama Slayer) of Vanderbilt and Haynes King of Georgia Tech. Both dual-threat Quarterbacks are looking to win the Gold Cowbell and Vulcan Statue trophy on December 27th.
History of Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt.
- First meeting: November 19th, 1892. Vanderbilt 20, Georgia Tech 10.
- Overall Record: Tech leads 20-15-3. Three ties: 192, 1936, 1965 (thanks Obama.)
- Most recent matchup: September 17, 2016 Georgia Tech 38, Vanderbilt 7 at GT.
- Battle for the Gold Cowbell (Created in 1924, recently rediscovered by a Georgia Tech employee in a supply closet. The trophy was missing for the past 57 years.)
- Will the streak continue? Georgia Tech is on a 12-0-1 win streak. The Yellow Jackets have not lost to Vanderbilt since FDR was in office back in 1941.
History of the Birmingham Bowl
- 18th Birmingham Bowl: This will be the 4th Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium.
- Highest attended Birmingham Bowl at Protective: 2021 Auburn 13 vs. Houston 17. 47,100 fans attended.
- Smartest Birmingham Bowl matchup yet. Current average test scores:
- Vanderbilt 1540 SAT / ACT 35
- Georgia Tech 1480 SAT / ACT 33
- Dumbest Birmingham Bowl: 2022 East Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina
- East Carolina SAT 1120 / ACT 22
- Coastal Carolina 1110 SAT / ACT 23
Two Coaches With Birmingham Ties
Vanderbilt: Clark Lea
Clark Lea won a baseball championship back in 2001 at Birmingham-Southern College. He then transferred to Belmont before subsequently transferring to Vanderbilt where he was the Fullback on the 2002-2004 squad. Lea has turned the program around taking Vanderbilt to their first bowl since 2018.
Georgia Tech: Brent Key
Brent Key grew up in Birmingham. He played football at Hewitt-Trussville High School before playing at Georgia Tech. Another fun fact, Key said the first college football game he ever attended was the 1985 All-American Bowl where Georgia Tech beat Michigan State at Legion Field. Key was also the offensive line coach under Nick Saban from 2016-2018. Key said in the Bowl press conference that his favorite restaurant in Birmingham is the Bright Star Restaurant in Bessemer.
Ticket have been MOVING:
Georgia Tech announced that they immediately sold out of their 3,000 ticket allotment and said they will be able to fulfill all initial 9,000 ticket requests.
Vanderbilt also posted on X.com that they have sold out of their ticket allotment and are working to secure more seats. They are also offering a travel package that includes transportation and a hotel room. Expect to see a full lower bowl on the day after the day after Christmas.
It is neat to see the excitement and buzz around the Birmingham Bowl this year. A fun matchup worth checking out. Tickets start at $64.55 on Ticketmaster after tax.
In a world of uncertainty, one thing remains true. The Birmingham Bowl is a must watch this year.