2019 Redbox Bowl

2019 Redbox Bowl
18th Redbox Bowl
California Golden Bears Illinois Fighting Illini
(7–5) (6–6)
Pac-12 Big Ten
35 20
Head coach: 
Justin Wilcox		 Head coach: 
Lovie Smith
1234 Total
California 71477 35
Illinois 10307 20
DateDecember 30, 2019
Season2019
StadiumLevi's Stadium
LocationSanta Clara, California
MVPChase Garbers (QB, Cal) & Zeandae Johnson (DE, Cal)[1]
FavoriteCalifornia by 6[2]
RefereeMatt Loeffler (SEC)[3]
Attendance34,177
PayoutUS$3,600,000[4]
United States TV coverage
NetworkFox
AnnouncersJoe Davis (play-by-play)
Brock Huard (analyst)
Bruce Feldman (sideline)
Redbox Bowl
 < 2018  2020 > 

The 2019 Redbox Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 30, 2019, with kickoff at 4:00 p.m. EST (1:00 p.m. local PDT) on Fox.[5] It was the 18th and final edition of the Redbox Bowl, though only the second under the current name, and was one of the 2019–20 bowl games concluding the 2019 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by Redbox, a DVD and video game rental company.

Teams

The game was played between the California Golden Bears from the Pac-12 Conference and the Illinois Fighting Illini from the Big Ten Conference. This was the 11th meeting between the programs; Illinois led the all-time series, 7–3.[6]

California Golden Bears

Main article: 2019 California Golden Bears football team

California entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (4–5 in conference). The Golden Bears finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Pac-12's North Division. They were 1–2 against ranked teams, defeating Washington while losing to Oregon and Utah. This was California's second Redbox Bowl; their 2008 team won the then-Emerald Bowl over Miami (FL), 24–17.

Illinois Fighting Illini

Main article: 2019 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Illinois entered the bowl with a 6–6 record (4–5 in conference). The Fighting Illini finished in fourth place of the West Division of the Big Ten. They were also 1–2 against ranked teams, defeating Wisconsin while losing to Michigan and Iowa. This was also Illinois' second Redbox Bowl; their 2011 team won the then-Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl over UCLA, 20–14.

Game summary

2019 Redbox Bowl
Quarter 1 2 34Total
California 7 14 7735
Illinois 10 3 0720

at Levi's Stadium • Santa Clara, California

  • Date: Monday, December 30, 2019
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST (1:00 p.m. PST)
  • Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: NW 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 34,177
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV announcers (Fox): Joe Davis (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst) and Bruce Feldman (sideline)
  • ESPN game summary
Game information
First Quarter
  • (12:02) ILL – James McCourt 25 yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 2:21; Illinois 3–0)
  • (7:09) CAL – Chase Garbers 4 yard pass to Collin Moore, Greg Thomas kick (Drive: 6 plays, 79 yards, 3:03; California 7–3)
  • (0:10) ILL – Daniel Barker 5 yard pass from Brandon Peters, James McCourt kick (Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, 6:59; Illinois 10–7)
Second Quarter
  • (12:12) CAL – Chase Garbers 1 yard rush, Greg Thomas kick (Drive: 8 plays, 84 yards, 2:54; California 14–10)
  • (0:25) CAL – Christopher Brown Jr. 3 yard pass from Chase Garbers, Greg Thomas kick (Drive: 12 plays, 97 yards, 4:55; California 21–10)
  • (0:00) ILL – James McCourt 30 yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 58 yards, 0:25; California 21–13)
Third Quarter
  • (10:45) CAL – Gavin Reinwald 2 yard pass from Chase Garbers, Greg Thomas kick (Drive: 7 plays, 56 yards, 2:07; California 28–13)
Fourth Quarter
  • (11:54) CAL – Nikko Remigio 6 yard pass from Chase Garbers, Greg Thomas kick (Drive: 12 plays, 88 yards, 5:36; California 35–13)
  • (8:01) ILL – Reggie Corbin 6 yard rush, James McCourt kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:05; California 35–20)

Statistics

Statistics CAL ILL
First downs 24 24
Plays–yards 68–395 77–450
Rushes–yards 37–123 38–165
Passing yards 272 285
Passing: comp–att–int 22–31–0 23–39–1
Time of possession 28:44 29:07
Team Category Player Statistics
California Passing Chase Garbers 22/31, 272 yards, 4 TD
Rushing Christopher Brown Jr. 20 carries, 120 yards
Receiving Makai Polk 5 receptions, 105 yards
Illinois Passing Brandon Peters 22/37, 273 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Brandon Peters 8 carries, 68 yards
Receiving Donny Navarro 6 receptions, 77 yards

References

  1. ^ @KXSFsports (December 30, 2019). "Offensive MVP: Chase Garbers, Cal Defensive MVP: Zeanda Johnson, Cal" (Tweet). Retrieved December 30, 2019 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "California vs. Illinois – Game Summary". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  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 19, 2019.
  6. ^ "California Golden Bears vs. Illinois Fighting Illini football series history". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 8, 2019.