2014 BBVA Compass Bowl

2014 BBVA Compass Bowl
Vanderbilt Commodores Houston Cougars (8–4) (8–4) 41 24 Head coach:  James Franklin Head coach:  Tony Levine
1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 14 10 0 17 41 Houston 0 0 24 0 24
Date	January 4, 2014
Season	2013
Stadium	Legion Field
Location	Birmingham, Alabama
Favorite	Vanderbilt by 2½[1]
Referee	Steve LaMantia (C-USA)
Attendance	42,717[2]
Payout	US$900,000
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)

The 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl was an American college football bowl game that was played on January 4, 2014 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The eighth edition of the BBVA Compass Bowl (which was originally called the Birmingham Bowl), it featured the Vanderbilt Commodores of the Southeastern Conference and the Houston Cougars of the American Athletic Conference. It was one of the 2013–14 bowl games that concluded the 2013 FBS football season. The game began at 12:00 p.m. CST and was telecast on ESPN. It was sponsored by the BBVA Compass banking company. Vanderbilt defeated Houston by a score of 41–24.

Both the Commodores and the Cougars accepted their invitations after earning 8–4 records in their respective season schedules.^[3][4] This was the first BBVA Compass Bowl for both Vanderbilt and Houston, as well as the first time the schools had played each other in football.

Teams

Vanderbilt

The Commodores continued their winning ways under third-year coach James Franklin, finishing the season 8–4 overall and 4–4 in conference play, which was good enough for fourth place in the SEC East. At season's end, they accepted an invitation to play in the game.^[3] This will be the first January bowl game for the Commodores. All previous bowl appearances for the school were in December games. Statistical leaders for the Commodores are Jerron Seymor, 144 rushes for 627 yards; Austyn Carta-Samuels, 193 passes for 2,268 yards for 11 touchdowns; Jordan Matthews, who caught 107 passes for 1,334 yards and 5 TDs; Kenny Ladler and Darreon Herring had 87 and 80 tackles respectively. This was their 4th bowl game in 6 years.

Houston

The Cougars' first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference marked a return to their winning ways, seeing the team finishing 8–4 overall and 5–3 in conference play which was good for fourth in the conference. At season's end, they accepted the invitation to play in the game.^[4] Statistical leaders for the Cougars are Ryan Jackson, 137 rushes for 655 yards; John O'Kom, 239 passes for 2,889 yards for 26 touchdowns; Deontay Greenberry, who caught 76 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 TDs; Efrem Oliphant and Derrick Mathes had made 123 and 110 tackles respectively during the season.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Vanderbilt Houston 1 9:57 4 73 2:01 VAN Jordan Matthews 50-yard touchdown reception from Patton Robinette, Carey Spear kick good 7 0 1 1:33 4 16 1:56 VAN Patton Robinette 8-yard touchdown run, Carey Spear kick good 14 0 2 10:27 7 44 2:51 VAN 24-yard field goal by Carey Spear 17 0 2 7:09 4 73 1:54 VAN Jordan Matthews 50-yard touchdown reception from Patton Robinette, Carey Spear kick good 24 0 3 10:12 1 6 0:05 HOU Kenneth Farrow 6-yard touchdown run, Kyle Bullard kick good 24 7 3 6:25 6 86 1:28 HOU Markeith Ambles 6-yard touchdown reception from John O'Korn, Kyle Bullard kick good 24 14 3 3:19 4 67 1:20 HOU 30-yard field goal by Kyle Bullard 24 17 3 0:19 3 83 0:56 HOU Deontay Greenberry 67-yard touchdown reception from John O'Korn, Kyle Bullard kick good 24 24 4 9:28 7 82 3:28 VAN Brian Kimbrow 21-yard touchdown run, Carey Spear kick good 31 24 4 6:17 4 -1 2:24 VAN 35-yard field goal by Carey Spear 34 24 4 1:42 2 2 0:54 VAN Jerron Seymour 2-yard touchdown run, Carey Spear kick good 41 24 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 41 24

Statistics

Statistics	Vanderbilt	Houston
First Downs	14	11
Total offense, plays – yards	71–365	75–381
Rushes-yards (net)	52–211	27–143
Passing yards (net)	154	239
Passes, Comp-Att-Int	6–19–2	21–48–2
Time of Possession	35:36	24:19

References

1. Bowl Schedule, Los Angeles Times, December 10, 2013
2. Box Score, ESPN.com, January 4, 2014
3. "Vanderbilt accepts BBVA Compass Bowl invitation". VUCommodores.com. Vanderbilt University. December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
4. "Houston Accepts BBVA Compass Bowl Invitation". University of Houston. December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.