The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl matchup is official, and it features a first-ever bowl qualifier against a postseason regular.
The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens will battle the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in Mobile, AL on Wednesday, Dec. 17 in a Conference USA vs. Sun Belt matchup. Both teams enter with identical 6-6 records, and only the victor will secure a winning season.
Delaware (6-6, 4-4 CUSA) joined the FBS this season and was technically ineligible for the postseason, due to restrictions applied to teams
transitioning from the FCS. However, due to a lack of qualifying teams, Delaware (along with fellow FBS newcomer Missouri State) punched a ticket to its first-ever bowl game. Under head coach Ryan Carty, the Fightin’ Blue Hens enjoyed a fantastic debut year at the highest level. Delaware knocked off three different teams with winning records, outpacing 9-3 UConn, 7-5 FIU, and 7-5 Louisiana Tech to finish the regular season at .500.
Louisiana (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) is bowling for the eighth-straight year — the longest active streak in the Sun Belt — and for the 13th time in 15 seasons. The Ragin’ Cajuns overcame a nightmare 2-6 start and rattled off four-consecutive victories to keep the postseason strike thriving. Louisiana won each of its final four games by single-digits, consistently emerging in crunch time against its Sun Belt peers, sealing its bowl fate in a Week 14 overtime win over rival ULM. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 0-3 in bowls under head coach Michael Desormeaux, who looks to end the drought and produce Louisiana’s first bowl win since 2021.
Louisiana is making its second appearance in this bowl. During the 2019 season, the Ragin’ Cajuns won the formerly-named LendingTree Bowl over Miami (OH), 27-17, to cap an 11-3 season. Delaware, of course, is making its first appearance in Mobile.
Delaware and Louisiana square off in the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl at 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT. The 68 Ventures Bowl — in its third year under the current sponsor — kicks off from Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. Louisiana is 3-0 all-time in this stadium, which doubles as the home of South Alabama. The Ragin’ Cajuns claimed victories over South Alabama in 2021, 2023, and 2025, edging the Jaguars 31-22 to initiate their current 4-game win streak.
This will be the bowl’s first CUSA vs. Sun Belt matchup since 2022. The game will be viewable on ESPN as the fourth bowl game in the 2025 lineup.
