The game marked the first ever meeting of the two universities' football programs.[3] NC State led 17-6 at halftime, but crumbled in the second half after losing starting quarterback Russell Wilson to a knee injury. Rutgers won, 29-23.
This was also the first edition of the bowl game not to feature any current or former members of Conference USA. The selection of NC State did have a connection to past bowl games in Birmingham as the Wolfpack had competed in the last All-American Bowl, held at Legion Field in 1990.
Scoring summary[]
Scoring Play
Score
1st Quarter
Rutgers - Rob Cervini 6 yard TD run (kick blocked), 11:47
Rutgers 6-0
NCSU - Owen Spencer 44 yard TD pass from Russell Wilson (Josh Czajkowski kick), 7:54
NCSU 7-6
NCSU - Czajkowski 32 yard FG, 1:00
NCSU 10-6
2nd Quarter
NCSU - Andre Brown 5 yard TD run (Czajkowski kick), :38
NCSU 17-6
3rd Quarter
Rutgers - San San Te 31 yard FG, 10:14
NCSU 17-9
Rutgers - Tiquan Underwood 10 yard TD pass from Mike Teel (Te kick), 6:50
NCSU 17-16
4th Quarter
Rutgers - Te 28 yard FG, 13:31
Rutgers 19-17
NCSU - Anthony Hill 16 yard TD pass from Daniel Evans (two-point conversion no good), 9:21
NCSU 23-19
Rutgers - Kenny Britt 42 yard TD pass from Teel (Te kick), 8:30
