BOSTON COLLEGE AND SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY TO FACE OFF IN 2ND ANNUAL WASABI FENWAY BOWL ON DECEMBER 28 AT FENWAY PARK
BOSTON, MA – The Boston College Eagles (BC) and the Southern Methodist University Mustangs (SMU) will face off in the 2nd annual Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park on Thursday, December 28 at 11 a.m. ET. Jointly produced by Fenway Park Events and ESPN Events, the Wasabi Fenway Bowl will be televised nationally on ESPN and simulcast on ESPN+. Tickets for the Wasabi Fenway Bowl are available now at www.fenwaybowl.com.
“Wasabi is thrilled to welcome the Boston College Eagles and the SMU Mustangs to historic Fenway Park for the 2023 Wasabi Fenway Bowl," said Michael Welts, Chief Marketing Officer, Wasabi Technologies. “The local flavor of this year’s match up will undoubtedly foster even more excitement for the game and elevate its status as a premier sporting tradition in Boston.”
About Boston College Football
Boston College turned around from a 1-3 start to gain bowl eligibility for the third time in four years under head coach Jeff Hafley and seventh time in eight years. The Eagles (6-6) feature the 18th best rushing attack in the country at 193.5 yards per game, led by quarterback Thomas Castellanos at 957 yards. BC is 14-13 all-time in bowl games and 55-16-5 in 76 previous competitions played at Fenway Park; beginning with a 28-6 win over Norwich University on
Halloween in 1914.
Seven BC players earned All-ACC selection, including first-team pick and All-America candidate Christian Mahogany, who anchors the Eagles' offensive line from his right guard position. Cornerback Elijah Jones, who has missed the last three games, also received a first team nod and leads the ACC in interceptions (5) and passes defended (13). Right tackle Ozzy Trapilo (Norwell, Mass.) garnered second team recognition, while the Eagles' leading tackler and linebacker Vinny DePalma gained third team honors.
Running back Kye Robichaux has teamed up with Castellanos to be the only Power 5 teammates in the country with multiple 100-yard rushing games. The transfer is 14th in the league in touchdowns (7) and 11th in rushing yards (691) despite missing two games. Wide receiver Lewis Bond has emerged as BC's top threat in the pass game with 48 receptions, 611 yards and seven touchdowns. He is one of only six receivers in the ACC to post a season of 45/600/7 or better this year.
“We’re excited to be staying close to home for our students and fans to get one more chance to see us play. Boston is a great sports town, one that we’re proud to be a part of every day and now we get to be a part of the growing tradition of postseason football in New England. And for our team, we get a chance to play on a field in our own backyard that few get the opportunity to and will do so competing against one of the top teams in the country and a future conference rival,” said Jeff Hafley, Head Coach, Boston College Football
About SMU Football
No. 24 SMU has enjoyed historic success this season under head coach Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs posted an 11-2 record this year, capturing its first AAC Championship while going undefeated (8-0) in conference play. The 11 wins are the most by the program since the 1982 National Championship team.
SMU has been dominant all season long on both sides of the ball, ranking in the top 20 in the NCAA in numerous categories including: third down percentage defense (3rd), defensive touchdowns (1st), fewest penalties per game (14th), first down offense (4th), passing offense (19th), passing yards per completion (6th), red zone offense (10th), rushing defense (18th), sacks allowed (13th), scoring defense (12th), scoring offense (6th), tackles for loss allowed (8th), team passing efficiency (17th), team passing efficiency defense (13th), team sacks (2nd), team tackles for loss (13th), total defense (12th) and total offense (14th).
On offense, both the 528 points scored and 40.6 scoring average rank second highest in program history. The 28 rushing touchdowns are tied for third most in program history. The Mustangs have scored at least 55 points four times this season, the most in program history for a single season.
Defensively, the Mustangs have been one of the best teams in the country this season. The 47 sacks rank second in program history for a single season. SMU took it to the conference opposition, posting an average margin of victory of 28.9 points (45.9-17.0) in conference games this year, the largest margin for any team in the NCAA in conference play in 2023.
“We’re excited to be playing in the Fenway Bowl. We hope to wrap up this season with a 12th win - which would only be the second time that has happened in school history. Our goal was winning a conference championship, and we did that. Our players deserve to be celebrated and this will be a great opportunity to do just that,” said Rhett Lashlee, Head Coach, SMU Football.
Wasabi Fenway Bowl media day will take place Wednesday, December 27 at 11 a.m. at the Museum of Science in Boston, with team head coaches and captains, and Wasabi Fenway Bowl representatives. Both teams will also participate in special events while they are in Boston.
Additional information will be shared in the coming weeks. Media interested in applying for credentials to cover community events, Media Day and the Wasabi Fenway Bowl game must complete a media credential request form here.
“We’re excited about this matchup and the chance for Boston College and SMU student athletes, coaches, families, and fans to discover Fenway Park beyond the baseball season,” said Brett Miller, Executive Director of the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. “Building off of last year’s energy and excitement around the inaugural Wasabi Fenway Bowl, we look forward to hosting the return of postseason, Division 1 football in New England alongside the City of Boston, Wasabi, our Executive Committee, and foundational partners. This event further amplifies Fenway Park’s reputation as a dynamic, year-round venue, providing fans with yet another way to experience the historic ballpark.”
For information on group and hospitality options, please visit fenwaybowl.com/groups, email groupsales@fenwaybowl.com, or call 617.226.6001. Fans are also invited to attend the Wasabi Fenway Bowl Pre-Game Fan Fest Presented by Sam Adams prior to the game from 8-10:30 a.m. at the House of Blues. The event is free to the general public with a ticketed VIP option that includes a food & beverage package available as well.
Tickets and further details on the Wasabi Fenway Bowl can be found at the game’s website: www.fenwaybowl.com, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @FenwayBowl.
About Wasabi Technologies
Wasabi provides simple and affordable hot cloud storage for businesses all over the world. It enables organizations to store and instantly access an unlimited amount of data with no complex tiers or egress or API fees, delivering predictable costs that save money and industry leading security and performance businesses can count on. Trusted by customers worldwide, Wasabi has been recognized as one of technology’s fastest-growing and most visionary companies. Created by Carbonite co-founders and cloud storage pioneers David Friend and Jeff Flowers, Wasabi is a privately held company based in Boston. Wasabi is a Proud Partner of the Boston Red Sox, and the Official Cloud Storage Partner of Liverpool Football Club and the Boston Bruins.
Follow and connect with Wasabi on Linkedin, X, Facebook, Instagram, and The Bucket.
About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2023, the 33-event schedule includes four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, nine college basketball events, a college softball event and the inaugural Band of the Year National Championship, in addition to a new college gymnastics event coming in 2024. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, while reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, X/Twitter or YouTube pages.
Media Contacts:
Fenway Park Events Contact: Sean Hathaway at shathaway@issuesgroup.com
Wasabi Contact: Lindsay Daly at Ldaly@wasabi.com
Team Contacts:
Boston College: Brendan Flynn, brendan.flynn.5@bc.edu
Southern Methodist University: Christopher Smith at christophersmith@mail.smu.edu