Miami and Rutgers to play in the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium

The University of Miami and Rutgers University today accepted invitations to play in the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, December 28, with kickoff scheduled for 2:15 p.m. (ET). This year marks the 13th edition of the game and the ninth consecutive Pinstripe Bowl to feature competitors from the Big Ten and ACC.

Miami will make its 45th all-time bowl appearance (20-24) and first under Head Coach Mario Cristobal. Cristobal, a standout offensive lineman for the 1989 and 1991 Miami national championship teams, is in his second season as the head coach of his alma mater. The Hurricanes will be making their second appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl (also 2018 vs. Wisconsin). They also become the second ACC team to play in the Pinstripe Bowl multiple times (in nine games of the bowl’s partnership with the ACC), joining Boston College. Additionally, this will mark Miami’s third overall trip to the Bronx after playing once at the original Yankee Stadium, in the 1962 Gotham Bowl, losing to Nebraska, 36-34.

The 2023 Pinstripe Bowl marks the Hurricanes’ first bowl game selection since the 2021 Sun Bowl (did not participate due to COVID-19) and their 35th bowl game selection in the last 41 seasons (since 1983). The Hurricanes appeared in the AP Top 25 for five consecutive weeks this season (Week 3–7), reaching as high as No. 17. Miami (7-5, 3-5 ACC) clinched bowl eligibility by defeating Virginia, 29-26, in overtime on October 28.

“We are excited to accept a bid to the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl in venerable Yankee Stadium,” said Miami Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich. “Visiting New York to play in a bowl game at such an historic venue is a great reward and a memorable opportunity for both our student-athletes and our fans.”

“We are excited for the opportunity to compete against a great program like Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl, hosted by a championship organization in the New York Yankees,” said Miami Head Coach Mario Cristobal. “Our players have worked extremely hard for another chance to compete, and I know our players, coaches and our staff are looking forward to the opportunity.”

Rutgers will make its 12th all-time bowl appearance (6-5) and eighth under Head Coach Greg Schiano (5-2). The Scarlet Knights will be making their third appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl, tying Syracuse University for the most in the game’s history. This will also mark Rutgers’ first appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl as a member of the Big Ten, making them the ninth different team from the conference (in nine games of the bowl’s partnership with the Big Ten) to play in the game. The Scarlet Knights split their previous two Pinstripe Bowl matchups, defeating Iowa State, 27-13, in the second edition of the game in 2011 and falling to Notre Dame, 29-16, in 2013. Additionally, this will mark Rutgers’ fourth appearance at the current Yankee Stadium (also defeated Army, 27-12, in a regular season game on November 12, 2011), trailing only Syracuse (five) for the most games played at the venue. The Scarlet Knights also played nine times at the original Yankee Stadium – all against NYU – going 1-7-1.

During Schiano’s first tenure as head coach (2001-11), Rutgers made six bowl game appearances over seven seasons from 2005-11 (2005-09, ‘11), winning five of those games (2006-09, ’11). After returning to the Scarlet Knights’ sideline in 2020, Schiano guided Rutgers to the 2021 Gator Bowl, the program’s most recent bowl appearance and its first since 2014. Rutgers (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten) clinched bowl eligibility with their 31-14 win at Indiana on October 21.

“Congratulations to Coach Schiano, his staff and our remarkable student-athletes on their invitation to the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl,” said Rutgers Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. “This will be a great opportunity for the team to play in front of our fans one more time this year, and at an iconic venue. I want to thank the Yankees organization for their selection. We look forward to being part of a first-class event.”

“We are thrilled about the opportunity to continue our season and play in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl,” said Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano. “The bowl experience is a reward for the players. We are blessed with a chance to be together for the next month and to compete against an excellent opponent. Having played in the Pinstripe Bowl before, we know the Yankees do a tremendous job in making this a memorable time for our program. New York is a great place to be for the holidays and we look forward to seeing our fans at Yankee Stadium.”

“We are thrilled to host student-athletes, staff and families from the University of Miami and Rutgers University at the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl,” said Mark Holtzman, Executive Director of the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. “The holiday season in New York City will provide a spectacular setting for the entire docket of bowl-related activities, and Yankee Stadium will provide a majestic stage for these two fantastic universities to showcase their programs. With many Miami alumni who call New York home and Rutgers’ large and devoted following in the local area, we will undoubtedly have an electric atmosphere at Yankee Stadium as we add to the legacy of ‘New York’s Bowl Game.”

“We can’t wait to have Miami and Rutgers take the field in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. These two teams embody the power, performance and attitude that makes college football the sport we all love,” said Peter Ballantyne, CEO of Bad Boy Mowers. “We look forward to hosting the players and fans in New York City and adding another chapter to the storied history of Yankee Stadium.”

A new feature of this year’s game will include a Field Goal Kick Scholarship Competition at halftime, in which one student selected by each school will have the opportunity to win a scholarship of up to $35,000. Each student will be able to choose where they want to kick their field goal: the 5-yard line ($10,000), the 10-yard line ($20,000) or the 20-yard line ($35,000). If either student does not make the field goal from their selected spot, they will still be rewarded with a $5,000 scholarship as a consolation prize. The scholarship will be sponsored and funded by Bad Boy Mowers as a way of providing a positive and impactful future for students across the country.

This year’s game will be nationally televised by ESPN and broadcast by ESPN Radio.

Special events, promotions and community outreach will take place throughout Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl week to once again create an unforgettable experience for fans, families, students and staff. Scheduled visits to New York City institutions will include One World Observatory, the 9/11 Memorial, Radio City Music Hall and more.

The night before the game, on December 27, the bowl will be publicly recognized by an iconic New York City landmark as the Empire State Building will be lit in the school colors of Miami and Rutgers.

Tickets for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl are currently on sale at www.pinstripebowl.com, the official website of the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. For up-to-the-moment information regarding the game, fans are also encouraged to follow the Bowl game’s official Twitter and Instagram accounts – @PinstripeBowl.