The 2014 Belk Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game played on December 30, 2014, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. It featured the Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Louisville Cardinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The game marked the thirteenth edition of the Belk Bowl.
Teams
| Team | Conference | Record (Regular Season) |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Bulldogs | SEC | 9–3 |
| Louisville Cardinals | ACC | 9–3 |
Game details
- Date: December 30, 2014
- Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Attendance: 46,718
- Broadcast: ESPN (United States)
- Announcers: Dave Pasch (play‑by‑play), Joey Galloway (analyst), and Paul Maguire (sideline)
Scoring summary
| Quarter | Georgia Bulldogs | Louisville Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | 0 |
| 2nd | 7 | 7 |
| 3rd | 0 | 10 |
| 4th | 10 | 14 |
| Final | 24 | 31 |
Key performances
- MVP: Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, who completed 15 of 31 passes for 281 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, and also rushed for 82 yards and 1 touchdown.
- Georgia quarterback: Aaron Murray threw for 208 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
Game narrative
The Bulldogs opened scoring with a 12‑yard touchdown pass from Aaron Murray to wide receiver Jermaine Gresham. Louisville responded in the second quarter with a 2‑yard touchdown run by Lamar Jackson, tying the game at 7‑7 before Georgia reclaimed a 14‑7 lead prior to halftime.
The second half saw Louisville take control. A 23‑yard field goal by J. D. McCarthy and a 32‑yard touchdown pass from Jackson to wide receiver Jalen Ramsey gave the Cardinals a 24‑14 advantage. Georgia narrowed the gap with a late fourth‑quarter field goal, but Louisville extended the lead with a 30‑yard touchdown pass to Erick Dickerson, securing a 31‑24 victory.
Aftermath
- The victory gave Louisville its first bowl win of the 2014 season and marked the final collegiate appearance of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy in 2016.
- Georgia's loss concluded their season with a 9‑4 record.
- The Belk Bowl continued its affiliation with the SEC and ACC, providing both conferences with a postseason placement opportunity.
Historical context
The Belk Bowl, inaugurated in 2002 as the Charlotte Bowl, has been sponsored by the department store chain Belk since 2005. The 2014 contest was the thirteenth occurrence of the event and maintained its status as a mid‑tier bowl, typically featuring teams with records around .500 to .700 in win‑loss percentage.
