CJ Bailey Leads NC State to Dominant 31-7 Gasparilla Bowl Victory Over Memphis, History
CJ Bailey Leads NC State to Dominant 31-7 Gasparilla Bowl Victory Over Memphis
Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey delivered a strong performance in his home state, accounting for three touchdowns as the NC State Wolfpack cruised to a 31-7 win over the Memphis Tigers in the 2025 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl on December 19, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The victory ends NC State's bowl drought dating back to 2017 and provides a satisfying close to Bailey's second college season.
Bailey Shines in Florida ReturnAfter a disappointing outing against Miami earlier in the season, Bailey redeemed himself with 221 passing yards and two TDs, plus a 14-yard untouched rushing touchdown to open the scoring early in the first quarter.Key scoring plays:
Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey delivered a strong performance in his home state, accounting for three touchdowns as the NC State Wolfpack cruised to a 31-7 win over the Memphis Tigers in the 2025 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl on December 19, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The victory ends NC State's bowl drought dating back to 2017 and provides a satisfying close to Bailey's second college season.
Bailey Shines in Florida ReturnAfter a disappointing outing against Miami earlier in the season, Bailey redeemed himself with 221 passing yards and two TDs, plus a 14-yard untouched rushing touchdown to open the scoring early in the first quarter.Key scoring plays:
- Bailey's scamper on an option play for the game's first TD.
- A 31-yard TD pass to senior WR Wesley Grimes.
- A 40-yard bomb to fellow Floridian Teddy Hoffmann just before halftime—part of a historic first-half outburst that saw NC State score the most points (31) in a half in Gasparilla Bowl history.
College football bowl schedule 2025-26, games, dates, locations, kickoff -times, TV channels & live streams.
When is the 2025 Gasparilla Bowl?
The 2025 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl will be played on Friday, 19th December, 2025.
What time does the Gasparilla Bowl game starts.?
The 17th edition of the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla bowl game will be kick-off on Friday, December 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
12:30 p.m. PT
1:30 p.m. MT.
2:30 p.m. CT
3:30 p.m. ET.
Where is the Gasparilla Bowl?
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida hosts the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl.
It is the the home stadium for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and USF Bulls. Before 2018, it was played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
Who is playing in the 2025 Gasparilla Bowl?
Gasparilla Bowl will NC State Wolfpack vs. Memphis Tigers in 2025 matchup.
NC State (ACC, 7-5) faces Memphis (AAC, 8-4) in their first-ever meeting; NC State won its last game 42-19 over North Carolina, while Memphis fell 28-17 to Navy
Where to to Watch the Gasparilla Bowl Live, TV Channel, Streaming.
The Gasparilla Bowl 2025 game will be nationally televised on ESPN, Try ESPN+ and FuboTV for free for Live streaming.
2025 Gasparilla Bowl game: top players to watch
NC State
- QB CJ Bailey: 2,884 yds, 23 TD
- RB Hollywood Smothers: Explosive freshman
- WR Keenan Jackson: Deep threat
- QB Brendon Lewis: Dual-threat leader
- RB Sutton Smith: 6.6 ypc, big-play ability
- RB Frank Peasant: Power & volume
Where can I get the Tickets of 2025 Gasparilla Bowl game.?
Tickets for the 2025 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl go on sale. Lower-level tickets start at $50 and are available for purchase on GasparillaBowl.com.
For information on group ticket sales, please call/text Ben Salo at (813) 301-6623 or email at bsalo@viniksportsgroup.com.
Buy via Ticketmaster -- VividSeat Stubhub
Gasparilla Bowl 2025: Odds, line, spread, under/over totals.
Current Lines
Spread: Memphis -6.5
Moneyline: Memphis -270 | NC State +220
Total: 56.5 (Over/Under -110)
Memphis opened and remains a clear favorite behind stronger metrics and consistency.
Spread: Memphis -6.5
Moneyline: Memphis -270 | NC State +220
Total: 56.5 (Over/Under -110)
Memphis opened and remains a clear favorite behind stronger metrics and consistency.
Who won the last year Gasparilla Bowl 2024?
Last year’s Gasparilla Bowl showcased a dominant performance by the Florida Gators, who defeated the Tulane Green Wave 33–8. Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway earned MVP honors after throwing for a bowl-record 305 yards, while the Gators’ defense held Tulane to 194 total yards, the fewest in Gasparilla Bowl history. The victory marked Florida’s first bowl win since 2019 and capped off a four-game winning streak to end the season.
Gasparilla Bowl History, List of Past winners, All-time results, champions, 2008-2025.
The Gasparilla Bowl began in 2008 and the matchup currently features schools tie-ins with the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) or Conference USA.
The game takes place at Tropicana Field from St. Petersburg, Florida.
ALSO CALLED -
- magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl, 2008-09
- Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl , 2010-13
- Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl 2014-16
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December 20-25, 2026 --
December 19, 2025 -- North Carolina State 31, Memphis 7.
December 20, 2024 -- Florida 33, Tulane 8
December 22, 2023 -- Georgia Tech 30, UCF 17
December 23, 2022 -- Wake Forest 27, Missouri Tigers 17
December 23, 2021 -- UCF 29, Florida 17
December 23, 2019 -- UCF 48, Marshall 25
December 20, 2018 -- Marshall 38, South Florida 20
December 21, 2017 -- Temple 28, FIU 3
December 26, 2016 -- Mississippi State 17, Miami (OH) 16
December 26, 2015 -- Marshall 16, Connecticut 10
December 26, 2014 -- NC State 34, UCF 27
December 23, 2013 -- East Carolina 37, Ohio 20
December 21, 2012 -- UCF 38, Ball State 17
December 20, 2011 -- Marshall 20, FIU 10
December 21, 2010 -- Louisville 31, Southern Miss 28
December 19, 2009 -- Rutgers 45, UCF 24
December 20, 2008 -- South Florida 41, Memphis 14
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