| Game Name: | Belk Bowl |
| Subheader: | 15th Belk Bowl |
| Date Game Played: | December 29 |
| Year Game Played: | 2016 |
| Football Season: | 2016 |
| Stadium: | Bank of America Stadium |
| City: | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Visitor School: | University of Arkansas |
| Visitor Name Short: | Arkansas |
| Visitor Nickname: | Razorbacks |
| Visitor Record: | 7–5 |
| Visitor Conference: | SEC |
| Visitor Coach: | Bret Bielema |
| Visitor 1Q: | 17 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 0 |
| Home School: | Virginia Tech |
| Home Name Short: | Virginia Tech |
| Home Nickname: | Hokies |
| Home Record: | 9–4 |
| Home Conference: | ACC |
| Home Rank Ap: | 18 |
| Home Rank Coaches: | 19 |
| Home Rank Cfp: | 22 |
| Home Coach: | Justin Fuente |
| Home 1Q: | 0 |
| Home 2Q: | 0 |
| Home 3Q: | 21 |
| Home 4Q: | 14 |
| Mvp: | Cam Phillips (Virginia Tech) |
| Odds: | Virginia Tech by 7[1] |
| Anthem: | Blue Honey [2] |
| Referee: | Brandon Cruse (Big 12) |
| Attendance: | 46,902 |
| Payout: | 1,700,000[3] |
| Us Network: | ESPN |
| Us Announcers: | TV: Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Dr. Jerry Punch Radio: Taylor Zarzour, Charles Arbuckle, Dari Nowkhah |
The 2016 Belk Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game played on December 29, 2016. The game featured the Arkansas Razorbacks of the Southeastern Conference and the Virginia Tech Hokies of the Atlantic Coast Conference. It was the first appearance in the Belk Bowl for both teams.[4]
See main article: 2016 Arkansas Razorbacks football team and 2016 Southeastern Conference football season.
Prior to kickoff, Arkansas announced that senior tight end, Jeremy Sprinkle would be suspended for the bowl game.[5] Sprinkle had been arrested for shoplifting earlier in the week.[6] On Tuesday, all players from both teams received a $450 gift card to purchase merchandise from a Belk store within a 90 minute timeframe. Sprinkle allegedly took more than he was allowed and was suspended by the Arkansas athletic department.[7]
See main article: 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football team and 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference football season. With its 2016 Belk Bowl appearance, the Virginia Tech football team extended its bowl streak to 24 consecutive games. The streak is the longest active bowl streak recognized by the NCAA.
| Statistics | ARK | VT |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 14 | 25 |
| Plays-yards | 65-314 | 78-402 |
| Third down efficiency | 2-14 | 7-14 |
| Rushes-yards | 34-36 | 44-159 |
| Passing yards | 278 | 243 |
| Passing, Comp-Att-Int | 18-31-3 | 21-34-2 |
| Time of Possession | 31:14 | 28:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARK | Passing | Austin Allen | 18/31, 278 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | 12 car, 34 yds | ||
| Receiving | Keon Hatcher | 6 rec, 105 yds | |
| VT | Passing | Jerod Evans | 21/33, 243 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Jerod Evans | 22 car, 87 yds, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Cam Phillips | 6 rec, 115 yds |