NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore quarterback Jaylen Raynor accounted for three touchdowns—including a pair of connections with redshirt junior wide receiver Corey Rucker—to propel Arkansas State to a 38-31 win over Bowling Green in the 68 Ventures Bowl. 
 
The Red Wolves—who were part of the Sun Belt’s bowl contingent that leads non-autonomy conferences for the third-straight season—secured the first bowl title of the Butch Jones era to improve to 5-7 all-time in FBS bowl games.
 
Raynor completed 18-of-30 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a third score, while three different Red Wolves tallied 100-or-more all-purpose yards. Redshirt junior running back Ja’Quez Cross accumulated a team-high 112 all-purpose yards, followed by 109 from redshirt senior wide receiver Courtney Jackson and 107 from Rucker. 
 
Jackson provided the spark for Arkansas State with a 60-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter, opening up the first of five double-digit advantages for the Red Wolves. Rucker caught four passes for a team-high 107 yards, headlined by a 79-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. 
 
Zak Wallace carried the ball 15 times for a team-high 99 yards. The redshirt senior running back took three-straight carries for the game-sealing first down after Arkansas State recovered a Bowling Green onside kick attempt with 1:41 to play. 
 
Defensively, redshirt senior linebacker Charles Willekes and senior defensive back Justin Parks each registered double-digit tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. 
 
With the win, Arkansas State improves to 8-5 on the season for the first time since 2019.