The 2003 Outback Bowl was a college football bowl game held on January 1, 2003, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Michigan Wolverines, third-place finishers in the Big Ten Conference, defeated the Florida Gators, who finished second the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), 38âÂÂ30. Michigan running back Chris Perry was named the game's MVP.
Michigan got on the board first after a 4-yard touchdown run by Chris Perry to open up a 7âÂÂ0 lead. In the second quarter, Florida running back Earnest Graham scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7. Later in the second quarter, Graham scored again on a 1-yard run, but a two-point conversion attempt by Ran Carthon failed. Florida led 13âÂÂ7. Chris Perry scored again on a 1-yard run to give Michigan a 14âÂÂ13 lead. Florida kicker Matt Leach connected on a 29-yard field goal to retake the lead for the Gators, 16âÂÂ14. John Navarre threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ronald Bellamy to give Michigan a 21-16 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Florida quarterback Rex Grossman threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keiwan Ratliff to put Florida up 23âÂÂ21. Michigan answered with two more touchdown runs by Chris Perry, from 7 and 12 yards out, to lead 35âÂÂ23. In the fourth quarter, Grossman found wide receiver Aaron Walker for a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 35âÂÂ30. Adam Finley connected on a 33-yard field goal to increase Michigan's lead to 38âÂÂ30, which held up as the final score.