Holiday Bowl

Coordinates: 32°46′59″N 117°7′10″W / 32.78306°N 117.11944°W / 32.78306; -117.11944
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(Redirected from Pacific Life Holiday Bowl)

32°46′59″N 117°7′10″W / 32.78306°N 117.11944°W / 32.78306; -117.11944

Holiday Bowl
DirecTV Holiday Bowl
StadiumPetco Park
LocationSan Diego, California
Previous stadiumsSan Diego Stadium
(1978–2019)
Operated1978–present
Conference tie-insPac-12 (1997–present)
ACC (2022–present)
Previous conference tie-ins
PayoutUS$6,532,700 (2019)[1]
Sponsors
Former names
  • Holiday Bowl (1978–1985)
  • Sea World Holiday Bowl (1986–1990)
  • Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl (1991–1994)
  • Plymouth Holiday Bowl (1995–1997)
  • Culligan Holiday Bowl (1998–2001)
  • Pacific Life Holiday Bowl (2002–2009)
  • Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl (2010–2012)
  • National University Holiday Bowl (2013–2014)
  • National Funding Holiday Bowl (2015–2016)
  • San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl (2017–2022)
2022 matchup
Oregon vs. North Carolina (Oregon 28–27)
2023 matchup
Louisville vs. USC (USC 42–28)

The Holiday Bowl is an American college football bowl game held in San Diego, California since 1978. The bowl is played at Petco Park in Downtown San Diego. The baseball park, home of the San Diego Padres, is reconfigured to accommodate a football field. The bowl was held at San Diego Stadium from its inception in 1978 to 2019, when the stadium was scheduled to be demolished.

History[edit]

The Holiday Bowl was founded in 1978 to give the Western Athletic Conference an automatic bowl bid after the Fiesta Bowl, which previously had a tie-in with the conference, ended its association with the WAC following the departure of Arizona and Arizona State (the latter of which served as the game's host) to join the Pacific-8 Conference in the summer of 1978, leading to the conference renaming itself as the Pacific-10. The Holiday Bowl inherited the Fiesta Bowl's former WAC ties and gave the conference's champion its automatic bid. For the first several editions, the WAC champion played an at-large team; from 1991 through 1994, the Big Ten Conference was given the second bid, provided it had enough bowl-eligible teams.

Beginning in 1995, the Big Eight Conference replaced the Big Ten and remained tied with the bowl as the conference expanded to become the Big 12 the following year. The WAC's automatic bid was split, with first choice given to the Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, and a team from the Pacific-10 was added as the alternate pick (meaning that, if the WAC champion played in the Cotton Bowl, a Pacific-10 team would play in the Holiday Bowl). The WAC ended its association with the Holiday Bowl after 1997, and the game became a matchup between the Big 12 and Pacific-10.

From 1998 to 2009, the matchup featured the #2 team in the Pacific-10/Pac-12 and the #3 Big 12 team, but the Alamo Bowl outbid the Holiday Bowl to feature that matchup beginning in 2010. Holiday Bowl Executive Director Bruce Binkowski stated that average ticket prices for the Holiday Bowl would have had to be increased from $60 to $100 to match the Alamo Bowl's offer of a $3 million payout (the Holiday Bowl was only offering $2.35 million).[2] The Pac-12 and Big 12 retained their contracts with the Holiday Bowl, however, and the 2010–2013 matchups pitted the #3 Pac-12 team against the #5 Big 12 team.[3]

Starting with the 2014 game, the Big Ten signed a six-year contract to return after a 20-year absence to the Holiday Bowl, regaining the slot that it had held from 1991 to 1994. With this agreement, the Holiday Bowl featured the #3 Pac-12 team and the #4 Big Ten team. In 2019, the bowl announced plans to host a Pac-12 team and an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) team during the 2020-2025 games.[4] Through 2019, the bowl was played at San Diego Stadium. The stadium was demolished beginning in the autumn of 2020.[5][6]

On October 22, 2020, organizers canceled the 2020 edition of the bowl, citing complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] The 2021 edition was called off hours before kickoff on December 28, due to COVID-19 protocol issues within the UCLA program,[8] and officially canceled the next morning, after organizers could not secure a replacement team to face NC State.[9] In May 2023, organizers of the Holiday Bowl filed a lawsuit in San Diego County, seeking $3 million in damages from the Pac-12 and UCLA due to their withdrawal from the 2021 game.[10] Organizers also stated that since reimbursement was not provided for cancellation of the 2021 game, the bowl withheld a $3.2 million payment to Pac-12 member Oregon for the 2022 game.[10]

Sponsors of the game have included SeaWorld, Thrifty Car Rental, Chrysler Corporation (through its Plymouth brand), Culligan, Pacific Life, Bridgepoint Education, National University, National Funding,[11] a San Diego-based alternative lender, San Diego County Credit Union, which formerly sponsored San Diego's other bowl game, the now-defunct Poinsettia Bowl,[12] and DirecTV.[13]

Notable games[edit]

Cal vs. Texas Tech at the 2004 Holiday Bowl

For the first seven games, BYU represented the WAC as its champion. In the inaugural 1978 game, the Navy Midshipmen came in with an 8–3 record and a Commander-in-Chief's Trophy and then capped their season with a 23–16 comeback victory over the highly favored Cougars. BYU has played in a total of 11 Holiday Bowls, more than any other team. The 1980 game was known as "The Miracle Bowl" as BYU erased a 20-point SMU lead in the last two minutes of the game, tying the score on the last play of the game—a 60-yard pass from All-American quarterback Jim McMahon to tight end Clay Brown as time expired. BYU kicker Kurt Gunther added the game-winning extra point.

The 1983 game between BYU and Missouri had its own dramatic ending, as BYU rallied behind All-American quarterback Steve Young. With just 23 seconds left, Young gave a handoff to Eddie Stinnett. Stinnett then turned around and passed it back to Steve Young, who caught it and ran in for a touchdown, giving BYU a 21–17 win. Young achieved a rare feat in college football: one touchdown pass, one touchdown run, and one touchdown reception all in a single game. For his efforts, he was named offensive MVP.

In the 1984 edition, BYU secured the national championship by defeating the Michigan Wolverines, 24–17. Because of the WAC's contract with the Holiday Bowl, BYU, top-ranked and the only undefeated team in Division I-A going into that season's bowls, was obligated to play in the mid-tier Holiday Bowl against a mediocre (6–5) Michigan squad. Again, the Holiday Bowl came down to the final few plays. BYU drove the length of the field and scored on a pass from injured All-American quarterback Robbie Bosco to Kelly Smith with 1:23 remaining. Marv Allen, who had played in the very first Holiday Bowl as a redshirt freshman in 1978, sealed the victory with an interception. This game marks a rare example of a non-New Year's Six bowl game featuring a team later named national champion.

Game results[edit]

Rankings are based on the AP poll prior to the game being played.

Date Played Winning team Losing team Attnd. Notes
December 22, 1978 Navy 23 BYU 16 52,500 notes
December 21, 1979 Indiana 38 #9 BYU 37 52,500 notes
December 19, 1980 #14 BYU 46 #19 SMU 45 50,200 notes
December 18, 1981 #14 BYU 38 #20 Washington State 36 52,419 notes
December 17, 1982 #17 Ohio State 47 BYU 17 52,533 notes
December 23, 1983 #9 BYU 21 Missouri 17 51,480 notes
December 21, 1984 #1 BYU 24 Michigan 17 61,243 notes
December 22, 1985 #14 Arkansas 18 Arizona State 17 60,641 notes
December 30, 1986 #19 Iowa 39 San Diego State 38 59,473 notes
December 30, 1987 #18 Iowa 20 Wyoming 19 61,892 notes
December 30, 1988 #12 Oklahoma State 62 #15 Wyoming 14 60,641 notes
December 29, 1989 #18 Penn State 50 #19 BYU 39 61,113 notes
December 29, 1990 Texas A&M 65 #13 BYU 14 61,441 notes
December 30, 1991 BYU 13 #7 Iowa 13 60,646 notes
December 30, 1992 Hawaii 27 Illinois 17 44,457 notes
December 30, 1993 #11 Ohio State 28 BYU 21 52,108 notes
December 30, 1994 #20 Michigan 24 #10 Colorado State 14 59,453 notes
December 29, 1995 #10 Kansas State 54 Colorado State 21 51,051 notes
December 30, 1996 #8 Colorado 33 #13 Washington 21 54,749 notes
December 29, 1997 #18 Colorado State 35 #19 Missouri 24 50,761 notes
December 30, 1998 #5 Arizona 23 #14 Nebraska 20 65,354 notes
December 29, 1999 #7 Kansas State 24 Washington 20 57,118 notes
December 29, 2000 #8 Oregon 35 #12 Texas 30 63,278 notes
December 28, 2001 #9 Texas 47 #21 Washington 43 60,548 notes
December 27, 2002 #6 Kansas State 34 Arizona State 27 58,717 notes
December 30, 2003 #15 Washington State 28 #5 Texas 20 61,102 notes
December 30, 2004 #23 Texas Tech 45 #4 California 31 63,711 notes
December 29, 2005 Oklahoma 17 #6 Oregon 14 65,416 notes
December 28, 2006 #20 California 45 #21 Texas A&M 10 62,395 notes
December 27, 2007 #17 Texas 52 #12 Arizona State 34 64,020 notes
December 30, 2008 #15 Oregon 42 #13 Oklahoma State 31 59,106 notes
December 30, 2009 #20 Nebraska 33 #22 Arizona 0 64,607 notes
December 30, 2010 Washington 19 #17 Nebraska 7 57,921 notes
December 28, 2011 Texas 21 California 10 56,313 notes
December 27, 2012 Baylor 49 #17 UCLA 26 55,507 notes
December 30, 2013 Texas Tech 37 #16 Arizona State 23 52,930 notes
December 27, 2014 #24 USC 45 #25 Nebraska 42 55,789 notes
December 30, 2015 #23 Wisconsin 23 USC 21 48,329 notes
December 27, 2016 Minnesota 17 Washington State 12 48,704 notes
December 28, 2017 #19 Michigan State 42 #21 Washington State 17 47,092 notes
December 31, 2018 Northwestern 31 #20 Utah 20 47,007 notes
December 27, 2019 #19 Iowa 49 #22 USC 24 50,123 notes
December       2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [14]
December 28, 2021 Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols[a] [15]
December 28, 2022 #15 Oregon 28 North Carolina 27 36,242 notes
December 27, 2023 USC 42 #16 Louisville 28 35,317 notes

Source:[16]

MVPs[edit]

2005 offensive MVP Rhett Bomar
2005 defensive co-MVP C. J. Ah You

The bowl names offensive and defensive MVPs; in some instances, co-MVPs have been named, or two offensive MVPs in lieu of a defensive MVP.

Game Offensive MVP Defensive MVP
Player Team Pos. Player Team Pos.
1978 Phil McConkey Navy WR Tom Enlow BYU LB
1979 Marc Wilson BYU QB Tim Wilbur Indiana CB
1980 Jim McMahon
Craig James
BYU
SMU
QB
RB
 
1981 Jim McMahon BYU QB Kyle Whittingham BYU LB
1982 Tim Spencer Ohio State RB Garcia Lane Ohio State CB
1983 Steve Young BYU QB Bobby Bell Missouri DE
1984 Robbie Bosco BYU QB Leon White BYU LB
1985 Bobby Joe Edmonds Arkansas RB Greg Battle Arizona State LB
1986 Mark Vlasic
Todd Santos
Iowa
San Diego State
QB
QB
Richard Brown San Diego State LB
1987 Craig Burnett Wyoming QB Anthony Wright Iowa CB
1988 Barry Sanders Oklahoma State RB Sim Drain Oklahoma State LB
1989 Blair Thomas
Ty Detmer
Penn State
BYU
RB
QB
 
1990 Bucky Richardson Texas A&M QB William Thomas Texas A&M LB
1991 Ty Detmer BYU QB Josh Arnold
Carlos James
BYU
Iowa
DB
DB
1992 Michael Carter Hawaii QB Junior Tagoai Hawaii DT
1993 Raymont Harris
John Walsh
Ohio State
BYU
RB
QB
Lorenzo Styles Ohio State LB
1994 Todd Collins
Anthoney Hill
Michigan
Colorado State
QB
QB
Matt Dyson Michigan LB
1995 Brian Kavanagh Kansas State QB Mario Smith Kansas State DB
1996 Koy Detmer Colorado QB Nick Ziegler Colorado DE
1997 Moses Moreno
Darran Hall
Colorado State
Colorado State
QB
WR
 
1998 Keith Smith Arizona QB Mike Rucker Nebraska DE
1999 Jonathan Beasley Kansas State QB Darren Howard Kansas State DE
2000 Joey Harrington Oregon QB Rashad Bauman Oregon DB
2001 Major Applewhite
Willie Hurst
Texas
Washington
QB
RB
Derrick Johnson Texas LB
2002 Ell Roberson Kansas State QB Terrell Suggs Arizona State DE
2003 Sammy Moore Washington State WR Kyle Basler Washington State P
2004 Sonny Cumbie Texas Tech QB Vincent Meeks Texas Tech DB
2005 Rhett Bomar Oklahoma QB C. J. Ah You
Anthony Trucks
Oklahoma
Oregon
DE
DB
2006 Marshawn Lynch
Nate Longshore
California
California
RB
QB
Desmond Bishop California LB
2007 Colt McCoy Texas QB Brian Orakpo Texas DE
2008 Jeremiah Masoli Oregon QB Jairus Byrd Oregon DB
2009 Niles Paul Nebraska WR Matt O'Hanlon Nebraska DB
2010 Chris Polk Washington RB Mason Foster Washington LB
2011 David Ash Texas QB Keenan Robinson Texas LB
2012 Lache Seastrunk Baylor RB Chris McAllister Baylor DE
2013 Davis Webb Texas Tech QB Will Smith Texas Tech LB
2014 Cody Kessler USC QB Leonard Williams USC DE
2015 Joel Stave Wisconsin QB Jack Cichy Wisconsin LB
2016 Rodney Smith Minnesota RB Blake Cashman Minnesota LB
2017 Brian Lewerke Michigan State QB Chris Frey Jr. Michigan State LB
2018 Clayton Thorson Northwestern QB JR Pace Northwestern S
2019 Ihmir Smith-Marsette Iowa WR A. J. Epenesa Iowa DE
2022 Bucky Irving Oregon RB Mase Funa Oregon LB
2023 Miller Moss USC QB Jaylin Smith USC S

Source:[17]: 96 [18][19][20][21]

Most appearances[edit]

Updated through the December 2023 edition (44 games, 88 total appearances).

Teams with multiple appearances
Teams with a single appearance

Won (12): Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Navy, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Penn State, Wisconsin
Lost (7): Illinois, Louisville, North Carolina, San Diego State, SMU, UCLA, Utah

As of 2023, every Pac-12 school except Stanford and Oregon State had appeared in the game (Colorado appeared while a member of the Big 12). The only current or former Big 12 members that have not played in the bowl are Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, TCU, UCF and West Virginia.

Appearances by conference[edit]

Updated through the December 2023 edition (44 games, 88 total appearances).

Conference Record Appearances by season
Games W L T Win pct. Won Lost Tied
Pac-12 27 9 18 0 .333 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2022, 2023 1981, 1985, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019  
Big 12 18 11 7 0 .611 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010  
WAC 18 6 11 1 .361 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1992, 1997 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 1991
Big Ten 15 11 3 1 .767 1979, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 1984, 1992, 2014 1991
Big Eight 3 2 1 0 .667 1988, 1995 1983  
SWC 3 2 1 0 .667 1985, 1990 1980  
Independents 2 2 0 0 1.000 1978, 1989    
ACC 2 0 2 0 .000 2022, 2023  
  • The Pac-12's record includes appearances when the conference was known as the Pac-10 (before 2011).
  • Conferences that are defunct or no longer active in FBS are marked in italics.
  • Independent appearances: Navy (1978), Penn State (1989)

Game records[edit]

Team Record, Team vs. Opponent Year
Most points scored (one team) 65, Texas A&M vs. BYU 1990
Most points scored (losing team) 45, SMU vs. BYU 1980
Most points scored (both teams) 91, BYU vs. SMU 1980
Fewest points allowed 0, Nebraska vs. Arizona 2009
Largest margin of victory 51, Texas A&M vs. BYU 1990
Total yards 698, Oklahoma State vs. Wyoming 1988
Rushing yards 393, SMU vs. BYU 1980
Passing yards 576, BYU vs. Penn State 1989
First downs 35, BYU vs. Penn State 1989
Fewest yards allowed 109, Nebraska vs. Arizona 2009
Fewest rushing yards allowed –12, Texas A&M vs. BYU 1990
Fewest passing yards allowed 46, Nebraska vs. Arizona 2009
Individual Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
All-purpose yards
Touchdowns (all-purpose) 5, Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State vs. Wyoming 1988
Rushing yards 235, Raymont Harris, Ohio State vs. BYU 1993
Rushing touchdowns 5, Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State vs. Wyoming 1988
Passing yards 576, Ty Detmer, BYU vs. Penn State 1989
Passing touchdowns 6, Miller Moss, USC vs Louisville 2023
Receiving yards 168, Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State vs. Oregon 2008
Receiving touchdowns 3, Clay Brown, BYU vs. SMU 1980
Tackles 18 (total), Garland Rivers, Michigan vs. BYU
17 (solo), same
1984
Sacks 4, Bobby Bell, Missouri vs. BYU 1983
Interceptions 2, by several players—most recent:
Brandon Foster, Texas vs. Arizona State

2007
Long Plays Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
Touchdown run 76, Jeremiah Johnson, Oregon vs. Oklahoma State 2008
Touchdown pass 76, Koy Detmer to Rae Carruth, Colorado vs. Washington 1996
Kickoff return 98, shared by:
Adoree' Jackson, USC vs. Nebraska
Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa vs. USC

2014
2019
Punt return 85, Darran Hall, Colorado State vs. Missouri 1997
Interception return 48, Vincent Meeks, Texas Tech vs. California 2004
Fumble return 82, Jared McGee, Northwestern vs. Utah[22] 2018
Punt 64, shared by:
Justin Tucker, Texas vs. California
Sam Foltz, Nebraska vs. USC

2011
2014
Field goal 51, Ray Tarasi, Penn State vs. BYU 1989

Source:[17]: 97–107 

Media coverage[edit]

The bowl has been broadcast by Mizlou (1978–1984), Lorimar (1985),[23] ESPN (1986–2016) and FS1 (2017–2019), when it moved over to Fox, though it did not carry its first Holiday Bowl until the 2022 edition due to the 2020 and 2021 cancellations. [24][25][26]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The 2021 game was to feature NC State vs. UCLA.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  2. ^ "Holiday Bowl drops down in the pecking order".
  3. ^ Tim Griffin (August 28, 2008). "Valero Alamo Bowl, Pacific-10 Conference agree on deal starting in 2010 season". Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  4. ^ Kenney, Kirk (August 15, 2019). "Holiday Bowl gets ACC to come out to the West Coast". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  5. ^ Gonzales, Bradley (2021-02-04). "Reflections on the demolition of SDCCU Stadium". The Daily Aztec. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  6. ^ Staff • •, NBC 7. "WATCH: Final Piece of San Diego Stadium Torn Down". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2021-10-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "2020 Holiday Bowl, Parade Cancelled". nbcsandiego.com. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  8. ^ Schlabach, Mark (December 28, 2021). "Holiday Bowl between UCLA and NC State Wolfpack canceled due to COVID-19 issues in Bruins program". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  9. ^ Adelson, Andrea (December 29, 2021). "Holiday Bowl unable to find replacement college football team, cancels game". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Jeyarajah, Shehan (May 31, 2023). "Holiday Bowl seeks $3 million from UCLA, Pac-12 in lawsuit for 2021 no-show, per report". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  11. ^ De Crecenzo, Sarah (October 27, 2016). "National Funding Will Be Title Sponsor of Holiday Bowl". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  12. ^ De Crecenzo, Sarah (March 9, 2017). "S.D. County Credit Union to Sponsor Holiday Bowl". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  13. ^ "DIRECTV NEW TITLE SPONSOR OF HOLIDAY BOWL". holidaybowl.com. October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Pickman, Ben (October 22, 2020). "2020 Holiday Bowl Canceled Amid COVID-19 Pandemic". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  15. ^ Thompson, David (December 28, 2021). "Holiday Bowl canceled: UCLA's COVID-19 issues upends Tuesday's game vs. NC State". Yahoo! Sports. USA Today Network. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  16. ^ "San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl" (PDF). Bowl/All Star Game Records. NCAA. 2020. p. 10. Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via NCAA.org.
  17. ^ a b "Holiday Bowl Media Guide" (PDF). holidaybowl.com. 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  18. ^ @Jared_Mack7 (December 29, 2022). "Oregon RB Bucky Irving named Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ @Jared_Mack7 (December 29, 2022). "Oregon OLB Mase Funa named Defensive MVP of Holiday Bowl" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ @CFBONFOX (December 28, 2023). "The offensive Holiday Bowl MVP is @uscfb 's Miller Moss" (Tweet). Retrieved December 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ @Ryan_Kartje (December 28, 2023). "Jaylin Smith was named defensive MVP of the Holiday Bowl" (Tweet). Retrieved December 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Champs Again: Northwestern Wins 2018 Holiday Bowl". nusports.com. December 31, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2020. McGee picked up the loose ball and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-17. It was the longest fumble recovery in Holiday Bowl history
  23. ^ Goodwin, Michael (March 16, 1986). "6 BOWL GAMES LOSE TV CONTRACTS OVER MONEY PROBLEMS". The New York Times.
  24. ^ Kelly, Doug (ed.). "2019–20 Football Bowl Association Media Guide" (PDF). footballbowlassociation.com. pp. 89–90. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  25. ^ Posner, Jay (June 15, 2017). "Holiday Bowl moving from ESPN to FS1". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  26. ^ "First Holiday Bowl at Petco Park set for Dec. 28 in prime time on Fox". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

External links[edit]