Cougars to Face Minnesota in Holiday Bowl

PULLMAN, Wash. - The Washington State University Cougars accepted an invitation to play in the National Funding Holiday Bowl, Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 4 p.m. PT, Holiday Bowl Executive Director Mark Neville announced Sunday.

The Holiday Bowl will feature the Cougars against the Minnesota Golden Gophers from the Big Ten Conference. The Cougars are 3-2 all-time against Minnesota, with the last meeting coming in 1988, a 41-9 WSU victory in Minneapolis.

Under fifth-year head coach Mike Leach, the Cougars finished the regular season 8-4 overall, 7-2 in the Pac-12 play, the second-straight season WSU posted an 8-4 record prior to the bowl game. The Cougars' 7-2 conference mark is its best since 2003, when WSU went 10-3 overall, 7-2 in Pac-10 play. Minnesota will enter the game with an 8-4 overall record.

"Washington State is delighted to be invited to the National Funding Holiday Bowl," said WSU Director of Athletics Bill Moos. "Both Coach Leach and I have participated in this fabulous event in the past and have experienced first-hand the tremendous hospitality of the Red Coats and the wonderful city of San Diego."

Washington State is making its second-straight bowl appearance, and third overall, in Leach's five years, a first for a Cougar head coach. It also marks the 13th overall bowl game for the Cougar program. Last season WSU defeated Miami, 20-14, in the Sun Bowl. Previously WSU has played in the Rose Bowl (1916, 1931, 1998, 2003), the Holiday Bowl (1981, 2003), the Aloha Bowl (1988), the Copper Bowl (1992), the Alamo Bowl (1994), the Sun Bowl (2001, 2015) and the 2013 New Mexico Bowl. The Cougars are 7-5 in bowl games all time.

"We are thrilled to be going to the Holiday Bowl," said WSU Head Coach Mike Leach. "It is going to be a great matchup against two great teams. The last time we were in the Holiday Bowl we had a tremendous experience and expect the same this time around."

The Cougars are making their third appearance in the Holiday Bowl, having lost to No. 14 Brigham Young in 1981 and defeating No. 5 Texas in 2003. In the 1981 contest, WSU trailed 31-7 early in the second half before making a strong comeback with four second-half scores, coming up just shy in a 38-36 game. In 2003, the Cougar defense registered seven sacks and a safety, while the offense had three third-quarter scores to lead WSU to its third-straight 10-win season.

Tickets for the 2016 Holiday Bowl may be ordered through wsucougars.com later this afternoon (Sunday, Dec. 4). Fans may also call the Cougar Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-COUGS starting at 9 a.m., Monday morning. Cougar Athletic Fund members will receive purchase priority through 5 p.m. Monday. Ticket information is also available at www.sandiegobowlgames.com.

The Holiday Bowl will be televised live nationally by ESPN from Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif.

Washington State University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos