MINNEAPOLIS — Washington State will meet Minnesota in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 in San Diego.
The Gophers (8-4) are in the Holiday for the first time and in a California bowl for the first time since the 1962 Rose Bowl. Minnesota is in a bowl for a fifth straight year, tying a program record.
The Cougars (8-4) are in the postseason for the second straight year and in the Holiday Bowl for the third time, having played in it in 1981 and 2003.
Washington State has won three of five meetings with the Gophers. This will be the first time they’ve played since 1988.
HOLIDAY BOWL HIGHLIGHTS
Minnesota (8-4, Big Ten) vs. Washington State (8-4, Pac-12), Dec. 27, 4 p.m. at San Diego
TOP PLAYERS
Minnesota: RB Rodney Smith has rushed for 1,084 yards and 15 touchdowns and DL Steven Richardson has seven sacks.
Washington State: QB Luke Falk has completed 71 percent of his passes for 4,204 yards and 37 touchdowns.
NOTABLE:
Minnesota: The Gophers are in a bowl for a fifth straight year, tying a program record. They’re 8-1 when Smith scores a touchdown.
Washington State: The Cougars have scored at least 50 points in a school-record four games this season, and their win over Stanford was their first over a top-15 team since 2003.
LAST TIME: Dennis Erickson’s Washington State team won 41-9 over Minnesota in the second game of the 1988 season.
BOWL HISTORY:
Minnesota: The Gophers ended a seven-game bowl losing streak in the Quick Lane Bowl and are 6-12 in the postseason.
Washington State: The Cougars are 7-5 in bowls and have played in the Holiday twice, beating Texas 28-20 in 2003 and losing to BYU 38-36 in 1981.
