I’ve lied to you. This isn’t the Poinsettia Bowl. It is, in fact, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and I’m sorry. But that’s just too much for a title. In the SDCCUPB we’ll get a match-up of two midwest teams as BYU ( 8-4) takes on Wyoming (8-5).
As always, scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from BYU.
PROVO, Utah – Bowl game practice sessions began Thursday for BYU football as it prepares to face the Wyoming Cowboys in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. PST, on ESPN.
BYUtv will provide pregame and postgame coverage of the game, beginning with Countdown to Kickoff starting at 5 p.m. PST. A live postgame show on BYUtv continues coverage after the game, providing fans access to interviews, highlights and analysis.
Live radio coverage from Qualcomm Stadium will be on the Cougar IMG Sports Network with Greg Wrubell, which can also be found on Sirius XM 143, 1160 AM, 102.7 FM and BYUcougars.com. IMG’s radio coverage will begin at 4 p.m. PST and continue with an extended postgame show following the game.
BYU (8-4) vs. Wyoming (8-5)
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016
Kickoff: 6 p.m. PST
Qualcomm Stadium (70,561)
Notes
POINSETTIA BOWL HISTORY. BYU is playing in the Poinsettia Bowl for the second time. The first was a 23-6 win over San Diego State in 2012. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy scored two defensive touchdowns to lead the Cougars.
RIVALRY RENEWED. In one of BYU’s oldest matchups, the Cougars and Cowboys are reuniting for the 78th time in the history of the series, dating back to 1922. BYU has won seven in a row against Wyoming. One of the most classic games was the 1996 Western Athletic Conference Championship when the Cougars edged the Cowboys 28-25 in overtime, propelling BYU to the Cotton Bowl where they finished the season with an NCAA record 14 wins and No. 5 ranking.
NO STRANGER TO SAN DIEGO POSTSEASON. In addition to one Poinsettia Bowl trip, BYU went to San Diego’s other bowl game, the Holiday Bowl, 11 times, more than any other school. Among the great Holiday Bowl history is BYU’s 1980 game, nicknamed the “Miracle Bowl,” where BYU was down 20 points to SMU with four minutes to go and rallied behind quarterback Jim McMahon for 21 points to beat the Mustangs 46-45.
BOWL GAMES. BYU is going bowling for the 12th consecutive season, one of just eight teams to have an active streak of 12 bowl games or more (along with Virginia Tech, Georgia, Oklahoma, LSU, Boise State, Wisconsin and Clemson). Overall, BYU is making its 35th bowl appearance.
FIRST-YEAR FINISH. Kalani Sitake finished the regular season 8-4, one of just six coaches in their first full year as an FBS head coach in 2016 to finish with a winning record. The others include Clay Helton (USC), Jason Candle (Toledo), Kirby Smart (Georgia), Tracy Claeys (Minnesota) and Mike Norvell (Memphis).
COMING IN HOT. BYU has won seven of its last eight games. The Cougar defense ranked No. 1 nationally in rush defense for the month of November, No. 3 in total defense and No. 3 in scoring defense. BYU gave up just 29 total points in the last four games combined while the offense averaged 34.0 points per game.
The game is on ESPN at 9 p.m. Watch it with me.
