2016 National Funding Holiday Bowl
39th Holiday Bowl
Minnesota Golden Gophers Washington State Cougars
(8–4) (8–4)
Big Ten Pac-12
17 12
Head coach: 
Tracy Claeys		 Head coach: 
Mike Leach
1234 Total
Minnesota 0377 17
Washington State 3306 12
DateDecember 27, 2016
Season2016
StadiumQualcomm Stadium
LocationSan Diego, California
MVPOffense: Minnesota RB Rodney Smith
Defense: Minnesota LB Blake Cashman
FavoriteWashington State by 10[1]
RefereeGary Patterson (ACC)
Attendance48,704[2]
PayoutUS$5.93 million (total for both teams)[3]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN/ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes
AnnouncersBob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams[4]
Holiday Bowl
 < 2015  2017 > 

The 2016 Holiday Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game, played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, on December 27, 2016. This was the last time the Holiday Bowl was played at Qualcomm Stadium. Beginning in 2017, the game was played at SDCCU Stadium, the home of the SDSU Aztecs. The 39th edition of the Holiday Bowl featured the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Big Ten Conference versus the Washington State Cougars of the Pac-12 Conference. Sponsored by small business loan company National Funding, the game is officially known as the National Funding Holiday Bowl.[5]

Teams

Minnesota

Main articles: 2016 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team and 2016 Big Ten Conference football season

This was Minnesota's first appearance in the Holiday Bowl. On December 15, Minnesota players threatened to boycott all football activity, including participation in the 2016 Holiday Bowl, in protest against a decision to suspend ten players from the team.[6] The suspension was made as a result of school investigation into sexual assault charges from the beginning of school year. The legal process had already run its course, with no charges filed. On December 17, the Golden Gophers ended their boycott and announced they would play.[7]

Washington State

Main articles: 2016 Washington State Cougars football team and 2016 Pac-12 Conference football season

This was Washington State's third appearance in the Holiday Bowl, having lost to #14 Brigham Young in 1981, and having defeated #5 Texas in 2003.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP MINN WSU
1 6:23 17 76 6:33 WSU 26-yard field goal by Erik Powell 0 3
2 7:26 6 14 2:53 MINN 43-yard field goal by Emmit Carpenter 3 3
2 0:33 7 14 1:56 WSU 41-yard field goal by Erik Powell 3 6
3 3:23 10 84 5:22 MINN Shannon Brooks 13-yard touchdown reception from Mitch Leidner, Emmit Carpenter kick good 10 6
4 2:06 4 31 0:59 MINN Rodney Smith 9-yard touchdown run, Emmit Carpenter kick good 17 6
4 0:19 10 79 1:42 WSU Kyle Sweet 8-yard touchdown reception from Luke Falk, 2-point pass (Falk–Lewis) failed 17 12
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 17 12

Statistics

Statistics MINN WSU
First Downs 17 16
Plays-yards 61-279 74-303
Third down efficiency 3-12 7-19
Rushes-yards 41-150 23-39
Passing yards 129 264
Passing, Comp-Att-Int 11-20-0 30-51-1
Time of Possession 28:54 31:06
Team Category Player Statistics
MINN Passing Mitch Leidner 11/20, 129 yds, 1 TD
Rushing Rodney Smith 17 car, 74 yds, 1 TD
Receiving Drew Wolitarsky 5 rec, 73 yds
WSU Passing Luke Falk 30/51, 264 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Gerard Wicks 5 car, 26 yds
Receiving Robert Lewis 6 rec, 86 yds

References

  1. ^ "College Football". VegasInsider.com. VegasInsider.com Inc. Archived from the original on December 28, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "StatBroadcast® Systems - Box Score - Minnesota 17 at Washington State 12".
  3. ^ "2016 National Funding Holiday Bowl Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  4. ^ "Press Releases". ESPN. December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  5. ^ "MINNESOTA AND WASHINGTON STATE TO FACE OFF IN 2016 NATIONAL FUNDING HOLIDAY BOWL". San Diego Bowl Game Association. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  6. ^ Christensen, Joe (December 16, 2016). "Gophers players boycott football after suspensions; Holiday Bowl in jeopardy". Star-Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  7. ^ Krawczynski, Joe (December 17, 2016). "Minnesota team ends boycott threat, will go to Holiday Bowl". Star-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
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