Brigham Young (7-5) vs. San Diego State (9-3), 8 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: BYU by 3 1/2
Series Record: BYU leads 27-7-1
WHAT’S AT STAKE
BYU looks to continue domination it enjoyed when teams were in Western Athletic Conference and then Mountain West Conference. Cougars have won five straight against Aztecs. In the overall series, BYU has outscored SDSU an average of 33.5-19.3. BYU left Mountain West Conference to go independent in football after 2010 season while Aztecs will leave for Big East next season.
KEY MATCHUP
SDSU sophomore running back Adam Muema, who averaged 6.4 yards per carry in running for 1,355 yards and 16 touchdowns, against BYU defense that allows only 84.3 yards rushing per game. SDSU needs to win the battle up front in order to spring Muema, who earned second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors and is coming off 255-yard, four-TD performance in win at Wyoming.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BYU: WR Cody Hoffman had 90 catches for 1,134 yards and 11 touchdowns, including school-record five scoring catches in regular-season finale at New Mexico State.
SDSU: QB Adam Dingwell had breakout game against Nevada after coming in for injured Ryan Katz, rallying Aztecs to 39-38 overtime. Has won all four starts since.
FACTS & FIGURES
BYU playing in eighth straight bowl game, longest streak since playing in 17 straight from 1978-94. … BYU making 12th bowl appearance in San Diego. First 11 were in the Holiday Bowl, the big brother of the Poinsettia Bowl. … BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall recalls watching first two Holiday Bowls, in 1978-79, from stands as big brother Mat played for BYU. … SDSU making unprecedented third straight bowl appearance. … Aztecs trying for first 10-win season since 1977. … Aztecs coach Rocky Long favors 3-3-5 defense. With five defensive backs, it’s a nickel package all the time. There are three safeties, two of them called Warrior and one called Aztec. … Aztecs trying for eighth straight win. Their last loss was 52-40 at Fresno State on Sept. 29. … SDSU’s signature win this season was 21-19 upset at then-No. 19 Boise State.
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