23rd Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Set for January 3
BOISE, Idaho –The 23rd Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is set for after the new year, with kickoff slated for Friday, Jan. 3 at 1:30 p.m. MT/3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be held at Boise State University’s Albertsons Stadium and televised on ESPN.
The nation’s northern-most bowl game traditionally features a Mountain West vs. Mid-American Conference (MAC) matchup. The Mountain West has been represented in five of the last six games, while the MAC has earned a spot in the game nine of the last 10 years.
“We are thrilled that our bowl game will take place during the most exciting stretch of the season, between the College Football Playoff semifinals and the National Championship Game,” said Kevin McDonald, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Executive Director. “This will be the third year in a row the game will be played on a Friday, which is always a benefit for our local fans and fans of the teams we host.”
This season the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be played after the new year for only the second time and the first since Jan. 3, 2004, when Georgia Tech defeated Tulsa to cap the 2003 season. The later date is a return to the game’s roots. The first 13 editions of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl were played on or after Dec. 27. This will be the first time it takes place after Christmas since 2009.
Last year BYU roared to a 49-18 comeback victory over Western Michigan behind a historic performance from quarterback Zach Wilson, who took home the Most Valuable Player award. Wilson was a perfect 18-of-18 for 317 yards and four touchdowns and became just the fourth freshman to earn MVP honors in the game’s 21-year history. Down by three at the half, the Cougars came back behind strong defense, holding the Broncos scoreless after halftime while BYU’s scored 35 unanswered points. The Cougars’ defensive front was lead by 2019 NFL Draft choice Sione Takitaki, who finished with a career-high 19 tackles, just one shy of the Potato Bowl record.
Tickets for the 2019 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will go on sale to the general public in September through famousidahopotatobowl.com or the Albertsons Stadium ticket office. Reservations for premium ticket packages are currently available, which include prime ticket locations, hospitality benefits in tent village and corporate exposure. For more package information contact the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl office at (208) 424-1011.
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is one of 15 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN.
ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of 34 collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games, the FCS opening-weekend game, 15 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, a college softball event, an esports event and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 375-plus hours of live programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and Tampa, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
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