Nevada, Ohio Accept Invitations to Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Kickoff slated for Friday, Jan. 3 at 1:30 p.m. MT
BOISE, Idaho – The 23rd Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will feature Nevada of the Mountain West Conference and Ohio from the Mid-American Conference, after each team officially accepted invitations Sunday. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be played Friday, Jan. 3, at Albertsons Stadium on the campus of Boise State University. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. MT, and will air on ESPN.
This will be the first all-time meeting between the Wolf Pack and the Bobcats on the gridiron. Nevada (7-5, 4-4 MW) has played in two previous Famous Idaho Potato Bowls (2006 and 2008). Ohio (6-6, 5-3 MAC) will be making its second appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, winning the 2011 edition against Utah State.
“We are thrilled to welcome back two teams who have an exciting history in our bowl game,” said Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Executive Director Kevin McDonald. “Any time you can host a first-time meeting between two programs it adds a unique element to the game, especially two teams with such rich postseason traditions.”
Nevada rattled off three straight wins to start the month of November and earn bowl eligibility for the second straight year and 12th time in the last 15 seasons. This will mark the Wolf Pack’s 17th bowl appearance in program history.
All-Mountain West First Team defensive end Dom Peterson leads a stout defensive unit. Peterson has a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss and ranks second in the conference with eight sacks. The Wolf Pack rank 32nd nationally with 11 interceptions, including a team-high four by second-team All-MW defensive back Daniel Brown.
Ohio cruised to victories in each of its final two games to become bowl eligible for the 11th consecutive season. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will mark the 10th bowl appearance in that span for the Bobcats, and the 13th in program history.
Senior quarterback Nathan Rourke became Ohio’s first quarterback to be named All-MAC First Team since 1981. Rourke has thrown for 2,676 yards and 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 12 more scores and 780 yards. His 48 career rushing touchdowns are one shy of Ohio’s program record and rank third among active FBS players and first among active FBS quarterbacks.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive back Javon Hagan was named first-team All-MAC for the second straight year. Hagan leads the Bobcats with 99 tackles, including four games with double-digit stops. The four-time All-MAC honoree has six career interceptions and has forced nine fumbles.
Tickets
Tickets for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl are on sale now 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 proceeds provide tickets and/or contributions to Idaho Charities that include the United Way, Optimist Youth Football, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boise School District, Treasure Valley YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Girls Scouts and Armed Forces personnel.
ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of 34 collegiate sporting events nationwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games, the FCS opening-weekend game, 16 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, a college softball event and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 375-plus hours of live programming, reaches nearly 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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