2016 Holiday Bowl

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]

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]

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
StatisticsMINNWSU
First Downs1716
Plays-yards61-27974-303
Third down efficiency3-127-19
Rushes-yards41-15023-39
Passing yards129264
Passing, Comp-Att-Int11-20-030-51-1
Time of Possession28:5431:06
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MINNPassingMitch Leidner11/20, 129 yds, 1 TD
RushingRodney Smith17 car, 74 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingDrew Wolitarsky5 rec, 73 yds
WSUPassingLuke Falk30/51, 264 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingGerard Wicks5 car, 26 yds
ReceivingRobert Lewis6 rec, 86 yds

References
  1. "College Football". VegasInsider.com. VegasInsider.com Inc. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  2. http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/archived.php?id=155841
  3. "2016 National Funding Holiday Bowl Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  4. "Press Releases". ESPN. Retrieved 7 December 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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