Kyle Cleveland says this season is proof that you should be thankful for what you have; after all, it’s not often a team with a 5 and 7 record gets to go to a bowl game.
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Only this time, the stakes will be a bit higher.
This season, UCLA beat the teams’ one common opponent, Brigham Young. The Foster Farms Bowl is Nebraska’s 52 all-time bowl appearance, the third-most of any school in the country. The Sooners were thought to be doomed by a midseason loss to Texas, but have won seven straight by a combined score of 364-136 to get into the CFP mix. The Huskers had an underwhelming campaign in Head Coach Mike Riley’s first season in Lincoln.
Saban and the SEC champion Tide (12-1) are the only team that also played in the first four-team playoff last season. The Bruins defense is listed first in the Pac-12 in pass efficiency defense (111.37) and is tied for first in fewest yards allowed per play (4.9).
Nebraska finished the season 5-7 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play. Every $50 donation enables UCLA to “Salute a Soldier” and provide a serviceman or woman with a complimentary ticket to the game.
Although officially the 14th Foster Farms Bowl, this is the first year the chicken giant has been the sponsor. Some Husker fans say they’re grateful for a chance to play in the bowl, but it’s unclear how many fans will be making the trip. Though holding a record under.500, they became bowl eligible as there were not enough 6-6 teams to fill the 80 bowl spots. The Huskers’ alltime bowl record now stands at 25-26.
QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw for 2,856 yards and 21 touchdowns but was intercepted 16 times.
This year’s game marks the second post-season bowl to be played at Levi’s® Stadium.
One of those five win teams is Nebraska and the Foster Farms Bowl was happy to choose the Big Red for its game. The game was previously known as the Diamond Walnut Bowl (2002-2003), Emerald Bowl (2004-2009), Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (2010-2012) and the Fight Hunger Bowl (2013).
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Turns out, UCLA has made it to Santa Clara after all.
