Holiday Bowl Winner Year By Year

Established in 1978, the Holiday Bowl emerged to grant the Western Athletic Conference an exclusive bowl bid after the Fiesta Bowl severed ties with the WAC. Initially hosting the WAC champion against an at-large team, it later integrated the Big Eight Conference, evolving into the Big 12. The WAC's connection ceased in 1997, leading to matchups between the Big 12 and Pac-10 teams. Evolving formats ensued, culminating in collaborations with the Big Ten and, subsequently, plans to feature Pac-12 and ACC teams. Throughout its history, the bowl attracted various sponsors. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted consecutive editions, triggering legal action over cancellations, impacting the bowl's financial disbursements and team participation.

Holiday Bowl Sponsorship and Broadcasting Rights

The Holiday Bowl has garnered support from a spectrum of sponsors including SeaWorld, Thrifty Car Rental, Chrysler Corporation (through its Plymouth brand), Culligan, Pacific Life, Bridgepoint Education, National University, National Funding, San Diego County Credit Union, and DirecTV. Broadcasting rights have traversed various networks, starting with Mizlou (1978–1984), Lorimar (1985), ESPN (1986–2016), and FS1 (2017–2019), before finally transitioning to Fox. Notably, the bowl's move to FS1 in 2017 marked the end of a prolonged affiliation with ESPN. Although slated to air on Fox from 2022 onwards, unforeseen cancellations due to the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 impacts delayed its premiere on the network, making Fox the present and anticipated broadcaster for the Holiday Bowl.

Holiday Bowl Winner List

The Holiday Bowl has witnessed a storied history of victorious teams, including notable champions such as BYU, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, and Michigan. Over the years, these teams have showcased their prowess in this esteemed postseason college football event, etching their names in the tournament's prestigious list of winners.

Holiday Bowl Appearances and win-loss Records

The Holiday Bowl has hosted various teams, with BYU leading in appearances (18) and boasting a record of 8 wins and 9 losses. Among other frequent contenders, Washington State has participated 7 times, securing 3 victories and 4 losses. Notably, the University of Texas has appeared in the bowl 6 times, clinching 3 wins and 3 losses, contributing to the event's rich history.

Holiday Bowl MVPs

The Holiday Bowl has honored exceptional players over the years with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Standout athletes like Ty Detmer (BYU), Ricky Williams (Texas), Marcus Mariota (Oregon), and Christian McCaffrey (Stanford) have notably received this prestigious recognition for their outstanding performances during the bowl games.