The start of college bowl season began yesterday as an "announced crowd of 29,286 filled Sam Boyd Stadium" for the Las Vegas Bowl between San Diego State and Houston, witnessing SDSU RB Donnel Pumphrey’s "historic day," as he set the FBS all-time rushing record of 6,397 yards in his team's 34-10 win (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/18). Meanwhile, Arkansas State defeated UCF 31-13 in front of 27,213 fans at Camping World Stadium in the AutoNation Cure Bowl (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/18).
Elsewhere:
- New Mexico took down UT San Antonio 23-20 at the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, which drew an announced attendance of 29,688, "ranking fifth among the 11 New Mexico Bowl games" (ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, 12/18).
- A crowd of 35,061 attended the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Superdome, a 28-21 Southern Miss victory over Louisiana-Lafayette (Lafayette DAILY ADVERTISER, 12/18).
- Grambling State defeated North Carolina Central 10-9 in front of 31,096 in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl at the Georgia Dome, which was "about 5,000 less than a year ago" (GWINNETT DAILY POST, 12/18).
