NO. 21 SYRACUSE (9-3, 5-3 ACC) vs. WASHINGTON STATE (8-4, 0-1 Pac-12)
5:05 p.m., Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 • FOX
Snapdragon Stadium (35,000) • San Diego
WASHINGTON STATE SET TO FACE SYRACUSE IN DIRECTV HOLIDAY BOWL
Washington State heads to San Diego for a matchup against No. 21 Syracuse in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl. Kickoff is set for Friday, December 27 at 5:05 p.m. on FOX.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State enters the Holiday Bowl with an 8-4 record, the most wins since 2018 and are playing in its eighth bowl in the last nine full seasons. The Cougars own the nation’s No. 12 scoring offense (36.8) while the defense is No. 16 in the country with 22 takeaways. Wide receiver Kyle Williams is second nationally with 13 receiving touchdowns.
COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
• WSU is 8-4 for the most wins since 2018, is seeking first 9 win season since 2018 and 12th 9-win season all time
• WSU is headed to its 8th bowl in last nine full seasons and 19th bowl all time
• WSU owns 3 fourth-quarter comeback wins this season (San Jose State, at Fresno State, at San Diego State)
• WSU owns 11 100-yard rushing games this season, most since 2005 (11), owns 2 300-yard games (TTU, USU)
• WSU’s 22 defensive takeaways this season are No. 16 nationally, most by WSU since 2021 (29)
• WSU has returned 3 INT for touchdowns, the most since 2013 (4)
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT (Player Notes Pages 10-12) (Player Bios Pages 58-85)
• WSU’s roster features 5 players from San Diego, also includes Defensive GA/former WSU LB Jihad Woods
K Ryan Harris, K Dean Janikowski, EDGE Jack Janikowski, WR Josh Meredith, EDGE Quinn Roff
• WR Kyle Williams is 3rd nationally with 14 rec TD, 8 rec TD in last 4 gms, leads team with 60 rec, 1026 rec yds
• TE Cooper Mathers owns WSU single-season record 6 rec TD in 2024
• Edge Nusi Malani and OL Esa Pole were named to the 2024 Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List
HOLIDAY BOWL HISTORY
Washington State is making its fifth appearance in the Holiday Bowl, the most among the program’s 19 bowl appearances. WSU dropped a 38-36 decision to BYU in 1981, beat fifth-ranked Texas 28-20 in 2003 before falling to Minnesota 17-12 in 2016 and Michigan State 42-17 in 2017. WSU is 8-10 all-time in bowl games with the last win coming in 2018, 28-26 over Iowa State at the Alamo Bowl.
SYRACUSE SERIES HISTORY
Washington State…
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