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Houston (9-3, AAC) vs. San Diego State (10-3, MWC), Dec. 17, 3:30 p.m. ET.
LOCATION: Las Vegas
TOP PLAYERS:
Houston: QB Greg Ward Jr., 3,328 yards, 22 TDs
San Diego State: Donnel Pumphrey, 2,018 yards rushing, 16 TDs
NOTABLE:
Houston: How will the Cougars respond after losing coach Tom Herman to Texas? With coaching rumors swirling around the program on a daily basis, it might be tough for Houston's players to focus on the Aztecs instead of their future.
San Diego State: The Aztecs will have the national stage to themselves for once. They'll no doubt want to give Pumphrey, a senior and a Las Vegas native, one more chance to show the country just how great of a college back he was. Conference bragging rights between the American and the Mountain West will also be at stake.
LAST TIME: Houston 14, San Diego State 9 (1973).
BOWL HISTORY:
San Diego State: 15th overall bowl appearance and seventh straight, the longest such stretch in school history.
Houston: 46th overall bowl appearance. The Cougars have won three of their last four bowl games.
