The long-standing Holiday Bowl has a new title sponsor — DIRECTTV — but the local college bowl game promises to deliver all the pageantry and thrills of past editions.
The 44th annual edition is scheduled Dec. 27 at Petco Park between the Louisville Cardinals (10-3) from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the University of Southern California Trojans (7-5) from the Pac-12.
Kick-off is 5 p.m. PST. The game will be telecast live on FOX.
The Trojans have won 11 national championships in their storied history and will be making their fourth appearance in the Holiday Bowl.
The Cardinals will be making their first appearance in “America’s Most Exciting” bowl game.
Louisville and USC will be meeting for the first time.
“What a terrific matchup for the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl, said Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego, the producers of the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl. “USC and Louisville are tremendous football programs and to have them square off right here in San Diego on Dec.27 is outstanding. Petco Park is going to be rocking. I’m happy for the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl. I’m happy for San Diego.”
“DIRECTV is thrilled to have USC and Louisville participating in the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl,” said Vince Torres chief marketing officer at DIRECTV. “Like prior Holiday Bowls, the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl is destined to be an electric matchup that will cap off a full day of family-friendly activities in San Diego, starting with the parade. As a leader in sports, DIRECTV is proud to be a part of the festivities for the San Diego residents and for the sports fans attending the game.”
For the second consecutive year, the bowl game will be topped off by the venerable 101.5 KGB Sky Show.
Tickets can be purchased at www.HolidayBowl.com.
About the teams
USC will be making its 57th bowl appearance overall. The Trojans’ rich history includes 523 players who have been drafted by the NFL along with 175 First Team All-Americans, 29 unanimous selections and 55 consensus selections.
Not to be overlooked, seven Heisman trophy winners have played for USC.
Louisville will be making its 26th all-time bowl game appearance. The Cardinals have sent 136 players to the NFL and have collected 550 wins in their history.
The Holiday Bowl has several associated events, including a festive balloon parade and the Port of San Diego Game Day 5K, which starts at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Wyndham Hotel on Harbor Drive and skirts along downtown San Diego’s scenic bayfront. Register at holidaybowl.com/5k-walk-run.
The Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade, America’s largest balloon parade, livens up the waterfront area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with marching bands, floats and drill teams.
COLLEGE BOWL GAME LINEUP
Mountain West sends seven teams to bowl games
The Mountain West Conference has placed seven teams in bowl games for 2023, marking the fourth time in five years with at least seven MW teams competing in postseason bowl games.
Fresno State (Isleta New Mexico Bowl), Boise State (Starco Brands LA Bowl), Air Force (Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl), Utah State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), San Jose State (EasyPost Hawaii Bowl), UNLV (Guaranteed Rate Bowl) and Wyoming (Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl) all will have received bowl bids and will represent the conference in postseason play.
•Fresno State (8-4) will play New Mexico State (10-4) in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 16.
•MW champion Boise State (8-5) will meet UCLA (7-5) in the LA Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 16.
•Air Force (8-4) will tackle James Madison (11-1) in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23.
•Utah State (6-6) will size up Georgia State (6-6) in the Idaho Bowl on Dec. 23.
•San Jose State (7-5) will play Coastal Carolina (7-5) in the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 23.
•UNLV (9-4) will meet Kansas (8-4) in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 26.
•Wyoming (8-4) and Toledo (11-2) will meet in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 30.
