We had a fantastic experience at the Poinsettia Bowl in December and are excited to return in 2015. San Diego has hosted some of the great football moments in our program’s history, and I’m excited for our large fan base in Southern California to have other opportunities to see us play in person. – Tom Holmoe, BYU athletic director
PROVO — Brigham Young University has come to an agreement with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl for the 2015 football season and one additional season to be announced at a later date.
BYU played in the eighth annual Poinsettia Bowl last December. Fueled by an incredible effort from All-American linebacker Kyle Van Noy and the nation’s No. 3-ranked defense, the Cougars scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to defeat San Diego State 23-6.
“We had a fantastic experience at the Poinsettia Bowl in December and are excited to return in 2015,” BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said. “San Diego has hosted some of the great football moments in our program’s history, and I’m excited for our large fan base in Southern California to have other opportunities to see us play in person.”
In 2015, BYU will play in the San Diego game if it's bowl eligible and not selected to the College Football Playoff. The Poinsettia Bowl is currently in discussions with the Mountain West Conference to continue its partnership through the 2019 season. The MWC has partnered with the Poinsettia Bowl since its inception in 2005.
BYU is no stranger to postseason play in San Diego. The Cougars participated in the first seven Holiday Bowls from 1978-84, then returned four more times between 1988 and 1993. In the 1984 Holiday Bowl, BYU defeated the Michigan Wolverines to cap an undefeated season and earn a national championship.
“We are proud to have the Cougars locked in for our 2015 game,” said San Diego Bowl Game Association Executive Director Bruce Binkowski. "We have a long-standing and loyal relationship with the university and its loyal fans. Looking down the road and knowing they will be back in San Diego is a win-win for everyone.”
BYU has won four consecutive bowl games for the first time in program history and six of its last eight postseason contests. From 2005-12, no team has won more than BYU’s six bowl victories.
Since the 1974 Fiesta Bowl, the Cougars have been invited to 31 bowls, including eight consecutive bowl games under coach Bronco Mendenhall, the most for BYU since a string of 17 consecutive bowls under LaVell Edwards from 1978-94.
Follow coverage of BYU's football media day on the Deseret News Cougar live blog. http://byucougars.blogs.deseretnews.com/2013/06/26/byu-media-day-live-blog-updates-from-provo-all-day-long/