Wildcats head to Sun Bowl to play UCLA
The Northwestern Wildcats (7-4), the Big Ten Conference representative, will play the UCLA Bruins (9-2), the Pac-10 Conference representative, in the 72nd annual Vitalis Sub Bowlevent which kicks off in El Paso, Texas. The Vitalis Sun Bowl is the second-oldest bowl game in the country.
Northwestern gained its bowl berth by winning seven games and finishing in a four-way tie for third place (5
-3) in the Big Ten with Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin. The Vitalis Sun Bowl pits the fifth selection from the Big Ten vs. the third selection from the Pac-10. UCLA finished in third place in the Pac-10 with a 6-2 record.
The matchup between Northwestern and UCLA features two of the nation’s top offensive teams. Both teams are led by outstanding quarterbacks: senior Brett Basanez for Northwestern and senior Drew Olson for UCLA. The Wildcats rank eighth nationally in total offense (492.7 ypg) while the Bruins rank 24th (429.0 ypg).
UCLA enters the Vitalis Sun Bowl with an overall record of 12-13-1 in bowl games. UCLA was the first school in NCAA history to win a bowl game in seven consecutive seasons (1982-88). Meanwhile, The ‘Cats are making their sixth all-time postseason bowl appearance, and their fifth in the last 11 years.
This year will mark Northwestern’s first-ever appearance in the Sun Bowl, while UCLA participated in the 1991 and 2000 Sun Bowls. Overall, this will be UCLA’s 27th bowl appearance, while Northwestern will be making its sixth all-time bowl appearance.
