Washington State to face Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl

Published 1:30 am Sunday, December 3, 2017

PULLMAN — Washington State is headed back to the Holiday Bowl.

The Cougars announced Sunday they have accepted an invitation to play Michigan State on Dec. 28 in San Diego. The kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

WSU played Minnesota in last year’s Holiday Bowl.

“We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to play Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl,” Cougars coach Mike Leach said in a statement released by the school.

Washington State (9-3) is making its third straight bowl appearance and fourth in six years under Leach. It also marks the 14th overall bowl game for the Cougars.

Last season, WSU lost to Minnesota 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl after defeating Miami in the 2015 Sun Bowl. Previously WSU has played in the Rose Bowl (1916, 1931, 1998, 2003), the Holiday Bowl (1981, 2003), the Aloha Bowl (1988), the Copper Bowl (1992), the Alamo Bowl (1994), the Sun Bowl (2001, 2015) and the 2013 New Mexico Bowl.

Overall, WSU is 7-6 in bowl games.

The Cougars are 2-5 all-time against Michigan State, with the last meeting coming in 1977, a 23-21 WSU win in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartan (9-3) have never played in the Holiday Bowl.

Earlier Sunday, Michigan State was ranked No. 16 and WSU No. 18 in the final College Football Playoff Rankings.