Washington State headed to Alamo Bowl to play Iowa State

Washington State will appear in its fourth consecutive bowl game for the first time in school history on Dec. 28 when the Cougars take on Big 12 opponent Iowa State in the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

“We are excited to be a part of the Alamo Bowl against a great opponent in Iowa State,” WSU coach Mike Leach said in a press release. “The Alamo Bowl does a fantastic job with tremendous people hosting and running the events. We look forward to a great week.”

The Cougars (10-2) finished the season No. 13 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, one place lower than they would’ve needed to be to lock in a New Year’s Six bowl.

The Cyclones (8-4) are ranked No. 24 in the CFP and finished their regular season Saturday, scraping out a 27-24 win over FCS opponent Drake.

“Anybody. Anytime. Anywhere. Don’t matter. We’re goin for number 11! #GoCougs” WSU quarterback Gardner Minshew tweeted Sunday afternoon.

Just two teams in the Big 12 are giving up fewer than 400 yards per game this season and only two are ranked top 50 in total defense. TCU is one of those and ISU is the other, allowing 351 yards per game. The Cyclones are also better-equipped to handle an offense such as WSU’s Air Raid, giving up just 228 passing yards per game.

ISU had its season opener against South Dakota State cancelled and the Cyclones lost three of their first four games, to Iowa, Oklahoma and TCU, before snagging a Big 12 win against Oklahoma State and closing the season with seven victories in their final eight games.

The only other loss for ISU came to a Texas team ranked No. 15 at the time, but the Cyclones did manage to bag a few ranked wins of their own, beating then No. 25 Oklahoma State 48-42 and No. 6 West Virginia 30-14 the following week.

Led by Minshew, the national leader in passing yards per game, the Cougars have their first 10-win season in 15 years. The Alamo Bowl will be their fourth consecutive postseason appearance, after trips to the Sun Bowl (2015) and Holiday Bowl (2016, 2017). WSU, which played in the New Mexico Bowl in 2013, is 1-3 in bowl games under Leach.

The Cougars have played in the Alamo Bowl one other time in program history, edging Baylor 10-3 in 1994.

This will mark the first-ever meeting between WSU and ISU.

ALAMO BOWL

Iowa State (8-4, Big 12) vs Washington State (10-2, Pac-12), Dec. 28, 6 p.m. at San Antonio

TOP PLAYERS

Iowa State: RB David Montgomery, 1,092 yards rushing, 12 touchdowns

Washington State: QB Gardner Minshew, 4,477 yards passing, 36 touchdowns

NOTABLE

Iowa State: The Cyclones won seven out of their last eight games after a 1-3 start and finished with their best-ever record, 6-3, in the Big 12.

Washington State: The Cougars’ seven-game winning streak — and faint playoff hopes — were dashed in a 28-15 loss to Washington in the Apple Cup on Nov. 23.

LAST TIME

First meeting.

BOWL HISTORY

Iowa State: 13th bowl appearance, first appearance in the Alamo Bowl.

Washington State: 14th bowl appearance, second appearance in the Alamo Bowl.