By Marie Reader
LA Bowl: UCLA (7-5) vs. Boise State (8-5), Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Series record: UCLA leads 1-0.
The Broncos put on a late-season turnaround by winning their final four games to claim the Mountain West for the first time since 2019. That helped turn interim coach and defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson into becoming the head coach. The Bruins staggered to the finish line, losing three of their last four games but got a rivalry victory vs. USC that helped Chip Kelly keep his job.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Boise State: DE Ahmed Hassanein. Born in Cairo, Egypt, Hassanein has become one of college football’s disruptive players in college football with 16 1/2 tackles for loss and 12 1/2 sacks as a junior.
UCLA: QB Ethan Garbers is expected to start after being knocked out of the regular season finale against California due to a right shoulder injury. Garbers threw for three touchdowns in the win against arch-rival Southern California.
THIS-N-THAT: The Mountain West champion is playing a Pac-12 team in its bowl game for the eighth time in the past 11 seasons….The Broncos are 5-2 in bowl games against Pac-12 foes….The Bruins have not won a bowl game since the 2015.
FROM RADIO, TV, SOCIAL MEDIA & STAFF REPORTS
