News

Score: 40-35
Recap: UCLA’s huge first half enough to hold off Kansas State second half scoring explosion
Coaches: Kansas State’s Bill Snyder and UCLA’s Jim Mora
Highlights: Brett Hundley and Paul Perkins shine for UCLA as Bruins withstand furious second half offensive performance Kansas State’s Jake Waters and Tyler Lockett
TV Coverage: ESPN
Attendance: 60,517
Offensive MVP: Paul Perkins, UCLA
Defensive MVP: Eric Kendricks, UCLA
Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award: Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

AMAZING CAN HAPPEN IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
The Valero Alamo Bowl continued its tradition of close scores and exciting finishes as #14 UCLA withstood a furious second half comeback by #11 Kansas State and held on to win the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl 40-35. Kansas State was unable to recover an onside kick with 1:21 remaining in the game and UCLA kneeled the ball to cool what was a scoring explosion by both teams in the second half.

Kansas State scored 15 unanswered points in the third quarter to overcome a 31-6 halftime deficit and cut the lead to 31-21 before the Bruins got a field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn to go up by 10. Kansas State executed a 15 play, 91 yard drive capped off by a one-yard TD run by Jake Waters to cut the lead to 34-28. UCLA responded quickly with a 67-yard TD run by Paul Perkins and after a failed two point conversion, led 40-26. Waters led the Wildcats back down the field and threw a 29-yard TD pass to Tyler Lockett, to end the scoring.

The 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl was the seventh time in the last 10 games that the outcome was decided until the final minutes. Here are the six games:

• In the 2005 MasterCard Alamo Bowl, Michigan lateraled the ball eight times on the final play and nearly found the end zone. Nebraska’s Titus Brothers did not give up on the play and sealed the 32-28 victory as he pushed Michigan’s Tyler Eckler out of bounds.
• In 2006, Texas overcame a 14-0 deficit and held Iowa scoreless in its last two drives, including once as time expired, to defeat the Hawkeyes 26-24.
• In 2007, Penn State overcame a two touchdown deficit to shut down a late Texas A&M drive on the two yard line in its 24-17 win against the Aggies.
• In 2008, Missouri and Northwestern went to Overtime before deciding a winner. A short pass from quarterback Chase Daniel to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin proved to be the difference in the Tigers’ 30-23 win.
• The January 2010 edition of the Valero Alamo Bowl saw Texas Tech trailing 31-27 with eight minutes remaining before Steven Sheffield led the Red Raiders to two late touchdowns and a 41-31 victory.
• In 2011, Baylor outlasted Washington 67-56 in the highest scoring regulation bowl game in college football history. The two teams combined to set 15 Valero Alamo Bowl records. Baylor trailed Washington 56-53 with 9:40 to go, but Terance Ganaway provided two of his five touchdown runs in the final six minutes to help Baylor secure the win.
• In 2012, Texas trailed Oregon State 27-17 before rallying back to win the game 31-27. Texas quarterback David Ash threw touchdown passes to Johnathan Gray and Marquise Goodwin to give the Longhorns the win.

HOW DID IT RATE?
The 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl was the first Top 15 match-up in the bowl’s 22 year history and the seventh time that both teams came in ranked in the Top 25. In the final AP Top 25 poll, UCLA jumped to #10 while Kansas State finished at #18. It was the first time in bowl history that both teams finished in the Top 20.

Three of the last four Valero Alamo Bowl Champions (Baylor in 2011, Oregon in 2013 and UCLA in 2015) ranked in the Top 10 of this season’s final AP poll.

UNFAMILIAR FOES
The 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl marked only the third meeting between Kansas State and UCLA. The Bruins now hold a 2-1 advantage since they won the first meeting 23-9 in 2009 at UCLA. The Wildcats win against UCLA was a 31-22 victory in 2010 at home.

SOLID START
UCLA’s 31 first half points was the most in the Valero Alamo Bowl since Washington scored 35 in 2011 and the fourth most in Valero Alamo Bowl history.

FEELING PERKY
UCLA’s Paul Perkins rushed for 194 yards, placing him third in Valero Alamo Bowl history behind Terrance Ganaway’s 200 yards in 2011 for Baylor and the record 240 yards from   Dan Alexander of Nebraska in 2000.

YELLOW RAIN
UCLA tied the Alamo Bowl record with 15 penalties and set the all-time bowl record with 128 team penalty yards.

BRUIN BULLIES
UCLA recorded seven sacks in its 40-35 victory against Kansas State in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl, second most in Alamo Bowl history. The Bruins were led by Deon Hollins who became the fourth player in the game’s history to record three sacks. Additionally, the Wildcats’ Jonathan Truman led all players with 14 tackles tied for fifth best in Alamo Bowl history.

SNYDER VS. MORA
The 22nd Valero Alamo Bowl was the first ever head-to head meeting between Kansas State’s Bill Snyder and UCLA’s Jim Mora. Snyder wrapped up his 23rd season in Manhattan (187-94-1) while Mora finished his 4th with the Bruins (29-11). Snyder has led K-State to 16 consecutive bowl games in two different coaching stints, including an appearance in the Alamo Bowl in 1998. Two weeks after the Valero Alamo Bowl Snyder was invited inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

In the Alamodome, Snyder is 0-2 (37-34 loss to Purdue in 1998) and Mora is 2-0 (34-31 win as NFL Atlanta Falcons head coach over New Orleans Saints). The Wildcats will return to the Alamodome on September 15, 2015 to play UTSA.

A TEXAS TRADITION
This is UCLA’s first postseason appearance in the Alamo City. But the Bruins have seen success playing in the Lone Star State in recent years, having played games in the state of Texas the previous six seasons, including tonight. UCLA improved to 5-2 in bowl games played in Texas after its 40-35 victory over Kansas State in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

EVEN STEVENS
The Bruins win in the 22nd Valero Alamo Bowl brings UCLA’s all-time bowl record to 16-16-1.=

MORA THE SAME
UCLA’s appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl is the squad’s third consecutive postseason invite under head coach Jim Mora. UCLA has gone bowling in 10 of the previous 12 seasons. Mora is the first Bruins head coach to win at least 9 games in 3 consecutive seasons.

TEN IT TO WIN IT
UCLA’s 40-35 win over Kansas State in the Valero Alamo Bowl gives the Bruins back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time since 1997-98. It’s also the Bruins 10th consecutive win outside the Rose Bowl.

STREAKING BRUINS
UCLA’s win in the Valero Alamo Bowl is its eighth consecutive win against a non-Pac 12 opponent. The Bruins also finished the season with a perfect 7-0 record on the road.

BRETT “THE HITMAN” HUNDLEY
Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley continued his onslaught on the UCLA record-book with another memorable performance in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The junior signal-caller finished the season with 3,155 yards passing and 22 touchdowns through the air. The dual-threat QB added 644 yards and 10 TDs on the ground. Hundley is the Bruins career leader in touchdown passes with 75, second in rushing yards (1,647) and first in rushing touchdowns (31).

SHARPSHOOTER
UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley finished the Valero Alamo Bowl 12-24 for 126 yards and 3 total touchdowns. He moved past Cade McNown into 4th place on the Bruins all-time list for passing yards in a season (3,155). Hundley only completed 50 percent of his passes tonight despite connecting on 70.4 percent of his throws in the regular season.

THE HUNDLEY GAMES
UCLA improved its record to 7-1 on the season when quarterback Brett Hundley rushes for a touchdown. The junior QB scampered for two first-quarter TDs and finished with 96 yards rushing on 11 carries in UCLA’s 40-35 victory over Kansas State in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

JUST WIN, BRUINS
UCLA signal caller Brett Hundley is now only one win shy of the school record for most wins by a starting quarterback. The junior quarterback’s win in the Valero Alamo Bowl was the 29th of his Bruin career, putting him one victory behind former UCLA standout QB Cade McNown (30).

THAT’S A WRAP
UCLA Butkus Award-winning linebacker Eric Kendricks finished the season as the FBS leader in solo tackles in 2015 (149) and #4 on the Bruins all-time single-season tackle list.
Kendricks’ capped a legendary UCLA career in the Valero Alamo Bowl with a team-high, 10-tackle performance, including an 8-yard sack on the Bruins first defensive play of the game, his third sack of the season. He added another sack in the second half and finished the game with three tackles for loss. The senior Bruin is UCLA’s all-time leader in career tackles (481).

MYLES AND MYLES AHEAD
UCLA linebacker Myles Jack’s 2nd-quarter interception of K-State quarterback Jake Waters was his first interception of the year and third of his young career. The sophomore Bruin standout finished second on the team with seven pass break-ups on the season. Jack finished the night with 8 tackles, two for losses, in addition to his 41-yard interception return.

SACK LUNCH, ANYONE
UCLA’s seven sacks in the Valero Alamo Bowl is the most the team had in any game this season.Before tonight, the Bruins had only tallied 22 sacks as a team the entire season.

CATCHING ON
UCLA wide receiver Jordan Payton’s 2-yard grab in the first quarter of the Valero Alamo Bowl continues a streak of 16 consecutive games with a reception. Payton finished the night with 58 yards on 4 catches and moved into 6th place on UCLA’s single-season reception list with 67. He improved to 13th in career reception with 123.

A STAR’S A-BRUIN
UCLA linebacker Jaleel Wadood’s 8-tackle performance in the Valero Alamo Bowl capped an outstanding rookie campaign. Wadood finished the season with 59 tackles, good for 5th place on the Bruins true freshman single-season tackle list.

WHAT A RUSH
The UCLA tandem of quarterback Brett Hundley (96) and tailback Paul Perkins (194) combined for 290 yards on the ground in tonight’s Valero Alamo Bowl, the highest rushing output of the season for the Bruin duo.

CAN’T HUNDLEY WAIT
UCLA Bruin Brett Hundley’s 96 rushing yards is the 3rd-most by a quarterback in Alamo Bowl history (Marcus Mariota, 133; Eric Crouch, 118).

HE’S STILL GOING
UCLA sophomore tailback Paul Perkins ran past several former Bruin standouts after a rockstar performance in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Perkins scampered for 194 yards on 20 carries, averaging an Alamo Bowl record 9.7 yards per carry. The effort moved into Perkins into 2nd place on the Bruins all-time single-season rushing list (1,575) and 6th place in single-season all-purpose yardage (1,776). Perkins finished the season with 1,575 yards rushing on 251 carries and 201 yards receiving.

FOR KICKS…AND GIGGLES
UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has made 29 consecutive field goals from 35 yards and in. He finished the season converting 13 of his final 14 attempts. His 10 points tallied in the Valero Alamo Bowl moved the junior specialist into fifth place on the Bruins career scoring list (306 points). Fairbairn’s 44-yard boot late in the 3rd quarter ended a 15-0 Wildcat run and were the Bruins only points of the period.

CATCHING A COMEBACK
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett set a Valero Alamo Bowl record with 13 receptions, beating the previous record of 11 grabs by Purdue’s Isaac Jones in the 1998 Alamo Bowl against Kansas State. Fellow Wildcat wide receiver Curry Sexton had 10 catches to place tied for third on the all-time Alamo Bowl list. On the season, Lockett and Sexton became the first pair of Kansas State teammates to each have 1,000+ receiving yards.

PURPLE PURPOSE
Kansas State receiver Tyler Lockett set a Valero Alamo Bowl record with 249 all-purpose yards in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl. Lockett had 13 receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns and added 85 returns yards (44 on punt returns and 41 on kickoff returns). The two touchdown receptions tied an Alamo Bowl record.

MADE FOR EACH OTHER
The pass and catch team of Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters and Tyler Lockett tried to swing the momentum in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl after KSU fell to a 31-7 deficit. Waters connected with Lockett for the 20th time in their careers in the third quarter for a three yard touchdown pass and hooked up again on a two-point conversion. The two met up again late in the fourth quarter as Water hit Lockett for a 29 yard touchdown to cut UCLA’s lead to five. In their time together, Waters has connected with Lockett for 176 completions and 2,658 yards, including 13 completions for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl.

STILL WATERS’ RECORDS RUN DEEP
Kansas State senior quarterback Jake Waters broke the record for season passing yards with his 338-yard performance in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl. His season total is now 3,501 yards. Waters’ 31 completions in the game also place him second in Valero Alamo Bowl history, falling just one short of Nick Foles’ mark set in 2010.
He ranks in the Top 10 in school history in more than 10 categories including season passing attempts (second/397), career passing attempts (fifth/657), season completions (second/262), career completions (fourth/421), career passing yards (third/5,970), season passing touchdowns (tied for third/22) and career passing touchdowns (second/40).

LOCKING DOWN THE RECORD BOOK
Kansas State senior receiver Tyler Lockett moved up to second in Kansas State career all-purpose yards by hauling in a 14-yard pass from Jake Waters early in the third quarter of the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl. The four time Walter Camp All-American ranks in the Top 10 in school history in more than 20 categories and is the all-time school record holder for career receptions (249), career receiving yards (3,552), career receiving touchdowns (29) and career kickoff return yards (2,193).

HAULING IN THE ACCOLADES
Kansas State senior receiver Tyler Lockett’s 13 receptions set a Valero Alamo Bowl record for receptions. Additionally, Lockett tied the Valero Alamo Bowl record with two touchdown receptions and had the second most receiving yards in Alamo Bowl history with 164.

BREAKING THE LAW (OF DIMINISHING RETURNS)
With 45 punt return yards in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl Kansas State receiver Tyler Lockett moved into fourth place in school history for punt return yards in a season. The senior has 406 punt return yards this season and 492 yards in his career.

HUNTING HUNDREDS
Wildcat receiver Tyler Lockett’s 164-yard receiving performance in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl put him over the 100-yard mark for the eighth time this season, tying current Green Bay Packer Jordy Nelson for the most 100-yard games in a season. Lockett is also the career 100-yard receiving games leader with 17.

NO PAWS GO
Aside from a 25-yard scramble by Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters, the Wildcats were held to 16 rushing yards in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl, including -10 yards rushing on 14 carries in the first half. The 16 yard total was the second lowest in Alamo Bowl history and was the Wildcats’ second worst rushing game of the season after being held to one yard rushing by West Virginia. Kansas State averaged 143 yards per game rushing in 2015.

SLOW START
Kansas State was held scoreless in the first quarter for only the third time this season as the UCLA Bruins jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead en route to a 40-35 Bruin victory. The Wildcats also lost to Auburn 20-14 and Baylor 38-27 after failing to score in the opening period.

CALL HIM MR. RELIABLE
Kansas State freshman kicker Matthew McCrane connected on both of his field goal attempts in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl. The Brownwood, Texas native is 18-19 on the year after taking over in the middle of the year and holds the freshman record for points with 94.

SECOND TO NONE
The 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl marks the second time in 22 games that the Alamo Bowl was played on Jan. 2nd, the last came in 2010, a 41-31 Texas Tech victory over the Michigan State Spartans.

LONE STAR HOMECOMING
The State of Texas is well represented in the Kansas State locker room as 22 Wildcats players returned to their home state to play in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl, including two players from San Antonio, defensive back Joseph Bonugli and defensive tackle C.J. Reese.

BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER
After a 16 year hiatus from the Alamo Bowl, the Pac-12 is 2-3 in the Valero Alamo Bowl since 2010 and has now won the last two. California and Washington State won the first two Alamo Bowls (1993 and 1994), respectively and the conference is 4-3 in the game overall. Meanwhile, the Big 12 is now 10-10 all-time in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

MAKING AN IMPACT
The highest out-of-town visitor total in seven years (49,580) attended this year’s Valero Alamo Bowl delivering a direct economic impact $26.5 million and a total impact of $45.9 million.

RECORD GIVING
The Valero Alamo Bowl awarded a record number of scholarships as 55 Bexar County high school students will split $412,500 to attend the college of their choice. That brings the 15 year scholarship total to 452 students sharing $1.64 million. Through payouts to the schools participating in the past bowl and neutral site games, the bowl has contributed another $90 million to institutions of higher education.

ALL-TIME ALAMO BOWL ESPN VIEWERSHIP
Over 5.6 million viewers saw the #14 UCLA Bruins defeat the #11 Kansas State Wildcats 40-35 in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl, the 11th highest viewership in the Bowl’s 22-year history.

7,829,470 – Valero Alamo Bowl, January 2, 2010 (Michigan State vs. Texas Tech)
7,791,097 – Alamo Bowl, December 30, 2006 (Texas vs. Iowa)
7,547,399 – Valero Alamo Bowl, December 30, 2013 (Oregon vs. Texas)
6,923,194 – Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2011 (Washington vs. Baylor)
6,884,950 – MasterCard Alamo Bowl, December 28, 2005 (Michigan vs. Nebraska)
6,756,916 – Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2012 (Texas vs. Oregon State)
6,170,190 – Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 28, 1995 (Michigan vs. Texas A&M)
6,076,177 — Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2008 (Missouri vs. Northwestern)
5,758,026 — Alamo Bowl Pres. by MasterCard, December 28, 2002 (Colorado vs. Wisconsin)
5,738,555 — SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, December 28, 1999 (Penn State vs. Texas A&M)
5,603,125 — Valero Alamo Bowl, January 2, 2015 (Kansas State vs. UCLA)
5,446,139 — Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 29, 1998 (Kansas State vs. Purdue)
5,221,541 — MasterCard Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2004 (Oklahoma St. vs. Ohio St.)
4,922,930 — MasterCard Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2003 ( Michigan State vs. Nebraska)
4,771,554 — SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, December 30, 2000 (Nebraska vs. Northwestern)
4,643,357 — Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2010 (Oklahoma State vs. Arizona)
4,481,728 — SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2001 (Iowa vs. Texas Tech)
3,964,709 — Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 30, 1997 (Oklahoma St. vs. Purdue)
3,813,701 — Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2007 (Texas A&M vs. Penn St.)
3,737,607 — Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 29, 1996 (Texas Tech vs. Iowa)
2,525,015 — Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 31, 1993 (California vs. Iowa)

ALL-TIME ALAMO BOWL ATTENDANCE
A crowd of 60,517 attended the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl, the 13th largest crowd in bowl history and the seventh highest total among the 38 bowl games following the 2014 college football season.

66,166 Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2007 (Penn State vs. Texas A&M)
65,918 Valero Alamo Bowl, December 30, 2013 (Oregon vs. Texas)
65,875 Alamo Bowl, December 30, 2006 (Texas vs. Iowa)
65,380 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, December 28, 1999 (Penn State vs. Texas A&M)
65,277 Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2012 (Texas vs. Oregon State)
65,265 MasterCard Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2004 (Ohio State vs. Oklahoma State)
65,256 Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2011 (Washington vs. Baylor)
65,232 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2001 (Texas Tech vs. Iowa)
64,757 Valero Alamo Bowl, January 2, 2010 (Michigan State vs. Texas Tech)
64,597 Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 28, 1995 (Michigan vs. Texas A&M)
62,016 MasterCard Alamo Bowl, December 28, 2005 (Michigan vs. Nebraska)
60,780 Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 29, 1998 (Kansas State vs. Purdue)
60,517 Valero Alamo Bowl, January 2, 2015 (Kansas State vs. UCLA)
60,028 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, December 30, 2000 (Nebraska vs. Northwestern)
57,595 Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2010 (Arizona vs. Oklahoma State)
56,229 MasterCard Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2003 (Nebraska vs. Michigan State)
55,986 Valero Alamo Bowl, December 29, 2008 (Missouri vs. Northwestern)
55,677 Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 29, 1996 (Texas Tech vs. Iowa)
55,552 Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 30, 1997 (Oklahoma State vs. Purdue)
50,690 Alamo Bowl presented by MasterCard, December 28, 2002 (Wisc. vs. Colorado)
45,716 Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 31, 1993 (California vs. Iowa)
44,106 Builders Square Alamo Bowl, December 31, 1994 (Washington State vs. Baylor)