On Selection Sunday the Valero Alamo Bowl used its #1 selection rights after the CFP to select No. 24 Iowa State from the Big 12 and No. 13 Washington State from the Pac-12 to square off in the 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl played on Friday, December 28 at 8 p.m. in the recently-renovated Alamodome.
Iowa State is led by Head Coach Matt Campbell, who’s in his third season with the Cyclones. This year, he led Iowa State to eight regular season wins, the most since 2000. Their six conference wins are the most in school history.
“On behalf of our football program and university, we’re beyond grateful to be selected,” Matt Campbell said on Sunday. “We know the tradition of the Valero Alamo Bowl and its reputation. We’re humbled and honored to be able to accept the opportunity to play at this great bowl game.”
Designated the home team and occupying the east sideline, Washington State is led by Head Coach Mike Leach. In his 7th season leading the Cougars, Leach coached Washington State to a 10-2 regular season record, its best record since 2003.
“It’s very exciting,” Mike Leach said in regards to appearing the Valero Alamo Bowl. “Anyone that can’t get excited about coming to a city like San Antonio is a person that can’t get excited about very many things.”
This season Washington State beat Pac-12 South Champion Utah, Oregon who was ranked No. 12 at the time of the game, and Stanford who was also ranked. A win in the Valero Alamo Bowl would mean the Cougars would set a program-high with 11 wins in a season.
The Valero Alamo Bowl was created in 1993 to bring enjoyment to South Texans, San Antonians and visitors alike while creating positive economic impact, experience and national attention for the community and participating universities.
The first 25 Valero Alamo Bowls combined to deliver 1.55 million attendees to the Alamodome, 136 million viewers to ESPN, $105 million to its partner conferences and participating universities, as well as $873 in total economic impact to San Antonio.
The 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl marks another year of a conference agreement to match the #1 Big 12 and #1 Pac-12 teams outside of the CFP selections. The conference agreement started in 2014 and was extended last year to continue through 2025. The Valero Alamo Bowl is the only bowl to have team, TV and title sponsor contracts through 2025, allowing the Bowl to enter into an era of unprecedented stability..
10 of the game’s finishes since 2005 have come down to the final minutes – including the 3OT game between TCU and Oregon in 2015 that was called “the greatest comeback ever.” This year’s contest is sure to be another great game as both schools have navigated their way through two tough conferences on their way to San Antonio.
Tickets are available at www.alamobowl.com or the Alamodome Box Office.
Fans looking for the ultimate game day experience can check out PrimeSport, the Official VIP Hospitality and Travel Package Provider of the 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl. PrimeSport has exclusive packages to get you to the game: https://www.primesport.com/d/alamo-bowl-tickets
To get up-to-the-minute information, follow the Valero Alamo Bowl on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat (@valeroalamobowl) or visit www.alamobowl.com.