1998

Builders Square Alamo Bowl | Tuesday, December 29, 1998
Purdue 37 vs. Kansas State 34

Attendance: 60,780
TV Rating: 4.9
Team Payout: $2,483,402 combined

Offensive MVP: Drew Brees, QB, Purdue
Defensive MVP: Rosevelt Colvin, DE, Purdue
Sportsmanship Winner: Jarrod Cooper, DB, Kansas State

Head Coaches: Joe Tiller (Purdue), Bill Snyder (Kansas State)
Final Records: Purdue 9-4, Kansas State 11-2

Game Recap

The 1998 Builders Square Alamo Bowl was a tale of two teams. Purdue was making its second straight appearance in San Antonio and happy to be there, while the No. 4 Kansas State Wildcats had anticipated playing for a national championship before losing in the Big 12 Championship. The result was the best game in the Alamo Bowl’s six-year history, with Purdue edging Kansas State 37-34.

Trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter, Offensive MVP Drew Brees led the Boilermakers on an 80-yard drive in 54 seconds, culminating with a 24-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Issac Jones with 30 seconds remaining. Brees set then-bowl records with 53 pass attempts and three touchdown passes.

Kansas State’s Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Bishop struggled, completing just nine of 24 passes. Bishop tied a then-bowl record with three touchdown passes, but also threw four interceptions. At No. 4, Kansas State was the highest-ranked team to ever play in the Alamo Bowl.

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

PUR: Daniels 5-yd pass from Brees (Dorsch kick)
PUR: Dorsch 25-yd FG
KSU: McDonald 1-yd pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick)
PUR: Jones 30-yd pass from Brees (Dorsch kick)

Third Quarter

KSU: Havick fumble recovery (kick failed)
PUR: Hugent fumble recovery (Dorsch kick)
PUR: Dorsch 26-yd FG

Fourth Quarter

KSU: Allen 3-yd run (Gramatica kick)
PUR: Dorsch 37-yd FG
KSU: McDonald 88-yd pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick)
KSU: Swift 2-yd pass from Bishop (Gramatica kick)
PUR: Jones 24-yd pass from Brees (Dorsch kick)

Final Score

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	Total
Kansas State	0	7	6	21	34
Purdue	0	17	10	10	37

Team Stats

Category	Kansas State	Purdue
First Downs	12	19
Net Yards Rushing/Att.	126/43	5/24
Net Yards Passing	182	230
Comp-Att-Int	9-24-4	25-53-3
Total Offense (Plays)	67	49
Total Net Yards	306	235
Avg. Gain Per Play	4.6	4.8
Possession Time	31:02	28:58