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Getting to know the 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl teams

On December 2 the Valero Alamo Bowl invited No.24 Iowa State and No. 13 Washington State to the 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl. The matchup will kick off on Friday, December 28 at 8 p.m.

Let’s get to know the two teams.

Big 12 Representative: #24 Iowa State Cyclones

  • No. 24 Iowa State is making its first appearance in San Antonio after they won a school-record six Big 12 games on its way to an 8-4 record. The eight regular season wins marks the most the Cyclones have won since 2000. The Cyclones finished the season winning seven of their last eight games, meaning their one of the hottest teams in the country.
  • They’re led by 3rd year head coach Matt Campbell who has won back-to-back Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.
  • Iowa State’s defense has been lights out as they held 10 of their 12 opponents below their season average. They lead the Big 12 in scoring defense (22.5) and rank second in total defense (351.0)
  • ISU’s offense made a resurgence with the insertion of true freshman QB Brock Purdy in the final eight games. With Purdy leading the offense, the Cyclones are 7-1 with two Top-25 wins. They’re averaging 31.5 points, 388.8 yards of offense and 6.1 yards per play with Purdy under center. He’s won Big 12 Newcomer of the Week three times in the last two months.
  • Purdy’s favorite target is Hakeem Butler, a Texas native. Butler leads the nation in yards per reception (22.1) and holds the school record in receiving yards and his nine TD receptions are only one shy of the school record.
  • RB David Montgomery ranks third in the Big 12 and 24th nationally in rushing at 99.3 yards per game. Montgomery, who has six 100-yard rushing efforts this year, became the eighth Cyclone in school to have multiple 1,000-yard seasons (2017- 1,146; 2018- 1,092)

Pac-12 Representative: #13 Washington State Cougars

  • The Cougars finished the regular season ranked No. 13 and are San Antonio bound for the second time in program history. Their first game in the Valero Alamo Bowl was in 1994 when they beat Baylor 10-3.
  • 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 Cougar offense is led by quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who leads the nation in passing yards and the Pac-12 in nearly every passing category. Minshew II is Walter Camp Award finalist, the award for the country’s best quarterback. The senior has six 400-yard passing games and won multiple weekly accolades this season. The Cougars’ 38.3 points per game is good for 15th in the country and first in the Pac-12.
  • In addition to the prolific offense, the Cougar defense can hold its own too. They lead the Pac-12 in sacks, tallying 35 on the season. The defensive success up front doesn’t end there as Washington State’s rush defense ranks 4th in the conference, allowing 136 yards per game, the program’s best mark since 2006.

You can find all important information on our website www.alamobowl.com or buy calling 210-704-6666.

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