One of two new bowl games in 2015 is the Arizona Bowl, which is the fourth different bowl game held in the state and the first for Tucson since the Cactus Bowl left after the 1999 season.
It was the Insight.com Bowl at the time of the move to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, but was originally introduced in Tucson as the Copper Bowl in 1989. Now, Arizona Stadium will again host a postseason game that pits the Mountain West against Conference USA.
Here is everything you need to know to get ready for this year's Arizona Bowl:
Date and time: Tues., Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ASN
Location: Tucson, Ariz.
Stadium: Arizona Stadium, 56,029
Last year's score: N/A
Last year's attendance: N/A
Last year's TV rating: N/A
Last year's payout for each school: N/A
Team with the most all-time appearances: N/A
Team with the most all-time wins: N/A
Colorado State Rams (7-5, 5-3 in Mountain West)
After losing five of its first eight games under new head coach Mike Bobo, Colorado State rallied through November to a 7-5 finish and a bowl trip. That the Rams could post a winning season while replacing quarterback Garrett Grayson and running back Dee Hart is accomplishment enough.
Bobo replaced former coach Jim McElwain, who left for Florida, and inherited a young roster. Sophomore quarterback Nick Stevens threw too many interceptions (12) and struggled mightily at times (8/19 for 51 yards against Minnesota), but improved his completion percentage as the season progressed and ended with 21 touchdown passes and nearly 2,400 yards through the air. Junior receiver Rashard Higgins was again a reliable target, catching 66 passes for 930 yards for his third consecutive season with at least 65 catches and 800 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Bobo kept his commitment to run the ball. Halfbacks Dalyn Dawkins, Jasen Oden and Izzy Matthews combined for 2,003 rushing yards and 12 scores.
The telltale signs of an inexperienced team were there -- Colorado State was one of the nation's most-penalized teams, gave up a staggering 26 turnovers, and allowed more than 200 rushing yards per game on average -- but the future is bright for Bobo's program.
Last bowl game: 2014 Las Vegas Bowl (45-10 loss to Utah)
All-time bowl record: 6-9
Head coach's bowl record: This will be Mike Bobo's first bowl game as a head coach.
Nevada Wolf Pack (6-6, 4-4 in Mountain West)
Nevada returns to the postseason for the fourth time in the last five seasons after a six-win campaign. Head coach Brian Polian will coach in his second bowl game in three seasons with the Wolf Pack.
Nevada struggled through the air, ranking among the nation's worst teams in most passing statistics and managing just 172 passing yards per game. What Nevada lacked in firepower, however, it made up on the ground and in discipline. The Wolf Pack had two 1,000-yard halfbacks splitting the rushing load, gave up just 12 turnovers all season, and was one of the least-penalized teams in the FBS.
Last bowl game: 2014 New Orleans Bowl (16-3 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette)
All-time bowl record: 4-10
Head coach's bowl record: Brian Polian is coaching in his second bowl game, with an 0-1 record after last season's bowl loss.