2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (December)

2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
24th Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Tulane Green Wave Nevada Wolf Pack
(6–5) (6–2)
The American Mountain West
27 38
Head coach: 
Willie Fritz		 Head coach: 
Jay Norvell
1234 Total
Tulane 07137 27
Nevada 620012 38
DateDecember 22, 2020
Season2020
StadiumAlbertsons Stadium
LocationBoise, Idaho
MVPCarson Strong (QB, Nevada)
FavoriteTulane by 1[1]
RefereeSteve Strimling (Pac-12)[2]
Attendance0
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersChris Cotter (play–by–play)
Mark Herzlich (analyst)
Taylor Davis (sideline)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Deportes
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
 < 2020 (Jan.) 2021 > 

The 2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 22, 2020, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. EST (1:30 p.m. local MST) on ESPN.[3] It was the 24th edition of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and was one of the 2020–21 bowl games concluding the 2020 FBS football season.

Organizers announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there would be no fans in attendance at the game.[4]

Teams

The bowl was contested by the Nevada Wolf Pack, from the Mountain West Conference, and the Tulane Green Wave, from the American Athletic Conference (The American).[5] They accepted bids to the bowl on December 13.[6] The teams have met once previously, in 1992, with the Green Wave winning, 34–17.[7] This was the teams' first meeting in a bowl game.

Tulane

Main article: 2020 Tulane Green Wave football team

Tulane of The American entered the bowl with an overall record of 6–5 (3–5 in conference play). The Green Wave made their first appearance in the bowl.

Nevada

Main article: 2020 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

Nevada of Mountain West entered the bowl with a record of 6–2, with all games having been played in conference. The Wolf Pack had previously appeared three times in the bowl, losing each contest, most recently the January 2020 edition.

Game summary

2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tulane 0 7 13727
Nevada 6 20 01238

at Albertsons Stadium • Boise, Idaho

  • Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2020
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST (1:30 p.m. MST)
  • Game weather: Partly Cloudy • Temperature: 40 °F (4 °C) • Wind: WNW 22 MPH
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Steve Strimling (Pac-12)
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Cotter (play–by–play), Mark Herzlich (analyst) and Taylor Davis (sideline)
  • ESPN game summary
Game information
First quarter
  • (4:58) NEV – Cole Turner 11 yard pass from Carson Strong, kick failed (Drive: 2 plays, 8 yards, 0:43; Nevada 6–0)
Second quarter
  • (14:52) NEV – Justin Lockhart 23 yard pass from Carson Strong, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 3:15; Nevada 13–0)
  • (12:42) NEV – Toa Taua 44 yard pass from Carson Strong, 2-point pass failed (Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 1:18; Nevada 19–0)
  • (10:38) TULN – Jha'Quan Jackson 41 yard pass from Michael Pratt, Merek Glover kick (Drive: 6 plays, 60 yards, 2:04; Nevada 19–7)
  • (7:44) NEV – Toa Taua 50 yard rush, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 8 plays, 82 yards, 2:48; Nevada 26–7)
Third quarter
  • (10:03) TULN – Michael Pratt 6 yard rush, 2-point pass failed (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 4:57; Nevada 26–13)
  • (6:30) TULN – Jha'Quan Jackson 28 yard pass from Michael Pratt, Merek Glover kick (Drive: 4 plays, 45 yards, 1:16; Nevada 26–20)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:22) NEV – Cole Turner 2 yard pass from Carson Strong, 2-point pass failed (Drive: 3 plays, 20 yards, 1:21; Nevada 32–20)
  • (4:19) NEV – Jamaal Bell 21 yard pass from Carson Strong, kick failed (Drive: 6 plays, 87 yards, 2:21; Nevada 38–20)
  • (0:07) TULN – Cameron Carroll 65 yard rush, Merek Glover kick (Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:10; Nevada 38–27)

Statistics

Statistics TUL NEV
First downs 18 21
Plays–yards 63–365 72–480
Rushes–yards 38–197 44–209
Passing yards 168 271
Passing: comp–att–int 12–25–3 22–28–0
Time of possession 23:50 36:10
Team Category Player Statistics
Tulane Passing Michael Pratt 12/25, 168 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Cameron Carroll 10 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Jha'Quan Jackson 2 receptions, 69 yards, 2 TD
Nevada Passing Carson Strong 22/28, 271 yards, 5 TD
Rushing Devonte Lee 18 carries, 105 yards
Receiving Toa Taua 6 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD

References

  1. ^ "ESPN Game Summary - Tulane vs. Nevada - December 22, 2020". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Austro, Ben (December 23, 2020). "2020-21 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "College Football Bowl Schedule | 2020". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  4. ^ "Tickets". famousidahopotatobowl.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Nevada to play Tulane in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl". nevadawolfpack.com. December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "Nevada, Tulane Accept Invitations to Famous Idaho Potato Bowl". famousidahopotatobowl.com (Press release). December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  7. ^ "Winsipedia - Nevada Wolf Pack vs. Tulane Green Wave football series history". Winsipedia. Retrieved December 13, 2020.