Top 5 Non-Cotton Bowl Games Featuring Group of Five Teams
By Zach Bigalke
4. Cactus Bowl
Boise State Broncos v. Baylor Bears
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 27
- Start Time: 10:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Venue: Chase Field
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: WatchESPN
Boise State has been the epitome of Group of Five excellence even before the term came into the college football lexicon. The Broncos first transitioned to the FBS in 1996, and in that span they have finished with double digits in the win column 14 times. Ten of those have featured at least 11 wins, and Boise State can make that 11 times with a win over Baylor. Though they lost close contests to Wyoming and Air Force to miss out on a shot at the MWC title this year, they combine a top-30 offense with a top-30 defense to remain one of the best mid-majors in the country.
The Baylor team that the Broncos will take on in Phoenix has fallen on hard times since the termination of Art Briles. The team opened the year 6-0, but has lost six straight to end the regular season and fall from Big 12 contender status. Baylor lost starting quarterback Seth Russell to a fractured ankle in the loss to Oklahoma. By that point, though, the Bears were already well on their way to a third straight loss. The defense, never a strong suit under Briles, has allowed more than 30 points per game.
The Cactus Bowl has been a migrant around the state of Arizona. Originating as the Copper Bowl in 1989, the game moved from Tucson to Phoenix in 2000 and shuffled between Chase Field and Sun Devil Stadium. It returns to the Diamondbacks ballpark this year after a decade in Tempe. This year’s edition will feature the first-ever meeting between the Broncos and the Bears.