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Top 5 Non-Cotton Bowl Games Featuring Group of Five Teams

By Zach Bigalke

Oct 29, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver Austin Conway (25) runs against the Boise State Broncos during the fourth quarter at War Memorial Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Broncos 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver Austin Conway (25) runs against the Boise State Broncos during the fourth quarter at War Memorial Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Broncos 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 21, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs running back Donnel Pumphrey (19) runs for a second quarter touchdown against the San Jose State Spartans at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs running back Donnel Pumphrey (19) runs for a second quarter touchdown against the San Jose State Spartans at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Las Vegas Bowl

Houston Cougars v. San Diego State Aztecs

  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 17
  • Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Las Vegas, NV
  • Venue: Sam Boyd Stadium
  • TV: ABC
  • Live Stream: WatchESPN

The best game featuring Group of Five teams might just be the showdown on the opening Saturday of bowl season between Houston and San Diego State. The Aztecs knocked off Wyoming to win a second straight Mountain West title. Donnel Pumphrey fell off in the latter half of the year, yet the senior running back still eclipsed 2000 yards on the season and is 108 yards away from setting the all-time FBS rushing record. He is backed up by one of the top defenses in the country, as the Aztecs allow just 21 points per outing.

The Mountain West champions lucked into a premier matchup against a team that took down both Oklahoma and Louisville this season. Houston lost head coach Tom Herman to the Texas gig, but they still have the stocked roster he left behind. Losing three on the road at Navy, SMU, and Memphis took the Cougars out of the running for AAC honors, but that demonstrates the depth of the conference as much as anything. The Cougars have the opportunity to defeat another conference champion, having toppled the Sooners in the season opener. A win would get Houston to 10 wins for the second straight season.

There is an interesting history between these two programs. Their only two meetings came in 1972 and 1973, and both times Houston dealt San Diego State what would be the Aztecs’ only loss each year. More than four decades have passed, yet the Aztecs would love nothing more than to gain revenge for those defeats. They’ll get their chance at the Las Vegas Bowl, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this season. San Diego State lost in its only previous appearance to North Carolina in 1998, while Houston has never played in Sin City (either in a bowl or versus UNLV) in its long football history.

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