Bowl matchups are set in the wake of the 2011 college football regular season and the Arizona St. Sun Devils have accepted a bid to play in the 20th Annual Maaco Bowl Las Vegas against the Boise St. Broncos. The Sun Devils are 12-10-1 all-time in bowl games and will look to snap a two-game postseason skid against the Broncos in roughly three weeks.
The Sun Devils will make their first bowl appearance since 2007, when the team played in the Holiday Bowl. Of course, ASU had much higher aspirations after beginning the season on a 6-2 run. Four straight losses, however, leave the Sun Devils in the Maaco Bowl.
Arizona State still has a chance to close out the 2011 season with a strong statement against a very good Broncos team. Boise State went 11-1 this season, with their lone loss coming against the TCU Horned Frogs 36-35 on a late two-point conversion.
Head coach Dennis Erickson, who will be coaching his last game as ASU's head coach, had this to say about the matchup:
"The goal at the beginning of the year for any college football team is to play in a bowl game. I am so proud of our players and my coaching staff. We are grateful to the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas and the city of Las Vegas for giving us this opportunity. We are honored to be a part of it. We are playing one of the nation's top teams in Boise State as well."
The game will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on Dec. 22nd, beginning at 6:00 MST time. It will be covered by ESPN and ESPN3.