Dec 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the Pac-12 logo at midfield of Levi
More from Pac-12
- No, the Big Media did not kill off the Pac-12 Conference
- Reflections on the Pac-12, the Arizona Wildcats, and other memories
- Moving Day: Arizona Athletics Officially joins the Big XII
- Arizona vs. UCLA prediction and odds for Pac 12 Tournament final
- Arizona vs UCLA Bold Predictions and Special Promo (Back the Stars)
The Pac-12 football conference had a very successful bowl season, achieving a 6-3 record, and having the national champion runner-up Oregon Ducks, represent the West. Utah, USC, UCLA, Arizona State, Oregon (in the Rose Bowl), and Stanford all brought home bowl wins for the Pac-12 season. Unfortunately, the Arizona Wildcats, Washington Huskies, and the Ducks (in the national championship) did lose for the Pac-12. Regardless, the Pac-12 proved that it was the best conference in the nation, all season long, and the whole nation got to witness it.
Las Vegas Bowl
Dec 20, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes players hoist the trophy after the Las Vegas Bowl against Colorado State at Sam Boyd Stadium. Utah won 45-10. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
December 20, 2014: #22 Utah vs Colorado State
The Utes used a 21-point first quarter and cruised past the Rams to a 45-10 win in the Las Vegas Bowl. Utah rushed for 359 yards and held the Colorado State to just 278 total yards of offense. RB Devontae Booker rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown, while QB Travis Wilson rushed for three more touchdowns on 91 yards.
Sun Bowl
Dec 27, 2014; El Paso, TX, USA; Arizona State players hold up the Hyundai Sun Bowl Trophy after winning the 2014 Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. The Sun Devils defeated the Blue Devils 36-31. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
December 27, 2014: #15 Arizona State vs Duke
Four touchdowns from RB Demario Richard, two rushing and two receiving, was enough to hold off a late surge from the Duke Blue Devils. The Sun Devils were up 30-17 heading into the fourth quarter, but with five minutes to go found themselves down 31-30. On the ensuing kickoff, RB Kalen Ballage, took a kickoff 96 yards, down to the Duke 4 yard line, to set up the winning touchdown by Richard and a 36-31 win for Arizona State.
Holiday Bowl
Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans players Gerald Bowman (27) and Anthony Sarap (56) hoist the championship trophy after the 2014 Holiday Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Qualcomm Stadium. USC won 45-42. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
December 27, 2014: #24 USC vs Nebraska
What an exciting game in San Diego over Christmas weekend between the Cornhuskers and Trojans. Both offenses put on a show, totaling over 500 total offensive yards each, and each team putting up over 40 points on the board. Adoree’ Jackson had two 70-plus yard touchdowns, including a 98-yard kickoff return and a 71-yard touchdown reception. QB Cody Kessler threw for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns and RB Javorius Allen added 152 rush yards and 2 touchdowns. The final in this one was 45-42 USC.
Foster Farms Bowl
Dec 30, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw is presented with the Foster Farms Bowl trophy after defeating the Maryland Terrapins at Levi
December 30, 2014: Stanford vs Maryland
Stanford ended their season on a high night beating Maryland 45-21 at Levi Stadium. This one wasn’t close from the get-go as it was 28-7 at the half. Senior running back Remound Wright ended his Stanford career with a three touchdown game and quarterback Kevin Hogan finished with 239 total yards, and two touchdowns. The Stanford defense held Maryland to just 222 total yards and only 17 rushing.
Fiesta Bowl
Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; An Arizona Wildcats looks on during the second half against the Boise State Broncos in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
December 31, 2014: #10 Arizona vs #20 Boise State
Boise State won the Fiesta Bowl and ended the perfect bowl season for the Pac-12. Boise running back Jay Ajayi ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, and WR Thomas Sperbeck caught 12 balls for 199 yards, just seven yards shy of the Fiesta Bowl record. Arizona went down 21-0 within ten minutes of the game, but the Wildcats fought back to make it a 38-30 game and a chance to tie it up in the final drive. The come back dream ended when QB Anu Solomon got sacked and the clock ran out on a 38-30 Boise State win.
Rose Bowl (College Football Semifinal)
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu (55) celebrates with the Leishman Trophy after defeating the Florida State Seminoles 59-20 in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
January 1, 2015: #2 Oregon vs #3 Florida State
Talk about a dominant performance and a statement game by the Ducks, and the Pac-12. Oregon did whatever they wanted to against Florida State and racked up 639 yards in 59-20 rout of the Seminoles. Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota passed for 338 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 62 yards and another touchdown. Running backs Thomas Tyner and Royce Freeman combined for 168 yards and four touchdowns and WR Darren Carrington reeled in seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns. The Oregon defense forced five turnovers on their way to a spot in the National Championship game.
Alamo Bowl
Jan 2, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim L. Mora celebrates with the trophy following their victory against the Kansas State Wildcats in the 2015 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. The Bruins won 40-35. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
January 2, 2015: #14 UCLA vs #11 Kansas State
The Bruins got up big on the Wildcats, 31-6 at the half, but the second half was anything but easy for the Bruins in this one. Kansas State won the second half 29-9, but came up just short as they fell in this one, 40-35. QB Brett Hundley finished his UCLA career with 232 total yards of offense and three touchdowns. RB Paul Perkins rushed for another two touchdowns and 194 yards. Kansas State QB Jake Waters led the Wildcats with 338 passing yards and three total touchdowns. WR Tyler Lockett and Curry Sexton each eclipsed the 100-yard mark and Lockett added two touchdowns.
Cactus Bowl
Jan 2, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Naijiel Hale (31) reacts against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2015 Cactus Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Washington 30-22. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
January 2, 2015: Washington vs Oklahoma State
The Oklahoma State Cowboys got out to a big 24-0 lead at the half, but took their foot off the pedal too soon and almost allowed the Washington Huskies to win this one. The Huskies comeback came up short, however, and they fell 30-22 in the Cactus Bowl. Washington QB Cyler Miles passed for 268 yards and one touchdown and WR Jaydon Mickens caught seven balls for 82 yards and one touchdown. Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cowboys in this game.
National Championship
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes players react to winning the 2015 CFP National Championship Game against the Oregon Ducks at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State won 42-20. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
January 12, 2015: #2 Oregon vs #4 Ohio State
The Ducks got off to a quick 7-0 lead on the first drive of the game, but Ohio State would answer right back and the Ducks would never lead again, on their way to a 42-20 defeat to Ohio State. The story of this game was OSU running back Ezekiel Elliot running all over the Ducks defense. Elliot rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries (6.8 yards per rush). It was a tremendous performance from Elliot and the main reason why the Buckeyes held up the trophy last night. The Buckeye defense was also solid playing bend-but-don’t-break defense all night. The OSU offense had four turnovers in the game and the defense only allowed Oregon to get 10 points off those turnovers. It was just great job by Urban Meyer and his group.
Marcus Mariota passed for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, on the last play of the game. The game, which is probably Mariota’s last was a tough way to go out, but it took nothing away from all of his accomplishments.