1998 Holiday Bowl

1998 Culligan Holiday Bowl
Arizona Wildcats Nebraska Cornhuskers (11–1) (9–3) Pac-10 Big 12 23 20 Head coach:  Dick Tomey Head coach:  Frank Solich AP Coaches BCS 5 6 7 AP Coaches BCS 14 16 11
1 2 3 4 Total Arizona 6 3 0 14 23 Nebraska 0 13 0 7 20
Date	December 30, 1998
Season	1998
Stadium	Qualcomm Stadium
Location	San Diego, California
MVP	Offensive: Keith Smith, Arizona Defensive: Mike Rucker, Nebraska
Referee	Rogers Redding (SEC)
Halftime show	Marching bands
Attendance	65,354
Payout	US$1,800,968 per team
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Mike Tirico (Play by Play) Todd Blackledge (Analyst) Dr. Jerry Punch (Sideline)

The 1998 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 30, 1998 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the Arizona Wildcats, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Game summary

Arizona scored the first points of the game with a 38-yard field goal from Mark McDonald opening up a 3–0 lead. They increased that to 6–0, following a 25-yard McDonald field goal, to close the first quarter scoring. In the third quarter, McDonald added his third field goal of the game, a 48-yarder, giving Arizona a 9–0 lead. Nebraska got on the board following a 25-yard field goal from Kris Brown, making it 9–3.

Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Shevin Wiggins to give Nebraska a 10-9 second quarter lead. Kris Brown added a 23-yard field goal before halftime to give Nebraska a 13-9 halftime lead.

After a third quarter, Arizona quarterback Keith Smith threw a 16-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Brad Brennan, and Arizona reclaimed a 16–13 lead. Eric Crouch threw his second touchdown pass of the game, to tight end Tracey Wistrom and Nebraska claimed a 20–16 lead. Running back Kelvin Eafon scored on a 1-yard touchdown run for Arizona, and Arizona got the final 23-20 margin of victory.

Aftermath

Nebraska continued their bowl streak, while Arizona did not return to a bowl game again until 2008. The following year, Arizona and Nebraska would have a rematch against each other in the Holiday Bowl.