This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon's intention to transfer has surprised some people, considering he was named the New Mexico Bowl MVP last December.
Actually, that's the reason it is happening. As the curator of the New Mexico Bowl Curse, I'm adding Solomon and the Wildcats to my list. In the bowl's 10-year history, the winning teams have posted a collective 56-67 record the following season — including Arizona's 3-9 mark this year. BYU became an exception, going 10-3 in 2011. But two freshman stars of the Cougars' 2010 win in Albuquerque, quarterback Jake Heaps (the MVP) and running back Joshua Quezada, ended up transferring.
Utah State has gone 9-16 since winning the 2014 New Mexico Bowl. So this year's participants, New Mexico and Texas-San Antonio, are hereby warned as they launch the bowl season Saturday.
And here's the rest of my annual (mostly Utah-based) list of reasons to watch every bowl game, in chronological order:
Houston vs. San Diego State, Las Vegas Bowl: I'm happy to have watched SDSU running back Donnel Pumphrey perform twice vs. Utah State, and he's likely to become the NCAA's all-time leading rusher in this game.
Central Florida vs. Arkansas State, Cure Bowl: There's a natural BYU comparison here, as the Cougars beat Cincinnati 20-3 the week before UCF topped the Bearcats 24-3.
Toledo vs. Appalachian State, Camelia Bowl: Toledo's 52-51 loss to BYU in September is unforgettable.
Southern Mississippi vs. Louisiana Lafayette, New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss has made a gradual climb from an 0-12 season in 2012.
Tulsa vs. Central Michigan, Miami Beach Bowl: CMU is one of two teams that lost to Bronco Mendenhall's Virginia club.
Western Kentucky vs. Memphis, Boca Raton Bowl: I'll never be able to watch Memphis without thinking about the Miami Beach Brawl two years ago.
BYU vs. Wyoming, Poinsettia Bowl: Weird to think that while making his first start of the season, Tanner Mangum is BYU's first QB to start consecutive bowl games since Max Hall in 2007-09.
Colorado State vs. Idaho, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Even weirder to think that in 2018, Idaho will be joining Weber State and Southern Utah in the Big Sky Conference. That's a good move, though.
Old Dominion vs. Eastern Michigan, Bahamas Bowl: EMU is in a bowl game for the first time since 1987, with a nice destination.
Louisiana Tech vs. Navy, Armed Forces Bowl: Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo has a new challenge, motivating his team for a bowl game after a loss to Army.
Troy vs. Ohio, Dollar General Bowl: Ohio's Frank Solich is the best example of a coach who was fired at a higher level (Nebraska) but settled into a program and stayed there. He's 88-66 in his 12th season with the Bobcats.
Hawaii vs. Middle Tennessee, Hawaii Bowl: BYU visits Hawaii next season.
Mississippi State vs. Miami (Ohio), St. Petersburg Bowl: BYU visits MSU next season, after beating the Bulldogs in double overtime in Provo in October.
Maryland vs. Boston College, Quick Lane Bowl: BC's Steve Addazio is among nine former Urban Meyer assistants who are current FBS head coaches.
North Carolina State vs. Vanderbilt, Independence Bowl: Vandy head coach Derek Mason and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig are former Utah assistants.
Army vs. North Texas, Heart of Dallas Bowl: Rematches of regular-season games are unusual, but they do occur.
Temple vs. Wake Forest, Military Bowl: Utah State beat Wake Forest 36-24 in Logan in 2014, but reportedly is not among the schools that received game-plan information from WFU's rogue broadcaster.
Washington State vs. Minnesota, Holiday Bowl: Logan's Luke Falk and the Cougars may get another opponent (Northern Illinois) if Minnesota players follow through on their potential boycott.
Boise State vs. Baylor, Cactus Bowl: BYU's annual series with Boise State is becoming a fun part of the Cougars' schedule.
Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern, Pinstripe Bowl: Matt Canada, Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator, is moving to LSU after this game. He'll face BYU in the Tigers' 2017 opener (LSU will be the Cougars' second opponent, following Portland State).
Miami vs. West Virginia, Russell Athletic Bowl: BYU has gone 7-1 after losing 35-32 to West Virginia.
Texas A&M vs. Kansas State, Texas Bowl: Charlie Dickey, one of the assistant coaches Utah lost after the Sugar Bowl, has coached K-State's offensive line for eight years.
Utah vs. Indiana, Foster Farms Bowl: Utah's Kyle Whittingham, 9-1 in bowl games, faces a program that hasn't won a bowl game since 1991.
South Florida vs. South Carolina, Birmingham Bowl: USF's coaching trade sent Willie Taggart to Oregon and brought Charlie Strong from Texas.
Virginia Tech vs. Arkansas, Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech's Justin Fuente is now 2-0 vs. Mendenhall — in the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl and this year's in-state game.
Colorado vs. Oklahoma State, Alamo Bowl: The Buffaloes lost badly to Washington in the Pac-12 title game, but they're the reigning South champions.
TCU vs. Georgia, Liberty Bowl: TCU is 28-17 in Big 12 play since moving from the Mountain West, compared with Utah's 25-29 record in the Pac-12.
Stanford vs. North Carolina, Sun Bowl: Stanford returns to Utah's schedule in 2017-18, without Christian McCaffrey.
Air Force vs. South Alabama, Arizona Bowl: Mountain West coaches are trying to figure out how USA beat San Diego State each of the past two seasons.
Tennessee vs. Nebraska, Music City Bowl: Blair Tushaus, who played in 15 games as a BYU center and later became an Arizona tight end, is a Nebraska graduate assistant.
Michigan vs. Florida State, Orange Bowl: Jim Harbaugh is 20-4 since losing to Utah in his Michigan debut.
LSU vs. Louisville, Citrus Bowl: Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson takes on the Tigers.
Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky, TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech beat Virginia 31-17, but Mendenhall's defense, as always, handled the option scheme well. Tech rushed for 199 yards.
Alabama vs. Washington, Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff): The Huskies staged a memorable game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in October and will host Utah in 2017.
Ohio State vs. Clemson, Fiesta Bowl (College Football Playoff): Urban Meyer returns to suburban Phoenix, where he has always thrived.
Florida vs. Iowa, Outback Bowl: Florida coach Jim McElwain's success is a reminder of how dominant Utah State once was in the Mountain West. The Aggies beat his Colorado State team 13-0 in 2013.
Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan, Cotton Bowl: Western Michigan of the Mid-American Conference proves that it is not that easy for a Mountain West or American team to get the Group of 5's annual bid to a New Year's 6 game.
USC vs. Penn State, Rose Bowl: The Trojans' last loss was Sept. 23 in Salt Lake City.
Oklahoma vs. Auburn, Sugar Bowl: Dennis Simmons, a former BYU linebacker, coaches the country's best receiver, Biletnikoff Award winner Dede Westbrook of Oklahoma.
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