SAN DIEGO – The 17th-ranked UCLA Bruins and Baylor Bears will play each other for the first time when they meet in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 at Qualcomm Stadium.
The Bruins (9-4) won the Pac-12 South Division and are coming off a 27-24 loss to No. 8 Stanford in the conference championship game.
"I know I speak for the coaching staff and our players when I say that the UCLA football team is very excited to continue our 2012 season in the Holiday Bowl," coach Jim Mora said. "We have accomplished some good things this season, and are looking forward to playing one last time together as a team."
Baylor (7-5) closed the regular season with three straight victories, including a 52-24 upset of then-No. 2 Kansas State on Nov. 17. At the time, K-State was ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings.
On Saturday, the Bears beat Oklahoma State 41-34, knocking the Cowboys out of the Top 25.
"I'm extremely proud of our team for getting us into a bowl game, especially a bowl with the national reputation that the Holiday Bowl has earned through the years with all of the great games played there," Baylor coach Art Briles said. "It's an honor for Baylor to play a really good UCLA football team."
Baylor's offense ranks first nationally and boasts the national leaders in total offense and receiving yards: senior quarterback Nick Florence (387.7 yards per game) and senior receiver and Biletnikoff Award finalist Terrance Williams (1,764 yards), respectively. The Bears rank fifth nationally in scoring, averaging 44.1 points per game.
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