Dec. 6, 2015
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State football team has accepted an invitation to play Cincinnati in the Hawai`i Bowl on Thursday Dec. 24 at 3 p.m. HST (5 p.m. PST). The game will be played at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium and will be broadcast nationally by ESPN.
The Aztecs (10-3) are riding the momentum of a nine-game winning streak, the third-longest active streak in the nation, including a perfect 8-0 record in the Mountain West regular season and a 27-24 victory over Air Force on Saturday in the 2015 Sports Authority MW Championship for the school's 20th conference title. SDSU is one of just 25 schools to advance to six straight bowl games and one of just three "Group of 5" programs.
"We are excited as a football program to play Cincinnati in the Hawai`i Bowl," Aztec head coach Rocky Long said. "(Hawaii) will be a nice place to spend a few days and Cincinnati will be a very challenging opponent. I know our players will be excited to play as well."
San Diego State will be playing in its 14th bowl in school history and 10th in Division I play. The Aztecs' 10 wins this year are their most since winning 10 times as an independent team in 1977 and are just one off tying a school record of 11 (1966 as a Division II member and 1969 in their first year of DI play).
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to play in the Hawai`i Bowl," San Diego State director of athletics Jim Sterk said. "We have had a tremendous season and we are excited to spend a week in Hawaii for the bowl. The University of Hawai'i has always treated us so well and we are honored to represent the Mountain West."
SDSU is playing in the Hawai`i Bowl for the first time and will look to stop an eight-game losing streak in the bowl among teams that are currently in the Mountain West.
The Bearcats are 7-5 on the season, including a 4-4 mark in the American Athletic Conference. Cincinnati finished in a tie for third in the East Division of the AAC.
San Diego State is 0-1 all-time against the Bearcats, falling by a 52-23 score at home on Sept. 29, 2007.
Tickets for the bowl game will go on sale Monday at 11 a.m. PST to both season-ticket holders and the general public. Season-ticket holders, however, will receive ticket holder priority seat placement by points.
Tickets will be available through GoAztecs.com, Qualcomm Window E or by calling (619) 283-7378.