# 2018 Holiday Bowl

The 2018 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 31, 2018. It was the 41st edition of the Holiday Bowl, and one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. This was the second season in which the Holiday Bowl was held at SDCCU Stadium. Sponsored by San Diego County Credit Union, the game was officially known as the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl.

## Teams

The game featured the Northwestern Wildcats, champions of the Big Ten West Division, and the Utah Utes, champions of the Pac-12 South Division. The programs had previously met twice, with Northwestern winning in 1927 and Utah winning in 1981.

### Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern was defeated in the 2018 Big Ten Football Championship Game on December 1 by Ohio State, then received and accepted a bid to the Holiday Bowl on December 2. The Wildcats entered the bowl with an 8–5 record (8–1 in conference).

### Utah Utes

Utah was defeated in the 2018 Pac-12 Football Championship Game on November 30 by Washington, then received and accepted a bid to the Holiday Bowl on December 2. The Utes entered the bowl with a 9–4 record (6–3 in conference).

## Game summary
### Scoring summary

Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | NU | UTAH |
| 1 | 5:48 | 6 | 62 | 1:54 | UTAH | Jaylen Dixon 27-yard touchdown reception from Jason Shelley, Matt Gay kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | 1:40 | 5 | 35 | 1:39 | UTAH | Jake Jackson 4-yard touchdown reception from Jason Shelley, Matt Gay kick good | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | 8:42 | 8 | 62 | 3:02 | NU | 21-yard field goal by Charlie Kuhbander | 3 | 14 |
| 2 | 3:57 | 11 | 57 | 4:39 | UTAH | 32-yard field goal by Matt Gay | 3 | 17 |
| 2 | 0:05 | 10 | 33 | 2:24 | UTAH | 20-yard field goal by Matt Gay | 3 | 20 |
| 3 | 13:13 | 2 | 56 | 0:36 | NU | Riley Lees 4-yard touchdown reception from Clayton Thorson, Charlie Kuhbander kick good | 10 | 20 |
| 3 | 6:40 | | | | NU | Fumble recovery returned 82 yards for touchdown by Jared McGee, Charlie Kuhbander kick good | 17 | 20 |
| 3 | 4:39 | 2 | 31 | 0:31 | NU | Trey Klock 4-yard touchdown reception from Clayton Thorson, Charlie Kuhbander kick good | 24 | 20 |
| 3 | 1:40 | 6 | 67 | 2:34 | NU | Riley Lees 8-yard touchdown run, Charlie Kuhbander kick good | 31 | 20 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 31 | 20 |

### Statistics

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 31 |
| No. 17 Utes | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Statistics | NU | UTAH |
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 70–322 | 77–393 |
| Rushes–yards | 40–81 | 32–91 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 302 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 21–30–1 | 27–45–2 |
| Time of possession | 31:51 | 28:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern | Passing | Clayton Thorson | 21/30, 241 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Northwestern | Rushing | Isaiah Bowser | 23 car, 70 yds |
| Northwestern | Receiving | Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman | 2 rec, 64 yds |
| Utah | Passing | Jason Shelley | 27/45, 302 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Utah | Rushing | Jason Shelley | 12 car, 39 yds |
| Utah | Receiving | Jaylen Dixon | 9 rec, 114 yds, 1 TD |