2012 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas The 2012 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas was an American college football bowl game held on December 22 , 2012 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney , Nevada in the Las Vegas Valley in the United States as part of the 2012 – 13 NCAA Bowl season . The 21st edition of the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas began at 12 : 30 p . m . PST and aired on ESPN . It featured the Mountain West Conference co - champion Boise State Broncos against the Washington Huskies from the Pacific - 12 Conference ( Pac - 12 ) and was the final game of the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season for both teams . The Broncos accepted their invitation after earning a 10 - 2 record in the regular season , while the Huskies advanced to the game after earning a 7 - 5 record . Boise State kicked a 27 - yard field goal with 1 : 16 left in the game to defeat Washington 28 – 26 to win their third consecutive Maaco Bowl Las Vegas game . Teams . This was the second meeting between these two teams . The all - time record is tied 1 - 1 . The last time they played was in 2007 . Boise State . The two - time defending Maaco Bowl Las Vegas champions continued their recent " outsider domination " in 2012 , becoming the Mountain West Co - Champions with a 7 - 1 conference record , sharing the title with the Fresno State Bulldogs and San Diego State Aztecs . After defeating the Nevada Wolf Pack , the Broncos accepted an invitation to their third straight Maaco Bowl Las Vegas . In addition to it being a chance at a Maaco Bowl Las Vegas " three - peat " ( defeating the Utah Utes 26 - 3 in the 2010 game and also the Arizona State Sun Devils 56 - 24 in the 2011 game ) , this will also be the Broncos ' final game as a member of the Mountain West before joining the Big East Conference in 2013 . Washington . The Huskies finished at fourth place in the Pac - 12 North Division with a 5 - 4 conference record , accepting the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas invitation at the same time Boise State did . This will be the Huskies ' first Maaco Bowl Las Vegas . Offensively the Huskies are led by tight end Austin Seferian - Jenkins , who set school career marks for receptions ( 104 ) , receiving yards ( 1 , 327 ) and touchdowns ( 12 ) ; Kasen Williams ( 71 receptions ) ; and Bishop Sankey , who rushed for 1 , 234 yards in 2012 . Desmond Trufant is ranked No . 16 in the nation ( second in the Pac - 12 ) in pass defense ( 188 . 9 yards allowed per game ) . Game summary . First quarter . Washington fumbled on its opening driving , giving Boise State the ball at Washington ' s 46 - yard line . Taking advantage of the fumble , Boise State took a 3 - 0 lead on a 34 - yard field goal from Michael Frisina . Washington was able to tie the game with a 26 - yard field goal , but Boise State responded with a 16 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Southwick to Geraldo Boldewijn . The subsequent extra point was block , giving Boise State a 9 - 3 lead going into the second quarter . Second quarter . After exchanging punts , Boise State intercepted a pass from Washington ' s quarterback Keith Price . Taking advantage of the interception , Boise State was able to extend their lead 12 - 3 on a 30 - yard field goal from Michael Frisina . Boise State further extended their lead to 18 - 3 on a 34 - yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Chris Potter to Holden Huff ( the subsequent two - point conversion failed ) . Washington quickly responded with a 26 - yard touchdown run from Bishop Sankey to make the score 18 - 10 . Washington further cut into Boise State ' s lead on a 7 - yard touchdown run by Keith Price to make the score 18 - 17 in Boise State ' s favor going into halftime . Third quarter . Boise State opened the third quarter with a 15 - play , 74 - yard drive that took 6 minutes and 47 seconds . The drive was capped off with a 1 - yard touchdown pass from Joe Southwick to Holden Huff to give Boise State a 25 - 17 lead . Washington was able to respond with a 6 - yard touchdown pass from Keith Price to Austin Seferian - Jenkins . The Huskies were unable to convert the subsequent two - point conversion attempt , making the score 25 - 23 in the Broncos ' favor going into the fourth quarter . Fourth quarter . Washington missed a 41 - yard field goal early in in the fourth quarter . However , Washington ' s defense was able to force the Broncos to punt , giving the Huskies the ball back with 11 : 02 left in regulation . Washington went on a 14 - play , 76 - yard drive that took 6 minutes and 53 seconds . The drive was capped off with a 38 - yard field goal from Travis Coons to give the Huskies their first lead of the game , 26 - 25 . On the subsequent kickoff , Boise State ' s Shane Williams - Rhodes returned the ball 47 - yards to Washington ' s 42 - yard line . Taking advantage of Willams - Rhodes ' kickoff return , Boise State was able to retake the lead on a 27 - yard field goal from Michael Frisina with only 1 : 16 left in regulation . On the subsequent drive , Washington was able to drive to Boise State ' s side of the field . However , Boise State ' s Jeremy Ioane intercepted a pass from Keith Price with 14 seconds remaining in the game , giving Boise State the win and the Broncos ' third consecutive victory in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas .