| Year Game Played: | 1997 |
| Game Name: | Humanitarian Bowl |
| Football Season: | 1997 |
| Visitor Name Short: | Cincinnati |
| Visitor Nickname: | Bearcats |
| Visitor School: | University of Cincinnati |
| Home Name Short: | Utah State |
| Home Nickname: | Aggies |
| Home School: | Utah State University |
| Visitor Record: | 7 - 4 |
| Visitor Conference: | C-USA |
| Home Record: | 6 - 5 |
| Home Conference: | Big West |
| Visitor Coach: | Rick Minter |
| Home Coach: | John L. Smith |
| Visitor 1Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 14 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 14 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 0 |
| Home 1Q: | 0 |
| Home 2Q: | 0 |
| Home 3Q: | 13 |
| Home 4Q: | 6 |
| Date Game Played: | December 29 |
| Stadium: | Bronco Stadium |
| City: | Boise, Idaho |
| Odds: | Cincinnati by 3[1] |
| Referee: | Chuck McFerrin (Pac-10) |
| Attendance: | 16,289 |
| Payout: | 750,000 per team[2] |
| Us Network: | ESPN2 |
| First Game Ever Played: | Yes |
The 1997 Humanitarian Bowl was the inaugural edition of the bowl game now known as the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It featured the Cincinnati Bearcats of Conference USA and the Utah State Aggies of the Big West Conference. This was Cincinnati's first bowl game in 46 years and first bowl win since 1949.[3] [4] [5]
Kickoff was at 1:30 pm MST and it was televised by ESPN2.[6]
Favored Cincinnati took a 7–0 lead on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Chad Plummer to Cornelius Bonner. They led on a scoring pass from Deontey Kenner to Bonner. Lendon Smith scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as Cincinnati took a halftime lead.[5]
In the third quarter, Plummer scored on a 15-yard touchdown run making the score Utah State got on the board with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Sauk to Steve Smith. Cincinnati answered with a 7-yard Orlando Smith touchdown run making the score Utah State scored on a 3-yard touchdown run making the score at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Utah State's Brent Passey scored on a 10-yard fumble return making the final score [5] [7]