List of UCLA Bruins bowl games explained

Through 2023, the UCLA Bruins have played in 38 bowl games, compiling a record of .

After California's third straight Rose Bowl loss in 1951, the Pacific Coast Conference disallowed consecutive appearances. The first PCC program adversely affected was UCLA; the undefeated and second-ranked 1954 team was ineligible for the 1955 Rose Bowl; it would have been the second of three consecutive. The rule was dropped by the succeeding AAWU (Big Five) in 1959 (Washington won in 1960 and 1961), but the Big Ten kept it from the late 1940s until the early 1970s.

The Pac-8 (and Big Ten) did not allow multiple bowl teams until the 1975 season, in which the Bruins won the Rose Bowl. In twelve Rose Bowl appearances, UCLA has won five, with three streaks: five losses, five wins, and currently two losses. The last victory was in January 1986 (third in four years), and the most recent appearance was in 1999.

Key

General

	Bowl game record attendance
	Former bowl game record attendance
	Denotes national championship game

Results

W	Win
L	Loss
T	Tie

Bowl games

! scope="col"

Bowl	Date	Winning team	Score	Losing team	Stadium	Location	Attendance	Head coach	MVP
1	Rose Bowl		Georgia		UCLA	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	93,000		(Georgia)
2	Rose Bowl		Illinois		UCLA	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	93,000		(Illinois) Julius Rykovich (Illinois)
3	Rose Bowl		Michigan State		UCLA	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	100,500		(MSU)
4	Rose Bowl		Michigan State		UCLA	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	100,809		(MSU)
5	Rose Bowl		Minnesota		UCLA	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	98,214		(Minnesota)
6	Rose Bowl		UCLA		Michigan State	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	100,087		(UCLA)
7	Rose Bowl		UCLA		Ohio State	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	105,464		(UCLA)
8	Liberty Bowl		Alabama		UCLA	Memphis Memorial Stadium	Memphis, Tennessee	52,736		(Alabama)
9	Fiesta Bowl		UCLA		Arkansas	Sun Devil Stadium	Tempe, Arizona	55,227		(UCLA) Jimmy Walker (Arkansas)
10	Bluebonnet Bowl		Michigan		UCLA	Houston Astrodome	Houston, Texas	50,107		(Michigan)
11	Rose Bowl		UCLA		Michigan	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	104,991		(UCLA) Don Rogers (UCLA)
12	Rose Bowl		UCLA		Illinois	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	103,217		(UCLA)
13	Fiesta Bowl		UCLA		Miami	Sun Devil Stadium	Tempe, Arizona	60,310		(UCLA) James Washington (UCLA)
14	Rose Bowl		UCLA		Iowa	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	103,292		(UCLA)
15	Freedom Bowl		UCLA		Brigham Young	Anaheim Stadium	Anaheim, California	55,422		(UCLA)
16	Aloha Bowl		UCLA		Florida	Aloha Stadium	Honolulu, HI	24,839		(UCLA) Emmit Smith (Florida)
17	Cotton Bowl		UCLA		Arkansas	Cotton Bowl	Dallas	74,304		(UCLA) LaSalle Harber (Arkansas)
18	Sun Bowl		UCLA		Illinois	Sun Bowl Stadium	El Paso, Texas	42,281		(UCLA)
19	Rose Bowl		Wisconsin		UCLA	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	101,237		(Wisconsin)
20	Aloha Bowl		Kansas		UCLA	Aloha Stadium	Honolulu, HI	41,112		(UCLA) Mark Williams (Kansas)
21	Cotton Bowl		UCLA		Texas A&M	Cotton Bowl	Dallas	59,215		(UCLA) Dat Nguyen (Texas A&M)
22	Rose Bowl		Wisconsin		UCLA	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, California	93,872		(Wisconsin)
23	Sun Bowl^[1]		Wisconsin		UCLA	Sun Bowl Stadium	El Paso, Texas	49,093		(UCLA)
24	Las Vegas Bowl^[2]		UCLA		New Mexico	Sam Boyd Stadium	Whitney, Nevada	30,324		(UCLA)
25	Silicon Valley Bowl^[3]		Fresno State		UCLA	Spartan Stadium	San Jose, California	20,126		(FSU) Rodney Davis (FSU)
26	Las Vegas Bowl^[4]		Wyoming		UCLA	Sam Boyd Stadium	Whitney, Nevada	29,062		(Wyoming)
27	Sun Bowl^[5]		UCLA		Northwestern	Sun Bowl Stadium	El Paso, Texas	50,426		(UCLA) Chris Markey (UCLA)
28	Emerald Bowl^[6]		Florida State		UCLA	AT&T Park	San Francisco	40,331		(FSU) Tony Carter (FSU)
29	Las Vegas Bowl^[7]		Brigham Young		UCLA	Sam Boyd Stadium	Whitney, Nevada	40,712		(BYU)
30	EagleBank Bowl^[8]		UCLA		Temple	RFK Stadium	Washington, D.C.	23,072		(UCLA)
31	Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl		Illinois		UCLA	AT&T Park	San Francisco	29,878		(Illinois) Nathan Scheelhaase (Illinois)
32	Holiday Bowl		Baylor		No. 17 UCLA	Qualcomm Stadium	San Diego	55,507		(Baylor) Chris McAllister (Baylor)
33	Sun Bowl		No. 17 UCLA		Virginia Tech	Sun Bowl Stadium	El Paso, Texas	47,912		(UCLA) Jordan Zumwalt (UCLA)
34	Alamo Bowl		No. 14 UCLA		No. 11 Kansas State	Alamodome	San Antonio, Texas	60,517		(UCLA) Eric Kendricks (UCLA) Tyler Lockett (Kansas State)
35	Foster Farms Bowl		Nebraska		UCLA	Levi's Stadium	Santa Clara, California	33,257		Tommy Armstrong, Jr. (Nebraska) Jaleel Wadood (UCLA)
36	Cactus Bowl		Kansas State		UCLA	Chase Field	Phoenix, Arizona	32,859		Alex Delton (Kansas State) Denzel Goolsby (Kansas State)
37	Sun Bowl		Pittsburgh		UCLA	Sun Bowl Stadium		41,104		Rodney Hammond Jr. (Pittsburgh)
38	LA Bowl		UCLA		Boise State	SoFi Stadium		32,780		Ethan Garbers (UCLA) Darius Muasau (UCLA)

Note: UCLA also played in the 1939 Pineapple Bowl, beating Hawaii W 32–7. However, the NCAA does not consider it a Major Bowl, and therefore does not count it towards a team's bowl record as it was a pre-scheduled game.^[9]

Game notes

1943 Rose Bowl

See also: 1943 Rose Bowl. 1st quarter scoring: No score

2nd quarter scoring: No score

3rd quarter scoring: No score

4th quarter scoring: Georgia – Willard "Red" Boyd blocks Bob Waterfield's punt out of bounds for an automatic safety; Georgia – Frank Sinkwich, one-yard run (Leo Costa converts)

1947 Rose Bowl

The 33rd Rose Bowl featured the 10-0 UCLA Bruins, led by head coach Ray Eliot, and the 7-2 Illinois Fighting Illini, led by head coach Bert LaBrucherie. UCLA lost the game, 14-45, they were favored to win by 14 points. Illinois rushed for a combined 320 yards, a then Rose Bowl record (Harrison 2018).^[10] UCLA Bruins kick returner, and member of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Al Hoisch, returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown, a current Rose Bowl record (Bowman).^[11] First quarter scoring:

• Illinois - Julius Rykovich, one-yard run. (Kick failed).
• UCLA - Ernie Case, one-yard quarterback sneak. (Case converts).

Second quarter scoring:

• Illinois - Buddy Young, two-yard run. (Maechtle converts).
• Illinois - Paul Patterson four yard run. (Kick failed).
• Illinois - Perry Moss one-yard sneak. (Kick blocked).
• UCLA - Al Hoisch returns Maechtle's kickoff 103. (Case converts).

Third quarter scoring:

• No scoring.

Fourth quarter scoring:

• Illinois - Young, one-yard run. (Maechtle converts).
• Illinois - Russ Steger, 68-yard interception return. (Kick failed).
• Illinois - Stan Green, 20 yard interception return. (Maechtle converts).

See also: 1947 Rose Bowl.

1954 Rose Bowl

• In the fourth quarter, the Bruins recovered another Spartan fumble and scored to make the score 21–20. But the extra point kick failed. Billy Wells of Michigan State returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown with 4:51 left in the game.

1956 Rose Bowl

See also: 1956 Rose Bowl.

1962 Rose Bowl

See also: 1962 Rose Bowl.

1986 Rose Bowl

See also: 1986 Rose Bowl. The 72nd Rose Bowl Game played on January 1, 1986. Between The UCLA Bruins upset the Iowa Hawkeyes. The UCLA Bruins upset the Iowa Hawkeyes 45–28. UCLA tailback Eric Ball was named the Player Of The Game. He ran for a Rose Bowl record four touchdowns and was MVP of the game. The game Attendance was 103,292.

Box Score

Team	1st Q	2nd Q	3rd Q	4th Q	Total
UCLA	10	14	7	14	45
Iowa	7	3	7	11	28

1994 Rose Bowl

See also: 1994 Rose Bowl. The weather was 73 degrees and hazy. UCLA receiver J. J. Stokes set Rose Bowl records for receptions (14) and receiving yards (176). Brent Moss gashed the UCLA defense for 158 rushing yards and 2 TDs.

First quarter scoring: UCLA — Bjorn Merten 27-yard field goal; Wisconsin — Brent Moss three-yard run (Rick Schnetzky kick)

Second quarter scoring: Wisconsin — Moss one-yard run (Schnetzky kick)

Third quarter scoring: No Scoring

Fourth quarter scoring: UCLA — Ricky Davis 12-yard run (Merten kick); Wisconsin — Darrell Bevell 21-yard run (Schnetzky kick); UCLA — Mike Nguyen five-yard pass from Wayne Cook (2-point conversion pass failed)

Statistics

Team Stats	Wisconsin	UCLA
First Downs	21	31
Net Yards Rushing	250	212
Net Yards Passing	96	288
Total Yards	346	500
PC–PA–Int.	10–20–1	28–43–1
Punts–Avg.	6–38.2	2–35.0
Fumbles–Lost	2–0	5–5
Penalties–Yards	12–89	9–95

1995 Aloha Bowl

See also: 1995 Aloha Bowl. First quarter scoring: KU—Jim Moore, nine-yard pass from Mark Williams. Jeff McCord converts.

Second quarter scoring: KU—June Henley, 49-yard run. McCord converts; KU—McCord, 27-yard field goal.

Third quarter scoring KU—Henley, two-yard run. McCord kick fails; UCLA—Brad Melsby, eight-yard pass from Cade McNown (Bjorn Merten kick); KU—Isaac Byrd, 77-yard pass from Williams (McCord converts); KU—Andre Carter, 27-yard pass from Williams (McCord converts)

Fourth quarter scoring UCLA—Kevin Jordan, eight-yard pass from McNown (Merten kick); UCLA — Karim Abdul-Jabbar five-yard run (Melsby pass from McNown); KU—Williams, six-yard run (McCord converts); UCLA—Melsby, seven-yard pass from McNown (Abdul-Jabbar run); KU—Eric Vann, 67-yard run (McCord converts)

1998 Cotton Bowl Classic

• Sources:^[12]

1999 Rose Bowl

• Sources:^{[13] [14]}

2000 Sun Bowl

• Sources:^{[15] [16]}

2002 Las Vegas Bowl

• Sources:^[17]

2003 Silicon Valley Bowl

• Sources:^[18]

2004 Las Vegas Bowl

• Sources:^{[19] [20]}

2005 Sun Bowl

• Sources:^[21]

2006 Emerald Bowl

• Sources:^[22]

On February 8, 2010, Florida State University agreed to accept NCAA sanctions against its athletic programs, and agreed to vacate 12 football victories, including the 2006 Emerald Bowl victory over UCLA. Florida State has stated their intention to return the championship trophy.^[23]

2007 Las Vegas Bowl

• Sources:^{[24] [25] [26]}

2009 EagleBank Bowl

• Sources:^{[27] [28] [29]}

2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

• Sources:^{[30] [31]}

2012 Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl

Baylor (8–5) vs No. 17 UCLA (9–5)

2013 80th Hyundai Sun Bowl

Virginia Tech (8–5,5–3) vs. No. 17 UCLA (10–3,6–3)

2015 22nd Valero Alamo Bowl

#11 Kansas State (9–3,7–2) vs. No. 14 UCLA (9–3,6–3)

2017 Cactus Bowl

See also: 2017 Cactus Bowl. Kansas State Wildcats (7–5) vs. UCLA Bruins (6–6)

2021 Holiday Bowl

See also: 2021 Holiday Bowl. No. 18 NC State Wolfpack (9–3) vs. UCLA Bruins (8–4)

References

General

• Web site: Bowl/All-Star Game Records . National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) . 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records . NCAA.org . December 10, 2011 .
• Web site: UCLA's bowl tradition . 2011 UCLA Football Media Guide . UCLA . December 10, 2011 .

Specific

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wisconsin 21, UCLA 20 - UCLA Official Athletic Site . 2011-12-11 . dead . https://archive.today/20130205014302/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/122900aaa.html . 2013-02-05 .
2. Web site: UCLA 27, New Mexico 13 - UCLA Official Athletic Site . 2011-12-11 . dead . https://archive.today/20130205013901/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/122502aaa.html . 2013-02-05 .
3. Web site: UCLA Official Athletic Site - Football . December 11, 2011 . September 13, 2012 . https://archive.today/20120913230324/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2003-2004/svfc.html . live .
4. Web site: Wyoming vs UCLA Bruins (Dec 23, 2004) - UCLA Official Athletic Site . 2011-12-11 . dead . https://archive.today/20120915113251/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/122404aab.html . 2012-09-15 .
5. Web site: UCLA Official Athletic Site - Football . December 11, 2011 . September 18, 2012 . https://archive.today/20120918145118/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2005-2006/nuucla.html . live .
6. Web site: UCLA Official Athletic Site - Football. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120612015200/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2006-2007/fsuucla.html. 2012-06-12.
7. Web site: UCLA Official Athletic Site - Football . December 11, 2011 . February 5, 2013 . https://archive.today/20130205042709/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2007-2008/lvbowl07.html . live .
8. Web site: UCLA Official Athletic Site - Football . December 11, 2011 . February 5, 2013 . https://archive.today/20130205015139/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/uclatem.html . live .
9. Web site: Archived copy . December 11, 2011 . September 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120915225102/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Bowls.pdf . live .
10. Web site: Harrison . Scott . 2018-12-27 . From the Archives: UCLA loses 1947 Rose Bowl . 2024-04-18 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
11. Web site: UCLA football star, World War II veteran Al Hoisch dies at 91 . 2024-04-18 . Daily Bruin.
12. News: 1998 Cotton Bowl Classic Recap. attcottonbowl.com. December 11, 2011. April 26, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120426030447/http://media.attcottonbowl.com/resource/history/1998/rsrc/1998-Classic-Recap.pdf. live.
13. News: Rose Bowl 1999. rosebowlhistory.org. December 11, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111212030837/http://www.rosebowlhistory.org/rose-bowl-1999.php. December 12, 2011.
14. Web site: Box Score: Wisconsin at UCLA . cnnsi.com . December 11, 2011 . November 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121115034200/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/scoreboards/1999/01/01/finalbox.ucla.wisconsin.html . live .
15. News: UCLA vs. Wisconsin box score. UCLABruins.com. December 11, 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20130205014302/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/122900aaa.html. February 5, 2013.
16. Web site: 2000 NCAA Football Bowls . cnnsi.com . December 11, 2011 . April 29, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090429011012/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/2000/bowls/news/2000/11/26/bowlsked/ . live .
17. News: New Mexico vs. UCLA (Dec 25, 2002). UCLABruins.com. December 11, 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20130205013901/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/122502aaa.html. February 5, 2013.
18. News: UCLA vs Fresno State (Dec 30, 2003). UCLABruins.com. December 11, 2011. September 13, 2012. https://archive.today/20120913230324/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2003-2004/svfc.html. live.
19. News: Wyoming vs UCLA Bruins (Dec 23, 2004). UCLABruins.com. December 11, 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20120915113251/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/122404aab.html. September 15, 2012.
20. News: Wyoming Cowboys vs. UCLA Bruins Recap. ESPN.com. December 11, 2011. February 4, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120204144310/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=243582751. dead.
21. News: Northwestern vs UCLA Bruins (Dec 30, 2005). UCLABruins.com. December 11, 2011. September 18, 2012. https://archive.today/20120918145118/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2005-2006/nuucla.html. live.
22. News: Florida State vs UCLA Bruins (12/27/06). UCLABruins.com. December 11, 2011. June 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120612015200/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2006-2007/fsuucla.html. live.
23. News: SPORTS BRIEFING COLLEGE ATHLETICS; Florida State To Vacate Wins . . . 2010-02-08 . 2010-03-24 . October 19, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161019042010/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DEFDE1F38F93BA35751C0A9669D8B63 . live .
24. News: UCLA vs BYU (Dec 22, 2007). UCLABruins.com. December 11, 2011. February 5, 2013. https://archive.today/20130205042709/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2007-2008/lvbowl07.html. live.
25. Web site: Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. UCLA . Megargee, Steve . December 11, 2011 . December 19, 2007 . Rivals.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071225134951/http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=753330 . December 25, 2007 .
26. News: UCLA Bruins vs. Brigham Young Cougars Recap. ESPN.com. December 11, 2011. January 13, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120113000119/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273560252. dead.
27. News: UCLA vs Temple (Dec 29, 2009). UCLABruins.com. December 11, 2011. February 5, 2013. https://archive.today/20130205015139/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/uclatem.html. live.
28. News: UCLA Bruins vs. Temple Owls Recap. ESPN.com. December 11, 2011. November 4, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104012153/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=293630218. dead.
29. News: UCLA Bruins vs. Temple Owls Box Score. ESPN.com. December 11, 2011. November 14, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121114143956/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293630218. live.
30. News: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. UCLA Bruins – Box Score. ESPN.com. December 31, 2011. January 1, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120101091722/http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=313650026. live.
31. Web site: Illinois vs. UCLA (Dec 31, 2011). UCLABruins.com. December 31, 2011. February 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120211121230/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/kfhb2011.html. live.