Big West, MAC Champs to Meet in Las Vegas Bowl

LAS VEGAS —  The winner of the Mid-American Conference will meet the Big West Conference champion Dec. 18 in the inaugural Las Vegas Bowl.

The new bowl replaces the Fresno-based California Bowl, which matched the champions of the two conferences for the past 10 years. Fresno State is leaving the Big West Conference this year.

The game will be played at the 32,000-seat Sam Boyd Silver Bowl and televised by ESPN. It has been certified by the NCAA Postseason Football Committee, but is awaiting final approval by the NCAA Executive Committee in August.

Last year’s California Bowl drew 34,877 people, who saw Bowling Green beat Fresno State, 28-21. Cal State Fullerton has played in the game once, losing to Northern Illinois, 20-13, in 1983.