1-on-1 with DP – 93.7 The Ticket KNTK - Las Vegas Bowl history, Mendoza AP Player of the Year: December 12, 11:25am

Episode Date: December 12, 2025

History of the Las Vegas Bowl. Heisman Trophy finalists rundown.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hey, what's up y'all? Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. My favorite thing about the holidays? Decking out my whole house. It's not a competition, but if it was, well, I'd win the season with Wayfair. Outdoor inflatable Santa? Got it on Wayfair. Trees, lights and ornaments? Wayfair. Hosting must-havs, like dining sets, beds, sheets, and towels. Wayfair. For everything in your style delivered with fast and free shipping, visit Wayfair.com or the Wayfair app to win the season. But again, it's not a competition. Welcome back to one-on-one here on 93.7, the ticket. We've got still two segments left on the show. We'll have some fun talking about the Las Vegas Bowl and the history there. But first, I'm going to put Austin on the spot here, as we do have the Heisman trophy awarded this week. Fernando Mendoza, I should say tomorrow. Fernando Mendoza was named AP Player of the Year, though we know from our Indomacan Sioux days. And it's not necessarily mean you're going to win the Heisman. Mendoza received 32 of 50. 51 first place votes from a nationwide panel of media members who cover college football. Pavia was second and got nine votes. So maybe a precursor to what we see to the Heisman, maybe not here on Saturday.

They also announced 5 through 10 in the Heisman rankings, which is always kind of fun to look at the guys behind those that got invited to New York. Five through 10 spots go Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech, Jeremiah Smith, of Ohio State, Gunner Stockton. excuse me, of Georgia, Trinidad Shameless, who might win like story of the year there for Ole Miss. Number nine, at the nine spot, I should say Caleb Downs in 10th, Haynes King. But as it comes down to it, of course, the finals, Jeremiah love out there for Notre Dame, Julian Seine for Ohio State and the two that people expect it maybe to come down to, Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt. And as I said, Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, are you different than the AP? Would you go with a different boat? Or are you thinking Mendoza wins it?

I'm just glad Jeremiah Love isn't opting out of the ceremony, really. You know, but no. That's the most important thing, yeah. Right. He'll see the gold and think it's for him. But no, I do think it's probably Mendoza. I do think the drive against Penn State that they ended up winning it on is a big deal. But more than anything, the Ohio State game, even though they only scored 13 points,

even though it was defense-led. I do think that it is a deserved award statistically, but also just the narrative, right? Indiana, you're one seed in a college football playoff, big 10 champions for the first time and forever. Had Vanderbilt snuck into the playoffs, had they beat one of Bama or Texas, and had that be the win that got them into the playoff

even without being the SEC champion, maybe. But even then, I think you're still kind of just chasing the fact that Indiana was a little bit better. Mendoza, I think, has the more well-rounded team. And last year, it was kind of Pavianania, right? If Andy had this year last year, I could have seen an argument for Diego Pavia maybe getting like

the Lamar Jackson Heideman, even though Louisville didn't really win anything of major consequence with him there, kind of flamed out at the end of years and didn't make the major bowl games, couldn't make an argument. Hey, he was the story. It's Vanderbilt. He's putting up numbers. They were really good. I mean, they weren't obviously like Lamar Jackson gotty insane numbers. But I think Mendoza has the right mix of statistics and team success and narrative behind him that if he doesn't win it, I would be surprised. Yeah, I'm kind of with you there too. I thought I thought probably was going to have more of a chance, but as I've seen these, some of these different lists kind of come out.

Though, you know, you look at these All-American teams. He has picked over Mendoza and a few of them. So I still think it could be interesting. We'll have to see kind of how it plays out here. But let's get to our Las Vegas bowl kind of history here. So important to note here, again, Nebraska and Utah will play on New York. Year's Eve in the Las Vegas Bowl. The bull started in 1992. Used to be played at Sam Boyd Stadium. That was, of course, before it's been moved to Allegiance Stadium. And we'll start with this because Terrell hates it whenever Matt Roll brings up attendance. And Matt Ruhl did say they're going to try to break the attendance record here. So the attendance record is 44,615. That was when BYU

defeated Oregon in 2006. The record for Allegiant Stadium is actually less. 32,515 in 2021 when Wisconsin beat Arizona State 20 to 13. Utah has been in this bowl a record seven time. So it might not be the most... Including this? Including this one. Okay. So six previous appearances.

This is their seventh appearance in the bowl. They are not part of those previous records, right? As far as attendance goes. So kind of factor that in a little bit here. Also, short trip, but they've been here. So, you know, all that kind of considering. And do you think Nebraska can be what the Las Vegas Bowl hopes it is, the big traveling fan base that breaks the attendance record?

Can they, yes, will they TBD? If this is, if this had been the bowl to snap the streak last year, yes, almost without a doubt. I think last year having to go to cold snowy, sleety New York to play a football game in a baseball stadium. I think if the rolls had been reversed, and this was the game for Nebraska, yes, I mean, it's not a sell. I mean, I would guess Nebraska would push it

probably 50K if this was last year. Now, I think it'll be close. I don't know Husker fans' opinions on Las Vegas. I know there have been some in-and-out partnerships with the Lincoln Airport to Vegas and back, and it's relatively easy to get to even out of Omaha. So, no, I think Nebraska fans will show out well. I don't think it'll be overwhelming by any means.

I wouldn't, I wouldn't put money on the attendance record being broken. Sorry, Nebraska fans. There's a challenge. Yes. See, I'm almost, I'm very intrigued by that because I just want to know where Nebraska fans are at. Like you said,

if it broke the bull drought, you know, I think that this would be heavily, you know, more heavily a trip there. But just, I think that, I mean,

you're two touchdown underdog. You're coming off back to back, bad losses. Again, the bowl game matters. But the, the, moves to this off season, everything that, you know, Imit Johnson often out.

Vegas isn't the draw that it maybe was even five years ago. Right. You know, all that stuff factoring. And I don't think they break it either. I was surprised that Matt Ruhl said that, but trying to challenge Nebraska fans. And he's, you know, Nebraska, that's what Nebraska has to work with. And that's why, again, I point out to Trell because I think it's funny, he gets so upset whenever that's mentioned. And I say, well, that's not what you have. I know it's not what you want. And you got to keep working toward you what you want. But what you have is, a traveling fan base that cares about their huskers,

cares about the logo and we'll take these opportunities to go. For many families, this was a yearly vacation every year all the time Norado was going to be, but it was usually picking between the orange roll of the festival, you know? And so that changed over the years. And then after this long drought, you know, I think families probably started different traditions and different things. There are people that be people that go.

But I'm intrigued a lot in how much like the draw is of New Year's even Vegas because that's kind of an experience on its own. Sure, absolutely. I would wager there will be more Nebraska fans from California and Arizona than Nebraska from Nebraska fans from Nebraska. Wow. Maybe that's a hot tag. Maybe even the Texas fans make their way over there.

But I'm not saying the Nebraska fans from Nebraska won't go. They'll have their contingent. But even with Nebraska being out on the West Coast now, almost every year, I mean, they did the USC thing last year, UCLA this year, Washington, Oregon, then in the next couple of years as well. It's just different. I do think that you'll get more of that Calabrasca representation, which bring back Calabrasca, by the way. I'm kidding. That was so successful. Yeah, so that's interesting kind of in its own right there. All right, now here comes your trivia. I think you're going to do pretty well with this. Oh, geez. But we've got team

MVPs. I only picked out names that kind of stuck out to me. And I think, you know, you'll be able to kind of figure out game MVP over the last several years. We'll see if you can get it. Last year's MVP, Just tell me the college they played at. Jacoby Lane. Oh, um... Hey, what's up, y'all? Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. My favorite thing about the holidays?

Decking out my whole house. It's not a competition, but if it was, well, I'd win the season with Wayfair. Outdoor inflatable Santa? Got it on Wayfair. Trees, lights, and ornaments. Wayfair. Hosting must-havs like dining sets,

beds, sheets, and towels. Wayfair. For everything in your style, delivered with fast and free shipping, visit Wayfair.com or the Wayfair app to win this season. But again, it's not a competition. Wayfair, every style, every home.

I'm O for one, Buck. Uh-oh. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Jacoby Lane. I know I've heard the name. You know the name. You're going to be very upset when you,

when you center in on it. It wasn't Utah, was it? No, it is the, that's the current USC wide receiver. That's pretty darn good. Oh, that's right. All-American. That's right. Nebraska shut them down.

So I get why you don't remember that one. All right, let's see if you get this one, a little bit more difficult, maybe. Quarterback, Ben Bryant. Ben Bryant, that was, he's a Cincinnati guy. He was originally, that's right. But, oh, that was no, that was the bowl of that Northwestern.

North Western. And so Northwestern, final answer. There's going to be some of these that are very easy. Breeland Allen. Never heard of that guy. Yeah, Wisconsin. Wisconsin, 2020 one MVP. Part of this is to let people know that, you know, who's one MVP, too.

2016's MVP, Donnell Pumpfrey. Oh, that's San Diego State. That's correct. The all-time leading rusher in college football. Most people don't know that. Wow, people forget. Yeah. Take that run, Dane.

That's right. 2013, Cody Kessler. Cody Kessler. Would that have been USC? Cody Kessler? That's the USC as well, yes. But he wasn't at USC for this game, was he? No, he was.

He was? Okay, yeah. USC's Cody Kessler. Nice. 2012, Bishop Sanky. Bishop Sanky. That was a Washington running. That's correct. Nice. I thought that one might be difficult. 2011. Wow. Okay, 2011. I don't know what that was. Doug Martin.

Doug Martin. Muscle hamster, Boise State. There you go. 2010, Kellynne Moore. Boise State. Also, Boise State. We're jumping a few years back. 2005, Marshawn Lynch, actually was the MVP in this. Cal. There you go. Did he write the medical card in that one? I wish. I don't think so. 2003, Stephen Jackson. Oh, Stephen Jackson. Yeah. um know him from his time with the rams yeah where did stephen jackson go to college um stephen jackson stephen jackson was a was he also a calc no i think dashan jackson for yeah um stephen jackson act 12 you're out there okay um stephen jackson

Arizona Oregon state Oregon state okay uh not this is the this one might be very difficult for you, but I picked it because it'll bobby you a little bit. 1998 Ronald Curry. Ronald Curry. One of my favorite players. Oh, gosh. Was he a tar hole? He was. He was a tar heel.

1998, North Carolina Ronald Curry, who was also a point guard on the basketball team. For a while, North Carolina was doing that, which is a weird school to do that at. But yeah, quarterback and point guard. I think that, I think he might have been on the same team.

remember if I'm crossing years here that Julius Peppers also did that. So it was kind of interesting around that era. A couple more facts here just before we get out of the segment. Utah again holds the record with this being their seventh appearance. They're tied with Boise State with four Las Vegas Bowl wins. So they're looking to break the tie this year and to get to their fifth. It is now the SRS distribution Las Vegas Bowl. Previous sponsors included EA Sports in 1999 and Sega from 2001 to 2002. Of course, Utah comes into this game ranked. Ranked teams are 10 and 4 in bowl history versus unranked opponents.

Utah themselves is 2 and 1 in bowl games when ranked. And their only loss was a 26 to 3 defeat to number 10, Boise State, when they were ranked 20th. So that was a ranked on ranked matchup. Big 10. Mountain West on Mountain West crime. That's right. The big 10 so far, 3 and 0 in the bowl game. So no pressure there on Nebraska.

this year. If we're looking at some individual records, muscle hamsters all over this thing. Longest touchdown run, 84 yards. Doug Martin, longest kickoff return, 100 yards. Doug Martin, all-purpose yards, 301 yards. Doug Martin, he just owns

the Las Vegas bowl. The record for tackles in this game, 20 by Troy Palomalu. Troy Palomalu. 20 of them. Kai 4bath has hitting the longest field goal with 52 yards. Where does he go college? UCLA. Oh, that's right. That's right. That's right.

Cody Kessler holds the record with four passing touchdowns. Passing yards, the record is held by Brock Osweiler. Oh, 395 yards. All right. As far as rushing yards, Mike Anderson, you might remember. Former Nebraska baseball head coach Mike Anderson. No, former Denver Broncos running back. Mike Anderson played some ball at Utah, 254 rushing yards.

And Stephen Jackson holds the record with five touchdown. Did you know he went to Oregon State? I did. I heard that before somewhere. all right there you go now everybody knows a little bit more about the Las Vegas Bowl try to keep that memory for the next couple weeks or in your memory bank for the next couple weeks to impress your friends all right we'll go ahead and take a quick break we'll be back and we'll wrap up one-on-one get you ready for Adam Kerker here on 93 7 the ticket