The game matched the Western Michigan Broncos , from the Mid-American Conference , and the BYU Cougars , an independent team. The programs previously had met five times, most recently in 1970, with BYU holding a 3–2 edge.[4]
Western Michigan Broncos edit Western Michigan received and accepted a bid to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on December 2.[5] The Broncos entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference). This was Western Michigan's second appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, having lost to Air Force in the 2014 edition .
BYU received and accepted a bid to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on December 2.[5] The independent Cougars entered the bowl with a 6–6 record. BYU became the first independent team to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Zach Wilson won Potato bowl MVP after a stellar performance completing all 18 of his passes for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns.[6]
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP WMU BYU 1 2:20 2 27 0:41 BYU Dylan Collie 26-yard touchdown reception from Zach Wilson , Skyler Southam kick good 0 7
2 3:07 4 40 1:53 WMU Jamauri Bogan 33-yard touchdown run, Gavin Peddie kick good 7 7
2 0:24 11 51 1:14 WMU 37-yard field goal by Gavin Peddie 10 7
3 13:14 3 69 1:46 BYU Dylan Collie 8-yard touchdown reception from Zach Wilson, Skyler Southam kick good 10 14
3 7:29 4 74 1:27 BYU Riley Burt 37-yard touchdown run, Skyler Southam kick good 10 21
3 5:04 2 63 0:45 BYU Aleva Hifo 70-yard touchdown reception from Zach Wilson, Skyler Southam kick good 10 28
3 2:47 3 32 1:19 BYU Dayan Ghanwoloku 1-yard touchdown run, Skyler Southam kick good 10 35
4 11:38 4 54 1:47 BYU Dax Milne 5-yard touchdown reception from Zach Wilson, Skyler Southam kick good10 42
4 7:37 9 75 4:01 WMU Kaleb Eleby 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass good (Kaleb Eleby to Jayden Reed)18 42
4 4:07 7 75 3:30 BYU Brayden El-Bakri 1-yard touchdown run, Skyler Southam kick good 18 49
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 18 49
1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 0 10 0 8 18 Cougars 7 0 28 14 49
Statistics WMU BYU First downs 16 22 Plays–yards 76–313 52–490 Rushes–yards 39–138 33–132 Passing yards 175 358 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–37–1 19–19–0 Time of possession 35:21 24:39
Team Category Player Statistics Western Michigan Passing Kaleb Eleby 20/36, 175 yds, 1 INT Rushing Jamauri Bogan 13 car, 62 yds, 1 TD Receiving D'Wayne Eskridge 2 rec, 61 yds BYU Passing Zach Wilson 18/18, 317 yds, 4 TD Rushing Riley Burt 13 car, 110 yds, 1 TD Receiving Dylan Collie 6 rec, 124 yds, 2 TD