Fresno State and NIU Accept Invites to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Kickoff set for Monday, December 23 at 12:30 p.m. MT on ESPN
BOISE, Idaho – The 28th Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will feature Fresno State from the Mountain West (MW) and Northern Illinois University from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The game will be played Monday, December 23 at Albertsons Stadium on the campus of Boise State University. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. MT on ESPN.
Tickets are on sale now through famousidahopotatobowl.com or the Boise State Athletics Ticket Office. Reservations for premium ticket packages are currently available, which include prime ticket locations, hospitality benefits in tent village and corporate exposure. For more package information contact the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl office at (208) 424-1011.
The game will be a rematch of the 2010 version when NIU defeated Fresno State 40-17. The win marks the Huskies’ only and the Bulldogs’ last appearance in the event. Fresno State defeated Virginia 37-34 in a 2004 overtime thriller and downed Georgia Tech 40-28 in 2007.
“We are thrilled to have a rematch of our game in 2010, the Huskies from Northern Illinois University and the Bulldogs from Fresno State,” said Danielle Brazil, executive director of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. “This will mark 28 bowl games on The Blue, and we can’t wait to share this celebration of postseason college football with the best fans in Idaho.”
The Bulldogs are led by interim head coach Tim Skipper. Under Skipper, Fresno State (6-6, 4-3 MW) finished fourth in the Mountain West this season. Eleven players were named All-Mountain West, including first-team wide receiver Mac Dalena.
Fresno State led the conference with a 69.7 completion percentage. Dalena ranked third in the Mountain West with eight touchdowns receiving and 16.33 yards per catch. He was fourth in the Mountain West with 947 yards receiving and 79.92 yards per game.
Defensive end Devo Bridges was a member of the All-Mountain West Second Team. He led MW defensive linemen with 5.5 tackles per game in conference play.
Led by Bridges, the Bulldogs were best in the Mountain West in pass defense
efficiency (111.22) and held opponents to a 54.1 completion percentage, also tops in the
conference.
NIU (7-5, 4-4 MAC) placed two defensive players on the 2024 All-MAC First Team. Defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley ranked third in the conference and in the top 25 nationally with eight sacks. Nate Valcarcel made 50 tackles from his safety position and led NIU with eight pass breakups and two interceptions.
The duo helped the Huskies lead the MAC in total defense, sacks, third down conversion percentage and passing defense while holding opponents to less than 18 points per game.
Three offensive linemen received all-conference recognition, anchored by first-team honoree J.J. Lippe. The senior, in his sixth year with the Huskies, has made 46-career starts.
NIU made news in week two of the season when it knocked off No. 5 Notre Dame on the road 16-14 on Kanon Woodill’s 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining. It was the first win for NIU and the MAC over a team ranked in the top five.
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