Boise State Selected for LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The LA Bowl hosted by Gronk officially announced Sunday that it has selected Boise State to play in its 2023 game, pitting the Broncos against UCLA.

The invitation came after Boise State routed UNLV, 44-20, in the Mountain West Championship. The win, which marked a league-best fifth championship, allowed the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk to select the Broncos as the bowl holds the first pick of Mountain West teams.

Boise State will face UCLA and a Chip Kelly-led Bruins team that finished the season at 7-5 (4-5) and tied for seventh in the Pac-12. The Bruins have dropped three of their past four games with the lone win being a 38-20 victory over Southern Cal.

"I am so excited for our players with this announcement," said interim head coach Spencer Danielson. "As I have said all along, this is completely about these players and this senior class. I am so proud of what these incredible young men have accomplished in spite of all the adversity they have faced this year, especially over the past few weeks. It is because of their hard work, effort and dedication that we have defied the odds and brought the Mountain West Championship home to Boise."

Bringing the nation's second-longest bowl eligibility streak into the postseason, Boise State has the opportunity to compete in a bowl game for the 26th straight year. Only Georgia (27), a team which will play in the Orange Bowl, has a longer active streak.

This will only be the second time Boise State has faced UCLA on the gridiron, last meeting in 1999. In that game, the 17th-ranked Bruins claimed a 38-7 win over the Broncos at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Since moving to the Division I-A level in 1996, the Broncos are 13-7 in bowl games and have won four of the past six completed bowl games. This year Boise State will take a four-game winning streak to California. A program known for defying the odds, the Broncos overcame a 0.1% probability to reach the MW Championship.

The Broncos head to the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk with a .650 all-time bowl win percentage – ranking fifth among all FBS programs – and have won eight of their past 11 bowl game appearances.

About the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk
The four-time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski brings his unique style and flair back to college football as the official host of the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk. The competitive matchup between Boise State and UCLA will mark a return to this bowl game matchup for Gronkowski. During his college career at the University of Arizona, Gronkowski played in the then Las Vegas Bowl; its conference match-up was relocated to Los Angeles and renamed LA Bowl in 2020.

About the Opponent: UCLA
UCLA was the fifth best representative after CFP selection from one of the strongest football conferences in the nation this year, the Pac-12. Five teams in the conference won eight or more games this season, with Washington leading the way with 13 wins followed by an 11-win season by Oregon, a nine-win season by Arizona, eight-win seasons by Oregon State and Utah, and seven-win seasons by UCLA and USC.

The UCLA Bruins are headed to a bowl game for the third year in a row. Coach Chip Kelly led his squad to three consecutive wins to open the 2023 campaign and capped off the season with a dominant 38-20 road victory over crosstown rivals USC on Nov. 18.

The Bruins finished the year 7-5, with two of the five losses to two Pac-12 teams who are both currently ranked in the Associated Press Top-25 poll, Arizona and Oregon State. Included among their four straight home wins was an eight-point victory over then-13th-ranked Washington State at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 7. The Bruins averaged 25.8 points and 420.2 yards per game, while their defense, led by Laiatu Latu with 13 sacks (best in the Pac-12), held opponents to 18.08 points and 217 overall. UCLA finished the regular season ranked 11^th nationally in total defense (299.0 yards per game) while leading the nation in rushing defense (69.6 yards per game).

Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Garbers connected on 89 of 134 attempts for 984 yards and nine touchdowns. The two leading receivers were senior Logan Loya and redshirt sophomore J. Michael Sturdivant, with the former leading the 2023 squad with 58 receptions for 650 yards and five touchdowns, and the latter catching 32 passes for 455 yards and three touchdowns. The balanced Bruins ground game was led by junior Carson Steele and sophomore T.J. Harden with six rushing touchdowns apiece. Steele topped the team with 847 yards, while his teammate and Inglewood, Calif., native Harden ran for 722 yards.

"We are thrilled to welcome back the Mountain West and Pac-12 Conferences to the third edition of our bowl game at SoFi Stadium," said Adolfo Romero, interim executive director, Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk. "College football's bowl season begins at SoFi Stadium, with an exciting match-up of Boise State versus UCLA at the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk. We look forward to hosting this great college football game at SoFi Stadium."

About Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk Events
As in years past, Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk will have a fun and interactive week of events onsite at Hollywood Park in the lead up to the game. This includes a Pep Rally, a Fan Fest, and more. The Pep Rally, which takes place the night before kickoff, is free and open to the public. Fans of all ages can gather to cheer on their teams ahead of the big game alongside the school's cheerleaders, bands, and mascots. On game day, fans are encouraged to arrive early for the Fan Fest before the third annual Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk. American Airlines Plaza will be transformed into an exciting pregame tailgate atmosphere and will feature music, food trucks, photo opportunities, both teams' cheerleaders and bands, plus much more to rally fans before kickoff.

Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk is committed to providing support for underserved youth through its pillars of education, health, wellness and physical activity year-round. The bowl game's continuous work with nonprofit organizations such as One For All Kids, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Los Angeles and Boys & Girls Club of LA Harbor focuses on key initiatives, such as youth literacy, STEAM education, physical activity, and career exploration. Additionally, Gronkowski will highlight his foundation, Gronk Nation Youth Foundation.

Ticket Information
Tickets for the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk are on sale now and range from $55-$175 in Boise State's allotted areas. The priority deadline will be announced shortly. As Boise State may not be able to fulfill all request at each level, please see the level, please see the language below:

If your request is unable to be fulfilled in the requested seating area, tickets will be allocated and charged for the next best seating area and refunded the difference. Full refunds will not be available after the Priority Deadline.

For the LA Bowl, tickets will be digital through the LA Bowl's ticket system. Ticket buyers will be sent tickets approximately 48-72 hours prior to the game electronically with further instructions.

Additionally, if there are any special requests for your tickets - such as accessible seating or sit-by requests - contact the Boise State Athletics Ticket Office.

More information on the box office location at each game will be emailed 24-48 hours prior to the game. For stadium policies and prohibited items, visit SoFi Stadium's website.

For more information about the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk and to purchase tickets and suites, visit www.LABowlGame.com and visit @LABowlGame on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X.

–BroncoSports.com–

Boise State Athletics

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