Fiesta, Freedom, Foster Farms: Wildcats' bowl history includes big wins, crushing losses

A game-by-game look at Arizona's bowl history

Arizona (7-5) will take on Purdue Dec. 27 in the Foster Farms Bowl, the Wildcats' latest bowl game in a postseason history that dates back 86 years. Here's a look at each of Arizona's previous bowl appearances, with a recap and the front page of the Star's sports section from that day:

1921 East-West Christmas Classic

1921 East-West Christmas Classic

Highlights: The Arizona Wildcats post a 7-1 regular-season record, but are routed in their first-ever postseason appearance. The famed Centre (Ky.) College "Praying Colonels" dispatch the UA 38-0 during a driving rainstorm at San Diego's Balboa Stadium.

1949 Salad Bowl

1949 Salad Bowl

Highlights: Arizona outgains Drake University 355-206 in total offensive yards but falls to the Bulldogs 14-13 at Montgomery Stadium in Phoenix. UA kicker Wrinfred Tackett's missed PAT is the difference.

1968 Sun Bowl

1968 Sun Bowl

Highlights: Arizona plays Auburn even through a half only to fall apart in the third quarter, and the Tigers win 34-10 in El Paso. Auburn tailback Tommy Taylor breaks a 10-10 tie in the third quarter with a 9-yard sneak.

1979 Fiesta Bowl

1979 Fiesta Bowl

Highlights: Tenth-ranked Pitt survives a late rally and defeats Arizona 16-10 in a game shown on national television from Tempe. Arizona holds Pitt's offense — led by quarterback Dan Marino — to 299 yards, but can't make enough plays to pull ahead.

1985 Sun Bowl

1985 Sun Bowl

Highlights: Kicker Max Zendejas misses a 39-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining, and Arizona is forced to settle for a 13-13 tie with Georgia. The Wildcats blew a 10-point third-quarter lead in a matter of minutes.

1986 Aloha Bowl

1986 Aloha Bowl

Highlights: Quarterback Alfred Jenkins completes 12 of 23 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown as Arizona tops North Carolina 30-21 for its first-ever postseason victory, 65 years after the Wildcats' first appearance in a bowl game.The game is coach Larry Smith's last with the Wildcats; within days, Smith leaves for USC.

1989 Copper Bowl

1989 Copper Bowl

Highlights: The hometown Wildcats are outgained 310 yards to 130 — but not outplayed — in a 17-10 win over North Carolina State in the inaugural Copper Bowl, played at Arizona Stadium. The win was Dick Tomey's first as a head coach. The Wildcats finished the season 8-4.

1990 Aloha Bowl

1990 Aloha Bowl

Highlights: Tomey's return to Hawaii is a washout when the Cats lose 28-0 to Syracuse at rain-drenched Aloha Stadium. Syracuse hands Arizona its first shutout in 19 years, the second-longest streak in NCAA history.

1992 John Hancock Bowl

1992 John Hancock Bowl

Highlights: The UA breaks out a wide-open passing attack but falls short in a 20-15 loss to Baylor in El Paso. The Bears recover two UA fumbles in the fourth quarter, and use the breaks to cash in with a pair of Terry Weir field goals. Todd Burden intercepts two passes and forces a fumble for Arizona, and is named the Wildcats' player of the game. 

1994 Fiesta Bowl

1994 Fiesta Bowl

Highlights: The Desert Swarm defense lives up to its nickname as the Wildcats blank powerhouse Miami (Fla.) 29-0 on New Year's Day in Tempe, the only shutout in the game's history. Arizona posts 409 yards of offense while limiting the Hurricanes to just 182 yards.

The win gives Arizona its first 10-win season, and a No. 10 national ranking. The Wildcats finish 10-2.

1994 Freedom Bowl

1994 Freedom Bowl

Highlights: Arizona puts together another solid defensive showing but is upset 16-13 by Utah in Anaheim, Calif. The Utes use a 75-yard kickoff return by Cal Beck to get to Arizona's 5-yard line late in the game.

1997 Insight.com Bowl

1997 Insight.com Bowl

Highlights: Arizona's Chris McAlister, Rashee Johnson, Kelvin Hunter and Kelly Malveaux all intercept New Mexico quarterback Graham Leigh, sparking the Wildcats to a 20-14 win at Arizona Stadium. The UA rushes for 209 yards, most from tailback Trung Canidate and fullback Kelvin Eafon.

1998 Holiday Bowl

1998 Holiday Bowl

Highlights: The Wildcats score two fourth-quarter touchdowns to outlast powerhouse Nebraska 23-20 at Qualcomm Stadium, capping the best season in program history. All-America cornerback Chris McAlister seals the win with an interception at midfield, his second of the night.

2008 Las Vegas Bowl

2008 Las Vegas Bowl

Highlights: Willie Tuitama throws for 325 yard and two touchdowns and the Wildcats topple BYU 31-21 in the UA's first bowl game in a decade. Nic Grigsby rushes for 87 yards and a touchdown and Arizona's defense stifles a d BYU offense featuring star quarterback Max Hall and future NFL receivers Austin Collie and Dennis Pitta. 

2009 Holiday Bowl

2009 Holiday Bowl 

Highlights: Arizona posts just 109 yards of total offense in a 33-0 loss to Nebraska, the worst bowl defeat in program history. Quarterback Nick Foles completes just 9 of 29 passes for 48 yards and is sacked three times by a Cornhuskers defense led by star Ndamukong Suh. Red Burkhead posts 103 yards of total offense and scores a touchdown for Nebraska, which led 23-0 at halfitme.

2010 Alamo Bowl

2010 Alamo Bowl

Highlights: Justin Blackmon catches nine passes for 117 yards and two scores and Brandon Weeden throws for 240 yards and two scores as Oklahoma State hands Arizona its second consecutive bowl loss, a 36-10 defeat at The Alamodome. Arizona quarterback Nick Foles completes 32 of 50 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown, but is intercepted three times. OSU scores 17 first-quarter points and cruises the rest of the way.

2012 New Mexico Bowl

2012 New Mexico Bowl

Highlights: Arizona scores two touchdowns in the final 46 seconds, including a game-winning sore with 19 seconds left, and the Wildcats pull off a 49-48 win over Nevada in Albuquerque. Matt Scott is named offensive MVP after throwing for 382 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 21 yards and a score, none bigger that his 2-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Tyler Slavin. UA running back Ka'Deem Carey gains 172 yards and scores three times in a showdown against another one of the nation's top rushers, Stefphon Jefferson. 

2013 AdvoCare V100 Bowl

2013 AdvoCare V100 Bowl

Highlights: Carey rushes for 169 yards and two touchdowns, B.J. Denker throws for 275 yards and two touchdowns and the Wildcats top Boston College 42-19 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Carey outduels BC's Andre Williams, who won the Doak Walker Award earler in the month. Williams was limited to 75 yards and a touchdown. 

2014 Fiesta Bowl

2014 Fiesta Bowl

Highlights: Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon is sacked on the game's final play, and the Wildcats fall to Boise State 38-30 in Glendale. Boise State scores three first-quarter touchdowns to take a big lead against a UA team that won the Pac-12 South Division. Solomon threw for 335 yards and a touchdowns, but was intercepted twice by Boise State defenders; both picks led to eventual touchdowns. Said Solomon: "I played like a freshman today." 

2015 New Mexico Bowl

2015 New Mexico Bowl

Highlights: Solomon throws for two touchdowns and runs for another and the Wildcats hold off New Mexico 45-37 in the Albuquerque cold. Cayleb Jones adds 182 receiving yards and a score, including one highlight-reel catch. Jared Baker adds 107 rushing yards. Scooby Wrijght amasses 11 tacklefs and two sacks in what would be his final college game.