UCLA vs. Kansas State: 5 Things You Need To Know For Alamo Bowl

By Alex Drude

UCLA vs. Kansas State: 5 Things You Need To Know For Alamo Bowl

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Two 9-3 teams looking for win No 10 will go at it in the Alamo Bowl. It will be only the third meeting between the two squads and the first time ever in the postseason. On paper, it looks to be one of the best non-New Year’s Six. Five things to know besides that it’s on Jan. 2nd.

5. Common Opponent: Texas Longhorns

Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs by Texas Longhorns cornerback Quandre Diggs (6) during the Wildcats' 23-0 win at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

5. Common Opponent: Texas Longhorns

Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs by Texas Longhorns cornerback Quandre Diggs (6) during the Wildcats' 23-0 win at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. — UCLA beat Texas by three, 20-17, during the Bruins early “wait, is this team any good?” stretch. K-State won 23-0, the Wildcats’ first Big 12 shutout in more than a decade. The Longhorns finished 6-6 and will play Arkansas in the Texas Bowl.

4. First Top-15 Matchup In Alamo Bowl History

Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Jonathan Truman (21) looks for room to run following an interception during a 48-14 win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Bill Snyder Family Stadium

4. First Top-15 Matchup In Alamo Bowl History

Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Jonathan Truman (21) looks for room to run following an interception during a 48-14 win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Bill Snyder Family Stadium — That happened because the Big 12 and Pac-12 each got two teams in the New Year’s Six, bumping No. 11 KSU and No. 14 UCLA up. A previous Kansas State team was the highest-ranked team to ever play in the Alamo Bowl, but we’ll get to that shortly.

3. UCLA’s First Trip To San Antonio For Bowl Season

UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora Jr. encourages his team before the start of the game against the California Golden Bears at Memorial Stadium.

3. UCLA’s First Trip To San Antonio For Bowl Season

UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora Jr. encourages his team before the start of the game against the California Golden Bears at Memorial Stadium. — The Bruins almost have as many bowl losses as K-State has appearances (18-17), but have never been the Pac-12 rep in San Anton. Also, in UCLA’s second straight bowl appearance in Texas, the Bruins walloped Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl 42-12 last season.

2. K-State’s Only Other Alamo Appearance Was A Disaster

Kansas State Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder looks on during a 45-13 win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

2. K-State’s Only Other Alamo Appearance Was A Disaster

Kansas State Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder looks on during a 45-13 win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. — After an 11-0 1998 regular season and a win away from a BCS title game appearance, KSU lost the Big 12 title game in double-OT and then, still ranked No. 4, got shut out of an at-large BCS bid. (An off-season rule change guaranteed that would never happen again.) Heisman runner-up Michael Bishop and company were expected to thump unranked Purdue. Instead, Kansas State lost 37-34 in OT to a sophomore QB and first-year starter named Drew Brees.

1. Brett Hundley’s Legacy-Deciding Game

Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) looks to pass against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Husky Stadium.

1. Brett Hundley’s Legacy-Deciding Game

Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) looks to pass against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. — UCLA’s junior QB has all but said he’s turning pro, so it’s his last chance to leave a mark. Hundley has certainly shown great flashes, but hasn’t delivered the goods on a consistent basis. Scouts and NFL fan bases needing a QB will be watching.

Alex Drude is a Pac-12 writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Alex_Drude. “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google+.

Teams in this article »

Kansas State Wildcats

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UCLA Bruins

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