Fresno State (9-4, Mountain West) vs. Houston (7-4, American Athletic), Dec. 24, 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
LOCATION: Honolulu.
TOP PLAYERS
Fresno State: LB Jeffrey Allison, first-team All-MWC with 113 tackles.
Houston: DT Ed Oliver, American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks.
NOTABLE
Fresno State: The Bulldogs have the nation’s best win improvement, going from one win in 2016 to nine this season.
Houston: Houston is second among FBS schools in Texas with 37 wins since the start of 2014. TCU leads the way with 38 wins in that span.
LAST TIME
This will be the first meeting.
BOWL HISTORY
Fresno State: The Bulldogs are 10-13 in bowls and playing in one for the first time since 2014, when they lost to Rice in the Hawaii Bowl.
Houston: The Cougars are 11-13 in bowls and playing in one for the fifth straight year.
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