The Las Vegas Bowl came about as part of a rebranding of the California Raisin Bowl. That game was played in Fresno, Claif., from 1981-91. In 1992, the game was moved to Las Vegas and renamed.
From 2009-12, the bowl was named the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas. The name Las Vegas Bowl returns in 2013.
Since 2001, the game has featured the Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences. The fifth-place Pac-12 team to meet its MWC opponent.
Memorable moments
• In 1995, the contest between Toledo and Nevada was the first overtime game in the history of college football. The OT rules were initiated during the 1995 postseason and then used in all games thereafter. Wasean Tait is the answer to a trivia question; he scored the first overtime touchdown in college football as Toledo won 40-37.
• In 2002, Katie Hnida became the first woman to participate in an FBS game when she attempted an extra point for New Mexico in its game with UCLA. Her kick was blocked and UCLA won the game 27-13, giving interim head coach Ed Kezirian his only win at the helm of the Bruins.
| YEAR | WINNER | SCORE | LOSER | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Bowling Green | 35 | Nevada | 34 |
| 1993 | Utah State | 42 | Ball State | 33 |
| 1994 | UNLV | 52 | Central Michigan | 24 |
| 1995 | Toledo | 40 | Nevada | 37 (OT) |
| 1996 | Nevada | 18 | Ball State | 15 |
| 1997 | Oregon | 41 | Air Force | 13 |
| 1998 | North Carolina | 20 | San Diego State | 13 |
| 1999 | Utah | 17 | Fresno State | 16 |
| 2000 | UNLV | 31 | Arkansas | 14 |
| 2001 | Utah | 10 | Southern California | 6 |
| 2002 | UCLA | 27 | New Mexico | 13 |
| 2003 | Oregon State | 55 | New Mexico | 14 |
| 2004 | Wyoming | 24 | UCLA | 21 |
| 2005 | California | 35 | BYU | 28 |
| 2006 | BYU | 38 | Oregon | 8 |
| 2007 | BYU | 17 | UCLA | 16 |
| 2008 | Arizona | 31 | BYU | 21 |
| 2009 | BYU | 44 | Oregon State | 20 |
| 2010 | Boise State | 26 | Utah | 3 |
| 2011 | Boise State | 56 | Arizona State | 24 |
| 2012 | Boise State | 28 | Washington | 26 |
| 2013 | Southern California | 45 | Fresno State | 20 |
