ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ (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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s previous bowl appearances, with a recap and the front page of the Star's sports section from that day:
Fiesta, Freedom, Foster Farms: Wildcats' bowl history includes big wins, crushing losses
Here's a game-by-game look at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s bowl games dating back to the 1921 season.
A game-by-game look at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s bowl history
1921 East-West Christmas Classic
1921 East-West Christmas Classic
Highlights: The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 16-10 in a game shown on national television from Tempe. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, and is named the Wildcats' player of the game.Â
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. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ posts 409 yards of offense while limiting the Hurricanes to just 182 yards.
The win gives ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ its first 10-win season, and a No. 10 national ranking. The Wildcats finish 10-2.
1994 Freedom Bowl
1994 Freedom Bowl
Highlights: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s 5-yard line late in the game.
1997 Insight.com Bowl
1997 Bowl
Highlights: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s defense stifles a d BYU offense featuring star quarterback Max Hall and future NFL receivers Austin Collie and Dennis Pitta.Â
2009 Holiday Bowl
2009 Holiday BowlÂ
Highlights: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ its second consecutive bowl loss, a 36-10 defeat at The Alamodome. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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.Â
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.Â
2014 Fiesta Bowl
2014 Fiesta Bowl
Highlights: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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."Â
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. Â