PROVO -- Executive Director of the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl, Tina Kunzer-Murphy, today announced that the University of Oregon has accepted an invitation to play No. 20 BYU in the 15th annual Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl on December 21 in Las Vegas.
"The University of Oregon was our first Pac-10 team here nine years ago and we are thrilled to have the Ducks returning to represent their conference in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl," Kunzer-Murphy said. "Coach (Mike) Bellotti has a nationally respected program with a tremendous following and we look forward to having our best-ever match-up with Oregon taking on another nationally prominent program in BYU."
"Oregon is a great program with a significant tradition," BYU head coach Bronco Mendnehall said. "We're looking forward to a great game on December 21 in Las Vegas."
The game will mark the sixth meeting between the two teams, dating back to the 1964 season. Oregon owns a 3-2 record over the Cougars, including a 20-13 victory in the last meeting between the two teams 16 years ago.
In 1989, the Cougars outscored the Ducks 24-8 in the final quarter to record a 45-41 victory. Sophomore quarterback Ty Detmer completed 29-of-47 attempts for 470 yards and three touchdowns in the only game between the two teams in Provo. BYU's only other victory over the Ducks came in 1978--a 17-16 victory in Eugene.
This year's Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl will mark the first time the two teams have met in a post-season bowl game. BYU, which owns a 10-2 overall record and is coming off its first Mountain West Conference Championship since the 2001 season, will enter the game ranked among the nation's top-25 teams. BYU is 1-0 against Oregon when the Cougars are ranked.
This year's Las Vegas Bowl will mark the fourth time BYU has played a team from the Pac-10 in a bowl game. The Cougars' only victory against a Pac-10 team in a bowl game came in 1981 against Washington State--a 38-36 victory in the Holiday Bowl. BYU lost to California in the 2006 Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl, 35-28.
Oregon started the season winning five of their first six games, including a 34-33 victory over No. 15 Oklahoma. The Ducks, who were ranked as high as 11th in the nation this season and remained in the top 25 for three months, finished their season 7-5 overall and 4-5 in league play. The program has been selected to play in 10 bowl games during Bellotti's 12 years as head coach and this year's trip will mark the 20th bowl game in school history. The first-ever Pac-10 team to appear in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl, Oregon defeated Air Force 41-13 on Dec. 20, 1997.
The Cougars will be matched against a familiar face when the two teams meet in Las Vegas. Oregon's offensive coordinator Gary Crowton served as the head coach at BYU from 2001 through 2004. During his four-year tenure, Crowton produced a 26-23 overall record, including a 12-2 clip and a Mountain West Conference Championship during the 2001 season.
"I acknowledge that there will be an interest in Coach Crowton's relationship to our program," Mendenhall said. "I have the deepest respect for Coach Crowton. I admire him and his family at the highest level. He is a dear friend and I am grateful for the opportunities he has provided me throughout my coaching career. I'm thrilled and not surprised by the success Oregon's offense is having under Coach Crowton's direction."
The Ducks lead the Pac-10 with an average 189.17 yards rushing per game. Oregon ranks eighth nationally and leads the Pac-10 in total offense, producing 436.42 yards per game. Defensively, the Ducks lead the Pac-10 in pass defense, allowing just 156.67 yards per game. Oregon has averaged 31.25 points per game, allowing 25.58 points per contest.
"The fact we play a tremendous opponent in BYU that is certainly capable of scoring a lot of points and is having their best season in a long time adds to our anticipation," Bellotti said. "BYU is a program that brings with them great tradition and we will certainly have our hands full."
The match-up against Oregon will mark the second Pac-10 opponent BYU has faced this season. The Cougars dropped a three-point heart-breaker against Arizona to open the season on September 2.