The SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl showcased the Utah Utes from the Pac-12, with an eight and four record, versus the Northwestern Wildcats from the Big Ten with a 7-5 record.

Utah is no stranger to Allegiant Stadium, having participated in two of the last three Pac-12 championship games held annually at Allegiant stadium. This marked Utah’s fifth appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl, while Northwestern attended for the first time.
In the week leading up to the game, the Utah Utes prepared at Coronado High School in Henderson, Nevada. Meanwhile, the Northwestern Wildcats practiced at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. Head Coach David Braun expressed his experience at Bishop Gorman, stating that he “did not feel like he was walking into a high school but rather into an FCS facility.”
Now, focusing on the game itself, it began as a defensive battle, with Northwestern scoring the first points with 1:20 left in the second quarter. Cam Johnson caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ben Bryant, completing an eight-play, 78-yard drive. Scoring remained scarce until early in the fourth quarter when Micah Bernard’s 6-yard run, following an eight-play, 60-yard drive, tied the game 7-7. However, Northwestern ultimately secured the lead with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Kritz. This three-play, 53-yard drive took only 51 seconds and became the game-winning drive, marking Northwestern’s first-ever victory in the Las Vegas Bowl.