Nevada Wolf Pack Football - Bowl Games

Bowl Games

Nevada won in their first bowl game, 13–6 against North Texas in the Salad Bowl on New Year's Day 1948. They were invited to their second bowl game one season later, but lost to Villanova. Nevada was not invited to another bowl game for another 43 years. Nevada had joined Division 1-AA (now known as the FCS) when it was formed in 1978, and would not be eligible for Division 1-A bowl games until joining the Big West in 1992. Nevada was invited to the Las Vegas Bowl the first year after joining the 1-A level. Nevada lost their first two bowl games after joining the Big West, including the first overtime game played at the Division 1-A level against Toledo. Nevada won their first bowl game in 48 years in the 1996 Las Vegas Bowl against Ball State. Nevada would not reach another bowl game for 9 years after the 1996 Las Vegas Bowl, but would win the 2005 Hawaii Bowl by a single point in overtime against Central Florida 49–48. Nevada reached a bowl the following 5 seasons, losing four in a row before beating Boston College 20–13 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco to break the losing streak. Nevada would play a bowl game against a ranked team for the first time in the 2011 Hawaii Bowl where they lost to Southern Miss.