Close but no Holiday Bowl for UCLA and North Carolina State.
Four hours before kickoff on Tuesday, the Bruins announced they have bowed out of the bowl game in San Diego due to COVID-19 issues.
“We are extremely grateful to the Holiday Bowl, students, fans, sponsors, and the people of San Diego for their support this week,” UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed for our young men in the football program that worked extremely hard for this opportunity. My heart goes out to them. The health and safety of our students will always be our North Star.”
North Carolina State was unhappy to have its bowl game squashed.
Heartbroken to not be able to compete one more time this season. We were informed a short time ago that our opponent would be unable to play this evening.
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) December 28, 2021
This is the fifth bowl to be canceled. Two others, the Gator and Sun, had to reach out to schools not originally chosen to fill slots.
The Arizona Bowl, Fenway Bowl, Military Bowl and Hawaii Bowl already have been canceled.
.jpg?w=600)
