SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Fresno State, making a school-record fifth straight bowl appearance, looks to beat UCLA for the first time when the teams meet in the Silicon Valley Classic.
The Bulldogs are 0-6 all-time against UCLA but all six games took place in the Rose Bowl. This game is a neutral-site contest but it likely will feel like a home game for Fresno State, which is playing in the Silicon Valley Classic for the fourth straight year.
Pat Hill, 54-35 in his seven seasons at Fresno State, is 0-2 against UCLA, but the Bulldogs put up a strong fight each time, losing 35-21 in 1999 and 24-21 in 2000.
Fresno State (8-5) lost four of its first seven games this season but turned things around when it got starting quarterback Paul Pineger back in the lineup. Pinegar, who missed the first six games with a torn pectoral muscle, led the Bulldogs to a 5-2 record.
Pinegar completed 162-of-268 yards for 1,640 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Dwayne Wright paced the Bulldogs on the ground with 1,018 yards on 177 carries but scored only three touchdowns.
Fresno State snapped a four-game postseason losing streak with a 30-21 victory over Georgia Tech last year. The previous two years, the Bulldogs lost to Michigan State and Air Force in the Silicon Valley Classic.
"Our strength of schedule, our record, our reputation over the last five years is what has secured the bowl game for Fresno State," Hill said.
UCLA (6-6) completed a disappointing regular season under first-year coach Karl Darnell but received a bowl bid despite losing its last four games. The Bruins struggled on offense all season, ranking 94th in scoring (14.0 ppg) and 113th in rushing (93.9 ypg).
Maurice Drew led UCLA in rushing with just 517 yards on 118 carries. Drew Olson passed for 1,971 yards and only nine touchdowns. The star of the Bruins is defensive end Dave Ball, who recorded a school-record 16.5 sacks and led the team in tackles with 96. Ball's sack total is the best in Division I-A.
Starting safety Ben Emanuel was suspended from the game for violating team rules.
UCLA is making its fifth bowl appearance in six years, beating New Mexico, 27-13, in last season's Las Vegas Bowl.
