The 2012 San Diego County Credit UnionPoinsettia Bowl is a post-season American college footballbowl game held on December 20, 2012 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California in the United States. The eighth edition of the Poinsettia Bowl began at 5:00 p.m. PST and aired on ESPN. It featured the Mountain West Conference co-champion San Diego State Aztecs (whose regular home stadium is Qualcomm) against the BYU Cougars (which had been in the MW until 2011 before playing as an FBS independent), and was be the final game of the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season for both teams. The Cougars accepted their invitation after earning a 6–4 record in their first ten games of the season (and would finish 7-5), while the Aztecs accepted their invitation after finishing with a 9-3 record in their season
In 2009, the Poinsettia Bowl announced that it had extended its agreement to continue to feature the Mountain West's second bowl-eligible team until at least 2013.[4] In addition, BYU has a three-year deal to play in the Poinsettia Bowl should they not qualify for a Bowl Championship Series game.[5]
This was the thirty-sixth meeting between these two teams. BYU leads the all-time record 28-7-1. The last time they played was in 2010.
BYU
See also: 2012 BYU Cougars football team
The Cougars' season followed a specific pattern for the first ten games, winning their first two games, losing their next two, winning their next two, losing their next two, and again winning their next two. After defeating the Idaho Vandals to bring their season record to 6–4, the Cougars accepted the second invitation of the 2012–13 NCAA Bowl season to the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl.[5] BYU finished the regular season with a 7–5 record.
San Diego State
See also: 2012 San Diego State Aztecs football team
The Aztecs are on a seven game winning streak, with their last loss coming from a game against Fresno State on September 29. After defeating the Wyoming Cowboys, the Aztecs accepted an invitation to the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl.[6] San Diego State finished the regular season with a 9–3 record.
This will be the Aztecs' second Poinsettia Bowl, following the 2010 game where they defeated the Navy Midshipmen by a score of 35-14. It will also be the Aztecs' final game as a member of the Mountain West before they move to the Big East Conference in 2013.
