2003 Holiday Bowl
The 2003 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 30 in San Diego, California, part of the 2003 [NCAA Division I-A football season]. It featured the 2003 [Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State Cougars], and the fifth-ranked 2003 [Texas Longhorns football team|Texas Longhorns]. Washington State pulled off a 28–20 upset, and moved up to ninth in the 2003 NCAA [Division I-A football rankings|final rankings].
Scoreless after the first quarter, Texas running back Cedric Benson scored in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run. Washington State tied the game following a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Kegel to wide receiver Sammy Moore. Following a 39-yard field goal, Texas held a 10–7 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Washington State outscored Texas by nineteen points. They took their first lead at 13–10 on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Kegel to Moore. Jonathan Smith rushed 12 yards for a touchdown increasing the lead to 20–10, and the Cougars extended their lead to 26–10 lead after Jason David returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown.
Early in the fourth quarter, Texas was held to a field goal; WSU led by thirteen, and the Cougars added a safety as Texas was flagged for holding in their own end zone. Chance Mock threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Roy Williams to pull Texas to within 28–20 with over four minutes remaining, but that was the end of the scoring.