The 45th annual DIRECTV Holiday Bowl will showcase an intriguing matchup between Syracuse (9-3) from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Washington State (8-4) from the Pac-12.
The game is set to kick off on Friday, Dec. 27, at 5 p.m. PST and will be broadcast live nationally on FOX from San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.
This marks the first appearance by Syracuse and fifth appearance for Washington State in the Holiday Bowl series. Syracuse and Washington State have met only once before in 1979 when Syracuse won 52-25.
“What a terrific matchup for the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl,” said Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego, the producers of the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl. “Syracuse and Washington State are tremendous football programs and to have them square off right here in San Diego on Dec. 27 is so great. Snapdragon Stadium is going to be rocking! I’m happy for the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl! I’m happy for San Diego!”
“As a leader in sports, DIRECTV streamed the entire 2024 college football season to customers across the country, complete with all the close calls and upsets,” said Vince Torres, chief marketing officer at DIRECTV. “If the 2024 DIRECTV Holiday Bowl is anything like last year’s game, fans Syracuse and Washington State are in for a real Holiday treat, whether they join us live in San Diego or watch from the comfort of their homes.”
Washington State will provide a notable homecoming for former Valhalla/Mater Dei Catholic standout Josh Meredith, now a redshirt junior on the Cougars roster.
In 12 games this season, Meredith had made 34 catches for 442 yards and two touchdowns. In three years with the Cougars, he has logged 29 games played, 38 catches for 500 yards and three touchdowns.
As a junior at Valhalla, he was named to the All-Grossmont Hills Second Team after catching 13 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 13.8 yards-per-catch and also rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns. He picked off two passes on defense.
He attended Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista as a senior, though the season was delayed until January because of the coronavirus pandemic. As a prep, he was rated threestar prospect by ESPN.com and 247Sports.com.
As a red-shirt freshman in 2022, he appeared in six games, made his collegiate debut, caught a five-yard pass in a win over Cal and appeared on offense at No. 6 USC, at Stanford, Arizona State, at Arizona and against Fresno State in LA Bowl. He appeared in all 12 games as a red-shirt sophomore in 2023, each in a reserve role. He recorded three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown, made first two catches of the season in a win over Northern Colorado, including his first touchdown as a Cougar, a 15-yard pass from John Mateer. He also recorded 17-yard catch against Arizona State.
•This is Washington State’s 19th bowl game appearance.
•The Cougars have had eight consensus All-Americans, have 584 all-time wins and 200 players who have been drafted by the NFL.
•This is Syracuse’s 29th all-time bowl game appearance.
