By The Associated Press
Kansas will face UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, the first meeting between the schools since the Jayhawks won 46-24 in 2003. The Jayhawks clinched bowl eligibility with a 38-33 upset of then-No. 6 Oklahoma and have won at least eight games for the 11th time in school history. UNLV is coming off a 44-20 loss to Boise State in the Mountain West championship and will make its fifth postseason appearance. The Rebels seek their first bowl win since beating Arkansas 31-14 in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl.
Kansas (8-4, 5-4 Big 12) vs. UNLV (9-4, 6-3 Mountain West), Dec. 26, 9 p.m. ET
LOCATION: Phoenix
TOP PLAYERS
Kansas: QB Jason Bean took over for injured Jalon Daniels and has led four wins, passing for 1,681 yards and 12 touchdowns. RB Devon Neal has rushed for 1,209 yards and 15 TDs, ranking fifth in the Big 12, while safety Kenny Logan Jr. recorded a team-high 86 tackles.
UNLV: Kicker Jose Pizano set school records with six field goals in a game and 127 points along with 19 consecutive made attempts over one stretch. Freshman QB Jayden Maiava has passed for 2,794 yards and 14 TDs with eight interceptions, ranking fourth in the Mountain West.
NOTABLE
Kansas clinched bowl eligibility with a 38-33 upset of then-No.6 Oklahoma and is appearing in consecutive postseasons for the first time since 2007-08. The Jayhawks ranked seventh in Big 12 offense at 434 yards per contest.
UNLV led the Mountain West conference in scoring at 34.3 points per game. The Rebels are coming off a 44-20 loss to Boise State in the conference championship.
LAST TIME
Kansas won 46-24 in 2003 to even the series at a game each.
BOWL HISTORY
Kansas is 6-7 all-time in bowls. UNLV is 3-1.