2015 Las Vegas Bowl, BYU vs. Utah: Date, time, location and more

Once upon a time the California Raisin Bowl packed up and headed to Las Vegas, and in 1991, the Las Vegas Bowl was born. It has had a revolving door of title sponsors in the more than two decades since the move, but 2015 will be the third year of the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl.

For three consecutive years, the Las Vegas Bowl featured the Boise State Broncos beating up on Pac-12 teams and the BYU Broncos winning in three of the four years before that, but in the last two years, UCLA and Utah reversed the trend with big wins over Mountain West opponents.

Here is everything you need to know to get ready for this year’s Las Vegas Bowl:

Date and time: Sat., Dec. 19, 3:30 p.m. ET

TV channel: ABC

Location: Whitney, Nev.

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium, 40,000

Last year’s score: Utah 45, Colorado State 10

Last year’s attendance: 33,067

Last year’s TV rating: 1.4

Last year’s payout for each school: $1.35 million

Team with the most all-time appearances: BYU, 6

Team with the most all-time wins: BYU, Boise State and Utah, 3

After winning at least 10 games in five seasons between 2006 and 2011, BYU hasn’t hit double-digit victories in more than three years. They can break that streak with a win in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 19, in Bronco Mendenhall’s last game with the Cougars before leaving for Virginia. Mendehall will be going for his 100th win at BYU.

The Cougars need a validating win after slogging through a schedule that featured few quality wins. BYU notched a key victory over then-No. 20 Boise State back in week two, but they haven’t beaten a top 50 opponent since then. In their defense, they only had two opportunities -- losses against UCLA and Michigan that dropped the team from the top 25 and kept Bronco Mendenhall from adding a signature win to an otherwise unremarkable 2015 campaign.

They’ll get another shot at it in Las Vegas. BYU boasts a top 25 passing offense thanks to freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum. Mangum improved steadily as his first season wore on, peaking with a four-touchdown performance in his regular-season finale against Utah State. After throwing seven interceptions early in the year, he’s gone 123 pass attempts without a pick -- a mark he’ll hope to extend in the postseason.

Last bowl game: 2014 Miami Beach Bowl (55-48 loss to Memphis)

All-time bowl record: 13-19-1

Head coach’s bowl record: Bronco Mendenhall is 6-4 in bowl games as a head coach, all with BYU.

Halfway through the season, Utah had national title aspirations. Instead, they’ll have to settle for second place in the Pac-12 South.

The Utes roared out to a 6-0 record with wins over Michigan, Oregon and California, while they rose to No. 3 in the AP Top 25 before losses to Southern Cal, Arizona and UCLA derailed their College Football Playoff hopes. After scoring 33.3 points per game in their wins, those opponents held Utah to just 21 average points in defeat.

Kyle Whittingham’s team used a balanced approach to grind down opponents in 2015. The Utes gained roughly as many yards passing (189.1) as they did rushing (187.8) this season. They’re led by senior dual threat quarterback Travis Wilson, who can keep plays alive with his legs and then gash you downfield with his arm (four touchdowns in a 62-20 rout over Oregon).

If that wasn’t enough, the Utes can burn you on special teams, as well. All-American and Pac-12 All-Century team member Tom Hackett is in a league of his own as a punter, despite having to deal with outside distractions like having his car stolen in the middle of the season. He’s averaging 47.8 yards per punt this season and has pinned opponents inside their own 20 on nearly 44 percent of his kicks.

Last bowl game: 2014 Las Vegas Bowl (45-10 win over Colorado State)

All-time bowl record: 14-4

Head coach’s bowl record: Kyle Whittingham is 8-1 in bowl games, all with the Utah Utes.