2015 Potato Bowl, Utah State vs. Akron: Date, time, location and more

The only bowl game not played on a green field is set for another Mountain West and MAC duel at the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Instead it will be the blue turf of Albertsons Stadium (previously Bronco Stadium until 2014) in Boise that serves as the setting for the 19th battle for all of the potatoes. For the first 14 years of the game’s history, it was the Humanitarian Bowl, but became the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2011.

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

Date and time: Tues., Dec. 22, 3:30 p.m. ET

TV channel: ESPN

Location: Boise, Idaho

Stadium: Albertsons Stadium, 36,387

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

Last year’s attendance: 33,067

Last year’s TV rating: 0.9

Last year’s payout for each school: $325,000

Team with the most all-time appearances: Boise State, 4

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

Utah State faded to the finish in 2015, but cobbled together enough wins to earn a bowl bid. The Aggies lost senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton for most of the season with a knee injury, and Keeton was ineffective after returning in late November. Without its Heisman Trophy dark horse, Utah State’s offense struggled to find traction against legitimate opponents. The result: a 1-5 record in road games and losses to in-state rivals Utah and BYU.

Sophomore quarterback Kent Myers excelled in his 2015 debut, rolling up 328 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in a win over Colorado State. But as Myers went, so went the Aggies; his quarterback rating was, on average, 58 points higher in wins than losses. The running attack, led by junior halfback Devante Mays, could not make up for deficiencies in the passing game and on defense.

Last bowl game: 2014 New Mexico Bowl (21-6 win over UTEP)

All-time bowl record: 4-6

Head coach’s bowl record: Matt Wells is 2-0 in bowl games, both coached at Utah State.

On Halloween Day, Akron lost by 8 points to Central Michigan. The Zips managed just 277 yards of offense and missed the extra point following their only touchdown of the day. At 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the MAC, the chances of climbing to bowl eligibility looked slim.

Since that day, all Akron has done is win: Four games, four victories, highlighted by a 21-point drubbing of Buffalo and 20-0 win over rival Kent State for the Wagon Wheel Trophy. Suddenly, the Zips are 7-5 and headed to the postseason for just the second time in school history.

Akron has done it in the easiest way possible: By generating a ton of turnovers. The Zips have forced 25 turnovers this season, including 12 turnovers during their four-game win streak. The Zips lead the MAC in takeaways; when combined with a defense that leads the conference in yards allowed (328.5 ypg) and ranks among the nation’s best against the run (89.8 rushing ypg, third nationally), it more than makes up for Akron’s offensive issues.

Last bowl game: 2005 Motor City Bowl (38-31 loss to Memphis)

All-time bowl record: 0-1

Head coach’s bowl record: The venerable Terry Bowden, in his fourth season at Akron, went 2-1 in bowl games as head coach at Auburn in the 1990s. He has not coached Akron in a bowl game.