| 2012 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 24, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Aloha Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Honolulu (Halawa), Hawaii | ||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | DE Margus Hunt, SMU WR Davante Adams, Fresno State | ||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Fresno St. 12[1] | ||||||||||||||||||
| National anthem | Tahiti Rey and Jason Alan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Jim Farmer (WAC) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Halftime show | Mailani | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 30,024 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$650,000 (per team)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) Kelly Stouffer (analyst) Kaylee Hartung (sideline) | ||||||||||||||||||
The 2012 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl was a postseason American college football bowl game held on Christmas Eve 2012, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The eleventh edition of the Hawaii Bowl, sponsored by Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, began at 3:00 p.m. HST and aired on ESPN. It featured the SMU Mustangs from Conference USA against the Mountain West Conference co-champion Fresno State Bulldogs, and was the final game of the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season for both teams. The Mustangs accepted their invitation after compiling a 6–6 record in the regular season, while the Bulldogs accepted their invitation with a 9–3 regular season record.
The pre-game buildup focused primarily on the strong rushing attacks of both teams as well as the overall sound offense of Fresno State. Most analysts predicted a resounding victory by Fresno State. Fresno State was a 12-point favorite over the Mustangs. Contrary to predictions, SMU won the game by a score of 43–10, largely thanks to the play of defensive end Margus Hunt, who forced two fumbles and totaled three sacks (including one safety) as well as two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. Consequently, Hunt and Fresno State's Davante Adams, who totaled 13 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown, were named the game's co-Most Valuable Player (MVP).[3]
- ^ Bowl Schedule, Los Angeles Times, December 24, 2012
- ^ Williams, James. "CFB 2012-13 Bowls: Updated Broadcast Information, Payouts and Favorites". Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl Results Archive". Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.