This year’s Cactus Bowl matches two schools desperately seeking a fitting end to a difficult season.
2016 couldn’t have gone much worse for the Baylor Bears (6-6). Art Briles was dismissed as head coach and Jim Grobe was chosen to salvage the season. Indeed, the Bears did just that by going undefeated in their first six games before closing the year on a six game winless streak.
In late October, all signs pointed towards the Boise State Broncos (10-2) having an outside shot of participating in the College Football Playoffs. That notion quickly faded away after the Broncos lost to the Wyoming Cowboys 30-28.