CAL 35, BYU 28: Playing in front of a sell-out crowd in Las Vegas, the Bears cruised to a three-touchdown lead entering the final quarter, then held off the Cougars in the ultimate Blue State v. Red State match-up. The capacity crowd probably saved the Las Vegas Bowl, or, to use the correct title, the "Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl", which has been played more often than not before half-empty crowds, who half-heartedly cheer on second-division Pac-10 and also-ran MWC schools, at rickety Sam Boyd Stadium. The NCAA had threatened to strip the accreditation of the pre-Christmas classic unless it drew at least 2/3 capacity this year.