Texas Tech to Play Arizona State at the National University Holiday Bowl

Sunday night the BCS and FBS bowl games were officially announced for the 2013-14 bowl season. Texas Tech (7-5, 4-5) will play #16 Arizona State (10-3, 8-1) at the National University Holiday Bowl on December 30 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

This year's bowl game will be the second time Texas Tech has played at the Holiday Bowl. It's also the 36th bowl game in Texas Tech history.  Back in 2004, the Sonny Cumbie-led Red Raiders beat Cal 45-31 at the Holiday Bowl.

"Texas Tech is honored to accept an invitation to the National University Holiday Bowl," Kirby Hocutt, Director of Athletics said. "The tradition surrounding the Holiday Bowl makes it one of the most anticipated games of the postseason. Texas Tech's Holiday Bowl win in 2004 is a source of great pride for our fans and we look forward to a return to San Diego."

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury is happy his team is headed to a bowl game, "More than anything to have those bowl practices, to try to improve as a team, I think that's the biggest part of this whole deal."

On going up against Arizona State, on of this season's best PAC-12 teams, Kingsbury said, "They're playing great offense (at Arizona State), have a bunch of good skill players. It will be a huge challenge for us."

Senior linebacker Will Smith (pictured, #7) grew up in Riverside, California and he's excited to play his final Texas Tech game in San Diego, "I was hoping for that (being selected for the Holiday Bowl); the effort we put out at the end of the year, I was hoping this could be the bowl we would advance to."

The National University Holiday Bowl will be played at 9:15p CT on December 30 and televised on ESPN. Tickets are now on sale at TexasTech.com