This was the 14th time in college football history that two teams from the same conference faced off in the postseason, and Nevada came out on top in the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl, beating fellow Mountain West opponent Colorado State 28-23. The Wolf Pack led for most of the game, but the Rams grabbed control late, only to see Nevada march for the game-winning touchdown with only 1:06 remaining. Sophomore James Butler barreled into the end zone from 4 yards out, pushing the pile forward to deliver the decisive score.

Nevada then withstood a Colorado State desperation drive in which the Rams failed to get out of bounds on the Wolf Pack's 13-yard line. The clock expired before Colorado State was able to line up for a spike.

What this win means for Nevada: The Wolf Pack turned around their disappointing end to the regular season, in which they lost their final two games to drop to 6-6 entering this bowl matchup. This game was a microcosm of that see-saw campaign, as Brian Polian's squad saw early success slip away. But they ultimately delivered in the clutch, and that was the difference between a winning and losing season.

What this loss means for Colorado State: The Rams entered this one on a four-game winning streak, so this loss pumped the brakes on that hot finish. Colorado State finished its first season following the departure of former coach Jim McElwain with a 7-6 record. Rams wide receiver Rashard Higgins set his program's career receiving yards record in defeat. He caught nine passes for 129 yards.

Player of the game: Butler. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound back looked like a bowling ball on the winning touchdown run, but he also showcased his speed throughout a 24-carry, 189-yard rushing effort. Nevada passed for only 74 yards, so they needed every bit of Butler's production on the ground. He averaged 7.9 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns, making this an easy selection.

Stat of the game: Elijah Mitchell's 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown gave Nevada a 19-10 lead late in the second quarter. It was the Wolf Pack's first kickoff return for a touchdown since 1998, and it ended up being the difference in this win.