Lee Corso and Indiana’s reward in 1979 for completing a 7-4 regular season and achieving bowl eligibility? 11-0 BYU.
The 1979 Holiday Bowl delivered everything a bowl game should be. There were eight lead changes and the two squads would combine to score 75 total points in addition to tallying 52 first downs and 874 yards of total offense.
The game went back-and-forth throughout. Brigham Young quarterback Marc Wilson completed 28-of-43 passes for 380 yards and 2 TDs, highlighting why he led the nation in passing and total offense during the regular season.
The Cougars would take a 24-21 lead early in the third quarter, but IU running back Mike Harkrader scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Hoosiers a 28-24 lead. Indiana kicker Kevin Kellogg would then connect on a 26-yard field goal to increase the IU lead to 31-24. However, a 29-yard field goal by BYU and a 15-yard touchdown strike from Wilson to fullback Eric Lane, put the Cougars in front, 34-31, at the end of three quarters.
BYU would score the first points in the fourth quarter to increase its lead to 37-31. However, Indiana’s Tim Wilbur countered with a 62-yard punt return to tie the game at 37-37. Kellogg would add the extra point to give IU a one-point advantage with 6:53 remaining in the contest. Brigham Young had the opportunity to win the contest on a field goal attempt with just 11 seconds remaining. But a 27-yard effort by Cougar kicker Brent Johnson failed, and IU held on for the thrilling 38-37 victory.
You can watch the full game below, condensed to just under an hour.
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