7 Highlights from the
2026 Trust & Will Holiday Bowl
Back at it again as the Presenting Sponsor of the GOVX Pregame Show.
The streak continues. San Diego’s BIGGEST holiday party went down at Snapdragon Stadium on January 2nd, as the SMU Mustangs held off a late charge from the 17th ranked Arizona Wildcats in the 46th annual Trust & Will Holiday Bowl in a 24-19 triumph and get the eggnog showers flowing.
In a day punctuated by a balloon parade at the Port of San Diego, a pregame show sponsored by yours truly, and an epic Navy Frog-X parachute jump performance, TEAM GOVX was on hand personally to witness every moment alongside the good folks at Sports San Diego, organizers of the night’s festivities.
LET'S HIT THE HIGHLIGHT REEL
- The GOVX Pregame Show Pulled Out All the Stops
And we mean, all the stops. Let’s review.
ONE BIG FLAG: A storied Holiday Bowl tradition, a football-field-sized American flag was unfurled across the turf by hundreds of volunteers and military members.
MARCHING BAND MADNESS: The pregame festivities featured high-energy sets from the Arizona Wildcats and SMU Mustangs marching bands.
LOOK OUT BELOW: The Frog-X Parachute Team thrilled a crowd of 30K deep with an awe-aspiring descent into the stadium.
2. The End Zone Designs Were Insane
A shades-sportiin’, shaka-throwin', rock-hauling snowman? Check, check, and check. The Holiday Bowl graphics team went overboard in the best of ways with this design, creating the perfect San Diego feel with a holiday twist.
Bravo, take a bow, shrink it down and put it in the Lourve.
3. Peruna the Pony Stole the Show
With all due respect to the consortium of underclassmen who stuff themselves into decades-old mascot costumes and sweat their way through a full slate of fall games, nothing reps harder than real-life authentic animal-life.
Paraded out after every Mustangs touchdown, Peruna was put to work early and often during the big game, as SMU jumped out to a commanding 24-0 lead by halftime.
4. There Was a Casket Toss
at Halftime
Yes, you read that right. For the uninformed, Trust & Will is a company that specializes in online wills and estate plans, and as the Title Sponsor of this year’s bowl game, you best believe they weren’t going pass up the opportunity to do something to make fans remember the name.
Macabre? Sure. Creepy? Eh. Memorable? You betcha. Either way, dude clanked it. Bummer.
5. The Refs Had a Rough Night
Despite the ground operations best efforts, record-setting rain during the week of Christmas and New Years had absolutely soaked the Snapdragon playing field.
As the players battled the conditions, the officials' crew took more than a few tumbles (and untimely hits) during the course of the game.
6. M-V-P! SMU’s Yamir Knight Took Home the Top Honors
Leading the air attack, Mustangs Wide Receiver Yamir Knight reeled in 7 of 8 targets for 104 yards total as the game’s MVP.
With one more year of NCAA eligibility at his disposal, expect the compact-sized ball magnet to continue making a name for himself next season.
7. Kevin from “The Office” Got in on the Postgame Celebration
Unfortunately his cover band Scrantonicity was neither seen, nor heard. The actor, known to the world as Brian Baumgartner is an SMU alum and avid football fan.
He had the esteemed honor of dumping this year’s eggnog supply on the winning coach. Way to go, Kev.