The 1998 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 30, 1998 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the Arizona Wildcats, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Game summary

Arizona scored the first points of the game with a 38-yard field goal from Mark McDonald opening up a 3–0 lead. They increased that to 6–0, following a 25-yard McDonald field goal, to close the first quarter scoring. In the third quarter, McDonald added his third field goal of the game, a 48-yarder, giving Arizona a 9–0 lead. Nebraska got on the board following a 25-yard field goal from Kris Brown, making it 9–3. Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Shevin Wiggins to give Nebraska a 10-9 second quarter lead. Kris Brown added a 23-yard field goal before halftime to give Nebraska a 13-9 halftime lead. After a third quarter, Arizona quarterback Keith Smith threw a 16-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Brad Brennan, and Arizona reclaimed a 16–13 lead. Eric Crouch threw his second touchdown pass of the game, to tight end Tracey Wistrom and Nebraska claimed a 20–16 lead. Running back Kelvin Eafon scored on a 1-yard touchdown run for Arizona, and Arizona got the final 23-20 margin of victory.

Aftermath

Nebraska continued their bowl streak, while Arizona did not return to a bowl game again until 2008. The following year, Arizona and Nebraska would have a rematch against each other in the Holiday Bowl.