The 2011 Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, the 34th edition of the game, was a postseason American college football bowl game between the Texas Longhorns of the Big 12 Conference and the California Golden Bears of the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12), on December 28, 2011, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game was the final contest of the 2011 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-FBS) football season for both teams, and it ended in a 21–10 victory for Texas. Texas was selected to play in the 2011 Holiday Bowl following a 7–5 regular season that included a last-second victory at Texas A&M and double-digit losses to then-No. 1 Oklahoma, then-No. 7 Oklahoma State, and then-No. 18 Baylor. The Longhorns faced California, who also had an identical 7–5 regular season, highlighted by an overtime victory at Colorado and a 3-point loss to then-No. 8 Stanford. California scored the only points of the first quarter on a 49-yard field goal by placekicker Giorgio Tavecchio. In the second quarter Texas' placekicker Justin Tucker missed a 38-yard field goal but were later able to score on a 4-yard reverse pass touchdown reception by wide receiver Jaxon Shipley. California answered in the third quarter on a touchdown run by running-back Isi Sofele, but the Golden Bears would not score any more points afterwards. Texas scored later in the third quarter on a 47-yard reception by wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard run by running-back Cody Johnson to end the game. Texas quarterback David Ash was named player of the game, and finished with 142 passing yards and one touchdown while also attaining a touchdown reception. Texas linebacker Keenan Robinson was named the defensive MVP after finishing with eight tackles and a pass deflection. Teams Entering the contest, both teams shared a few similarities. Each had an identical record (7–5) and last played in a bowl during the 2009 season, which they both lost (Texas lost the BCS National Championship Game to Alabama and Cal lost the Poinsettia Bowl, also in San Diego, to Utah.) Both teams also identical posted losing records (5–7) during the 2010 season. Their respective records in Holiday Bowl were also split. Texas lead the series with Cal 4–0, and was ranked in the nation’s top 10 in each of the series' games. Both teams were strong on defense with the Longhorns standing at No.