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 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.
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 linebacker Keenan Robinson was named the defensive MVP after finishing with eight tackles and a pass deflection.
Texas began the season with a four-game winning streak which included a defeat of UCLA in Pasadena.
They were able to get four more wins, improving to a 7–5 mark following the first losing season in Tedford's tenure as head coach.
Notably, the 2004 appearance resulted after Texas head coach Mack Brown had lobbied for an invitation to the Rose Bowl over Cal.
After a three and out, Texas got the ball back when Zach Maynard was picked off by Quandre Diggs, but in turn went three and out.
They then set up a trick play in which receiver Jaxon Shipley threw a pass to quarterback David Ash for the first touchdown of the game.
Late in the quarter the final Cal turnover occurred when receiver Marvin Jones fumbled after making a reception.