[3] Starting with the 2014 game, the Big Ten signed a six-year contract to return after a 20-year absence to the Holiday Bowl, regaining the slot that it had held from 1991 to 1994.

[8] The 2021 edition was called off hours before kickoff on December 28, due to COVID-19 protocol issues within the UCLA program,[9] and officially canceled the next morning, after organizers could not secure a replacement team to face NC State.

[10] In May 2023, organizers of the Holiday Bowl filed a lawsuit in San Diego County, seeking $3 million in damages from the Pac-12 and UCLA due to their withdrawal from the 2021 game.

[11] Sponsors of the game have included SeaWorld; Thrifty Car Rental; Chrysler Corporation (through its Plymouth brand); Culligan; Pacific Life; Bridgepoint Education; National University; National Funding,[12] a San Diego–based alternative lender; San Diego County Credit Union, which formerly sponsored San Diego's other bowl game, the now-defunct Poinsettia Bowl;[13] and DirecTV.

In the inaugural 1978 game, the Navy Midshipmen came in with an 8–3 record and a Commander-in-Chief's Trophy and then capped their season with a 23–16 comeback victory over the highly favored Cougars.

The 1980 game was known as "The Miracle Bowl" as BYU erased a 20-point SMU lead in the last two minutes of the game, tying the score on the last play of the game—a 60-yard pass from All-American quarterback Jim McMahon to tight end Clay Brown as time expired.

Stinnett then turned around and passed it back to Steve Young, who caught it and ran in for a touchdown, giving BYU a 21–17 win.

BYU drove the length of the field and scored on a pass from injured All-American quarterback Robbie Bosco to Kelly Smith with 1:23 remaining.

Marv Allen, who had played in the very first Holiday Bowl as a redshirt freshman in 1978, sealed the victory with an interception.

Lost (7): Illinois, Louisville, North Carolina, San Diego State, SMU, UCLA, Utah

The only current or former Big 12 members that have not played in the bowl are Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, TCU, UCF and West Virginia.