SAN DIEGO — Jared McGee and JR Pace met at midfield, wearing the two widest smiles on the gridiron. Just behind them, nearly 100 uniformed Wildcats were getting ready to pose for a picture with the 2018 Holiday Bowl trophy after a 31-20 win over Utah. But for a moment, it was just McGee and Pace, as happy as can be.
“You the MVP?” McGee exclaimed like a proud older brother, acknowledging the trophy Pace clutched in his left hand.
The pair embraced and joined their teammates, McGee taking his place front and center.
Things didn’t look so rosy early on.