Fighting Illini to Play in Fight Hunger Bowl

UCLA and Illinois will bring interim coaches into their matchup at the Fight Hunger Bowl.

The Bruins (6-7) and Illini (6-6) accepted their bids Sunday to the Dec. 31 game in San Francisco. Illinois opened the season 6-0 before losing its final six games of the season.

That led to coach Ron Zook being fired and replaced by defensive coordinator Vic Koenning, who is the interim coach.

UCLA fell below .500 Friday night when it lost 49-31 in the Pac-12 title game to Oregon in coach Rick Neuheisel's final game.

The NCAA approved a waiver for the Bruins because they were bowl eligible before the conference championship game. Offensive coordinator Mike Johnson will coach the Bruins in the bowl game.