The 2001 Wells Fargo Sun Bowl edition to the Sun Bowl featured the Washington State Cougars, and the Purdue Boilermakers.

Washington State's Jason David scored the game's first touchdown on a 45-yard interception return for a 7–0 WSU lead. Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser later threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Mike Bush to increase the Cougar's lead to 14–0. In the second quarter, Purdue running back Montrell Lowe scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 14–7.

Kicker Travis Dorsch kicked a 28-yard field goal to pull Purdue to within 14–10. Washington State's Drew Dunning answered with a 47-yard field goal of his own, to move the lead back to 17–10. Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton found wide receiver Taylor Stubblefield for a 3-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17. Travis Dorsch's 50-yard field goal before halftime gave Purdue a 20–17 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Drew Dunning kicked the tying 34-yard field goal. Jason Gesser's subsequent 1-yard touchdown run gave Washington State a 27–20 lead. Drew Dunning added field goals of 30 and 37 yards to give WSU a 33–20 lead. With 1:53 left, Kyle Orton connected with Taylor Stubblefield with a 51-yard touchdown pass to make the final margin 33–27.