The #8 Oregon Ducks and #23 Liberty Flames will usher in the new year as they face off for an electric season finale in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Flames and Ducks will showdown in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Jan. 1 at 1 PM Eastern Time. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Ducks finished the season with an 11-2 record, despite only losing to one team all season. The Ducks lost by three points to the Washington Huskies in Week 6 and again in the PAC-12 Conference Championship. Washington is contending in the College Football Playoff this season.
The Ducks played an impressive regular season, besting teams like Oregon State, Utah, and USC. Oregon quarterback, Bo Nix, finished third in the race for the Heisman.
Dan Lanning, the head coach for Oregon, is in his second season with the Ducks. Lanning coached the Ducks to a 10-3 record and a Holiday Bowl win against UNC last season. Lanning is the third Oregon head coach to win 10 games in his first season, and the first since 2013.
Before Lanning came to Oregon in 2022, he was the defensive coordinator for Georgia. Lanning began his coaching career in 2008 at the high school level but has quickly worked his way up. Lanning has been to and won four of the New Year’s Six bowl games, including national titles with both Georgia in 2022 and Alabama in 2015.
Despite Lanning’s defensive background, it has been Oregon’s offense that has been tough to stop this season. In the Ducks season-opener, the team put up 81 points against Portland State. The Ducks have averaged 44.2 points a game this season and Nix has only been sacked 5 times all year. The Ducks even have an AP All-American Center in Jackson Powers.
The Oregon offense has averaged 342.8 passing yards and 184.9 rushing yards per game this season. The Ducks finished their regular season with a turnover ratio of 9, with Nix having thrown only 3 interceptions and the team recording only 2 fumbles lost.
The Flames’ and Ducks’ programs have never played before. Oregon has a .576 all-time record (703-511-46) while the Flames have a .540 all-time record (299-254-4).
Last year, the Fiesta Bowl hosted #2 Michigan and #3 TCU in the College Football Playoff. There were 71,723 fans in attendance for the game. The year before, 49,550 fans watched as #9 Oklahoma State beat #5 Notre Dame.
Three Players to Watch For
QB #10 – Bo Nix has thrown 435 times for 4,145 yards, 40 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Nix has also rushed 53 times for 228 yards and 6 touchdowns. Nix is ranked second nationally for FBS passing yards.
RB #0 – Bucky Irving has rushed 172 times for 1,063 yards and 10 touchdowns. Irving has also recorded 53 receptions for 395 yards and 2 touchdowns.
DB #5 – Khyree Jackson has recorded 34 total tackles, 25 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 7 pass defenses, and 3 interceptions.
Upcoming Games
Jan. 1 – Oregon vs Liberty
