Tag: Fiesta Bowl

Watch: One Shining Moment but for Bowl Season

The ball is tipped…or kicked

If you’re any kind of college sports fan you’re familiar with the song “One Shining Moment” that is played each year as college basketball’s national championship game concludes.  It’s cheesy but enjoyable as it recaps all the highs and lows of the NCAA Tournament in roughly three minutes.

What if college football had a similar type thing for bowl season?

Well ask and you shall receive.

Thanks to college football fan Nathan Grella we now have exactly that.

Grella put together highlights from the last few weeks of bowl games and set it to “One Shining Moment”.  Sure, the lyrics don’t fit quite right when the song is about basketball and we’re watching football bowl games but Nathan hit it out of the park regardless.

Check out the video below:

Awesome job.

Give Nathan a follow on social media if you’d like @NathanGrella.

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Report Card: Ducks breeze through the final exam of the 2023 season

The final report card shows Oregon studied for that final exam and passed with flying colors.

It’s said that if you study hard enough the final for a class should be easy and you’ll receive the grade you deserve.

The Oregon Ducks football team took their final exam on New Year’s Day at the Fiesta Bowl and it was obvious they studied hard. The end result was the Ducks breezing through that test to the tune of a 45-6 victory over the Liberty Flames.

Oregon was able be in celebratory mode for most of the fourth quarter as quarterback Bo Nix and tailback Bucky Irving took much-deserved curtain calls as they both called it a career at the University of Oregon.

Every unit played well and their grades will reflect it for the last report card of this season that saw the Ducks finish 12-2.

Oregon wins its last football game as a Pac-12 school

The end of the Pac-12 is now official for Oregon football. The Ducks’ next game will be in the Big Ten.

The existence of Pac-12 football might technically have ended, due to Washington State and Oregon State officially being “Pac-12” members. In any meaningful sense, though, the history of Pac-12 football has been halted by the exodus of 10 schools to two other conferences. That history might be revived in several years, but for now, the road is hitting a dead end.

The Oregon Ducks are part of that story. They played their last Pac-12 football game (at least for now) on Monday in the Fiesta Bowl. They defeated Liberty, 45-6.

Ducks Wire wrote:

“Bo Nix was as efficient as ever as he methodically led the Ducks to six touchdown drives, including four touchdown passes in the second quarter alone.

“Tez Johnson continued his tremendous second half of the season with 11 catches and a touchdown. Oregon fans can only hope he returns to Eugene for one more season.

“Liberty came into the Fiesta Bowl averaging over 300 yards rushing a game, but against the Ducks, the Flames gained just 168 yards on the ground.”

Next stop for Oregon: the Big Ten, as is the case with USC.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire.

Photo Gallery: It’s all fun and games for the Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl

Photo Gallery: It’s all fun and games for the Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl

After two seasons under Dan Lanning, perhaps we should get used to the idea of Oregon not looking past the opponent, no matter who that opponent might be.

The Ducks certainly didn’t look past Liberty as Oregon crushed the Flames 45-6 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Bo Nix threw for five touchdowns and 363 yards, four of those scores coming in the second quarter that put the game away. The Ducks held a 31-6 halftime lead before cruising in the second half.

There were plenty of Oregon fans in the stands and they were able to give both Nix and Bucky Irving a well-deserved standing ovation as they exited the game early in the fourth quarter.

Here are the photos from an all-around fun day in Glendale.

Player of the Game: Bo Nix ends his Oregon career with a record-breaking performance

Bo Nix is the Ducks Wire player of the game, in his final time in an Oregon Ducks jersey.

The impact and excitement of bowl games have suffered in the era of opt-outs and transfers, but in the 2023-24 Fiesta Bowl, Bo Nix chose to put on an Oregon Ducks jersey and play one more time. Nix played exceptionally in the game, and his performance makes him the Ducks Wire player of the game.

After the Ducks started slow in the first quarter, Nix sparked the Oregon offense in the second, throwing four touchdowns in the quarter. Nix finished the game with 363 yards, 5 TDs, and an 80% completion percentage.

Speaking of completion percentage, Nix’s efficiency against Liberty pushed him ahead of Mac Jones to become the all-time FBS record holder for completion percentage in a single season. Nix also became the all-time Oregon Ducks leader in single-season touchdowns and passing yards, snapping records set by Marcus Mariota in 2014.

In April, Bo Nix will be selected in the NFL Draft, continuing his football career in the pros. He came to Oregon without much expectation — some even thought he’d back up Ty Thompson. But in two seasons as a Duck, Nix created a legacy as one of the best Oregon QBs ever, capping it off with a stellar performance in the Fiesta Bowl.

Oregon scores final 45 points, plasters Liberty in Fiesta Bowl

Oregon scored 45 points in a row to clobber Liberty

On second thought, maybe the bowl selection committee should have matched up undefeated teams. You know, Florida State and Liberty.

That would have avoided the twin calamities in postseason games.

Georgia clobbered FSU, 63-3, in the Orange Bowl.

And on New Year’s Day Arizona, Oregon spotted the Flames the first six points of the game on their initial drive and proceeded to score the next 45 points.

The final was 45-6.

Bo Nix was 28-of-35 for 363 yards with 5 TD passes for the Ducks, who finished 12-2.

The losses? A pair of games to Washington, each by three points.

Liberty, the Group of Five invitee, winds up 13-1.

3 Keys to Victory for the Oregon Ducks against the Liberty Flames

Three keys to victory for the Oregon Ducks against the Liberty Flames in the Fiesta Bowl.

2023 will surely be a year to remember for the Oregon Ducks. It was a year where a lot went right for Oregon. We saw Bo Nix’s Heisman campaign, the Ducks’ improved defense, and a team compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

On Monday, Oregon will cap off this memorable season in the Fiesta Bowl against the Liberty Flames. It certainly isn’t the matchup the Ducks wished for — or a matchup they deserve — but it’s still the culminating event of a historic season for Oregon football.

While Liberty certainly won’t be the toughest opponent the Sucks have faced this year, they have a lot of talent on there roster, and they couldl challenge the Ducks. Below, are my three biggest keys to victory for the Ducks against the Flames.

A strong run game

Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports

The best way to control a football game is by running the football for a consistent 3-6 yards. Liberty’s best chance to upset the Ducks is by stifling the Ducks offense, especially the run, giving them control of the game. So, if Oregon is able to run the ball well, they’ll put themselves in a good spot to win.

Strong cornerback play

Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports

Khyree Jackson — Oregon’s CB1 — has opted out of the Fiesta Bowl, and Jahlil Florence — Oregon’s CB2 — likely won’t play due to injury, which leaves the Ducks shorthanded at corner. With that lack of depth, the Ducks will need to be weary of getting gashed over the top by Liberty’s wide receivers. Dontae Manning and freshman Rodrick Pleasant will need to step up and have big games for Oregon to ensure success.

Quality performances by depth players

Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa

This is less of a key to victory, and more of a key to long-term success. I don’t think The Duck will struggle too much in this Fiesta Bowl, but they’ll need a few things to prosper in their first few years in the Big Ten. Specifically, I hope to see strong performances from Jurrion Dickey, Matayo Uiagalelei, Cole Martin, and any other young player who is able to step up.

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LOOK: Ducks bring back beloved throwback uniform combo for Fiesta Bowl vs. Liberty

The Oregon Ducks unveiled their uniform combination for the 2024 Fiesta Bowl against the Liberty Flames.

The Oregon Ducks will have one last hurrah in the 2023 season, facing off against the Liberty Flames on New Year’s Day down in Arizona for the 2024 Fiesta Bowl.

For that last hurrah, they will be giving Oregon fans one of the most coveted gifts of all — another look at the beloved throwback uniforms.

On Friday, the Ducks unveiled their uniform combination for the Fiesta Bowl, breaking out the throwbacks for a second time this season, and just the third time ever. Oregon wore these uniforms earlier this year against the Washington State Cougars.

With this being the last time that we get to see players like Bo Nix, Bucky Irving, and Brandon Dorlus in an Oregon uniform, among many others, it makes sense that the Ducks are breaking out the best uniforms they’ve ever worn for the occasion.

Here’s a closer look at the uniforms, followed by reaction from fans on social media:

The Clash in the Desert: A history of Pac-12 teams in the Fiesta Bowl.

A look at the history of Pac-12 teams in the Fiesta Bowl ahead of Oregon’s New Year’s Day matchup against the Liberty Flames.

The week of the Fiesta Bowl has arrived, and while this year’s Oregon Ducks bowl game doesn’t feature the most exciting opponent, this game will still be a key moment in Oregon’s history. This game ushers in the end of the Bo Nix era, and it will also mean goodbye for several other staple players for the Ducks.

Additionally, this game will mark the end of the Pac-12 for Oregon, as they’ll move on to the Big Ten next season. Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Bowl has often been a frequent postseason landing spot for Oregon and the entire Pac-12 conference. While the game hasn’t always featured a Pac-12 team, teams across the conference have plenty of history at the Fiesta Bowl, with 23 teams appearing in the bowl game since its inception.

Arizona State played in the first Fiesta Bowl in 1971 against Florida State winning 45-38, and the Sun Devils would go on to win again in three of the next four years. Arizona State still has the most Fiesta Bowl appearances of any Pac-12 team with six (they’ve won five), followed by Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado each with three appearances.

One of the most exciting Fiesta Bowls ever was in 1985, pitting UCLA against Miami. The Hurricanes were up by multiple scores late in the first half, but after the Bruins forced a safety they took the lead at the half and won the game 39-37.

Oregon’s first Fiesta Bowl appearance was one of the biggest blowouts in the bowl’s history as Joey Harrington and Co. beat the Colorado Buffaloes in 2003. The Oregon Ducks are also the most recent Pac-12 team to take part in the Fiesta Bowl, losing 34-17 to Iowa State in 2021. It was Oregon’s first appearance since 2013 when the Ducks beat Kanasa State 35-17.

At times, the Fiesta Bowl has been a bittersweet ending for the invited Pac-12 team. The Fiesta Bowl is a New Year’s Six bowl, it’s steeped in history and it’s occasionally a College Football Playoff semifinal game, but it oftentimes has been the landing spot of the Pac-12 runner-up, after that team failed to qualify for the Rose Bowl or the playoff, like Oregon did this year.

The Ducks’ matchup against Liberty on New Year’s Day likely won’t be the most exciting game of the day, but Oregon fans should still expect the Flames to challenge the Ducks. Hopefully, Oregon can redeem their 2021 Fiesta Bowl loss and end their 2023 season on a high note, by hoisting the Fiesta Bowl Trophy.

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5 Liberty players that Oregon needs to pay attention to in the Fiesta Bowl

Liberty shouldn’t be taken lightly and here are five Flames the Ducks need to put out in the Fiesta Bowl.

Mobile quarterbacks have given Oregon some trouble this season and the Ducks might be facing one of the top dual-threat signal callers in the nation. While he might be as a prolific passer as Michael Penix, Jr. or as elusive as Cameron Ward, Liberty’s Kaidon Salter combines the talent of those previous two quarterbacks that could be tough on opposing defenses.

Something else that makes Salter dangerous is that if you focus solely on him, he can give the ball to a pretty decent tailback in Quincey Cooley, a 1,000-yard rusher and a former Wake Forest performer.

Liberty has a good receiver in CJ Daniels as well as an underrated defense led by linebacker Tyren Dupree and defensive end CJ Bazile, Jr.

In short, although the opponents were Pac-12 caliber, the Flames are still 13-0 and can’t be taken lightly when the Ducks play them in the Fiesta.

We dig a little deeper into those five Flames previously mentioned.