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Wikipedia

Fiesta Bowl

The Fiesta Bowl is an American college football bowl game played annually in the Phoenix metropolitan area. From its beginning in 1971 until 2006, the game was hosted at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Since 2007, the game has been played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Since 2022, it has been sponsored by Vrbo and officially known as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.[2] Previous sponsors include PlayStation (December 2016–2022), BattleFrog (January 2016),[3] Vizio (December 2014),[4][5][6] Tostitos (1996–January 2014), IBM (1993–1995) and Sunkist (1986–1990).

Fiesta Bowl
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
StadiumState Farm Stadium
LocationGlendale, Arizona
Previous stadiumsSun Devil Stadium
(1971–2006)
Previous locationsTempe, Arizona
(1971–2006)
Operated1971–present
Championship affiliation
Previous conference tie-ins
PayoutUS$17 million (As of 2009)[1]
Sponsors
Former names
  • Fiesta Bowl (1971–1985, 1991–1992)
  • Sunkist Fiesta Bowl (1986–1990)
  • IBM OS/2 Fiesta Bowl (1993–1995)
  • Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (1996–January 2014)
  • Vizio Fiesta Bowl (December 2014)
  • BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl (January 2016)
  • PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (2016–2022)
2023 matchup
Oregon vs. Liberty (Oregon 45–6)
2024 matchup
(December 31, 2024)

Since 1992, the Fiesta Bowl has been part of some organization of bowls designed to determine an undisputed national champion. In 1992, it was named as one of the Bowl Coalition games, but the bowl was never used to determine the champion. In 1995, the organizers of the Fiesta Bowl joined with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl to form the Bowl Alliance, with each bowl guaranteed to host a championship game as the coaches’ poll was contractually obligated to choose the winner of the Bowl Alliance championship game as its national champion. The Fiesta Bowl hosted the first of these games in January 1996.

After the 1997 season, the three Bowl Alliance bowls joined with the Rose Bowl to form the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), with the Fiesta Bowl guaranteed to host the national championship game every four years. As with the Bowl Alliance, the Fiesta Bowl was given first chance at hosting the BCS' championship in 1999; they also hosted the game in 2003. When the BCS reconstituted itself following the 2005 season, it began staging a separate national championship game, which rotated between BCS bowl sites.

Beginning with the 2014 season, the Fiesta Bowl became a member of the College Football Playoff, hosting a semifinal game every three years through the 2022 season; all the teams playing in the bowl were selected by the CFP Selection Committee.

With the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams in 2024, the Fiesta Bowl will become an annual feature of that playoff, along with the other New Year's Six bowls.

The Fiesta Bowl has donated over $12 million to charity.[7] In 2020, it donated $1 million in emergency relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

History

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Origins

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Fiesta Bowl logo with no corporate sponsor

The Fiesta Bowl was born from the Western Athletic Conference's frustrated attempts to obtain bowl invitations for its champions. In 1968 and 1969 respectively, champions Wyoming and Arizona State failed to secure any bowl selection. The next year, undefeated Arizona State was bypassed by the major bowls and had to settle for an appearance in the less prestigious Peach Bowl. The Fiesta Bowl therefore initially provided an automatic berth for the WAC champion.

1970s

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In its first decade of existence, the Fiesta Bowl was played in the last week of December (including the afternoon of Christmas Day from 1976 to 1979). The 1971 inaugural game featured another top-ten Arizona State squad against top-twenty opponent Florida State. The 1974 game featured WAC champ BYU and their new coach, future Hall of Fame member LaVell Edwards in their first ever bowl game vs. Oklahoma State. BYU was in control until BYU's first All-American quarterback Gary Sheide went down with a leg injury and eventually lost 16–6. By 1975, the game was able to attract Big Eight co-champion Nebraska to play undefeated Arizona State in a matchup of top-five teams. In 1977, the game was again able to attract a top-five opponent in Penn State, despite WAC champion #16 BYU refusing to play in the bowl due to its being held on Sunday.

In 1978, Arizona and Arizona State both joined the Pac-10 Conference and the Fiesta Bowl's tie-in with the WAC ended as its champ went to the newly inaugurated Holiday Bowl. From then until the advent of the Bowl Coalition in 1992, Fiesta Bowl matchups typically featured runners-up of major conferences and/or major independents.

1980s

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The game continued to attract high quality matchups; beginning with the 1981 season, it shifted to New Year's Day alongside the major bowl games—the Cotton, Orange, Sugar, and Rose. At the time, NBC had the broadcast rights to the Fiesta, Rose, and Orange; the Fiesta was played first and had a late morning kickoff (11:30 a.m. MST). It was the first bowl game to acquire a corporate title sponsor, via an agreement with Sunkist Growers in September 1985, making the game the "Sunkist Fiesta Bowl" starting with the January 1986 edition.[9][10] The Tangerine Bowl had previously reached agreement in March 1983 with the Florida Citrus Commission, a state government agency, to rename itself as the Florida Citrus Bowl.[11]

A major breakthrough occurred after the 1986 season when the top two teams in the country, Miami and Penn State, agreed to play for the de facto national championship in the Fiesta Bowl. At the time, the traditional four "major" bowl games granted automatic bids to their conference champions. Both Miami and Penn State were independents at that time, and were thus free to choose a bowl. As such, the Fiesta Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl, each free from the obligation of conference tie-ins, vied to host the Miami–Penn State matchup in order to ensure that they would meet on the field. The Fiesta Bowl won the bidding and the game was set to be played on Friday, January 2, 1987—the night after the "big four" bowls of New Year's Day. Penn State won 14–10, and the game drew the largest television audience in the history of college football at the time. Two years later, #1 Notre Dame played undefeated #3 West Virginia for the national championship at the 1989 Fiesta Bowl on January 1.

The 1987 and 1989 games were two of four straight matchups of teams ranked in the AP Top 10 going into the bowl season to close out the 1980s. This significantly increased the Fiesta Bowl's prestige, to the point that it was now considered a major bowl by many fans and pundits. The 1988 game returned to New Year's Day, and the 1989 game kicked off three hours later (2:30 p.m. MST on NBC) and opposite the Rose Bowl, which had switched networks to ABC.

1990s

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Before the 1991 game, several major universities declined invitations due to the State of Arizona's decision at that time not to adopt the Martin Luther King Holiday. However, in 1992, the Fiesta Bowl was invited to participate in the Bowl Coalition, a predecessor to the Bowl Championship Series. This assured the game would feature major conference champions or prestigious runners-up and cemented its status as a major bowl. Had the two top-ranked teams in the Bowl Coalition not come from the SEC, Big Eight or SWC, the Fiesta Bowl would have hosted the Bowl Coalition's "national championship game," though this never happened during the three years of the Bowl Coalition's run.

When the Bowl Coalition was reconfigured as the Bowl Alliance for the 1995 season, the Fiesta was included as one of the three top games. In that season, it hosted the Bowl Alliance National Championship game featuring undefeated #1 Nebraska playing undefeated #2 Florida for the national championship. Nebraska won the game 62–24, the largest win margin in the history of the national championship game, and the most points ever scored in a national championship game. Finally, with the addition of the Big Ten and Pac-10 conferences to the new Bowl Championship Series, the Fiesta Bowl became a permanent fixture in the four-year BCS National Championship Game rotation. In 1998, the Fiesta Bowl featured the first BCS National Championship Game, which Tennessee won over Florida State, 23–16.

Starting with the 1999 season, the Big 12 Conference champion received an automatic bid to the Fiesta Bowl in years when it was not slated as the BCS title game, an arrangement that continued to the end of the BCS era.

2000s

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2006 Fiesta Bowl, the last Fiesta Bowl game in Sun Devil Stadium

In 2002, the Fiesta Bowl had the right to take the Pac-10 Conference Champion, should that team not reach the Rose Bowl, which served as the national championship game that season. Oregon failed to qualify for the championship game, and thus played Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. A similar arrangement was made for the 2006 Fiesta Bowl. However, instead of gaining the Pac-10 Conference champion in addition to their usual tie-in with the Big 12, the Fiesta Bowl would have had a choice of the two teams. This turned out to be a moot point as both the Big 12 champion Texas and Pac-10 champion Southern California qualified for the National Championship Game (USC's participation has since been vacated).[12]

 
2007 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State vs. Oklahoma; January 1, 2007, the first Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium

The BCS National Championship game returned to the Fiesta Bowl in 2003 with the Big Ten champions Ohio State Buckeyes beating the Big East champions Miami Hurricanes in the first overtime national championship game. The game went into double overtime with the Buckeyes coming out on top 31–24 to claim the 2002 national championship.

The Fiesta Bowl was the first BCS bowl to have had a team from outside the automatic qualifying (AQ) BCS conferences (the Big 12, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Southeastern Conference (SEC), Pac-10, Big East, and Notre Dame). The 2005 game saw undefeated Utah from the Mountain West Conference become the first BCS non-AQ school ever to play in a BCS game, easily defeating Big East champion Pittsburgh 35–7.

In 2007, the Fiesta Bowl game was played for the first time at the new then-named University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, across the Phoenix metropolitan area from Sun Devil Stadium. The undefeated Boise State Broncos won by defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 43–42 in overtime. It has been called one of the greatest college football games ever played, due to the combination of an underdog team, trick plays, comebacks by each team, and a thrilling overtime finish.[13]

2010s

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The 2010 Fiesta Bowl featured #6 Boise State defeating #4 TCU, 17–10. It was the first time a BCS bowl matched-up two non-automatic qualifying teams (i.e. two teams from conferences without automatic BCS bids) and the first time that two teams who went undefeated faced each other in a BCS game outside of the national championship. In the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma State defeated Stanford 41–38. Notable players included Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon for Oklahoma State, and Andrew Luck for Stanford.

In November 2016, PlayStation was announced as the bowl's new title sponsor.[14]

The December 2016, December 2019, and December 2022 editions served as a semifinal for the College Football Playoff. The Fiesta Bowl will host a semifinal, alongside the Peach Bowl, again in 2025 and 2028.

2020s

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The 50th edition of the Fiesta Bowl featured #10 Iowa State defeating #25 Oregon Ducks 34-17. The game was behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona, with only player's family members admitted. In the 2022 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma State rallied from a 28-7 deficit late in the 2nd quarter to defeat Notre Dame 37-35. In the December edition of that game (which was also a CFP semifinal), #3 TCU defeated #2 Michigan 51-45, the highest scoring game in Fiesta Bowl history, and the second-highest scoring CFP semifinal game.

Controversies

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Invitations

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In 1996, a group of students from Brigham Young University, led by BYU professor Dennis Martin, burned bags of Tostitos tortilla chips in a bonfire and called for a boycott of all Tostitos products.[15] This came after #5 ranked BYU was not invited to play in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl in favor of #7 ranked Penn State. This event is one of those referred to by proponents of college football implementing a playoff series rather than the controversial Bowl Alliance. Penn State went on to win the game over #20 Texas, 38–15, while BYU defeated #14 Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl Classic, 19–15.[16]

For the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, the selections of TCU and Boise State caused a great deal of controversy. For the first and only time in the BCS era, two BCS non-AQ teams were chosen to play in BCS bowls in the same bowl season: however, they ended up facing each other in this bowl. Because the two non-AQ teams were placed in the same bowl game, the bowl was derisively referred to as the "Separate But Equal Bowl",[17] the "Quarantine Bowl", the "Fiasco Bowl", the "BCS Kids' Table",[18] etc. Some had called for a boycott because of this arrangement.[19] There was wide speculation that the BCS bowl selection committees maneuvered TCU and Boise State into the same bowl so as to deny them the chances to "embarrass" two AQ conference representatives in separate bowls, as Boise State had done in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and Utah had done in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and 2009 Sugar Bowl (prior to the game, non-AQ teams were 3–1 versus AQ teams in BCS bowls).[18][20] In response, Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker called those allegations "the biggest load of crap that I've ever heard in my life" and said that "We're in the business of doing things that are on behalf of our bowl game and we don't do the bidding of someone else to our detriment."[21] Beyond the unappealing nature of a major bowl contest with two programs then perceived as underdogs, the appeal was further diminished as it was a rematch of the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl from the previous bowl season.

Financial scandals

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In 2009, in the weeks prior to the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, past and present Fiesta Bowl employees alleged that they were encouraged to help maintain its position as one of the four BCS bowls by making campaign contributions to politicians friendly to the Fiesta Bowl, with those contributions subsequently reimbursed to the employees. If the allegations were true, this would have been a violation of both state and federal campaign finance laws.[22] Furthermore, as a non-profit organization, the Fiesta Bowl is prohibited from making political contributions of any kind.[23] The Fiesta Bowl commissioned an "independent review" which found "no credible evidence that the bowl's management engaged in any type of illegal or unethical conduct."[24]

The following year, in a November 2010 article, Sports Illustrated reported that Fiesta Bowl officials, including bowl CEO John Junker, spent $4 million since 2000 to curry favor from BCS bigwigs and elected officials, including a 2008 "Fiesta Frolic", a golf-centered gathering of athletic directors and head coaches. The journal also reported that Junker's annual salary was close to $600,000 and that the bowl, in 2007 turned an $11.6 million profit.[25] While these alleged activities are not illegal, they did result in considerable damage to the reputation of the Fiesta Bowl.

On March 29, 2011, the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors released a 276-page "scathing internal report", commissioned by them to re-examine the accusations of illegal political activities.[26] The commission determined that $46,539 of illegal campaign contributions were made and the board immediately fired Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker, who had already been suspended pending the results of this investigation.[27] The scandal threatened the Fiesta Bowl's status as a BCS game, as the BCS said it might replace the bowl in its lineup if officials could not convince them it should remain.[28][29] The BCS ultimately chose not to expel the Fiesta Bowl, instead fining the organization $1 million.

In June 2011 University of Arizona president Robert Shelton was hired to replace Junker.[30] On February 22, 2012, former CEO John Junker pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge in the campaign financing matter, and two members of his former staff pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges.[31] Junker was to be sentenced soon after, facing up to 2.5 years in prison as the result of his plea, but his sentencing was repeatedly postponed in return for cooperation in other cases.[32][33] On March 13, 2014, Junker was sentenced to eight months in prison, with the sentence starting on June 13, 2014;[34] he was released on February 11, 2015.[35] On March 20, 2014, Junker was sentenced to three years of probation on state charges.[36]

Parade

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One of the Fiesta Bowl events, the annual Fiesta Bowl Parade, takes place in downtown Phoenix. It features marching bands from high schools as well as the two universities participating in the Fiesta Bowl, and the two universities participating in the Cactus Bowl, along with floats, equestrian units, and a seven-member queen and court. The parade began in 1973. Grand Marshals include celebrities from sports and entertainment.

In 2018, the sponsor was changed from Bank of Arizona to Desert Financial. Appearances in the 2018 parade included Cindy McCain and the marching band from Salem High School in Salem, New Hampshire, which was the group that had traveled the farthest for the parade.

Game results

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Team rankings entering games for which the Fiesta Bowl was designated a CFP semifinal are taken from CFP rankings. Otherwise, rankings are taken from the AP Poll (inaugurated in 1936), before each game was played. Italics denote a tie game.

Date played Winning team Losing team Attendance Notes
December 27, 1971 No. 8 Arizona State 45 Florida State 38 51,089 notes
December 23, 1972 No. 15 Arizona State 49 Missouri 35 51,318 notes
December 21, 1973 No. 10 Arizona State 28 Pittsburgh 7 50,878 notes
December 28, 1974 Oklahoma State 16 No. 17 BYU 6 50,878 notes
December 26, 1975 No. 7 Arizona State 17 No. 6 Nebraska 14 51,396 notes
December 25, 1976 No. 8 Oklahoma 41 Wyoming 7 48,174 notes
December 25, 1977 No. 8 Penn State 42 No. 15 Arizona State 30 57,727 notes
December 25, 1978 No. 8 Arkansas 10 No. 15 UCLA 10 55,227 notes
December 25, 1979 No. 10 Pittsburgh 16 Arizona 10 55,347 notes
December 26, 1980 No. 10 Penn State 31 No. 11 Ohio State 19 66,738 notes
January 1, 1982 No. 7 Penn State 26 No. 8 USC 10 71,053 notes
January 1, 1983 No. 11 Arizona State 32 No. 12 Oklahoma 21 70,533 notes
January 2, 1984 No. 14 Ohio State 28 No. 15 Pittsburgh 23 66,484 notes
January 1, 1985 No. 14 UCLA 39 No. 13 Miami (Florida) 37 60,310 notes
January 1, 1986 No. 5 Michigan 27 No. 7 Nebraska 23 72,454 notes
January 2, 1987 No. 2 Penn State 14 No. 1 Miami (Florida) 10 73,098 notes
January 1, 1988 No. 3 Florida State 31 No. 5 Nebraska 28 72,112 notes
January 2, 1989 No. 1 Notre Dame 34 No. 3 West Virginia 21 74,911 notes
January 1, 1990 No. 5 Florida State 41 No. 6 Nebraska 17 73,953 notes
January 1, 1991 No. 18 Louisville 34 No. 25 Alabama 7 69,098 notes
January 1, 1992 No. 6 Penn State 42 No. 10 Tennessee 17 71,133 notes
January 1, 1993 No. 6 Syracuse 26 No. 10 Colorado 22 70,224 notes
January 1, 1994 No. 16 Arizona 29 No. 10 Miami (Florida) 0 72,260 notes
January 2, 1995 No. 4 Colorado 41 Notre Dame 24 73,968 notes
January 2, 1996BA  No. 1 Nebraska 62 No. 2 Florida 24 79,864 notes
January 1, 1997 No. 7 Penn State 38 No. 20 Texas 15 65,106 notes
December 31, 1997 No. 10 Kansas State 35 No. 14 Syracuse 18 69,367 notes
January 4, 1999BCS No. 1 Tennessee 23 No. 2 Florida State 16 80,470 notes
January 2, 2000 No. 3 Nebraska 31 No. 6 Tennessee 21 71,526 notes
January 1, 2001 No. 5 Oregon State 41 No. 10 Notre Dame 9 75,428 notes
January 1, 2002 No. 2 Oregon 38 No. 3 Colorado 16 74,118 notes
January 3, 2003BCS No. 2 Ohio State 31 No. 1 Miami (Florida) 24 (2 OT) 77,502 notes
January 2, 2004 No. 7 Ohio State 35 No. 8 Kansas State 28 73,425 notes
January 1, 2005 No. 5 Utah 35 No. 19 Pittsburgh 7 73,519 notes
January 2, 2006 No. 4 Ohio State 34 No. 5 Notre Dame 20 76,196 notes
January 1, 2007 No. 9 Boise State 43 No. 7 Oklahoma 42 (OT) 73,719 notes
January 2, 2008 No. 11 West Virginia 48 No. 3 Oklahoma 28 70,016 notes
January 5, 2009 No. 3 Texas 24 No. 10 Ohio State 21 72,047 notes
January 4, 2010 No. 6 Boise State 17 No. 3 TCU 10 73,227 notes
January 1, 2011 No. 9 Oklahoma 48 No. 25 Connecticut 20 67,232 notes
January 2, 2012 No. 3 Oklahoma State 41 No. 4 Stanford 38 (OT) 69,927 notes
January 3, 2013 No. 5 Oregon 35 No. 7 Kansas State 17 70,242 notes
January 1, 2014 No. 15 UCF 52 No. 6 Baylor 42 65,172 notes
December 31, 2014 No. 21 Boise State 38 No. 12 Arizona 30 66,896 notes
January 1, 2016 No. 7 Ohio State 44 No. 8 Notre Dame 28 71,123 notes
December 31, 2016CFP No. 2 Clemson 31 No. 3 Ohio State 0 70,236 notes
December 30, 2017 No. 9 Penn State 35 No. 12 Washington 28 61,842 notes
January 1, 2019 No. 11 LSU 40 No. 7 UCF 32 69,927 notes
December 28, 2019CFP No. 3 Clemson 29 No. 2 Ohio State 23 71,330 notes
January 2, 2021 No. 12 Iowa State 34 No. 25 Oregon 17 0 notes
January 1, 2022 No. 9 Oklahoma State 37 No. 5 Notre Dame 35 49,550 notes
December 31, 2022CFP No. 3 TCU 51 No. 2 Michigan 45 71,723 notes
January 1, 2024 No. 8 Oregon 45 No. 18 Liberty 6 47,769 notes

Source:[37]

^BA Denotes Bowl Alliance Championship Game
^BCS Denotes BCS National Championship Game
^CFP Denotes College Football Playoff semifinal game

Future games

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Main article: New Year's Six § Future games

MVPs

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An offensive MVP and defensive MVP are selected for each game.

Most appearances

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Updated through the January 2024 edition (53 games, 106 total appearances).

Teams with a single appearance

Won (5): Iowa State, LSU, Louisville, Oregon State, Utah
Lost (11): Alabama, Baylor, BYU, Connecticut, Florida, Liberty, Missouri, Stanford, USC, Washington, Wyoming
Tied (1): Arkansas

  • As of 2023, Cal and Washington State are the only Pac-12 members that have not appeared in the game. Kansas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are the only Big 12 or Big Eight members (current or former) that have not appeared in the game.

Appearances by conference

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Updated through the January 2024 edition (53 games, 106 total appearances).

Conference Record Appearances by year
Games W L T Win pct. Won Lost Tied
Independents 21 10 11 0 .476 1977D, 1979D, 1980D, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 1971D, 1973D, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2016, 2022  
Big 12 15 8 7 0 .533 1997D, 2000, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2022D 1997, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014  
Pac-12 14 7 6 1 .536 1983, 1985, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2013, 2024 1979D, 1982, 2012, 2014D, 2017D, 2021 1978D
Big Ten 13 8 5 0 .615 1984, 1986, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2017D 1980D, 2009, 2016D, 2019D, 2022D  
Big Eight 11 4 7 0 .364 1974D, 1976D, 1995, 1996 1972D, 1975D, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993  
WAC 9 6 3 0 .667 1971D, 1972D, 1973D, 1975D, 2007, 2010 1974D, 1976D, 1977D  
The American 9 3 6 0 .333 1993, 2008, 2014 1994, 1997D, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2019  
SEC 6 2 4 0 .333 1999, 2019 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000  
Mountain West 3 2 1 0 .667 2005, 2014D 2010  
ACC 3 2 1 0 .667 2016D, 2019D 1999  
SWC 1 0 0 1 .500     1978D
C-USA 1 0 1 0 .000   2024  
  • Games marked with an superscript D (D) were played in December.
  • Conferences that are defunct or no longer active in FBS are marked in italics.
  • Records reflect conference affiliations at the time the game was played.
    • Several teams—such as Penn State and Miami (Florida)—have appeared both as an Independent and as a conference member.
  • The Pac-12's record includes eight appearances (5–2–1) by teams when the conference was known as the Pac-10.
  • Following the 2013 split of the original Big East along football lines, the FBS schools reorganized as the American Athletic Conference ("The American"), which retains the charter of the original Big East. Teams representing the Big East appeared in seven games, compiling a 2–5 record.

Game records

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Team Performance vs. Opponent Year
Most points scored (both teams) 96, TCU (51) vs. Michigan (45) Dec. 2022
Most points scored (one team) 62, Nebraska vs. Florida 1996
Most points scored (losing team) 45, Michigan vs. TCU Dec. 2022
Fewest points allowed 0, Clemson (31) vs. Ohio State
0, Arizona (29) vs. Miami		 2016
1994
Largest margin of victory 39, Oregon (45) vs. Liberty (6) 2024
First downs 34, Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame Jan. 2022
Rushing yards 524, Nebraska vs. Florida 1996
Passing yards 509, Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State Jan. 2022
Total yards 718, Arizona State vs. Missouri 1972
Fewest Rushing yards allowed –28, Nebraska vs. Florida 1996
Fewest Passing yards allowed 23, Wyoming vs. Oklahoma 1976
Fewest Total yards allowed 155, Oregon State vs. Notre Dame 2001
Individual Performance, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
Total offense 505, Jack Coan, Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State
(509 pass, –4 rush)		 Jan. 2022
Rushing yards 245, Marcus Dupree, Oklahoma vs. Arizona State (17 att., 0 TD) 1983
Rushing TDs 4, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
4, Woody Green, Arizona State vs. Missouri		 2016
1972
Passing yards 509, Jack Coan, Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State Jan. 2022
Passing TDs 5, Bo Nix, Oregon vs. Liberty
5, Jack Coan, Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State
5, Peter Tom Willis, Florida State vs. Nebraska		 2024
Jan. 2022
1990
Receiving yards 206, Darnell McDonald, Kansas State vs. Syracuse 1998
Receiving TDs 3, shared by four players
Tackles 18, Ted Johnson, Colorado vs. Notre Dame 1995
Sacks 3, shared by three players
Interceptions 3, Steve Smith, Oregon vs. Colorado 2002
Long plays Performance, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
Touchdown run 92, Saquon Barkley, Penn State vs. Washington 2017
Touchdown pass 85, Troy Smith to Santonio Holmes, Ohio State vs. Notre Dame 2006
Kickoff return 100, shared by:
Kirby Dar Dar, Syracuse vs. Colorado
Mike Fink, Missouri vs. Arizona State
1993
1972
Punt return 68, shared by:
Eddie Brown, Miami vs. UCLA
Steve Holden, Arizona State vs. Florida State
1985
1971
Interception return 54, Dwayne Goodrich, Tennessee vs. Florida State 1999
Fumble return
Punt 66, Pat McAfee, West Virginia vs. Oklahoma 2008
Field goal 59, Jake Moody, Michigan vs. TCU Dec. 2022

Source:[40]

Broadcasting

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As of the 2010–11 season, the game along with the rest of the BCS and its successor, the College Football Playoff, exclusively airs on ESPN.[41] From 2007 through 2010, Fox telecast the game along with the other BCS games – the Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and BCS National Championship Game from 2006 though 2009, while only the Rose Bowl and the 2010 BCS National Championship Game aired on ABC in that period. From 1999 to 2006, the game aired on ABC as part of the first BCS package, and from 1996 to 1998 the game aired on CBS as part of its bowl coverage. Prior to that, NBC aired the game for several years. This game, along with the Orange Bowl, is one of only two bowl games ever to air on all the "Big 4" broadcast television networks in the United States.

ESPN Radio is the current radio home for the Fiesta Bowl.

In 2013, ESPN Deportes provided the first Spanish U.S. telecast of the Fiesta Bowl.[42]

References

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  1. ^ "Real Insight. Real Fans. Real Conversations". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  2. ^ "VRBO BECOMES NEW TITLE PARTNER FOR NEWLY-NAMED VRBO FIESTA BOWL". Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "BattleFrog Announced as Title Sponsor of 45th Annual Fiesta Bowl" (Press release). Fiesta Bowl. December 4, 2015. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  4. ^ "Vizio to sponsor Fiesta Bowl".
  5. ^ "Fiesta Bowl Announces VIZIO Partnership" (Press release). Fiesta Bowl. September 28, 2014. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  6. ^ "Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl both looking for new naming rights sponsors". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  7. ^ Hobson, Will. "He runs one amateur football game per year. He makes more than $1 million - NY Daily News". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  8. ^ Harker, Victoria (2020-04-21). "Most charitable bowl in nation focuses on youth programs during COVID-19". Chamber Business News. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  9. ^ Young, Bob (September 27, 1985). "Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. G1. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Young, Bob (September 27, 1985). "Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl (cont'd)". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. G3. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Tracy, Dan (March 17, 1983). "$1 million Citrus Bowl approved". Orlando Sentinel. p. C1. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Oregon clinches berth in Fiesta Bowl; National title still a possibility". The Seattle Times. November 17, 2001.
  13. ^ Thamel, Pete (2007-01-02). "Playbook Full of Tricks Gives Boise State Dramatic and Defining Victory". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  14. ^ "Fiesta Bowl Names PlayStation as New Title Sponsor". FiestaBowl.org (Press release). November 15, 2016. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  15. ^ 1996 AP archives Archived 2007-11-12 at the Wayback Machine. December 11, 1996. Honolulu Star-Bulletin
  16. ^ Weinreb, Michael. "The Night College Football Went To Hell". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  17. ^ Matthew Sanderson (2009-12-07). "Boise Is In, But BCS Still Flawed". RealClearSports. Archived from the original on 11 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  18. ^ a b "Pre-Bowl Thoughts - 2010 Fiesta Bowl". Scout.com. December 31, 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  19. ^ Al Namias IV (2009-12-07). "Poinsettia Bowl: 2008 Redux". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  20. ^ "Instant Analysis – The Bowl Announcement". Scout.com. December 7, 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  21. ^ Graham Watson (December 7, 2009). "Fiesta Bowl wasn't looking at the non-AQ distinction". ESPN.com. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  22. ^ "Fiesta Bowl employees say bowl repaid political contributions".
  23. ^ "Fiesta Bowl Scandal Causes Stir". Bleacher Report.
  24. ^ "Fiesta Bowl finds no wrongdoing after allegations of illegal political donations". 24 December 2009.
  25. ^ Murphy, Austin, and Dan Wetzel, "Does It Matter?", Sports Illustrated, 15 November 2010, p. 45.
  26. ^ "Final Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-11.
  27. ^ "Fiesta Bowl fires CEO John Junker". Associated Press. March 29, 2011.
  28. ^ "BCS confident it could cut ties with Fiesta Bowl if deemed necessary". Archived from the original on April 3, 2011.
  29. ^ Wetzel, Dan, "BCS conducts shallow probe as party rages on", Yahoo! Sports, retrieved on 31 March 2011.
  30. ^ Associated Press, "Fiesta Bowl names new president", Japan Times, 15 June 2011, p. 15.
  31. ^ Harris, Craig (February 22, 2012). "Former Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker pleads guilty to felony". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  32. ^ Harris, Craig (May 22, 2012). "Sentencing postponed for former Fiesta Bowl exec Wisneski". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  33. ^ Associated Press (2014-01-01). "John Junker update: Sentencing delay sought for ex-Fiesta Bowl chief". 'ABC15Arizona.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  34. ^ Associated Press (2014-03-13). "Ex-Fiesta Bowl chief headed to prison". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  35. ^ Harris, Craig (2015-02-18). "John Junker, ex-Fiesta Bowl CEO, completes prison sentence". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2016-12-31 – via azcentral.com.
  36. ^ Associated Press (2014-03-20). "Ex-CEO of Fiesta Bowl sentenced". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  37. ^ "PlayStation Fiesta Bowl" (PDF). Bowl/All Star Game Records. NCAA. 2020. p. 9. Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via NCAA.org.
  38. ^ "52nd Annual Game". fiestabowl.org. December 31, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  39. ^ @zacharycneel (January 1, 2024). "No surprise, Bo Nix wins the Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP Award. Jeffrey Bassa wins the Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP Award" (Tweet). Retrieved January 1, 2024 – via Twitter.
  40. ^ "Fiesta Bowl Records". Fiesta Bowl. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  41. ^ "Fox Sports pulls out of bidding to show BCS games". ESPN.com. 17 November 2008.
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