The 2024 Fiesta Bowl features the 13-0 Liberty Flames against the 11-2 Oregon Ducks. Here is the 2024 Fiesta Bowl Preview.
Liberty went undefeated to qualify for their fifth straight bowl game. They won six games against bowl-eligible teams this season: New Mexico State (twice), Bowling Green, Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky and Old Dominion.
The Flames score 40.8 points per game, ranking fifth in the country. They pass for 212 yards (ranked 83rd) and rush for 302.9 yards per game (ranked first).
Kaidon Salter has emerged as a star for Liberty at the quarterback position. He has passed for 2,750 yards, 31 touchdowns and five interceptions on 60.9 percent completion. Six players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. CJ Daniels has been the standout receiver with 988 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Five players have at least 200 rushing yards on the season. The leading rusher is Quinton Cooley, who has 1,322 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. Salter has 1,064 yards and 12 touchdowns from the quarterback position. Billy Lucas and Aaron Bedgood have each contributed with 578 and 507 yards respectively.
Defensively, the Flames give up 22.3 points per game, ranking 39th in the FBS. They allow 111.6 rushing yards (ranked 21st) and 244.8 passing yards per game (ranked 101st). Linebacker Tyren Dupree has led the team with 115 total tackles. No Liberty player has more than three sacks on the season. Kobe Singleton and Brylan Green have forced turnovers with four and five interceptions respectively.
Oregon won 11 games to qualify for their seventh straight bowl game. They defeated five bowl-eligible teams this season: Texas Tech, Utah, Cal, USC and Oregon State. Both of their losses were to Washington who is in the College Football Playoff.
The Ducks score 44.2 points per game, ranking second in the country. They pass for 342.8 yards (ranked second) and pass for 184.6 yards per game (ranked 31st).
Bo Nix had a great season for the Ducks at quarterback, ending up as a Heisman finalist. He passed for 4,145 yards, 40 touchdowns and three interceptions on 77.2 percent completion. Six players have at least 300 receiving yards on the season. Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson each had over 1,000 receiving yards on the season. Franklin had a team-high 14 touchdown catches.
Top running back Bucky Irving has opted out of this game to prepare for the NFL Draft. Jordan James is the active leading rusher with 696 yards and 11 touchdowns. Nix has chipped in from the quarterback position with 228 yards and six touchdowns.
On defense, the Ducks concede 22.3 points per game, ranking 39th in the country. They allow 97.5 rushing yards (ranked 11th) and 222.8 passing yards per game (ranked 64th). Linebacker Evan Williams leads the team with 19 total tackles. Brandon Dorlus has the team-high with five sacks. Corner Khyree Jackson has opted out of this game, but Tysheem Johnson has impressed with two interceptions in the secondary.
Even with some players opting out of the game, Oregon still has a star-studded roster led by Nix. The Ducks should be able to stop the run and put up a lot of points of their own in this game.
Oregon Ducks 42 Liberty Flames 25
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