The New Year’s Six bowl games always feature a slate of great lineups, but the Fiesta Bowl might have this year’s most interesting matchup.
Oregon came within spitting distance of the College Football Playoff thanks to a stellar defense and quarterback Bo Nix. As for Liberty University, everyone will be watching the small Conference USA school, which landed this year’s coveted Group of Five spot thanks to its 13–0 record and funky rushing-focused offense.
Could Liberty snag the upset? Will Oregon be able to send Bo Nix out with one more win? Here’s what you need to know about watching or streaming the Fiesta Bowl.
What time is the Fiesta Bowl?
If it weren’t for six points and two losses to Washington, Oregon would be playing in the College Football Playoff right now instead of a bowl game. But coach Dan Lanning will likely have the Ducks ready to go, and Oregon still has Bo Nix and elite talent on both sides of the ball.
The Flames finally had their breakthrough season under first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell as they racked up big wins against New Mexico State and Jacksonville State. But Oregon will be Liberty’s toughest opponent by a considerable margin, and they’ll need a lot of breaks to pull the upset.
The Fiesta Bowl will be on Monday, Jan 1. It’ll air on ESPN at 1:00 p.m. ET, and the game will be at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
How to watch the Fiesta Bowl for free
Are you interested in watching the Fiesta Bowl for free on TV? The game airs exclusively on ESPN, so you’ll need a cable or streaming subscription with ESPN to watch the Fiesta Bowl. You can use the ESPN app to watch the Fiesta Bowl for free with a qualifying subscription.
Do you prefer to stream the Fiesta Bowl? We recommend Fubo because the live TV streaming service has a seven-day free trial, and you can install the service on devices like web browsers, streaming sticks, and smart TVs. Check out our Streaming Free Trials guide to learn more.
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Fiesta Bowl 2024 preview: Oregon vs. Liberty
Oregon and Liberty might seem like a blowout on paper, but Liberty has the players and schematic funkiness to keep things interesting. Here are our biggest questions ahead of the Fiesta Bowl.
Oregon vs. Liberty by the stats
Stat | Oregon | Liberty |
---|---|---|
ESPN FPI | 1st | 49th |
Passing yards per game | 342.8 (2nd) | 212 (83rd) |
Rushing yards per game | 183.9 (31st) | 302.9 (1st) |
Points scored per game | 44.2 (2nd) | 40.8 (5th) |
Passing defense | 222.8 (63rd) | 244.8 (104th) |
Rushing defense | 97.5 (12th) | 111.6 (22nd) |
Points allowed per game | 17.3 (11th) | 22.7 (46th) |
Liberty’s schematic shenanigans
Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell has long been a cult favorite in football coaching circles thanks to his option-based offense, which relies on generous amounts of backfield motion and deception to get players open.
Chadwell’s offense has worked perfectly for Liberty this season, as the Flames rank first nationally in rushing. They’ve outrushed the next-highest school (excluding Air Force) by nearly 68 yards per game and rank first in rushing plays that go for more than 30 yards. The big engines for Liberty’s ground game are running back Quinton Cooley and quarterback Kaidon Salter, who’ve each exceeded 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
But at the same time, Oregon’s rush defense is far more stout than the teams Liberty faced in Conference USA. If Liberty wants to stay in the game, their run game will need to stay on schedule, scheme themselves open, and hit on some explosive plays.
Oregon: Keep doing what you’re doing
The eye test favors Oregon considerably, but the advanced stats could find an angle that looks good for Liberty … right?
Well, then!
With all respect to Liberty, there’s a reason why Oregon was considered a playoff frontrunner all season. Their roster’s loaded with four-star and five-star talent, and outside of Texas Tech and Washington, the Ducks demolished every opponent on their schedule. Oregon will be rotating in some new players due to opt-outs, but their floor is still much higher compared to Liberty.
How to watch the Fiesta Bowl FAQ
When is the Fiesta Bowl?
The 2024 Fiesta Bowl is on Tuesday, December 31. The game will be at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Who’s playing in the Fiesta Bowl?
Boise State will play the winner of SMU vs. Penn State in this year’s Fiesta Bowl, which is part of the College Football Playoff.
What channel is the Fiesta Bowl on?
The Fiesta Bowl will air exclusively on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Where is the Fiesta Bowl?
The Fiesta Bowl is in Glendale, Ariz.