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| full_name = ] Fiesta Bowl | full_name = ] Fiesta Bowl
| logo = Fiesta Bowl Logo.svg | logo = Fiesta Bowl Logo.svg
| logo_size = 205px
| image_size =
| caption = | caption =
| stadium = ] | stadium = ]
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| previous_locations = ]<br>(1971–2006) | previous_locations = ]<br>(1971–2006)
| years = 1971–present | years = 1971–present
| website = {{URL|https://www.fiestabowl.org/|fiestabowl.org}}
| champ_affiliation = {{ubl| | champ_affiliation = {{ubl|
| ]<br>(]–present) | ]<br>(]–present)
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|PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (2016–2022) |PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (2016–2022)
}} }}
| prev_matchup_year = 2022 season | prev_matchup_year = 2023
| prev_matchup_season = 2022 | prev_matchup_season = 2023
| prev_matchup_teams = ] vs. ] (]) | prev_matchup_teams = ] vs. ] (])
| prev_matchup_score = <!--embedded above--> | prev_matchup_score = <!--embedded above due to (January) disambiguation-->
| next_matchup_year = 2023 season | next_matchup_year = 2024
| next_matchup_season = 2023 | next_matchup_season = 2024
| next_matchup_teams = ] vs. ] (]) | next_matchup_teams = ] vs. ] (])
| next_matchup_date = <!--embedded above--> | next_matchup_date = <!--embedded above due to (December) disambiguation-->
}} }}


The '''Fiesta Bowl''' is an American ] ] played annually in the ]. From its beginning in 1971 until 2006, the game was hosted at the ] in ]. Since 2007, the game has been played at the ] in ]. Since 2022, it has been sponsored by ] and officially known as the '''Vrbo Fiesta Bowl'''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fiestabowl.org/news/2022/7/25/fiesta-bowl-vrbo-becomes-new-title-partner-for-newly-named-vrbo-fiesta-bowl.aspx |title=VRBO BECOMES NEW TITLE PARTNER FOR NEWLY-NAMED VRBO FIESTA BOWL |accessdate=July 25, 2022}}</ref> Previous sponsors include ] (December 2016–2022), ] (January 2016), ] (December 2014),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11771928/new-sponsors-fiesta-cotton-bowls|title=Vizio to sponsor Fiesta Bowl}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Fiesta Bowl Announces VIZIO Partnership|url=https://www.fiestabowl.org/media-room/news-room/fiesta-bowl-announces-vizio-partnership.php|publisher=Fiesta Bowl|date=September 28, 2014|access-date=September 28, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030194616/https://www.fiestabowl.org/media-room/news-room/fiesta-bowl-announces-vizio-partnership.php|archive-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2015/05/05/fiesta-bowl-cactus-bowl-both-looking-for-new.html?iana=ind_sports|title=Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl both looking for new naming rights sponsors|publisher=Phoenix Business Journal|access-date=2015-05-05}}</ref> ] (1996–January 2014), ] (1993–1995) and ] (1986–1990). The '''Fiesta Bowl''' is an American ] ] played annually in the ]. From its beginning in 1971 until 2006, the game was hosted at ] in ]. Since 2007, the game has been played at ] in ]. Since 2022, it has been sponsored by ] and officially known as the '''Vrbo Fiesta Bowl'''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fiestabowl.org/news/2022/7/25/fiesta-bowl-vrbo-becomes-new-title-partner-for-newly-named-vrbo-fiesta-bowl.aspx |title=VRBO BECOMES NEW TITLE PARTNER FOR NEWLY-NAMED VRBO FIESTA BOWL |accessdate=July 25, 2022}}</ref> Previous sponsors include ] (December 2016–2022), ] (January 2016),<ref>{{cite press release|title=BattleFrog Announced as Title Sponsor of 45th Annual Fiesta Bowl|url=https://fiestabowl.org/news-room/battlefrog-announced-as-title-sponsor-of-45th-annual-fiesta-bowl/|publisher=Fiesta Bowl|date=December 4, 2015|accessdate=December 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208071937/https://fiestabowl.org/news-room/battlefrog-announced-as-title-sponsor-of-45th-annual-fiesta-bowl/|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> ] (December 2014),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11771928/new-sponsors-fiesta-cotton-bowls|title=Vizio to sponsor Fiesta Bowl}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Fiesta Bowl Announces VIZIO Partnership|url=https://www.fiestabowl.org/media-room/news-room/fiesta-bowl-announces-vizio-partnership.php|publisher=Fiesta Bowl|date=September 28, 2014|access-date=September 28, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030194616/https://www.fiestabowl.org/media-room/news-room/fiesta-bowl-announces-vizio-partnership.php|archive-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2015/05/05/fiesta-bowl-cactus-bowl-both-looking-for-new.html?iana=ind_sports|title=Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl both looking for new naming rights sponsors|publisher=Phoenix Business Journal|access-date=2015-05-05}}</ref> ] (1996–January 2014), ] (1993–1995) and ] (1986–1990).


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 ] games, but the bowl was never used to determine the champion. In 1995, the organizers of the Fiesta Bowl joined with the ] and the ] to form the ], 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. 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 ] games, but the bowl was never used to determine the champion. In 1995, the organizers of the Fiesta Bowl joined with the ] and the ] to form the ], 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 ] to form the ] (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 ]; they also hosted the game in ]. When the BCS reconstituted itself following the 2005 season, it began staging a separate ], which rotated between BCS bowl sites. After the 1997 season, the three Bowl Alliance bowls joined with the ] to form the ] (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's championship in ]; they also hosted the game in ]. When the BCS reconstituted itself following the 2005 season, it began staging a separate ], which rotated among BCS bowl sites.


Beginning with the 2014 season, Fiesta Bowl became a member of ], hosting a semifinal game every three years; all the teams playing in this bowl will be selected by the ] in those years. In years that it serves as a semifinal, the winner of the Fiesta Bowl faces the winner of the ] in the ] the following week. Unlike in the previous years, the National Championship Game is not awarded to the bowl organizations in the CFP; instead, the selection process is similar to the one used to determine a host for the ]. Beginning with the 2014 season, the Fiesta Bowl became a member of the ] (CFP), hosting a semifinal game every three years through the 2022 season; all the teams playing in the bowl were selected by the ]. With the expansion of the CFP to 12 teams in 2024, the Fiesta Bowl becomes an annual feature of that playoff, along with the other ] bowls, and will host a quarterfinal game two out of every three years and a semifinal game once every three years.


The Fiesta Bowl has donated over $12 million to charity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/national-sports/sns-he-runs-one-amateur-football-game-per-year-he-makes-more-than-1-million-20181226-story.html|title=He runs one amateur football game per year. He makes more than $1 million - NY Daily News|last=Hobson|first=Will|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=2018-12-30}}</ref> In 2020, it donated $1 million in emergency relief during the ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harker|first=Victoria|date=2020-04-21|title=Most charitable bowl in nation focuses on youth programs during COVID-19|url=https://chamberbusinessnews.com/2020/04/21/most-charitable-bowl-in-nation-focuses-on-youth-programs-during-covid-19/|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Chamber Business News|language=en-US}}</ref> The Fiesta Bowl has donated over $12 million to charity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/national-sports/sns-he-runs-one-amateur-football-game-per-year-he-makes-more-than-1-million-20181226-story.html|title=He runs one amateur football game per year. He makes more than $1 million - NY Daily News|last=Hobson|first=Will|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=2018-12-30}}</ref> In 2020, it donated $1 million in emergency relief during the ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harker|first=Victoria|date=2020-04-21|title=Most charitable bowl in nation focuses on youth programs during COVID-19|url=https://chamberbusinessnews.com/2020/04/21/most-charitable-bowl-in-nation-focuses-on-youth-programs-during-covid-19/|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Chamber Business News|language=en-US}}</ref>
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===1970s=== ===1970s===
In its first decade of existence, the Fiesta Bowl was played in the last week of December (including the afternoon of ] from 1976 to 1979). The 1971 inaugural game featured another top-ten Arizona State squad against top-twenty opponent ]. The 1974 game featured WAC champ ] and their new coach, future Hall of Fame member ] in their first ever bowl game vs. Oklahoma State. BYU was in control until BYU's first All-American quarterback ] went down with a leg injury and eventually lost 16–6. By 1975, the game was able to attract ] co-champion ] 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 ], despite WAC champion #16 ] refusing to play in the bowl due to its being held on Sunday. In its first decade of existence, the Fiesta Bowl was played in the last week of December (including the afternoon of ] from 1976 to 1979). The 1971 inaugural game featured another top-ten Arizona State squad against top-twenty opponent ]. The 1974 game featured WAC champ ] and their new coach, future Hall of Fame member ] in their first-ever bowl game vs. Oklahoma State. BYU was in control until BYU's first All-American quarterback ] went down with a leg injury and eventually lost 16–6. By 1975, the game was able to attract ] co-champion ] 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 ], despite WAC champion #16 ] refusing to play in the bowl due to its being held on Sunday.


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


===1980s=== ===1980s===
The game continued to attract high quality matchups; beginning with the ] season, it shifted to ] alongside the major bowl games—the ], ], ], and ]. At the time, ] had the broadcast rights to the Fiesta, Rose, and Orange; the Fiesta was played first and had a late morning kickoff (11:30&nbsp;a.m. ]). It was the first bowl game to acquire a corporate ], via an agreement with ] in September 1985, making the game the "Sunkist Fiesta Bowl" starting with the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65966770/sunkist-agrees-to-sponsor-fiesta-bowl/ |title=Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl |first=Bob |last=Young |newspaper=] |location=] |page=G1 |date=September 27, 1985 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65967219/sunkist-agrees-to-sponsor-fiesta-bowl/ |title=Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl (cont'd) |first=Bob |last=Young |newspaper=] |location=] |page=G3 |date=September 27, 1985 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The ] had previously reached agreement in March 1983 with the Florida Citrus Commission, a state government agency, to rename itself as the Florida Citrus Bowl.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65962888/1-million-citrus-bowl-approved/ |title=$1 million Citrus Bowl approved |first=Dan |last=Tracy |newspaper=] |page=C1 |date=March 17, 1983 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The game continued to attract high quality matchups. Beginning with the ] season, it shifted to ] alongside the major bowl games—the ], ], ], and ]. At the time, ] had the broadcast rights to the Fiesta, Rose, and Orange; the Fiesta was played first and had a late morning kickoff (11:30&nbsp;a.m. ]). It was the first bowl game to acquire a corporate ], via an agreement with ] in September 1985, making the game the "Sunkist Fiesta Bowl" starting with the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65966770/sunkist-agrees-to-sponsor-fiesta-bowl/ |title=Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl |first=Bob |last=Young |newspaper=] |location=] |page=G1 |date=September 27, 1985 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65967219/sunkist-agrees-to-sponsor-fiesta-bowl/ |title=Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl (cont'd) |first=Bob |last=Young |newspaper=] |location=] |page=G3 |date=September 27, 1985 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The ] had previously reached agreement in March 1983 with the Florida Citrus Commission, a state government agency, to rename itself as the Florida Citrus Bowl.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65962888/1-million-citrus-bowl-approved/ |title=$1 million Citrus Bowl approved |first=Dan |last=Tracy |newspaper=] |page=C1 |date=March 17, 1983 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>


A major breakthrough occurred after the ] season when the top two teams in the country, ] and ], agreed to play for the ''de facto'' ] 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 ] at that time, and were thus free to choose a bowl. As such, the Fiesta Bowl and the ], 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 ] 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 {{nowrap|14–10,}} and the game drew the largest television audience in the history of college football at the time. Two years later, #1 ] played undefeated #3 ] for the national championship at the ] on January&nbsp;1. A major breakthrough occurred after the ] season when the top two teams in the country, ] and ], agreed to play for the ''de facto'' ] 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 ] at that time, and were thus free to choose a bowl. As such, the Fiesta Bowl and the ], 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 ] 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 {{nowrap|14–10,}} and the game drew the largest television audience in the history of college football at the time. Two years later, #1 ] played undefeated #3 ] for the national championship at the ] on January&nbsp;1.
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In ], the ] had the right to take the Pac-10 Conference Champion, should that team not reach the ], 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 ]. 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 ] and Pac-10 champion ] qualified for the National Championship Game (USC's participation has since been vacated).<ref> In ], the ] had the right to take the Pac-10 Conference Champion, should that team not reach the ], 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 ]. 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 ] and Pac-10 champion ] qualified for the National Championship Game (USC's participation has since been vacated).<ref>
{{cite news| url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20011117&slug=oregon18 | work=The Seattle Times | title=Oregon clinches berth in Fiesta Bowl; National title still a possibility | date=November 17, 2001}}</ref> {{cite news| url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20011117/oregon18/oregon-clinches-berth-in-fiesta-bowl-national-title-still-a-possibility | work=The Seattle Times | title=Oregon clinches berth in Fiesta Bowl; National title still a possibility | date=November 17, 2001}}</ref>


] ]
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The ] featured #6 ] defeating #4 ], 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 ], ] defeated ] 41–38. Notable players included ] and ] for Oklahoma State, and ] for Stanford. The ] featured #6 ] defeating #4 ], 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 ], ] defeated ] 41–38. Notable players included ] and ] for Oklahoma State, and ] for Stanford.


In November 2016, ] was announced as the bowl's new title sponsor.<ref name="PlayStationFiestaBowl">{{cite press release|title=Fiesta Bowl Names PlayStation® as New Title Sponsor|url=https://fiestabowl.org/news-room/fiesta-bowl-names-playstation-new-title-sponsor/|website=FiestaBowl.org|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=November 16, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116225516/https://fiestabowl.org/news-room/fiesta-bowl-names-playstation-new-title-sponsor/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2016, ] was announced as the bowl's new title sponsor.<ref name="PlayStationFiestaBowl">{{cite press release|title=Fiesta Bowl Names PlayStation as New Title Sponsor|url=https://fiestabowl.org/news-room/fiesta-bowl-names-playstation-new-title-sponsor/|website=FiestaBowl.org|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=November 16, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116225516/https://fiestabowl.org/news-room/fiesta-bowl-names-playstation-new-title-sponsor/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


The ], ], and ] editions served as a semifinal for the ]. The Fiesta Bowl will host a semifinal, alongside the ], again in 2025 and 2028. The ], ], and ] editions served as a semifinal for the ]. The Fiesta Bowl will host a semifinal, alongside the ], again in 2025 and 2028.
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===Invitations=== ===Invitations===
In 1996, a group of students from ], led by BYU professor Dennis Martin, burned bags of Tostitos tortilla chips in a bonfire and called for a boycott of all Tostitos products.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112154716/http://starbulletin.com/96/12/11/sports/notebook.html |date=2007-11-12 }}. December 11, 1996. ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin''</ref> This came after #5 ranked BYU was not invited to play in the ] 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 ]. In 1996, a group of students from ], led by BYU professor Dennis Martin, burned bags of Tostitos tortilla chips in a bonfire and called for a boycott of all Tostitos products.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112154716/http://starbulletin.com/96/12/11/sports/notebook.html |date=2007-11-12 }}. December 11, 1996. ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin''</ref> This came after #5 ranked BYU was not invited to play in the ] in favor of #7 ranked Penn State. This event is one of those referred to by proponents of ] rather than the controversial ].
Penn State went on to win the game over #20 Texas 38–15, while BYU defeated #14 Kansas State in the ] 19–15.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web| last =Weinreb | first =Michael | title=The Night College Football Went To Hell| publisher=ESPN | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=fiesta87&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1 | access-date=2010-01-03 }}</ref> Penn State went on to win the game over #20 Texas, 38–15, while BYU defeated #14 Kansas State in the ], 19–15.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web| last =Weinreb | first =Michael | title=The Night College Football Went To Hell| publisher=ESPN | url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?lid=tab1pos1&lpos=spotlight&page=fiesta87&redirected=true | access-date=2010-01-03 }}</ref>


For the ], the selections of ] and ] caused a great deal of controversy. For the first and only time in the ] era, two ] 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",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2009/12/06/broncos_in_but_bcs_still_flawed_96562.html |title=Boise Is In, But BCS Still Flawed |author=Matthew Sanderson |work=RealClearSports |date=2009-12-07 |access-date=2009-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211062136/http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2009/12/06/broncos_in_but_bcs_still_flawed_96562.html |archive-date=11 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the "Quarantine Bowl", the "Fiasco Bowl", the "BCS Kids' Table",<ref name="cfn-prebowl">{{cite web|url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/933687.html|title=Pre-Bowl Thoughts - 2010 Fiesta Bowl|work=]|date=December 31, 2009|access-date=31 December 2009 <!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=22 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222045507/http://cfn.scout.com/2/933687.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> etc. Some had called for a boycott because of this arrangement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/304257-poinsettia-bowl-2008-redux |title=Poinsettia Bowl: 2008 Redux |author=Al Namias IV |work=Bleacher Report |date=2009-12-07 |access-date=2009-12-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091210222122/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/304257-poinsettia-bowl-2008-redux| archive-date= 10 December 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> 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 ] had done in the ] and ] had done in the ] and ] (prior to the game, non-AQ teams were 3–1 versus AQ teams in BCS bowls).<ref name="cfn-prebowl" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/926765.html|title=Instant Analysis – The Bowl Announcement|work=]|date=December 7, 2009|access-date=23 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213004324/http://cfn.scout.com/2/926765.html|archive-date=13 December 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/15348/fiesta-bowl-wasnt-looking-at-the-non-aq-distiction|title=Fiesta Bowl wasn't looking at the non-AQ distinction|work=].com|author=Graham Watson|date=December 7, 2009| access-date= 26 December 2009 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref> Beyond the unappealing nature of a major bowl contest with two programs then perceived as ]s, the appeal was further diminished as it was a rematch of the ]. For the ], the selections of ] and ] caused a great deal of controversy. For the first and only time in the ] era, two ] 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",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2009/12/06/broncos_in_but_bcs_still_flawed_96562.html |title=Boise Is In, But BCS Still Flawed |author=Matthew Sanderson |work=RealClearSports |date=2009-12-07 |access-date=2009-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211062136/http://www.realclearsports.com/articles/2009/12/06/broncos_in_but_bcs_still_flawed_96562.html |archive-date=11 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the "Quarantine Bowl", the "Fiasco Bowl", the "BCS Kids' Table",<ref name="cfn-prebowl">{{cite web|url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/933687.html|title=Pre-Bowl Thoughts - 2010 Fiesta Bowl|work=]|date=December 31, 2009|access-date=31 December 2009 <!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=22 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222045507/http://cfn.scout.com/2/933687.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> etc. Some had called for a boycott because of this arrangement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/304257-poinsettia-bowl-2008-redux |title=Poinsettia Bowl: 2008 Redux |author=Al Namias IV |work=Bleacher Report |date=2009-12-07 |access-date=2009-12-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091210222122/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/304257-poinsettia-bowl-2008-redux| archive-date= 10 December 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> 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 ] had done in the ] and ] had done in the ] and ] (prior to the game, non-AQ teams were 3–1 versus AQ teams in BCS bowls).<ref name="cfn-prebowl" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/926765.html|title=Instant Analysis – The Bowl Announcement|work=]|date=December 7, 2009|access-date=23 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213004324/http://cfn.scout.com/2/926765.html|archive-date=13 December 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/15348/fiesta-bowl-wasnt-looking-at-the-non-aq-distiction|title=Fiesta Bowl wasn't looking at the non-AQ distinction|work=].com|author=Graham Watson|date=December 7, 2009| access-date= 26 December 2009 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref> Beyond the unappealing nature of a major bowl contest with two programs then perceived as ]s, the appeal was further diminished as it was a rematch of the ] from the previous bowl season.


===Financial scandals=== ===Financial scandals===
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 ] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/12/18/20091218fiesta-bowl-investigation.html|title=Fiesta Bowl employees say bowl repaid political contributions}}</ref> Furthermore, as a non-profit organization, the Fiesta Bowl is prohibited from making political contributions of any kind.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/314585-fiesta-bowl-scandal-causes-stir|title=Fiesta Bowl Scandal Causes Stir|website=] }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/73565-fiesta-bowl-finds-no-wrongdoing-after-allegations-of-illegal-political-donations|title=Fiesta Bowl finds no wrongdoing after allegations of illegal political donations|date=24 December 2009 }}</ref> 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 ] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/12/18/20091218fiesta-bowl-investigation.html|title=Fiesta Bowl employees say bowl repaid political contributions}}</ref> Furthermore, as a non-profit organization, the Fiesta Bowl is prohibited from making political contributions of any kind.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/314585-fiesta-bowl-scandal-causes-stir|title=Fiesta Bowl Scandal Causes Stir|website=] }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/57598-fiesta-bowl-finds-no-wrongdoing-after-allegations-of-illegal-political-donations/|title=Fiesta Bowl finds no wrongdoing after allegations of illegal political donations|date=24 December 2009 }}</ref>


The following year, in a November 2010 article, '']'' 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.<ref>Murphy, Austin, and Dan Wetzel, "Does It Matter?", '']'', 15 November 2010, p. 45.</ref> While these alleged activities are not illegal, they did result in considerable damage to the reputation of the Fiesta Bowl. The following year, in a November 2010 article, '']'' 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.<ref>Murphy, Austin, and Dan Wetzel, "Does It Matter?", '']'', 15 November 2010, p. 45.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiestabowl.org/_documents/reports/Fiesta_Bowl_Final_Public.pdf|title=Final Report|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511190532/http://www.fiestabowl.org/_documents/reports/Fiesta_Bowl_Final_Public.pdf|archive-date=2011-05-11}}</ref> 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.<ref name="John Junker fired">{{Citation |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6270459 |title=Fiesta Bowl fires CEO John Junker |date=March 29, 2011 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/03/30/fiesta-bowl-bcs.ap/index.html#ixzz1I8IZ4dwj|title=BCS confident it could cut ties with Fiesta Bowl if deemed necessary}}</ref><ref>Wetzel, Dan, "", ''Yahoo! Sports'', retrieved on 31 March 2011.</ref> The BCS ultimately chose not to expel the Fiesta Bowl, instead fining the organization $1 million. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiestabowl.org/_documents/reports/Fiesta_Bowl_Final_Public.pdf|title=Final Report|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511190532/http://www.fiestabowl.org/_documents/reports/Fiesta_Bowl_Final_Public.pdf|archive-date=2011-05-11}}</ref> 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.<ref name="John Junker fired">{{Cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=6270459 |title=Fiesta Bowl fires CEO John Junker |date=March 29, 2011 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/03/30/fiesta-bowl-bcs.ap/index.html#ixzz1I8IZ4dwj|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403014431/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/03/30/fiesta-bowl-bcs.ap/index.html#ixzz1I8IZ4dwj|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 3, 2011|title=BCS confident it could cut ties with Fiesta Bowl if deemed necessary}}</ref><ref>Wetzel, Dan, "", ''Yahoo! Sports'', retrieved on 31 March 2011.</ref> The BCS ultimately chose not to expel the Fiesta Bowl, instead fining the organization $1 million.


In June 2011 ] president Robert Shelton was hired to replace Junker.<ref>], "Fiesta Bowl names new president", '']'', 15 June 2011, p. 15.</ref> On February 22, 2012, former CEO John Junker pleaded guilty to a federal ] charge in the campaign financing matter, and two members of his former staff pleaded guilty to ] charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2012/02/21/20120221fiesta-bowl-case-junker-pleads-guilty-felony-charge.html|title=Former Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker pleads guilty to felony|work=]|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=February 22, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/05/22/20120522fiesta-bowl-former-exec-wisneski-sentencing-postponed.html#ixzz1xET8QEef|title=Sentencing postponed for former Fiesta Bowl exec Wisneski|work=]|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=May 22, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/john-junker-update-sentencing-delay-sought-for-ex-fiesta-bowl-chief |title=John Junker update: Sentencing delay sought for ex-Fiesta Bowl chief |publisher='ABC15Arizona.com |last=Associated Press |date=2014-01-01 |access-date=2014-01-03 |archive-date=2014-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104011250/http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/john-junker-update-sentencing-delay-sought-for-ex-fiesta-bowl-chief |url-status=dead }}</ref> On March 13, 2014, Junker was sentenced to eight months in prison, with the sentence starting on June 13, 2014;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10604586/former-fiesta-bowl-chief-john-junker-gets-8-months-illegal-campaign-contribution-scheme |title=Ex-Fiesta Bowl chief headed to prison |publisher=ESPN |last=Associated Press |date=2014-03-13|access-date=2014-03-18}}</ref> he was released on February 11, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/02/18/ex-fiesta-bowl-boss-completes-eight-month-prison-sentence/23605921/ |title=John Junker, ex-Fiesta Bowl CEO, completes prison sentence |work=] |via=azcentral.com |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=2015-02-18 |access-date=2016-12-31}}</ref> On March 20, 2014, Junker was sentenced to three years of probation on state charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10639098/john-junker-ex-ceo-fiesta-bowl-gets-2nd-sentence-week |title=Ex-CEO of Fiesta Bowl sentenced |publisher=ESPN |last=Associated Press |date=2014-03-20|access-date=2014-03-20}}</ref> In June 2011 ] president Robert Shelton was hired to replace Junker.<ref>], "Fiesta Bowl names new president", '']'', 15 June 2011, p. 15.</ref> On February 22, 2012, former CEO John Junker pleaded guilty to a federal ] charge in the campaign financing matter, and two members of his former staff pleaded guilty to ] charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2012/02/21/20120221fiesta-bowl-case-junker-pleads-guilty-felony-charge.html|title=Former Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker pleads guilty to felony|work=]|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=February 22, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/05/22/20120522fiesta-bowl-former-exec-wisneski-sentencing-postponed.html#ixzz1xET8QEef|title=Sentencing postponed for former Fiesta Bowl exec Wisneski|work=]|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=May 22, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/john-junker-update-sentencing-delay-sought-for-ex-fiesta-bowl-chief |title=John Junker update: Sentencing delay sought for ex-Fiesta Bowl chief |publisher='ABC15Arizona.com |last=Associated Press |date=2014-01-01 |access-date=2014-01-03 |archive-date=2014-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104011250/http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/john-junker-update-sentencing-delay-sought-for-ex-fiesta-bowl-chief |url-status=dead }}</ref> On March 13, 2014, Junker was sentenced to eight months in prison, with the sentence starting on June 13, 2014;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/10604586/former-fiesta-bowl-chief-john-junker-gets-8-months-illegal-campaign-contribution-scheme |title=Ex-Fiesta Bowl chief headed to prison |publisher=ESPN |last=Associated Press |date=2014-03-13|access-date=2014-03-18}}</ref> he was released on February 11, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/02/18/ex-fiesta-bowl-boss-completes-eight-month-prison-sentence/23605921/ |title=John Junker, ex-Fiesta Bowl CEO, completes prison sentence |work=] |via=azcentral.com |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=2015-02-18 |access-date=2016-12-31}}</ref> On March 20, 2014, Junker was sentenced to three years of probation on state charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/10639098/john-junker-ex-ceo-fiesta-bowl-gets-2nd-sentence-week |title=Ex-CEO of Fiesta Bowl sentenced |publisher=ESPN |last=Associated Press |date=2014-03-20|access-date=2014-03-20}}</ref>


==Parade== ==Parade==
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==Game results== ==Game results==
Rankings are based on the ] prior to the game being played. ''Italics denote a tie game.'' All rankings are taken from the ] (inaugurated in ]), before each game was played. ''Italics denote a tie game.''
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|- |-
Line 196: Line 197:
|74,911||] |74,911||]
|- |-
| align=center|January 1, 1990 || '''No. 5 ]''' || '''41''' || No. 6 ] || 17 | align=center|January 1, 1990 || '''No. 5 ]''' || '''41''' || No. 6 ] || 17
|73,953||] |73,953||]
|- |-
Line 223: Line 224:
|69,367||] |69,367||]
|- |-
| align=right|]{{ref|BCS|BCS}} || '''No. 1 ]''' || '''23''' || No. 2 ] || 16 | align=right|January 4, 1999{{ref|BCS|BCS}} || '''No. 1 ]''' || '''23''' || No. 2 ] || 16
|80,470||] |80,470||]
|- |-
Line 235: Line 236:
|74,118||] |74,118||]
|- |-
| align=right|]{{ref|BCS|BCS}} || '''No. 2 ]''' || '''31''' || No. 1 ] || 24 (2 OT) | align=right|January 3, 2003{{ref|BCS|BCS}} || '''No. 2 ]''' || '''31''' || No. 1 ] || 24 {{small|(2 OT)}}
|77,502||] |77,502||]
|- |-
Line 247: Line 248:
|76,196||] |76,196||]
|- |-
| align=center|January 1, 2007 || '''No. 9 ]''' || '''43''' || No. 7 ] || 42 (OT) | align=center|January 1, 2007 || '''No. 9 ]''' || '''43''' || No. 7 ] || 42 {{small|(OT)}}
|73,719||] |73,719||]
|- |-
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|67,232||] |67,232||]
|- |-
| align=center|January 2, 2012 || '''No. 3 ]''' || '''41''' || No. 4 ] || 38 (OT) | align=center|January 2, 2012 || '''No. 3 ]''' || '''41''' || No. 4 ] || 38 {{small|(OT)}}
|69,927||] |69,927||]
|- |-
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| align=center|January 1, 2014 || '''No. 15 ]''' || '''52''' || No. 6 ] || 42 | align=center|January 1, 2014 || '''No. 15 ]''' || '''52''' || No. 6 ] || 42
|65,172||] |65,172||]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
| December 31, 2014 || '''No. {{abbr|21|AP Poll ranking}} ]''' || '''38''' || No. {{abbr|12|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 30 | December 31, 2014 || '''No. {{abbr|21|AP Poll ranking}} ]''' || '''38''' || No. {{abbr|12|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 30
|66,896||] |66,896||]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|align=center|January 1, 2016 || '''No. 7 ]''' || '''44''' || No. 8 ] || 28 |align=center|January 1, 2016 || '''No. 7 ]''' || '''44''' || No. 8 ] || 28
|71,123||] |71,123||]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|December 31, 2016{{ref|CFP|CFP}} || '''No. {{abbr|3|AP Poll ranking}} ]''' || '''31''' || No. {{abbr|2|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 0 |December 31, 2016{{ref|SF|SF}} || '''No. {{abbr|3|AP Poll ranking}} ]''' || '''31''' || No. {{abbr|2|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 0
|70,236||] |70,236||]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|December 30, 2017 || '''No. 9 ]''' || '''35''' || No. {{abbr|12|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 28 |December 30, 2017 || '''No. 9 ]''' || '''35''' || No. {{abbr|12|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 28
|61,842||] |61,842||]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|align=center|January 1, 2019 || '''No. 11 ]''' || '''40''' || No. {{abbr|7|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 32 || 69,927 || ] |align=center|January 1, 2019 || '''No. 11 ]''' || '''40''' || No. {{abbr|7|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 32 || 69,927 || ]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|December 28, 2019{{ref|CFP|CFP}} || '''No. 3 ]''' || '''29''' || No. 2 ] || 23 || 71,330 || ] |December 28, 2019{{ref|SF|SF}} || '''No. 3 ]''' || '''29''' || No. 2 ] || 23 || 71,330 || ]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|align=center|January 2, 2021 || '''No. 12 ]''' || '''34''' || No. {{abbr|25|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 17 || align=center|0 || ] |align=center|January 2, 2021 || '''No. {{abbr|12|AP Poll ranking}} ]''' || '''34''' || No. 25 ] || 17 || align=center|0 || ]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|align=center|January 1, 2022 || '''No. 9 ]''' || '''37''' || No. 5 ] || 35 || 49,550 || ] |align=center|January 1, 2022 || '''No. 9 ]''' || '''37''' || No. 5 ] || 35 || 49,550 || ]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|December 31, 2022{{ref|CFP|CFP}} || '''No. 3 ]''' || '''51''' || No. 2 ] || 45 || 71,723 || ] |December 31, 2022{{ref|SF|SF}} || '''No. 3 ]''' || '''51''' || No. 2 ] || 45 || 71,723 || ]
|-
|-<!--AP RANKINGS-->
|align=center|January 1, 2024 || '''No. 8 ]''' || '''45''' || {{abbr|No. 18|AP poll ranking}} ] || 6 || 47,769 || ]
|}<!-- EDITORS:
|-
This table uses *** AP RANKINGS *** from the 1930s to the present
|December 31, 2024{{ref|QF|QF}} || '''No. {{abbr|5|AP Poll ranking}} ]''' || '''31''' || No. {{abbr|8|AP Poll ranking}} ] || 14 || 63,854 || ]
Please do not insert any other rankings (CFP didn't exist until the 2014 season)
--> |}<!--
EDITORS: All rankings are from the AP poll, prior to the game being played
-->
Source:<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/Bowls.pdf |magazine=Bowl/All Star Game Records |title=PlayStation Fiesta Bowl |page=9 |via=NCAA.org |publisher=NCAA |date=2020 |access-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> Source:<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/Bowls.pdf |magazine=Bowl/All Star Game Records |title=PlayStation Fiesta Bowl |page=9 |via=NCAA.org |publisher=NCAA |date=2020 |access-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref>
:{{note|BA|BA}}Denotes ] Championship Game :{{note|BA|BA}}Denotes ] Championship Game
:{{note|BCS|BCS}}Denotes ] :{{note|BCS|BCS}}Denotes ]
:{{note|CFP|CFP}}Denotes ] semifinal game :{{note|QF|QF}}Denotes ] quarterfinal game
:{{note|SF|SF}}Denotes College Football Playoff semifinal game


===Future games=== ===Future games===
Line 332: Line 336:
|] || Oklahoma State || DT |] || Oklahoma State || DT
|- |-
|rowspan = "2" | December 26, 1975 || ] || Arizona State || WR |rowspan = "2" | December 26, 1975 || ] || Arizona State || WR
|- |-
|] || Arizona State || LB |] || Arizona State || LB
Line 415: Line 419:
|- |-
|] || Nebraska || CB |] || Nebraska || CB
|}
{{col-break}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"
|-
!style="background:#D02931; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFE11A;"|Date played
!style="background:#D02931; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFE11A;"|MVPs
!style="background:#D02931; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFE11A;"|Team
!style="background:#D02931; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFE11A;"|Position
|- |-
|rowspan = "2" | January 1, 1997 || ] || Penn State || TB |rowspan = "2" | January 1, 1997 || ] || Penn State || TB
Line 435: Line 431:
|- |-
|] || Tennessee || CB |] || Tennessee || CB
|}
{{col-break}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"
|-
!style="background:#D02931; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFE11A;"|Date played
!style="background:#D02931; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFE11A;"|MVPs
!style="background:#D02931; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFE11A;"|Team
!style="background:#D02931; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFE11A;"|Position
|- |-
|rowspan = "2" | January 2, 2000 || ] || Nebraska || QB |rowspan = "2" | January 2, 2000 || ] || Nebraska || QB
Line 528: Line 532:
|rowspan="2" | January 1, 2022 || ] || Oklahoma State || QB |rowspan="2" | January 1, 2022 || ] || Oklahoma State || QB
|- |-
| ]|| Oklahoma State || LB | ] || Oklahoma State || LB
|-
|rowspan=2 | December 31, 2022<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fiestabowl.org/sports/vrbofb/roster/52nd-annual-game-2022/206 |title=52nd Annual Game |website=fiestabowl.org |date=December 31, 2022 |accessdate=January 1, 2024}}</ref> || ] || TCU || WR
|-
| ] || TCU || LB
|-
|rowspan=2 | January 1, 2024<ref>{{cite tweet |user=zacharycneel |number=1741932174386106668 |title=No surprise, Bo Nix wins the Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP Award. Jeffrey Bassa wins the Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP Award. |date=January 1, 2024 |accessdate=January 1, 2024}}</ref> || ] || Oregon || QB
|-
| ] || Oregon || LB
|-
|rowspan=2 | December 31, 2024<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/penn-state-nittany-lions/news/penn-state-safety-zakee-wheatley-tight-end-tyler-warren-earn-mvp-honors-at-2024-fiesta-bowl/ |title=Zakee Wheatley and Tyler Warren take home MVP honors in Fiesta Bowl following Penn State's win over Boise State |first=Ryan |last=Snyder |website=on3.com |date=January 1, 2025 |accessdate=January 1, 2025}}</ref> || ] || Penn State || TE
|-
| ] || Penn State || S
|} |}
{{col-end}} {{col-end}}


==Most appearances== ==Most appearances==
Updated through the December 2022 edition (52 games, 104 total appearances). Updated through the December 2024 edition (54 games, 108 total appearances).


{{col-begin}} {{col-begin}}
Line 547: Line 563:
|1 || ] || 9 || 5–4 || {{winpct|5|4}} |1 || ] || 9 || 5–4 || {{winpct|5|4}}
|- |-
|2 || ] || 7 || 7–0 || {{winpct|7|0}} |2 || ] || 8 || 8–0 || {{winpct|8|0}}
|- |-
|T3 || ] || 6 || 5–1 || {{winpct|5|1}} |T3 || ] || 6 || 5–1 || {{winpct|5|1}}
Line 556: Line 572:
|- |-
|6 || ] || 5 || 2–3 || {{winpct|2|3}} |6 || ] || 5 || 2–3 || {{winpct|2|3}}
|-
|T7 || ] || 4 || 3–1 || {{winpct|3|1}}
|-
|T7 || ] || 4 || 3–1 || {{winpct|3|1}}
|- |-
|T7 || ] || 4 || 2–2 || {{winpct|2|2}} |T7 || ] || 4 || 2–2 || {{winpct|2|2}}
Line 563: Line 583:
|T7 || ] || 4 || 0–4 || {{winpct|0|4}} |T7 || ] || 4 || 0–4 || {{winpct|0|4}}
|- |-
|T10 || ] || 3 || 3–0 || {{winpct|3|0}} |T12 || ] || 3 || 3–0 || {{winpct|3|0}}
|-
|T10 || ] || 3 || 3–0 || {{winpct|3|0}}
|-
|T10 || ] || 3 || 2–1 || {{winpct|2|1}}
|- |-
|T10 || ] || 3 || 1–2 || {{winpct|1|2}} |T12 || ] || 3 || 1–2 || {{winpct|1|2}}
|- |-
|T10 || ] || 3 || 1–2 || {{winpct|1|2}} |T12 || ] || 3 || 1–2 || {{winpct|1|2}}
|- |-
|T10 || ] || 3 || 1–2 || {{winpct|1|2}} |T12 || ] || 3 || 1–2 || {{winpct|1|2}}
|- |-
|T10 || ] || 3 || 1–2 || {{winpct|1|2}} |T12 || ] || 3 || 1–2 || {{winpct|1|2}}
|} |}
{{col-break}} {{col-break}}
Line 603: Line 619:
|} |}
{{col-end}} {{col-end}}

;Teams with a single appearance: ;Teams with a single appearance:
Won (5): ], ], ], ], ] Won (5): ], ], ], ], ]
<br> <br>
Lost (10): ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] Lost (11): ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
<br> <br>
Tied (1): ] Tied (1): ]


* Cal and Washington State are the only Pac-12 members that have not appeared in the game. * Cal and Washington State are the only current or former 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.
* Kansas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are the only current or former Big 8 or Big 12 members that have not appeared in the game.


==Appearances by conference== ==Appearances by conference==
Updated through the December 2022 edition (52 games, 104 total appearances). Updated through the December 2024 edition (54 games, 108 total appearances).


{|class = "wikitable sortable" {|class = "wikitable sortable"
Line 632: Line 648:
|- |-
| ] | ]
| 21 || 10 || 11 || 0 ||{{winpct|10|11}} | align=center|21 || {{WinLossPct|10|11|0}}
| <!--wins-->1977{{sup|D}}, 1979{{sup|D}}, 1980{{sup|D}}, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 | <!--wins-->1977{{sup|D}}, 1979{{sup|D}}, 1980{{sup|D}}, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
| <!--loss-->1971{{sup|D}}, 1973{{sup|D}}, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2016, 2022 | <!--loss-->1971{{sup|D}}, 1973{{sup|D}}, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2016, 2022
Line 638: Line 654:
|- |-
| ] | ]
| 15 || 8 || 7 || 0 ||{{winpct|8|7}} | align=center|15 || {{WinLossPct|8|7|0}}
| <!--wins-->1997{{sup|D}}, 2000, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2022{{sup|D}} | <!--wins-->1997{{sup|D}}, 2000, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2022{{sup|D}}
| <!--loss-->1997, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014 | <!--loss-->1997, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014
Line 644: Line 660:
|- |-
| ] | ]
| 13 || 8 || 5 || 0 ||{{winpct|8|5}} | align=center|14 || {{WinLossPct|9|5|0}}
| <!--wins-->1984, 1986, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2017{{sup|D}} | <!--wins-->1984, 1986, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2017{{sup|D}}, 2024{{sup|D}}
| <!--loss-->1980{{sup|D}}, 2009, 2016{{sup|D}}, 2019{{sup|D}}, 2022{{sup|D}} | <!--loss-->1980{{sup|D}}, 2009, 2016{{sup|D}}, 2019{{sup|D}}, 2022{{sup|D}}
| <!--tied-->bgcolor=lightgrey|{{nbsp}} | <!--tied-->bgcolor=lightgrey|{{nbsp}}
|- |-
| ] | ]
| 13 || 6 ||6 || 1 || {{winpct|6|6|1}} | align=center|14 || {{WinLossPct|7|6|1}}
| <!--wins-->1983, 1985, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2013 | <!--wins-->1983, 1985, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2013, 2024
| <!--loss-->1979{{sup|D}}, 1982, 2012, 2014{{sup|D}}, 2017{{sup|D}}, 2021 | <!--loss-->1979{{sup|D}}, 1982, 2012, 2014{{sup|D}}, 2017{{sup|D}}, 2021
| <!--tied-->1978{{sup|D}} | <!--tied-->1978{{sup|D}}
|- |-
| bgcolor=lightgrey|'']'' | bgcolor=lightgrey|'']''
| 11 || 4 || 7 || 0 ||{{winpct|4|7}} | align=center|11 || {{WinLossPct|4|7|0}}
| <!--wins-->1974{{sup|D}}, 1976{{sup|D}}, 1995, 1996 | <!--wins-->1974{{sup|D}}, 1976{{sup|D}}, 1995, 1996
| <!--loss-->1972{{sup|D}}, 1975{{sup|D}}, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993 | <!--loss-->1972{{sup|D}}, 1975{{sup|D}}, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993
Line 662: Line 678:
|- |-
| bgcolor=lightgrey|'']'' | bgcolor=lightgrey|'']''
| 9 || 6 || 3 || 0 ||{{winpct|6|3}} | align=center|9 || {{WinLossPct|6|3|0}}
| <!--wins-->1971{{sup|D}}, 1972{{sup|D}}, 1973{{sup|D}}, 1975{{sup|D}}, 2007, 2010 | <!--wins-->1971{{sup|D}}, 1972{{sup|D}}, 1973{{sup|D}}, 1975{{sup|D}}, 2007, 2010
| <!--loss-->1974{{sup|D}}, 1976{{sup|D}}, 1977{{sup|D}} | <!--loss-->1974{{sup|D}}, 1976{{sup|D}}, 1977{{sup|D}}
Line 668: Line 684:
|- |-
| ] | ]
| 9 || 3 || 6 || 0 ||{{winpct|3|6}} | align=center|9 || {{WinLossPct|3|6|0}}
| <!--wins-->1993, 2008, 2014 | <!--wins-->1993, 2008, 2014
| <!--loss-->1994, 1997{{sup|D}}, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2019 | <!--loss-->1994, 1997{{sup|D}}, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2019
Line 674: Line 690:
|- |-
| ] | ]
| 6 || 2 ||4 || 0 || {{winpct|2|4}} | align=center|6 || {{WinLossPct|2|4|0}}
| <!--wins-->1999, 2019 | <!--wins-->1999, 2019
| <!--loss-->1991, 1992, 1996, 2000 | <!--loss-->1991, 1992, 1996, 2000
Line 680: Line 696:
|- |-
| ] | ]
| 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 ||{{winpct|2|1}} | align=center|4 || {{WinLossPct|2|2|0}}
| <!--wins-->2005, 2014{{sup|D}} | <!--wins-->2005, 2014{{sup|D}}
| <!--loss-->2010 | <!--loss-->2010, 2024{{sup|D}}
| <!--tied-->bgcolor=lightgrey|{{nbsp}} | <!--tied-->bgcolor=lightgrey|{{nbsp}}
|- |-
| ] | ]
| 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 ||{{winpct|2|1}} | align=center|3 || {{WinLossPct|2|1|0}}
| <!--wins-->2016{{sup|D}}, 2019{{sup|D}} | <!--wins-->2016{{sup|D}}, 2019{{sup|D}}
| <!--loss-->1999 | <!--loss-->1999
Line 692: Line 708:
|- |-
| bgcolor=lightgrey|'']'' | bgcolor=lightgrey|'']''
| 1 || 0 ||0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|0|1}} | align=center|1 || {{WinLossPct|0|0|1}}
| <!--wins-->{{nbsp}} | <!--wins-->{{nbsp}}
| <!--loss-->{{nbsp}} | <!--loss-->{{nbsp}}
| <!--tied-->1978{{sup|D}} | <!--tied-->1978{{sup|D}}
|-
| ]
| align=center|1 || {{WinLossPct|0|1|0}}
| <!--wins-->{{nbsp}}
| <!--loss-->2024
| <!--tied-->bgcolor=lightgrey|{{nbsp}}
|} |}


Line 702: Line 724:
* Records reflect conference affiliations at the time the game was played. * 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. ** Several teams—such as Penn State and Miami (Florida)—have appeared both as an Independent and as a conference member.
* Pac-12 record includes appearances by teams when the conference was the Pac-10 (5–2–1). * The Pac-12's record includes eight appearances (5–2–1) by teams when the conference was known as the Pac-10.
* Following the ] along football lines, the FBS schools reorganized as the ] ("The American"), which retains the charter of the original Big East. Teams representing the Big East appeared in 7 games, compiling a 2–5 record. * Following the ] along football lines, the FBS schools reorganized as the ] ("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== ==Game records==
Line 720: Line 742:
|Fewest points allowed||0, Clemson (31) vs. Ohio State<br />0, Arizona (29) vs. Miami ||2016<br />1994 |Fewest points allowed||0, Clemson (31) vs. Ohio State<br />0, Arizona (29) vs. Miami ||2016<br />1994
|- |-
|Largest margin of victory || 38, Nebraska (62) vs. Florida (24) || 1996 |Largest margin of victory || 39, Oregon (45) vs. Liberty (6) || 2024
|- |-
|First downs||34, Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame|| Jan. 2022 |First downs||34, Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame|| Jan. 2022
Line 748: Line 770:
|Passing yards || 509, ], Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State || Jan. 2022 |Passing yards || 509, ], Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State || Jan. 2022
|- |-
|Passing TDs || 5, ], Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State<br>5], Florida State vs. Nebraska || Jan. 2022<br>1990 |Passing TDs || 5, ], Oregon vs. Liberty<br>5, ], Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State<br>5, ], Florida State vs. Nebraska || 2024<br>Jan. 2022<br>1990
|- |-
|Receiving yards ||206, ], Kansas State vs. Syracuse ||1998 |Receiving yards ||206, ], Kansas State vs. Syracuse ||1998
Line 783: Line 805:


==Broadcasting== ==Broadcasting==
{{See also|Fiesta Bowl broadcasters}}
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 ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3709030|title=Fox Sports pulls out of bidding to show BCS games|date=17 November 2008|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> From 2007 through 2010, ] telecast the game along with the other BCS games – the ], ], and ] from 2006 though 2009, while only the ] and the ] aired on ] 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 ] as part of its bowl coverage. Prior to that, ] 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" ] networks in the United States. 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 ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3709030|title=Fox Sports pulls out of bidding to show BCS games|date=17 November 2008|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> From 2007 through 2010, ] telecast the game along with the other BCS games – the ], ], and ] from 2006 though 2009, while only the ] and the ] aired on ] 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 ] as part of its bowl coverage. Prior to that, ] 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" ] networks in the United States.



Latest revision as of 21:12, 2 January 2025

Annual American college football postseason game College football bowl game
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)
Websitefiestabowl.org
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
Penn State vs. Boise State (Penn State 31–14)

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. Previous sponsors include PlayStation (December 2016–2022), BattleFrog (January 2016), Vizio (December 2014), Tostitos (1996–January 2014), IBM (1993–1995) and Sunkist (1986–1990).

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's 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 among BCS bowl sites.

Beginning with the 2014 season, the Fiesta Bowl became a member of the College Football Playoff (CFP), 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 CFP to 12 teams in 2024, the Fiesta Bowl becomes an annual feature of that playoff, along with the other New Year's Six bowls, and will host a quarterfinal game two out of every three years and a semifinal game once every three years.

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

History

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Origins

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

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, so 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

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. 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.

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

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

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).

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.

2010s

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.

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

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

Invitations

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. 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.

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", the "Quarantine Bowl", the "Fiasco Bowl", the "BCS Kids' Table", etc. Some had called for a boycott because of this arrangement. 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). 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." 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

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. Furthermore, as a non-profit organization, the Fiesta Bowl is prohibited from making political contributions of any kind. 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."

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. On March 13, 2014, Junker was sentenced to eight months in prison, with the sentence starting on June 13, 2014; he was released on February 11, 2015. On March 20, 2014, Junker was sentenced to three years of probation on state charges.

Parade

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

All 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, 1996  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, 1999 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, 2003 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, 2016 No. 3 Clemson 31 No. 2 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, 2019 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, 2022 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
December 31, 2024 No. 5 Penn State 31 No. 8 Boise State 14 63,854 notes

Source:

^BA Denotes Bowl Alliance Championship Game
^BCS Denotes BCS National Championship Game
^QF Denotes College Football Playoff quarterfinal game
^SF Denotes College Football Playoff semifinal game

Future games

Main article: New Year's Six § Future games

MVPs

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

Date played MVPs Team Position
December 27, 1971 Gary Huff Florida State QB
Junior Ah You Arizona State DE
December 23, 1972 Woody Green Arizona State HB
Mike Fink Missouri DB
December 21, 1973 Greg Hudson Arizona State SE
Mike Haynes Arizona State CB
December 28, 1974 Kenny Walker Oklahoma State RB
Phil Dokes Oklahoma State DT
December 26, 1975 John Jefferson Arizona State WR
Larry Gordon Arizona State LB
December 25, 1976 Thomas Lott Oklahoma QB
Terry Peters Oklahoma CB
December 25, 1977 Matt Millen Penn State LB
Dennis Sproul Arizona State QB
December 25, 1978 James Owens UCLA RB
Jimmy Walker Arkansas DT
December 25, 1979 Mark Schubert Pittsburgh K
Dave Liggins Arizona S
December 26, 1980 Curt Warner Penn State RB
Frank Case Penn State DE
January 1, 1982 Curt Warner Penn State RB
Leo Wisniewski Penn State NT
January 1, 1983 Marcus Dupree Oklahoma RB
Jim Jeffcoat Arizona State DL
January 2, 1984 John Congemi Pittsburgh QB
Rowland Tatum Ohio State LB
January 1, 1985 Gaston Green UCLA TB
James Washington UCLA DB
January 1, 1986 Jamie Morris Michigan RB
Mark Messner Michigan DT
January 2, 1987 D.J. Dozier Penn State RB
Shane Conlan Penn State LB
January 1, 1988 Danny McManus Florida State QB
Neil Smith Nebraska DL
January 2, 1989 Tony Rice Notre Dame QB
Frank Stams Notre Dame DE
January 1, 1990 Peter Tom Willis Florida State QB
Odell Haggins Florida State NG
January 1, 1991 Browning Nagle Louisville QB
Ray Buchanan Louisville FS
January 1, 1992 O.J. McDuffie Penn State WR
Reggie Givens Penn State OLB
January 1, 1993 Marvin Graves Syracuse QB
Kevin Mitchell Syracuse NG
January 1, 1994 Chuck Levy Arizona RB
Tedy Bruschi Arizona DE
January 2, 1995 Kordell Stewart Colorado QB
Shannon Clavelle Colorado DT
January 2, 1996 Tommie Frazier Nebraska QB
Michael Booker Nebraska CB
January 1, 1997 Curtis Enis Penn State TB
Brandon Noble Penn State DT
December 31, 1997 Michael Bishop Kansas State QB
Travis Ochs Kansas State LB
January 4, 1999 Peerless Price Tennessee WR
Dwayne Goodrich Tennessee CB
Date played MVPs Team Position
January 2, 2000 Eric Crouch Nebraska QB
Mike Brown Nebraska DB
January 1, 2001 Jonathan Smith Oregon State QB
Darnell Robinson Oregon State LB
January 1, 2002 Joey Harrington Oregon QB
Steve Smith Oregon DB
January 3, 2003 Craig Krenzel Ohio State QB
Mike Doss Ohio State SS
January 2, 2004 Craig Krenzel Ohio State QB
A. J. Hawk Ohio State OLB
January 1, 2005 Alex Smith Utah QB
Paris Warren Utah WR
Steve Fifita Utah NG
January 2, 2006 Troy Smith Ohio State QB
A. J. Hawk Ohio State OLB
January 1, 2007 Jared Zabransky Boise State QB
Marty Tadman Boise State S
January 2, 2008 Pat White West Virginia QB
Reed Williams West Virginia OLB
January 5, 2009 Colt McCoy Texas QB
Roy Miller Texas DT
January 4, 2010 Kyle Efaw Boise State TE
Brandyn Thompson Boise State CB
January 1, 2011 Landry Jones Oklahoma QB
Jamell Fleming Oklahoma CB
January 2, 2012 Justin Blackmon Oklahoma State WR
Justin Gilbert Oklahoma State CB
January 3, 2013 Marcus Mariota Oregon QB
Michael Clay Oregon LB
January 1, 2014 Blake Bortles UCF QB
Terrance Plummer UCF LB
December 31, 2014 Thomas Sperbeck Boise State WR
Tanner Vallejo Boise State LB
January 1, 2016 J. T. Barrett Ohio State QB
Eli Apple Ohio State CB
December 31, 2016 Deshaun Watson Clemson QB
Clelin Ferrell Clemson DE
December 30, 2017 Trace McSorley Penn State QB
Marcus Allen Penn State S
January 1, 2019 Joe Burrow LSU QB
Rashard Lawrence LSU DL
December 28, 2019 Trevor Lawrence Clemson QB
Chad Smith Clemson LB
January 2, 2021 Brock Purdy Iowa State QB
O'Rien Vance Iowa State LB
January 1, 2022 Spencer Sanders Oklahoma State QB
Malcolm Rodriguez Oklahoma State LB
December 31, 2022 Quentin Johnston TCU WR
Dee Winters TCU LB
January 1, 2024 Bo Nix Oregon QB
Jeffrey Bassa Oregon LB
December 31, 2024 Tyler Warren Penn State TE
Zakee Wheatley Penn State S

Most appearances

Updated through the December 2024 edition (54 games, 108 total appearances).

Rank Team Appearances Record Win pct.
1 Ohio State 9 5–4 .556
2 Penn State 8 8–0 1.000
T3 Arizona State 6 5–1 .833
T3 Nebraska 6 2–4 .333
T3 Notre Dame 6 1–5 .167
6 Oklahoma 5 2–3 .400
T7 Boise State 4 3–1 .750
T7 Oregon 4 3–1 .750
T7 Florida State 4 2–2 .500
T7 Pittsburgh 4 1–3 .250
T7 Miami (Florida) 4 0–4 .000
T12 Oklahoma State 3 3–0 1.000
T12 Arizona 3 1–2 .333
T12 Colorado 3 1–2 .333
T12 Kansas State 3 1–2 .333
T12 Tennessee 3 1–2 .333
Rank Team Appearances Record Win pct.
T17 Clemson 2 2–0 1.000
T17 UCLA 2 1–0–1 .750
T17 Michigan 2 1–1 .500
T17 Syracuse 2 1–1 .500
T17 Texas 2 1–1 .500
T17 UCF 2 1–1 .500
T17 West Virginia 2 1–1 .500
T17 TCU 2 1–1 .500

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

  • Cal and Washington State are the only current or former 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

Updated through the December 2024 edition (54 games, 108 total appearances).

Conference Record Appearances by year
Games W L T Win pct. Won Lost Tied
Independents 21 10 11 0 .476 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 1971, 1973, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2016, 2022  
Big 12 15 8 7 0 .533 1997, 2000, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2022 1997, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014  
Big Ten 14 9 5 0 .643 1984, 1986, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2017, 2024 1980, 2009, 2016, 2019, 2022  
Pac-12 14 7 6 1 .536 1983, 1985, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2013, 2024 1979, 1982, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021 1978
Big Eight 11 4 7 0 .364 1974, 1976, 1995, 1996 1972, 1975, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993  
WAC 9 6 3 0 .667 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 2007, 2010 1974, 1976, 1977  
The American 9 3 6 0 .333 1993, 2008, 2014 1994, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2019  
SEC 6 2 4 0 .333 1999, 2019 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000  
Mountain West 4 2 2 0 .500 2005, 2014 2010, 2024  
ACC 3 2 1 0 .667 2016, 2019 1999  
SWC 1 0 0 1 .500     1978
C-USA 1 0 1 0 .000   2024  
  • Games marked with an superscript 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

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:

Broadcasting

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. 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.

References

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  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.
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  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.
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  21. Graham Watson (December 7, 2009). "Fiesta Bowl wasn't looking at the non-AQ distinction". ESPN.com. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
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