After years of being a BCS bowl, the VIZIO Fiesta Bowl has become one of the new hosts for the College Football Playoff. While it won’t host a national semifinal this year, it does end up being the major bowl that hosts an at-large team against one of the nation’s best “Group of Five” mid-major teams, from the AAC, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt. This year, that team is Boise State.
2014 Fiesta Bowl, Arizona vs. Boise State: Date, time, location and more
In the first year of the College Football Playoff, the Fiesta Bowl lands an at-large team and a non-power team.
Nestled in the Arizona desert, the Fiesta Bowl tends to be one of the more entertaining bowl games each season. Here is everything you need to know to prepare for this year’s game:
Date and time, ET: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, 4 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Location: Glendale, Ariz.
Stadium: University of Phoenix Stadium, 63,400
Last year’s score: UCF 52, Baylor 42
Last year’s attendance: 65,172
Last year’s TV rating: 6.6
Last year’s payout for each school: $12 million
Team with the most all-time appearances: Arizona State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State; 6
Team with the most all-time wins: Penn State; 6-0
Arizona (10-3, 7-2 Pac-12)
Arizona held the most impressive win of the Pac-12 season, a 31-24 defeat of Oregon at Autzen Stadium in October, until the rematch. The Pac-12 South champions had their doors blown off, 51-13, by the Ducks in the Pac-12 Championship game, but are still in line for a nice bowl game. The Wildcats also boast wins over ranked opponents Utah and archrival Arizona State.
Pac-12 Coach of the Year Rich Rodriguez prides himself on having an explosive offense and this year’s Wildcats did not disappoint. Tailback Nick Wilson was fifth in the conference with 1,289 yards, while adding 15 touchdowns. Quarterback Anu Solomon had an impressive 27:7 TD:INT ratio and racked up 3,458 yards through the air. Sophomore linebacker Scooby Wright led the charge for the 2014 Desert Swarm defense, totaling 153 tackles, 14 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles en route to the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Last bowl game: 2013 AdvoCare V100 Bowl vs. Boston College, 42-19 win
All-time bowl record: 9-9-1
Head coach’s bowl record: Rich Rodriguez, 4-4
Boise State Broncos (11-2, 7-1 MWC)
Boise State wasn’t quite able to match their previous heroics as a mid-major darling this season, but they still proved themselves to be the best of the Group of 5 schools in another double-digit win campaign. The Broncos lost to Ole Miss and Air Force, with wins over Colorado State, Louisiana Lafayette, BYU, Utah State and a Mountain West title to their name.
The Broncos are led by power running back Jay Ajayi, who has run for 25 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Grant Hedrick has had a fine season, helped by shifty target Shane Williams-Rhodes and an inconsistent defense that has big potential.
Last bowl game: 2013 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl vs. Oregon State, 38-23 loss
All-time bowl record: 9-5
Head coach’s bowl record: Bryan Harsin, 0-0
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