2015 Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: Date, time, location and more

Next year, the Fiesta Bowl will be one of two semifinal games in the College Football Playoff, but this year it will no longer hold its role as a chance for a David to beat a Goliath as it has typically been the New Year’s Six game that must feature a team from outside the Power 5 conferences.

David has fared well in the last two years, with UCF defeating Baylor and Boise State beating Arizona. The game hasn’t always featured longshot teams and has been the stage for 36 different teams in its 44-year history.

Founded in Sun Devil Stadium, the Fiesta Bowl moved to University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, in 2007. And after nearly two decades as the Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl, it was rebranded as the Vizio Fiesta Bowl after the launch of the College Football Playoff, but that sponsorship lasted just one year.

Here is everything you need to know to get ready for this year’s Fiesta Bowl:

Date and time: Friday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET

TV channel: ESPN

Location: Glendale, Ariz.

Stadium: University of Phoenix Stadium, 72,200

Last year’s score: Boise State 38, Arizona 30

Last year’s attendance: 66,896

Last year’s TV rating: 4.6

Last year’s payout for each school: $18 million

Teams with the most all-time appearances: Penn State, Arizona State, Ohio State and Nebraska, 6

Teams with the most all-time wins: Penn State, 6

This hasn’t been the repeat season that Ohio State was hoping for, with a supposed no-lose situation with three quarterbacks. However, the quarterback situation didn’t materialize as planned. Braxton Miller switched to wide receiver and wasn’t much of a factor after the beginning of the season. Cardale Jones started early on, but he struggled and was benched. J.T. Barrett had a fine season, but he didn’t show up in OSU’s loss to Michigan State.

That said, the Buckeyes finished with just one loss, finding a way to get it done in close games against inferior competition. And even after the loss to MSU, the offense finally looked competent in destroying Michigan, 42-13.

If the offense is indeed back on track, this team will be very dangerous. The defense has been impressive all year, thanks to a star-studded front seven, and it shut down a Michigan offense that was hitting its stride. Nobody wants to face the Buckeyes right now, even with a loss.

Last bowl game: 2014 season’s College Football Playoff National Championship (42-20 win over Oregon)

All-time bowl record: 21-24

Head coach’s bowl record: Urban Meyer is 9-2 in bowl games. He is 2-1 at Ohio State, 5-1 at Florida and 2-0 at Utah.

Given the injuries Notre Dame has had to endure this season, it’s incredible that the Irish could even get to the point of being College Football Playoff contenders this year. That dream ended after a last-second, season-ending loss to Stanford, and Brian Kelly’s team didn’t have any room to spare after losing to Clemson earlier in the year in its only other chance for a good win.

However, this team is legit, even while playing backups, and that starts on offense. Without quarterback Malik Zaire, DeShone Kizer has stepped up for the Irish, leading a strong passing offense by combining with wide receiver Will Fuller. C.J. Prosise stood out at running back in place of injured Tarean Folston, and when he went down, Josh Adams came in and torched Stanford. There is no shortage of weapons on this offense.

The defense has been hurt more by injuries, particularly in the secondary, and things get tougher without cornerback KeiVarae Russell. However, the defense — led by star linebacker Jaylon Smith — still has playmakers and has enough to be a capable pairing with this offense.

Last bowl game: 2014 Music City Bowl (31-28 win over LSU)

All-time bowl record: 17-17

Head coach’s bowl record: Brian Kelly is 5-3 in bowl games. He’s 3-2 with Notre Dame and 2-1 with Cincinnati.