Oregon delivers dominant win over Liberty to capture 2024 Fiesta Bowl

For just the third time in program history, the Oregon Ducks are Fiesta Bowl champions.

Oregon (12-2) closed out its 2023 season on a major high note with a 45-6 win over Liberty (13-1) in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The Ducks outgained the Flames 584 yards to 294 and received several big performances on both sides of the ball.

With the victory, Oregon has completed a 12-win season for just the sixth time in program history.

Bo Nix went 28-for-35 passing for 363 yards and five touchdowns and was named the Fiesta Bowl offensive player of the game. Tez Johnson caught 11 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown.

“It’s meant the world,” Nix told ESPN sideline reporter Kris Budden following the game. “You know, it’s just such a great opportunity for me to be able to come out here and play with such an incredible team. The coaches that we have and the year that we had, you know … I couldn’t wait for this game to get out here and to play one more time. 

“With my college career … I wouldn’t have been here without those guys, so it was the least I could do to show my appreciation.”

Bucky Irving ran for 117 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, and Jordan James ran for 63 yards on nine carries.

Ducks’ junior linebacker Jeffrey Bassa was named the defensive player of the game after racking up eight solo tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits.

Liberty got on the board first to take an early 6-0, and Oregon’s defense seemingly had no answers for the Flames on their opening drive. The Ducks’ offense struggled early, too, as their first two drives of the day resulted in a field goal in a punt.

From that point, though, the Ducks settled in and controlled all facets of the game.

They outscored Liberty 28-0 during a second quarter that featured short touchdown passes from Nix to Gary Bryant Jr., Terrance Ferguson, and Kenyon Sadiq to cap off long drives.

Oregon took control of the game for good on its final offensive play of the first half, when Nix linked up with Traeshon Holden for a 17-yard touchdown to send the Ducks into halftime with a 31-6 lead.

After the break, Oregon kept its foot on the gas. Nix stayed on the field to lead a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Johnson on a flea-flicker.

With the game, for all intents and purposes, over, the majority of Oregon’s starters remained in the game to start the fourth quarter as the Ducks’ coaching staff wanted to give Nix and Irving one final drive together to close out their Oregon careers.

With just under 10 minutes left in regulation, Oregon freshman Austin Novosad replaced Nix, and freshman running back Jayden Limar replaced Irving. Both of the Ducks’ offensive stars received standing ovations as they left the field.

Throughout the fourth quarter, plenty of Oregon’s young reserves saw significant playing time. Receivers Jurrion Dickey, and Kyler Kasper, offensive tackle Kawika Rogers, nose tackle A’Mauri Washington, EDGE Ashton Porter, and Safeties Cole Martin and Tyler Turner, among others, got on the field.

True freshman cornerback Rodrick Pleasant forced a fumble that was received by walk-on safety Zach Grisham on Liberty’s final drive of the day.