This season’s college football bowl slate has been announced. The #8 Oregon Ducks play #23 Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl. #19 Oregon State challenges #16 Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl. Here are a few things to know…
#19 OREGON STATE vs #16 NOTRE DAME; EL PASO, TX, DEC 29 2023
The Beavers (8-4) stumbled down the stretch of the season with key losses to #8 Oregon and #2 Washington. They also lost their head coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State, and their quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to the transfer portal. However, they still have a chance to win the last game of the season when they battle Notre Dame (9-3) at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
The Fighting Irish have had only one other Sun Bowl appearance that became a 33-17 squashing of Miami in 2010. The Beavers have played Notre Dame on two occasions and in each case emerged victorious. In 2001 Oregon State throttled Notre Dame 41-9 with the aforementioned Smith as the quarterback. The Beavers also bested the Fighting Irish in the 2004 Insight Bowl 38-21.
This season, Notre Dame is 1-2 against ranked teams with the lone victory 45-24 over #18 NC State. Meanwhile Oregon State is winless against ranked squads with losses to the Huskies, Ducks, and Wildcats.
Kickoff in El Paso is scheduled for 11:00am on December 29, 2023.
#8 OREGON vs #23 LIBERTY; GLENDALE ARIZ, JAN 1 2024
After falling to Washington in the PAC-12 championship game, the Oregon Ducks (11-2) still earned a New Year’s Six bowl game. They will face off with Liberty (13-0). They will play in the Fiesta in Glendale, Arizona.
Liberty, who only joined the FBS in 2018 is 3-1 in bowl games. Oregon is 16-20 all-time in bowl games including a 2-1 record in the Fiesta Bowl. The Ducks fell to Iowa State 34-17 in 2021 in their last Fiesta Bowl appearance. They beat Kansas State in 2013 and bested Colorado in 2002.
This season, Liberty has not played a ranked opponent on their way to an unblemished record and Conference USA title. Oregon is 1-2 against ranked teams this season with both losses at the hands of #2 Washington.
Kickoff in Glendale is scheduled for 10:00am on January 1, 2024.
