G5 Football Daily

Fiesta Bowl: Liberty Fall To #8 Oregon in Only Loss of Season

#24 Liberty were CUSA's first representative in a New Year's Six bowl game. The Flames were 13-0 on the season entering Monday's Fiesta Bowl, but the #8 Oregon

Joe Londergan

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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#24 Liberty were CUSA's first representative in a New Year's Six bowl game.

The Flames were 13-0 on the season entering Monday's Fiesta Bowl, but the #8 Oregon Ducks put an end to their unbeaten run. Oregon bested the CUSA champions by a final score of 45-6.

The scoreline tells the basic story, but there are a few specifics worth examining from the blowout.

Strong Start, But Not Much After

Liberty came out swinging, scoring a touchdown at the end of a six-play, 75-yard  opening drive. Kaidon Salter completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Bentley Hanshaw. That came shortly after a 33-yard run by Aaron Bedgood, that had 15 more yards tacked on due to an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Ducks. They would miss the extra point.

After that, Liberty couldn't quite get the same sort of momentum again. The Flames entered Oregon territory just three more times after that opening drive. Liberty had ten total possessions in the game.

RELATED: Fiesta Bowl: Liberty Players Discuss Jamey Chadwell's Leadership

Run Game Held Down

Liberty's top rushing offense had their smallest output of the season against Oregon. The Flames managed a season-low 168 rushing yards in the game. It was also the only game this season that Liberty was unable to score a rushing touchdown. Quinton Cooley was the Flames' leading rusher with eight carries for 79 yards.

Fireworks From Bo Nix in Final Game

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix has had plenty of highlights over the course of his college career. He ended it with a spectacular showing in Phoenix. 

Nix set a Fiesta Bowl record for touchdown passes with five, completing 28 passes on 35 attempts for 363 yards.  Nix ends his college career with 151 total touchdowns between his time at Oregon and at Auburn. His performance this season broke Marcus Mariota's Oregon record for passing touchdowns in a season. He also has the most starts of anyone in FBS history with 61 and broke the FBS single-season completion percentage record. Additionally, he's the first quarterback with at least 55 touchdowns at two different schools.

He was pulled early in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation from Oregon fans.

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Joe Londergan
JOE LONDERGAN

Joe covers college sports from the Group of Five ranks and beyond. He has worked in the sports industry since 2008, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville, and a Master's degree from Seattle University.

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