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Live updates: Oregon football takes on the Liberty Flames in the Fiesta Bowl

Chris Hansen and Alec Dietz, Eugene Register-Guard
·6 min read

No. 8 Oregon football will face No. 23 Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl at 10 a.m. Monday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The Ducks (11-2, 8-1 Pac-12) will aim for its sixth-ever 12-win season after falling to Washington in the Pac-12 championship game.

The Flames (13-0, 8-0 CUSA) are one of just four teams in FBS to finish the regular season unbeaten, along with No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Washington and No. 5 Florida State, though against one of the weakest schedules in the America. Liberty has not played a Power Five team.

Still, the Ducks are not overlooking an undefeated opponent.

“That’s the good thing about bowl season is you get an opportunity to go out there and play one more game,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “And more importantly, we want to send our seniors off in the right way. (They) put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this game, and we want the opportunity for them to get to celebrate that one last time together on the football field.”

Follow along here for live updates from the Fiesta Bowl.

Kickoff time set for Oregon football vs. Liberty in Fiesta Bowl

Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. PST as No. 8 Oregon football takes on No. 23 Liberty at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game is being televised on ESPN.

Jordan Burch in, Jahlil Florence out for game

Defensive end Burch, who was injured in the Pac-12 Championship game against Washington on Dec. 1 is listed as a potential starter on the Fiesta Bowl depth chart handed out Monday at State Farm Stadium. Injured starting cornerback Florence is absent from the depth chart, meaning the Ducks will be without both starters at corner against Liberty, as Khyree Jackson opted out of the game earlier this month. The starters appear to be Dontae Manning and Nikko Reed.

Notable new starters

The Ducks have new names in their projected starting lineup, replacing the four players who have opted out of the game. Wide receiver Traeshon Holden is listed as the replacement for record-setter Troy Franklin, freshman Iapani Laloulu is the listed starter at center, replacing All-American Jackson Powers-Johnson, Taki Taimani is listed as the starter at defensive tackle, replacing Popo Aumavae, and Nikko Reed is starting at cornerback for Khyree Jackson.

Game set to begin

Liberty wins the coin toss and Oregon will start the game on defense. Bo Nix, Steven Stephens IV, Steven Jones, Brandon Dorlus and former Duck Ahmad Rashad were the captains.

Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter (7) scrambles during the first half on the NCAA Fiesta Bowl college football game against Oregon Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz.
Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter (7) scrambles during the first half on the NCAA Fiesta Bowl college football game against Oregon Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz.

10:06 a.m.: Flames strike first

In just six short plays Liberty went right down the field to open the Fiesta Bowl with a touchdown, aided by 33-yard run on a triple option pitch play to Aaron Bedgood and Casey Rogers subsequent late hit penalty gifted the Flames another 15 yards. Flames QB Kaidon Salter found Bentley Hanshaw for a 17-yard score to cap the scoring drive with 12:37 left in the first quarter. The Flames missed the PAT, but lead 6-0.

10:16 a.m.: Ducks get three points back

It didn't take long for Oregon to strike back and get some points on the board, led by three Bo Nix completions to Tez Johnson, including a 40-yard strike. The Ducks faltered in the red zone, though, and settled for a short Camden Lewis field goal from 37 yards out. With 9:06 left in the first quarter, the Ducks trail 6-3.

First quarter update

What happened: The Ducks allowed a touchdown on the Flames opening drive, then countered with a field goal before both offenses puttered on their next two drives.

The big play: Bo Nix found Tez Johnson for a 40-yard gain on the Ducks' opening offensive drive to set up a field goal.

Momentum swing: After allowing a touchdown to start the game, the Ducks have stifled the Flames on back-to-back drives since.

Beyond the boxscore: Bo Nix opened the game completing his first four passes before then failing to complete a pass over his next four throws. The quarterback is still in contention for the FBS' all-time single-season completion percentage record held by Alabama's Mac Jones (2020), but has work to do.

Oregon wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr., left, celebrates his touchdown during the first half on the NCAA Fiesta Bowl college football game against Liberty, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz.
Oregon wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr., left, celebrates his touchdown during the first half on the NCAA Fiesta Bowl college football game against Liberty, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz.

10:49 a.m.: Nix connects with Bryant to give Ducks lead

The Ducks relied on their run game to get on the goal line, and asked Nix to finish the drive, with Bucky Irving taking a carry 44 yards into the red zone and Nix finding Gary Bryant Jr. for a short score to give Oregon the lead with 12:53 left in the first half. Oregon took its first lead of the game, 10-6.

11:10 a.m.: Oregon extends its lead, 17-6

The Ducks capped off another long, 10-play drive with a short touchdown pass from Nix to tight end Terrance Ferguson to go up, 17-6. Nix has now completed 12 of his 18 pass attempts for 138 yards and two scores in his final collegiate game.

11:22 a.m.: Ducks nearing blowout territory in the first half

Oregon forced yet another three-and-out on defense and went down the field in no time at all, capped by Bo Nix's third touchdown pass of the first half to Kenyon Sadiq. It was Sadiq's first career touchdown as a Duck, and Nix's 43rd touchdown pass of the season, breaking Marcus Mariota's record set in 2014. Oregon leads 24-6 with just under four minutes to go in the half.

HALF: Ducks lead 31-6

What happened: Oregon outscored the Flames, 28-0, in the second quarter behind four touchdown passes by Nix.

The big play: Steve Stephens IV intercepted Liberty QB Salter off a deflection with a minute to play in the first half, leading to Oregon's fourth touchdown to break Liberty's back heading into the break.

Momentum swing: Bo Nix found Traeshon Holden for a touchdown right at the end of the first half to score his fourth touchdown and give Oregon a dominant lead at half.

Beyond the boxscore: Nix has completed 19 of his 25 passes, and is still within striking distance of the FBS' all-time single-season completion percentage record. He would need to complete his next four passes to break it, or finish the game around 80%.

12:12 p.m.: Bo Nix breaks two records with one throw

On a reverse, flea-flicker screen pass to Tez Johnson, Nix broke Marcus Mariota's single-season Oregon passing yards record, while also moving ahead of Jones' national completion percentage record. Oh, and the play also went for a 24-yard touchdown to put the Ducks ahead 38-6 with 11:11 to go in the third quarter. Nix's day could very well be done with the Ducks firmly in the control.

12:42 p.m.: Ducks in control

Oregon scored its 45th unanswered point unceremoniously, with Bucky Irving pounding in his first touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter from a yard out to put Oregon ahead 45-6 after a long drive.

FINAL: Ducks 45, Flames 6

Oregon won its 12th game of the season, the sixth-such season in program history in a 45-6 demolition of Liberty. Nix starred in his final collegiate game, tossing five touchdowns on 28-35 passing for 363 yards. Bucky Irving had 117 rushing yards and a score, and Tez Johnson caught 11 passes for 172 yards and a score.

Oregon football stories to get you ready for Fiesta Bowl

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Live updates: Oregon football takes on Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl