Liberty vs. Oregon

Monday, January 1, 2024, Fiesta Bowl

No. 8 Oregon beat No. 18 Liberty 45–⁠6. It was their only meeting on record.

Neutral site18Liberty13–⁠1 in 2023
6
Neutral site8Oregon12–⁠2 in 2023
45

Final at State Farm Stadium, GlendaleIndoorsTV: ESPNAttendance 47,769

MVPs Bo Nix (Off. QB, Oregon); Jeffrey Bassa (Def. LB, Oregon)Wikipedia

Official
Steve MarloweGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Liberty60006
Oregon3287745

Standouts

  • PassingBo Nix28 of 35, 363 yards, 5 TDOregon
  • RushingBucky Irving14 carries, 117 yards, 1 TDOregon
  • ReceivingTez Johnson11 catches, 172 yards, 1 TDOregon
  • DefenseJeffrey Bassa8 tackles, 1 for lossOregon

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Liberty

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Kaidon Salter15/2412611
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Quinton Cooley879041
Aaron Bedgood345033
Kaidon Salter1025010
Billy Lucas51908
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
C.J. Daniels879020
Billy Lucas121021
Bentley Hanshaw117117
Treon Sibley1808
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Tyren Dupree8000
Quinton Reese6000
Amarian Williams6000
Kobe Singleton6000

Oregon

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Bo Nix28/3536350
Austin Novosad5/73800
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Mar’Keise Irving14117144
Jordan James963017
Bo Nix1606
Jayden Limar3103
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Tez Johnson11172140
Traeshon Holden569121
Gary Bryant Jr.462150
Jayden Limar130018
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Jeffrey Bassa8100
Nikko Reed5000
Steve Stephens3001
Mase Funa30.500

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

LibertyOregon
294Total yards584
126Passing yards401
168Rushing yards183
5.3Yards per pass9.5
6.0Yards per rush6.3
15First downs28
5–⁠11Third downs6–⁠11
0–⁠1Fourth downs2–⁠2
2Turnovers0
6–⁠49Penalties2–⁠20
24:45Possession35:15
0Sacks (by defense)0

Efficiency

LibertyOregon
44%Success rate61%
−0.06EPA per play0.54
0.86Explosiveness1.24
0.04Rushing EPA0.37
−0.18Passing EPA0.65
33%Passing-down success47%
−0.17First-down EPA0.31
0.12Second-down EPA0.50
0.28Third-down EPA1.02
10%Havoc by its defense21%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Oregon 59% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

Oregon −16.5, over/under 64.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Oregon 90%, Liberty 10%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

The money

The Fiesta Bowl was put on by the Fiesta Sports Foundation, a nonprofit. Its IRS Form 990 for the year to March 2024, which takes in this game, reports $14.4 million in revenue, $11.5 million of it from game revenue, and $13.5 million in expenses. Its best-paid, executive director/CEO Erik Moses, was paid $619,000.

From the organization’s IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the IRS’s e-file data. Payments are the grants it lists on Schedule I of that return. See every filing at ProPublica (EIN 86-0253821).

Every drive

Oregon end zoneLiberty end zoneQ1 LibertyTouchdown, 6 playsQ1 OregonField goal, 8 playsQ1 LibertyPunt, 5 playsQ1 OregonPunt, 3 playsQ1 LibertyPunt, 7 playsQ1 OregonTouchdown, 7 playsQ2 LibertyPunt, 3 playsQ2 OregonTouchdown, 10 playsQ2 LibertyPunt, 3 playsQ2 OregonTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 LibertyInterception, 8 playsQ2 OregonTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 LibertyEnd of half, 1 playQ3 OregonTouchdown, 7 playsQ3 LibertyTurnover on downs, 8 playsQ3 OregonTouchdown, 13 playsQ4 LibertyPunt, 7 playsQ4 OregonPunt, 5 playsQ4 LibertyFumble, 4 playsQ4 OregonEnd of game, 9 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Oregon drives left to right, Liberty right to left.
  1. Q1 LibertyTouchdown, 6 plays, 75 yards
  2. Q1 OregonField goal, 8 plays, 60 yards
  3. Q1 LibertyPunt, 5 plays, 16 yards
  4. Q1 OregonPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  5. Q1 LibertyPunt, 7 plays, 37 yards
  6. Q1 OregonTouchdown, 7 plays, 82 yards
  7. Q2 LibertyPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  8. Q2 OregonTouchdown, 10 plays, 75 yards
  9. Q2 LibertyPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  10. Q2 OregonTouchdown, 5 plays, 95 yards
  11. Q2 LibertyInterception, 8 plays, 41 yards
  12. Q2 OregonTouchdown, 5 plays, 68 yards
  13. Q2 LibertyEnd of half, 1 play, −1 yard
  14. Q3 OregonTouchdown, 7 plays, 75 yards
  15. Q3 LibertyTurnover on downs, 8 plays, 57 yards
  16. Q3 OregonTouchdown, 13 plays, 82 yards
  17. Q4 LibertyPunt, 7 plays, 32 yards
  18. Q4 OregonPunt, 5 plays, 15 yards
  19. Q4 LibertyFumble, 4 plays, 19 yards
  20. Q4 OregonEnd of game, 9 plays, 39 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Liberty 6, Oregon 3
Liberty Touchdown, 6 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Camden Lewis kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:491st & 10 at own 25Kaidon Salter pass complete to Aaron Bedgood for a loss of 2 yards to the LIB 23
14:142nd & 12 at own 23Aaron Bedgood run for 33 yds to the ORE 44 for a 1ST down
14:141st & 10 at opp 44Oregon Penalty, Unnecessary Roughness (Casey Rogers) to the ORE 29 for a 1ST down
14:001st & 10 at opp 29Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to CJ Daniels
13:402nd & 10 at opp 29Kaidon Salter run for 8 yds to the ORE 21
13:053rd & 2 at opp 21Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the ORE 17 for a 1ST down
12:371st & 10 at opp 17Kaidon Salter pass complete to Bentley Hanshaw for 17 yds for a TD (Nick Brown PAT MISSED)Liberty 6, Oregon 0
Oregon Field goal, 8 plays
12:371st & 10 at own 35Max Morgan kickoff for 61 yds , Bucky Irving return for 17 yds to the ORE 21
12:191st & 10 at own 21Bucky Irving run for 5 yds to the ORE 26
12:002nd & 5 at own 26Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 7 yds to the ORE 33 for a 1ST down
11:291st & 10 at own 33Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 5 yds to the ORE 38
10:462nd & 5 at own 38Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 40 yds to the LIB 22 for a 1ST down
10:261st & 10 at opp 22Bucky Irving run for 2 yds to the LIB 20
9:442nd & 8 at opp 20Bo Nix pass complete to Gary Bryant Jr. for 1 yd to the LIB 19
9:113rd & 7 at opp 19Bo Nix pass incomplete
9:064th & 7 at opp 19Camden Lewis 37 Yd Field GoalLiberty 6, Oregon 3
Liberty Punt, 5 plays
9:064th & 7 at own 35Camden Lewis kickoff for 63 yds , Aaron Bedgood return for 19 yds to the LIB 21
8:521st & 10 at own 21Aaron Bedgood run for 5 yds to the LIB 26
8:262nd & 5 at own 26Liberty Penalty, False Start (Chase Mitchell) to the LIB 21
8:032nd & 10 at own 21Kaidon Salter pass complete to CJ Daniels for 12 yds to the LIB 33 for a 1ST down
7:281st & 10 at own 33Billy Lucas run for 2 yds to the LIB 35
6:532nd & 8 at own 35Kaidon Salter run for a loss of 6 yards to the LIB 37 Kaidon Salter fumbled, recovered by LIB Billy Lucas Billy Lucas run for 8 yds to the LIB 37
6:073rd & 6 at own 37Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Noah Frith
5:584th & 6 at own 37Max Morgan punt for 33 yds, fair catch by Tez Johnson at the ORE 30 Liberty Penalty, Kick Catching Interference (-15 Yards) to the ORE 45
Oregon Punt, 3 plays
5:441st & 10 at own 45Jordan James run for 5 yds to the 50 yard line
5:222nd & 5 at the 50Bo Nix pass incomplete to Jordan James
5:173rd & 5 at the 50Bo Nix pass incomplete to Traeshon Holden
5:104th & 5 at the 50Ross James punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Brylan Green at the LIB 8
Liberty Punt, 7 plays
5:031st & 10 at own 8Aaron Bedgood run for 7 yds to the LIB 15 Liberty Penalty, Offensive Holding (Xavior Gray) to the LIB 8
4:481st & 10 at own 8Kaidon Salter pass complete to CJ Daniels for 10 yds to the LIB 18 for a 1ST down
4:091st & 10 at own 18Liberty Penalty, False Start (Xavior Gray) to the LIB 13
3:451st & 15 at own 13Kaidon Salter pass complete to Aaron Bedgood for 4 yds to the LIB 17
3:202nd & 11 at own 17Kaidon Salter pass complete to CJ Daniels for 20 yds to the LIB 37 for a 1ST down
2:401st & 10 at own 37Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the LIB 41
2:092nd & 6 at own 41Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Noah Frith
1:573rd & 6 at own 41Kaidon Salter run for 4 yds to the LIB 45
1:174th & 2 at own 45Max Morgan punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Tez Johnson at the ORE 18
Oregon Touchdown, 7 plays
1:091st & 10 at own 18Bo Nix pass incomplete to Tez Johnson
1:022nd & 10 at own 18Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 16 yds to the ORE 34 for a 1ST down
0:201st & 10 at own 34Bucky Irving run for 7 yds to the ORE 41
Q2 14:512nd & 3 at own 41Bo Nix pass complete to Bucky Irving for 10 yds to the LIB 49 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:121st & 10 at opp 49Bucky Irving run for 44 yds to the LIB 5 for a 1ST down
Q2 13:311st & goal at opp 5Bucky Irving run for 3 yds to the LIB 2
Q2 12:532nd & goal at opp 2Gary Bryant Jr. 2 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Camden Lewis Kick)Oregon 10, Liberty 6
2nd quarter7 drives, then Oregon 31, Liberty 6
Liberty Punt, 3 plays
12:532nd & 7 at own 35Camden Lewis kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
12:391st & 10 at own 25Billy Lucas run for 4 yds to the LIB 29
11:572nd & 6 at own 29Vaughn Blue run for 1 yd to the LIB 30
11:233rd & 5 at own 30Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to CJ Daniels
11:124th & 5 at own 30Max Morgan punt for 57 yds , Tez Johnson returns for 12 yds to the ORE 25
Oregon Touchdown, 10 plays
11:051st & 10 at own 25Bucky Irving run for no gain to the ORE 25
10:282nd & 10 at own 25Bo Nix pass complete to Gary Bryant Jr. for 9 yds to the ORE 34
9:433rd & 1 at own 34Jordan James run for 14 yds to the ORE 48 for a 1ST down
9:221st & 10 at own 48Jordan James run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line
8:342nd & 8 at the 50Bo Nix pass incomplete to Terrance Ferguson
8:223rd & 8 at the 50Bo Nix pass complete to Jordan James for 9 yds to the LIB 41 for a 1ST down
7:571st & 10 at opp 41Bo Nix pass complete to Traeshon Holden for 21 yds to the LIB 20 for a 1ST down
7:481st & 10 at opp 20Timeout Liberty, clock 07:48
7:441st & 10 at opp 20Bo Nix pass incomplete
7:382nd & 10 at opp 20Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 16 yds to the LIB 4 for a 1ST down
7:211st & 0 at opp 4Nix, Bo pass incomplete to Holden, Traeshon, PENALTY LIBERTY pass interference (Williams, Amarian) 2 yards to the LIBERTY2, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN OREGON.
7:131st & goal at opp 2Terrance Ferguson 2 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Camden Lewis Kick)Oregon 17, Liberty 6
Liberty Punt, 3 plays
7:131st & 10 at own 35Camden Lewis kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
7:001st & 10 at own 25Kaidon Salter run for a loss of 4 yards to the LIB 21
6:292nd & 14 at own 21Quinton Cooley run for 9 yds to the LIB 30
6:193rd & 5 at own 30Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to CJ Daniels
6:064th & 5 at own 30Max Morgan punt for 65 yds, downed at the ORE 5
Oregon Touchdown, 5 plays
5:581st & 10 at own 5Bo Nix pass complete to Gary Bryant Jr. for 50 yds to the LIB 45 for a 1ST down
5:351st & 10 at opp 45Nix, Bo pass incomplete to Johnson, Tez, PENALTY LIBERTY pass interference (Bishop, Brandon) 15 yards to the LIBERTY30, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN OREGON.
5:221st & 10 at opp 30Bo Nix pass complete to Traeshon Holden for 4 yds to the LIB 26
4:502nd & 6 at opp 26Jordan James run for 17 yds to the LIB 9 for a 1ST down
4:171st & goal at opp 9Jordan James run for 6 yds to the LIB 3
3:562nd & 0 at opp 3Timeout Liberty, clock 03:56
3:502nd & goal at opp 3Kenyon Sadiq 3 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Camden Lewis Kick)Oregon 24, Liberty 6
Liberty Interception, 8 plays
3:502nd & 4 at own 35Camden Lewis kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
3:441st & 10 at own 25Kaidon Salter pass complete to CJ Daniels for 11 yds to the LIB 36 for a 1ST down
3:081st & 10 at own 36Quinton Cooley run for 8 yds to the LIB 44
2:402nd & 2 at own 44Quinton Cooley run for 8 yds to the ORE 48 for a 1ST down
2:031st & 10 at opp 48Kaidon Salter pass complete to Quinton Cooley for a loss of 2 yards to the 50 yard line
1:482nd & 12 at the 50Kaidon Salter pass complete to CJ Daniels for 7 yds to the ORE 43
1:453rd & 5 at opp 43Kaidon Salter pass complete to CJ Daniels for 8 yds to the ORE 35 for a 1ST down
1:191st & 10 at opp 35Kaidon Salter run for 1 yd to the ORE 34
1:122nd & 9 at opp 34Kaidon Salter pass intercepted Steve Stephens IV return for no gain to the ORE 32
Oregon Touchdown, 5 plays
1:021st & 10 at own 32Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 3 yds to the ORE 35
0:452nd & 7 at own 35Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 2 yds to the ORE 37
0:223rd & 5 at own 37Bo Nix run for 6 yds to the ORE 43 for a 1ST down
0:081st & 10 at own 43Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 40 yds to the LIB 17 for a 1ST down
0:081st & 10 at opp 17Timeout Oregon, clock 00:08
0:081st & 10 at opp 17Timeout Liberty, clock 00:08
0:031st & 10 at opp 17Traeshon Holden 17 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Camden Lewis Kick)Oregon 31, Liberty 6
Liberty End of half, 1 play
0:031st & 10 at own 35Camden Lewis kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
0:001st & 10 at own 25TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the LIB 24
3rd quarter3 drives, then Oregon 38, Liberty 6
Oregon Touchdown, 7 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Max Morgan kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:541st & 10 at own 25Bucky Irving run for 10 yds to the ORE 35 for a 1ST down
14:251st & 10 at own 35Bucky Irving run for 1 yd to the ORE 36
13:442nd & 9 at own 36Bo Nix pass complete to Bucky Irving for 4 yds to the ORE 40
12:593rd & 5 at own 40Bo Nix pass complete to Traeshon Holden for 15 yds to the LIB 45 for a 1ST down
12:301st & 10 at opp 45Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 12 yds to the LIB 33 for a 1ST down
11:541st & 10 at opp 33Bucky Irving run for 9 yds to the LIB 24
11:112nd & 1 at opp 24Tez Johnson 24 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Camden Lewis Kick)Oregon 38, Liberty 6
Liberty Turnover on downs, 8 plays
11:112nd & 1 at own 35Camden Lewis kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
11:051st & 10 at own 25Kaidon Salter pass complete to CJ Daniels for 5 yds to the LIB 30
10:302nd & 5 at own 30Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the LIB 34
10:033rd & 1 at own 34Kaidon Salter run for 2 yds to the LIB 36 for a 1ST down
9:241st & 10 at own 36Quinton Cooley run for 41 yds to the ORE 23 for a 1ST down
8:421st & 10 at opp 23Kaidon Salter pass complete to Vaughn Blue for 1 yd to the ORE 22
7:582nd & 9 at opp 22Kaidon Salter run for 4 yds to the ORE 18
7:203rd & 5 at opp 18Kaidon Salter run for no gain to the ORE 18
6:404th & 5 at opp 18Kaidon Salter pass incomplete
Oregon Touchdown, 13 plays
6:311st & 10 at own 18Bo Nix pass complete to Terrance Ferguson for 16 yds to the ORE 34 for a 1ST down
5:571st & 10 at own 34Jordan James run for 6 yds to the ORE 40
5:182nd & 4 at own 40Jordan James run for 8 yds to the ORE 48 for a 1ST down
4:421st & 10 at own 48Jordan James run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line
3:582nd & 8 at the 50Bo Nix pass incomplete
3:503rd & 8 at the 50Bucky Irving run for 7 yds to the LIB 43
3:064th & 1 at opp 43Jordan James run for 3 yds to the LIB 40 for a 1ST down
2:341st & 10 at opp 40Bo Nix pass complete to Traeshon Holden for 12 yds to the LIB 28 for a 1ST down
1:491st & 10 at opp 28Bo Nix pass complete to Tez Johnson for 7 yds to the LIB 21
1:122nd & 3 at opp 21Bo Nix pass complete to Patrick Herbert for 12 yds to the LIB 9 for a 1ST down
0:301st & goal at opp 9Bucky Irving run for 4 yds to the LIB 5
Q4 14:532nd & goal at opp 5Bo Nix pass complete to Bucky Irving for 4 yds to the LIB 1
Q4 14:133rd & goal at opp 1Bucky Irving 1 Yd Run (Grant Meadors Kick)Oregon 45, Liberty 6
4th quarter4 drives, then Oregon 45, Liberty 6
Liberty Punt, 7 plays
14:133rd & 2 at own 35Camden Lewis kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:071st & 10 at own 25Billy Lucas run for 3 yds to the LIB 28
13:352nd & 7 at own 28Kaidon Salter run for 6 yds to the LIB 34
12:523rd & 1 at own 34Billy Lucas run for 4 yds to the LIB 38 for a 1ST down
12:201st & 10 at own 38Kaidon Salter pass complete to Billy Lucas for 21 yds to the ORE 41 for a 1ST down
11:491st & 10 at opp 41Billy Lucas run for a loss of 2 yards to the ORE 43
11:112nd & 12 at opp 43Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Noah Frith
11:033rd & 12 at opp 43Kaidon Salter pass incomplete
10:524th & 12 at opp 43Max Morgan punt for 43 yds for a touchback
Oregon Punt, 5 plays
10:461st & 10 at own 20Oregon Penalty, Illegal Motion (-5 Yards) to the ORE 15
10:221st & 15 at own 15Bucky Irving run for 7 yds to the ORE 22
9:342nd & 8 at own 22Bucky Irving run for 17 yds to the ORE 39 for a 1ST down
9:001st & 10 at own 39Austin Novosad pass complete to Kyler Kasper for a loss of 4 yards to the ORE 35
8:262nd & 14 at own 35Austin Novosad pass incomplete to Kenyon Sadiq
8:203rd & 14 at own 35Austin Novosad pass incomplete
8:074th & 14 at own 35Luke Dunne punt for 45 yds , CJ Daniels returns for 4 yds to the LIB 24
Liberty Fumble, 4 plays
8:001st & 10 at own 24Kaidon Salter pass complete to Treon Sibley for 8 yds to the LIB 32
7:262nd & 2 at own 32Quinton Cooley run for 1 yd to the LIB 33
6:483rd & 1 at own 33Kaidon Salter run for 10 yds to the LIB 43 for a 1ST down
6:071st & 10 at own 43Kaidon Salter pass complete to CJ Daniels for 6 yds CJ Daniels fumbled, forced by Rodrick Pleasant, recovered by ORE Zach Grisham
Oregon End of game, 9 plays
5:581st & 10 at opp 49Austin Novosad pass complete to Jurrion Dickey for 7 yds to the LIB 42
5:212nd & 3 at opp 42Jayden Limar run for a loss of 1 yard to the LIB 43
4:443rd & 4 at opp 43Jayden Limar run for 3 yds to the LIB 40
4:004th & 1 at opp 40Austin Novosad pass complete to Darrian Anderson for 11 yds to the LIB 29 for a 1ST down
3:181st & 10 at opp 29Jayden Limar run for a loss of 1 yard to the LIB 30
2:352nd & 11 at opp 30Austin Novosad pass complete to Darrian Anderson for a loss of 6 yards to the LIB 24 lat. to Jayden Limar for 12 yds to the LIB 24
1:523rd & 5 at opp 24Austin Novosad pass complete to Jayden Limar for 18 yds to the LIB 6 for a 1ST down
1:141st & goal at opp 6TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the LIB 8
0:342nd & goal at opp 8TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the LIB 10

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

Oregon leads 1–⁠0 in their only meeting.

Around this game