Bo Nix Oregon football Fiesta Bowl demolition of Liberty Flames

Oregon football dominates Liberty in Fiesta Bowl with record-breaking performance from quarterback Bo Nix in 45-6 victory. No. 8 Ducks shine.

The No. 8 Oregon football team had a slow start, giving up the game's first score to No. 23 Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day. However, the Ducks quickly turned things around and went on to dominate Liberty with a final score of 45-6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

In his final collegiate game, quarterback Bo Nix put on a record-breaking performance, breaking four records in the process. Nix set a new national FBS record for completion percentage in a single season, surpassing the previous record held by Alabama's Mac Jones in 2020. He finished the season with an impressive 77.44% completion percentage and also broke Marcus Mariota's single-season records for touchdown passes and yards, with 45 touchdowns and 4,508 yards, respectively. Nix also set a new Oregon record for the most touchdown passes thrown by a quarterback in a bowl game, with five.

Despite Liberty's strong start with an early score, the Ducks quickly responded with a field goal and then took control of the game. Nix's exceptional performance in the second quarter, where he completed 14 of his last 16 pass attempts and threw four touchdowns, helped Oregon secure a commanding 31-6 lead at halftime.

The second half saw even more impressive plays from Nix and the Ducks' offense. Offensive coordinator Will Stein's creative play-calling led to Nix breaking two records with a single throw, as he connected with Tez Johnson for a 24-yard touchdown. This throw broke both Mariota's single-season passing yards record and the Oregon bowl game record for touchdown passes in a game. Additionally, Nix surpassed Jones' FBS single-season completion percentage record.

Nix finished the game with 28 completions on 35 attempts, 363 yards, and five touchdowns, marking his 61st career start, another FBS record. Running back Bucky Irving also had a standout performance, rushing for 117 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Tez Johnson stepped up in the absence of Troy Franklin, recording 11 catches for 172 yards and a score, while also breaking Franklin's single-season receptions record with 86 catches.

The Oregon defense played a crucial role in the team's victory, holding Liberty to just 294 total yards after their early scoring drive. The Flames' top-scoring offense was limited to 126 passing yards and 168 rushing yards.

With this win, Oregon secured its 12th victory of the season, marking the Ducks' sixth 12-win season in program history.

Alec Dietz, who covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women's basketball, and baseball for The Register-Guard, can be reached at [email protected]. You can also follow him on Twitter @AlecDietz.