Oregon Football: Liberty vs Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl 2024

Jan. 1, 2024, 11:30 p.m. Sports

It's the time of year when college football fans' thoughts turn to the bowl season and which teams their favorite squad might face. For Oregon fans, there's a good chance the team could end up in the Fiesta Bowl in 2024. The Ducks could find themselves matched up against Liberty, a team that's on the rise in the college football world.

Liberty has been a force to be reckoned with since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2018. The Flames have gone a combined 23-5 in their first two seasons at the highest level of college football, including an undefeated 2019 campaign. Liberty's rise has been fueled by strong play on both sides of the ball.

On offense, the Flames average over 42 points and 500 yards per game. Quarterback Malik Willis is a big reason why, as he's thrown for over 6,700 yards and 60 touchdowns in his two seasons at Liberty. Willis has a bevy of talented weapons to work with, including wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden, who has over 2,000 career receiving yards.

The Oregon Ducks have been one of the most successful programs in college football over the last decade. The Ducks have won at least 10 games in seven of the last 10 seasons, including a trip to the National Championship Game in 2010. Oregon has also been a regular in the Fiesta Bowl, appearing in the game five times since 2000.

The Ducks are led by quarterback Tyler Shough, who took over the starting job this season. Shough has been very good, throwing for over 2,700 yards and 25 touchdowns. Oregon also has a strong defense, which is led by linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux is one of the best players in the country and has already racked up 9.5 sacks this season.

If these two teams meet in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl, it would be a matchup of two of the best young teams in college football. Oregon would be looking to add another Fiesta Bowl win to its resume, while Liberty would be looking to make a statement on the national stage. Either way, it would be a must-watch game.