Reworded: Written by JOHN MARSHALL, a sports journalist for the Associated Press.

GLENDALE, Ariz.

In the Fiesta Bowl on Monday, No. 8 Oregon dominated No. 18 Liberty with a final score of 45-6. Quarterback Bo Nix, in the last game of his record-breaking career, threw for 363 yards and five touchdowns. The Ducks finished their season with high hopes for a national title, but ultimately fell short.

Nix had a stellar performance as a Heisman Trophy contender when he decided to join his team on the field for one final time. He threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Ducks secure a commanding 31-6 lead at halftime. In just over three quarters, Nix completed 28 of 35 passes, setting a new NCAA record for completion percentage in a season at 77.44%. This surpassed the previous record of 77.36% set by Alabama’s Mac Jones in 2020.

Tez Johnson made 11 receptions for 172 yards and scored a touchdown, contributing to the Ducks’ (12-2) total of 584 yards during the game.

At the beginning of the season, Oregon was seen as a top contender for the national title. However, they fell short of making it to the College Football Playoff by six points, with three points being lost in each of their two defeats against No. 2 ranked Washington.

While winning the Fiesta Bowl may not fully erase the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the CFP, it does serve as a satisfying conclusion to Nix’s career.

Liberty (13-1) overcame the death of freshman offensive lineman Tajh Boyd early in camp with the best season in the program’s short FBS history.

In tribute to their fallen teammate, the Flames displayed a dominant rushing game and a strategic defense that ranked first in the nation for interceptions.

The Liberty team had a strong beginning in their first New Year’s Six bowl game. They quickly advanced 75 yards in just six plays during their first drive, which ended with Keidon Salter throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to Bentley Hanshaw.

The Flames encountered multiple waves of Ducks following that.

The offense of Liberty experienced minor triumphs after the initial drive, but had limited major plays.

The Flames’ defense held Oregon to a field goal on their first drive, but struggled against the Ducks for the rest of the game, resulting in the end of their perfect season.

THE TAKEAWAY

The Ducks’ size and speed proved too much for the Flames, but under coach Jamey Chadwell, Liberty made a strong start to their first season.

After a sluggish beginning, Oregon showed their typical prowess and ended with a 3-1 record in the Fiesta Bowl. Nix also made a statement before moving on to the NFL.

UP NEXT

Freedom: Sophomore Salter and junior running back Quinton Cooley will lead the Flames, while a significant portion of the defense is expected to return and maintain the team’s upward trajectory.

Several underclassmen from Oregon, including Nix, RB Bucky Irving, WR Troy Franklin, and DB Khyree Jackson, have announced their intentions to enter the NFL draft. However, with the No. 6 recruiting class in the early signing period, Oregon is expected to quickly replenish their roster according to the 247 Sports composite.

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The AP college football can be found at the following links: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.

Source: wralsportsfan.com