Established in 1971, the Fiesta Bowl originated to address the Western Athletic Conference's bowl invitation struggles. Undergoing sponsorship changes, including names like Sunkist Fiesta Bowl and Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, it achieved significance in 2010 by hosting non-automatic qualifying teams Boise State and TCU in a BCS bowl. The Fiesta Bowl's recent years included closed-door events, standout matchups, and notable semifinal clashes, notably the high-scoring TCU vs. Michigan bout in December 2022.
Fiesta Bowl Sponsorship and Broadcasting Rights
Since 2022, the Fiesta Bowl has been the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, thanks to a sponsorship deal. Held in Glendale, Arizona, on December 31, it serves as a playoff semifinal and a gateway to the national championship. Vrbo's partnership includes branding, digital content, and exposure opportunities.
Since 2010, the Fiesta Bowl's broadcasting rights shifted exclusively to ESPN, marking a transformative journey. Previously aired on Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC, it and the Orange Bowl uniquely broadcasted on all "Big 4" U.S. networks. ESPN Radio hosts, and in 2013, ESPN Deportes delivered the first Spanish telecast.
Fiesta Bowl Winner List
Over the years, the Fiesta Bowl has hosted a prestigious lineup of victorious teams, showcasing the prowess of college football. Champions include renowned programs like Oklahoma State, Boise State, TCU, and Iowa State, each leaving an indelible mark on the bowl's storied history.
Rankings are based on the AP Poll before the game is played. Italics denote a tie game.
| Date played | Winning team | Losing team | Attendance | Notes | ||
| December 27, 1971 | No. 8 Arizona State | 45 | Florida State | 38 | 51,089 | notes |
| December 23, 1972 | No. 15 Arizona State | 49 | Missouri | 35 | 51,318 | notes |
| December 21, 1973 | No. 10 Arizona State | 28 | Pittsburgh | 7 | 50,878 | notes |
| December 28, 1974 | Oklahoma State | 16 | No. 17 BYU | 6 | 50,878 | notes |
| December 26, 1975 | No. 7 Arizona State | 17 | No. 6 Nebraska | 14 | 51,396 | notes |
| December 25, 1976 | No. 8 Oklahoma | 41 | Wyoming | 7 | 48,174 | notes |
| December 25, 1977 | No. 8 Penn State | 42 | No. 15 Arizona State | 30 | 57,727 | notes |
| December 25, 1978 | No. 8 Arkansas | 10 | No. 15 UCLA | 10 | 55,227 | notes |
| December 25, 1979 | No. 10 Pittsburgh | 16 | Arizona | 10 | 55,347 | notes |
| December 26, 1980 | No. 10 Penn State | 31 | No. 11 Ohio State | 19 | 66,738 | notes |
| January 1, 1982 | No. 7 Penn State | 26 | No. 8 USC | 10 | 71,053 | notes |
| January 1, 1983 | No. 11 Arizona State | 32 | No. 12 Oklahoma | 21 | 70,533 | notes |
| January 2, 1984 | No. 14 Ohio State | 28 | No. 15 Pittsburgh | 23 | 66,484 | notes |
| January 1, 1985 | No. 14 UCLA | 39 | No. 13 Miami (Florida) | 37 | 60,310 | notes |
| January 1, 1986 | No. 5 Michigan | 27 | No. 7 Nebraska | 23 | 72,454 | notes |
| January 2, 1987 | No. 2 Penn State | 14 | No. 1 Miami (Florida) | 10 | 73,098 | notes |
| January 1, 1988 | No. 3 Florida State | 31 | No. 5 Nebraska | 28 | 72,112 | notes |
| January 2, 1989 | No. 1 Notre Dame | 34 | No. 3 West Virginia | 21 | 74,911 | notes |
| January 1, 1990 | No. 5 Florida State | 41 | No. 6 Nebraska | 17 | 73,953 | notes |
| January 1, 1991 | No. 18 Louisville | 34 | No. 25 Alabama | 7 | 69,098 | notes |
| January 1, 1992 | No. 6 Penn State | 42 | No. 10 Tennessee | 17 | 71,133 | notes |
| January 1, 1993 | No. 6 Syracuse | 26 | No. 10 Colorado | 22 | 70,224 | notes |
| January 1, 1994 | No. 16 Arizona | 29 | No. 10 Miami (Florida) | 0 | 72,260 | notes |
| January 2, 1995 | No. 4 Colorado | 41 | Notre Dame | 24 | 73,968 | notes |
| January 2, 1996BA | No. 1 Nebraska | 62 | No. 2 Florida | 24 | 79,864 | notes |
| January 1, 1997 | No. 7 Penn State | 38 | No. 20 Texas | 15 | 65,106 | notes |
| December 31, 1997 | No. 10 Kansas State | 35 | No. 14 Syracuse | 18 | 69,367 | notes |
| January 4, 1999BCS | No. 1 Tennessee | 23 | No. 2 Florida State | 16 | 80,470 | notes |
| January 2, 2000 | No. 3 Nebraska | 31 | No. 6 Tennessee | 21 | 71,526 | notes |
| January 1, 2001 | No. 5 Oregon State | 41 | No. 10 Notre Dame | 9 | 75,428 | notes |
| January 1, 2002 | No. 2 Oregon | 38 | No. 3 Colorado | 16 | 74,118 | notes |
| January 3, 2003BCS | No. 2 Ohio State | 31 | No. 1 Miami (Florida) | 24 (2 OT) | 77,502 | notes |
| January 2, 2004 | No. 7 Ohio State | 35 | No. 8 Kansas State | 28 | 73,425 | notes |
| January 1, 2005 | No. 5 Utah | 35 | No. 19 Pittsburgh | 7 | 73,519 | notes |
| January 2, 2006 | No. 4 Ohio State | 34 | No. 5 Notre Dame | 20 | 76,196 | notes |
| January 1, 2007 | No. 9 Boise State | 43 | No. 7 Oklahoma | 42 (OT) | 73,719 | notes |
| January 2, 2008 | No. 11 West Virginia | 48 | No. 3 Oklahoma | 28 | 70,016 | notes |
| January 5, 2009 | No. 3 Texas | 24 | No. 10 Ohio State | 21 | 72,047 | notes |
| January 4, 2010 | No. 6 Boise State | 17 | No. 3 TCU | 10 | 73,227 | notes |
| January 1, 2011 | No. 9 Oklahoma | 48 | No. 25 Connecticut | 20 | 67,232 | notes |
| January 2, 2012 | No. 3 Oklahoma State | 41 | No. 4 Stanford | 38 (OT) | 69,927 | notes |
| January 3, 2013 | No. 5 Oregon | 35 | No. 7 Kansas State | 17 | 70,242 | notes |
| January 1, 2014 | No. 15 UCF | 52 | No. 6 Baylor | 42 | 65,172 | notes |
| December 31, 2014 | No. 21 Boise State | 38 | No. 12 Arizona | 30 | 66,896 | notes |
| January 1, 2016 | No. 7 Ohio State | 44 | No. 8 Notre Dame | 28 | 71,123 | notes |
| December 31, 2016CFP | No. 3 Clemson | 31 | No. 2 Ohio State | 0 | 70,236 | notes |
| December 30, 2017 | No. 9 Penn State | 35 | No. 12 Washington | 28 | 61,842 | notes |
| January 1, 2019 | No. 11 LSU | 40 | No. 7 UCF | 32 | 69,927 | notes |
| December 28, 2019CFP | No. 3 Clemson | 29 | No. 2 Ohio State | 23 | 71,330 | notes |
| January 2, 2021 | No. 12 Iowa State | 34 | No. 25 Oregon | 17 | 0 | notes |
| January 1, 2022 | No. 9 Oklahoma State | 37 | No. 5 Notre Dame | 35 | 49,550 | notes |
| December 31, 2022CFP | No. 3 TCU | 51 | No. 2 Michigan | 45 | 71,723 | notes |
^BA Denotes Bowl Alliance Championship Game
^BCS Denotes BCS National Championship Game
^CFP Denotes College Football Playoff semifinal game
Fiesta Bowl Appearances and win-loss Records
Teams vie for glory in the Fiesta Bowl, with appearances highlighting college football excellence. Each game writes a chapter, shaping win-loss records and contributing to the bowl's legacy.
|
| Rank | Team | Appearances | Record | Win pct. |
| T17 | Clemson | 2 | 2–0 | 1.000 |
| T17 | UCLA | 2 | 1–0–1 | .750 |
| T17 | Michigan | 2 | 1–1 | .500 |
| T17 | Syracuse | 2 | 1–1 | .500 |
| T17 | Texas | 2 | 1–1 | .500 |
| T17 | UCF | 2 | 1–1 | .500 |
| T17 | West Virginia | 2 | 1–1 | .500 |
| T17 | TCU | 2 | 1–1 | .500 |
FAQs
The Fiesta Bowl is played in an open-air stadium.
The 2023 Fiesta Bowl will be held in Glendale, Arizona.
The Fiesta Bowl is played at State Farm Stadium.
The highest score in the Fiesta Bowl is 96 points.
Oklahoma State won the Fiesta Bowl last year.
