The game started at 6:30 p.m. (MST) and aired on ESPN. Oregon won the game by a score of 35 points to 17 over Kansas State, making its second Fiesta Bowl title for the Ducks (first since 2001 in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl).
Preview
This was the first time Kansas State and Oregon played each other. They were scheduled to meet during the 2012 regular season but the game was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. On November 11, 2012, both schools were undefeated (10–0) and were ranked #1 or #2 in the polls and the BCS rankings. However, both schools lost their eleventh game of the season on November 17 to fall from the national championship race. Each finished the regular season with an 11–1 record.
This was the fourth Fiesta Bowl to match a Big 12 (formerly Big Eight) team and a Pac-12 (formerly Pacific-10) team. The previous such Fiesta Bowls occurred in 1983 (Oklahoma vs. Arizona State), 2002 (Colorado, then representing the Big 12, against Oregon) and 2012 (Oklahoma State vs. Stanford).
K-State attributed its success this season to a balanced offense led by quarterback Collin Klein and an opportunistic defense that included linebacker Arthur Brown. The Wildcats are leading the nation in turnover margin at +21. Klein rushed for 22 touchdowns this season, threw for 10 or more touchdowns in consecutive seasons, passed for more than 4,000 yards and rushed 2,000 yards for a career.
The Oregon Ducks were led by redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota, who was the Conference’s Offensive Freshman of the Year. Mariota, was sixth in the country in passing efficiency, completed 218 of 312 passes for 2,511 yards and 30 touchdowns with six interceptions. All-America running back Kenjon Barner ran for 1,624 yards and scored 22 touchdowns this season, fifth best in rushing (135.3 avg.) and sixth in scoring (11.0 ppg).
Anthony Cantele kickoff for 59-yards returned by De'Anthony Thomas for 94-yards for a touchdown. Two-point conversion attempt, Dion Jordan rush good
8
0
1
3:46
7
54
2:01
ORE
De'Anthony Thomas 23-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Mariota, Alejandro Maldonado kick good
15
0
2
13:26
10
58
5:20
KSU
Collin Klein 6-yard touchdown run, Anthony Cantele kick good
15
7
2
5:21
12
59
6:36
KSU
25-yard field goal by Anthony Cantele
15
10
2
0:14
5
77
0:46
ORE
Kenjon Barner 24-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Mariota, Alejandro Maldonado kick good
22
10
3
11:01
11
62
2:10
ORE
32-yard field goal by Alejandro Maldonado
25
10
3
8:03
7
61
2:26
ORE
Marcus Mariota 2-yard touchdown run, Alejandro Maldonado kick blocked
31
10
3
8:03
1
-
-
ORE
Alejandro Maldonado PAT blocked by Javonta Boyd and recovered by defense outside end zone; Chris Harper tackled in end zone for one-point conversion safety
32
10
4
11:35
11
72
5:00
KSU
John Hubert 10-yard touchdown reception from Collin Klein, Anthony Cantele kick good
A rare type of football scoring occurred during the third quarter on an attempted Oregon extra point, a one-point conversion safety. The one-point safety was awarded to Oregon after Kansas State blocked Oregon's extra-point attempt, recovered the ball in the field of play, then retreated into the end zone where the player with the ball was tackled. This was only the second one-point safety scored in the history of NCAA FBS competition; the other was converted by Texas against Texas A&M on November 26, 2004.
References
^Bowl Schedule, Los Angeles Times, December 8, 2012
