Definition
The 2013 Fiesta Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game played on January 1, 2013, as part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) for the 2012 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season.
Overview
The game was contested between the Kansas State University Wildcats (Big 12 Conference) and the University of Oregon Ducks (Pacific‑12 Conference) at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Oregon defeated Kansas State with a final score of 35–17. The event was televised nationally in the United States on ESPN and was officially titled the “Tostitos Fiesta Bowl” for sponsorship reasons. Attendance was reported at 73,425 spectators.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Fiesta Bowl” refers to a postseason college football bowl game that was first played in 1971, originally sponsored by the city of Phoenix and later by various corporate partners. Each annual edition adopts the year in which the game is played; thus, the 2013 Fiesta Bowl denotes the edition held in 2013, corresponding to the 2012 football season.
Characteristics
- Date and Venue: January 1, 2013; University of Phoenix Stadium (now State Farm Stadium), Glendale, Arizona.
- Participating Teams: Kansas State Wildcats vs. Oregon Ducks.
- Final Score: Oregon 35, Kansas State 17.
- Key Performances: Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota was named the game's Most Valuable Player; he completed 20 of 28 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Kenjen Rogers contributed 115 rushing yards for Oregon, while Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein threw for 299 yards.
- Attendance: Approximately 73,425 spectators.
- Broadcast: ESPN (United States), with an international feed via ESPN International.
- Sponsorship: Tostitos served as the title sponsor, resulting in the formal designation “Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.”
- BCS Significance: The Fiesta Bowl was one of the four BCS bowl games, providing one of the premier postseason matchups before the transition to the College Football Playoff system in the 2014 season.
Related Topics
- Fiesta Bowl (general history and editions)
- Bowl Championship Series (BCS)
- 2012–13 NCAA football bowl games
- Kansas State Wildcats football program
- Oregon Ducks football program
- College Football Playoff (successor to the BCS)
- University of Phoenix Stadium (venue)