On Jan. 8, the Vrbo-sponsored Fiesta Bowl acted as a semifinal in the highly anticipated College Football Playoffs. The University of Miami Hurricanes and the University of Mississippi Rebels faced off at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, bringing fans together from across the country to the Valley. The total attendance was 67,928, with the stadium split into clearly visible sides as fans dressed in either green and orange or red and blue to support their favorite teams. 

Organized by the Fiesta Sports Foundation, the Fiesta Bowl is part of the established bowl system that makes up the main postseason tournament for college football. The first Fiesta Bowl, originally hosted at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, was named after a contest run by The Arizona Republic called “Name the Bowl,” in which 6,500 entries were submitted. 

Prior to the Fiesta Bowl, Vrbo hosted the Fiesta Bowl Parade, the most-attended annual event in Arizona. Over 100,000 people take part in the festivities that run through Central Phoenix.

When it is not planning the next Fiesta Bowl, the Fiesta Sports Foundation works with charities. This year, they raised and donated thousands of dollars to teachers across Arizona and continued their program, Fiesta Sports Foundation Kindness Arizona, that commits random acts of kindness. This year, they hosted a breakfast for local firefighters, volunteered with the Red Cross, and gave haircuts to the unhoused youth of Arizona.

Additionally, the Fiesta Sports Foundation sponsors the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum. Admission is free, and the museum features historical newspapers, jerseys, trophies, and an in-depth background on the Fiesta Bowl.

The annual Fiesta Bowl game started strong for the Hurricanes. Ole Miss struggled to move the ball offensively as Miami dominated with its superior offensive line that included top NFL Draft prospect offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. When the game reached halftime, the score was 17-13 after the Rebels made a field goal, cutting Miami’s lead to four points. Despite this, the first half was complete domination by the Hurricanes, who held possession for 75% of the game time. After a nearly scoreless third quarter, Ole Miss narrowed the lead even more with another field goal, bringing the score to 17-16.

The fourth quarter brought intensity and action with four lead changes. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss took the lead with a 24-yard touchdown pass with three minutes to go, putting the score at 24-27. However, Miami stayed persistent, marching 74 yards down the field to score a touchdown with just 18 seconds left. Chambliss completed multiple passes for an incredible finish, where the game came down to one final play. As Chambliss launched the ball towards the end zone, the air became still until it hit the ground as an incomplete pass, securing the Miami Hurricanes a spot in the College Football National Championship, which they later lost to the Indiana University Hoosiers.  

While the stadium was full of out-of-state fans, plenty of Arizonans and PCDS students made their way to their seats to watch one of the best games of the College Football postseason. Junior Carson Rose described the stadium as “electric,” saying that “while [he has] been to many games, that one was one of the best.” Freshman Owen Engilman, surrounded by Ole Miss fans, recalled the final play unfolding right in front of him, where he claimed that there “was a pass interference by the defense, but [the referees] didn’t call it.” If the referees had called the penalty, the game might have had a very different outcome. Engliman wasn’t alone in his conclusions about the referees; in fact, senior Cassidy Angst, who will be attending the University of Miami next year, said that “it got very aggressive at some points and people were getting really angry at referees.” Senior Abi Otalora described a similar scene after the game: “[Miami fans] were going crazy. There were guys swinging belts around with their shirts off.”

This year’s Fiesta Bowl proved to be no different from past years, showcasing how welcoming and entertaining the Valley can be, as well as continuing its tradition of hosting an incredible College Football Playoff. The 2027 Fiesta Bowl will again take place in early January, this time acting as a Quarterfinal.