There’s a chance history will be made when Liberty and Oregon square off inside Glendale’s State Farm Stadium in this year’s Fiesta Bowl.
That’s because the Conference USA champs from Lynchburg enter the game as the largest underdog since the UCF Knights (against the favored Baylor Bears) in 2014. That game went in favor of the Knights, who pulled off a shocker as a 17-point underdog by upsetting the Bears, 52-42, to cap off a 12-1 campaign under then-coach George O’Leary.
Must be 21+ to participate. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, IA, KY, KS, LA, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bets wager excluded from returns. New Customer only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Code is for marketing/tracking purposes.
Fast forward a decade and Liberty has the same kind of opportunity in Year One of the Jamey Chadwell era, entering the Fiesta Bowl with an unblemished 13-0 record and a chance to show the country what it can do.
If they pull off the upset, the Flames will do so as a 17.5-point and +550 moneyline underdog at ESPN BET Arizona. Ahead of that Jan. 1 showdown on ESPN, BetArizona.com broke down the biggest upsets since 2006 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Fiesta Bowl Biggest Upsets Since 2006
| Year | Spread | Result |
| 2013 | Baylor -17 | UCF 52, Baylor 42 |
| 2022 | Michigan -9 | TCU 51, Michigan 45 |
| 2007 | Oklahoma -8 | West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28 |
| 2009 | TCU -7 | Boise State 17, TCU 10 |
| 2006 | Oklahoma -7 | Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42, OT |
The Fiesta Bowl isn’t a host of the College Football Playoff semifinals as it was last year. In this year’s playoff, Arizona betting apps list Michigan (+185) as a slight favorite over Alabama (+200). Texas (-190) is a 4.5-point favorite over Washington (+160) in the other semi.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See http://BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Liberty Can Join All-Time Fiesta Bowl Cinderellas
The Flames have a shot to match the Knights atop Fiesta Bowl lore, though the Arizona bowl game is no stranger to noteworthy upsets over the years. Just last year, TCU won its CFP semifinal held at the Fiesta Bowl over Michigan, 51-45, after being listed as a 9-point underdog on game day.
Between 2006 and 2009, there were three upsets involving teams with spreads of seven points or greater, including West Virginia beating Oklahoma, 48-28, as an eight-point underdog in 2007.
The Fiesta Bowl also hosted a pair of well-known Boise State upsets — the Broncos won as seven-point underdogs in 2009 against TCU and put themselves on the national map with their 2006 victory against Oklahoma. Oregon and Liberty have never met in football. Arizona sportsbooks list the over/under in the game at 66.5 total points.
Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY or Washington, DC. New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. Min. qualifying bet amount: $1. Tokens max. bet amount: $25 per token. Tokens bet max. add'l winnings: $2,500 per token. Token(s) expire 14 days after receipt. Not reissued for voided/pushed bets. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? CO, IL, KY, MD, MI, MO, NJ, TN, VA, WV, WY, KS (Affiliated with Kansas Crossing Casino), ME (Licensed through the Mi’kmaq Nation, Penobscot Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, federally recognized tribes located in the State of Maine), NC (Licensed through Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise), PA (Affiliated with Harrah's Philadelphia): If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or MD: visit mdgamblinghelp.org or WV: visit 1800gambler.net; AZ: Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP; IN: Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT; IA: Call 1-800-BETSOFF; MA: Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org, NY: Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369); LA (Licensed through Horseshoe Bossier City and Caesars New Orleans) Call 1-800-522-4700, Washington, DC (OLG Class A licensed Operator): Call 1-800-MY-RESET. ©2026, Caesars Entertainment.
![quote]( "quote")
