2022 College Football Insider Bowl Season

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2022 VRBO FIESTA BOWL GAME PREVIEW

#2 MICHIGAN VS #3 TCU

The 2022 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will feature the first-ever meeting between No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at State Farm Stadium. Kickoff for the semifinal in Glendale will be 2 p.m. MST and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

With a trip to the CFP National Championship on the line, each team will make its second Fiesta Bowl appearance in program history. Michigan is making its first appearance at the Fiesta Bowl since a 27-23 victory over Nebraska in 1986 when current Head Coach Jim Harbaugh was the team’s quarterback, while TCU will be looking for its first Fiesta Bowl victory following a narrow 17-10 loss to Boise State in 2010.

For Michigan, this will be the Wolverines’ second consecutive CFP Semifinal appearance and fourth berth in a New Year’s Six Bowl in the last seven seasons. The rising Horned Frogs are snapping a three-year bowl drought and competing in their first CFP Semifinal after being picked to finish seventh in the 10-team Big 12’s preseason poll.

Michigan (13-0) secured its ticket to the Fiesta Bowl with a 43-22 victory over Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game, the first time in its illustrious history that it won 13 games in a season. Led by Harbaugh, Michigan is vying for its first National Championship since 1997 and 12th overall in program history.

Coming off a narrow 31-28 overtime loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship, TCU (12-1) snagged a spot in the College Football Playoff with a resume-building regular season that included wins over five nationally-ranked teams. The Horned Frogs are one win away from matching their school record for wins in a season, previously accomplished during a 13-0 season in 2010. TCU owns two national championships in 1935 and 1938.

Tickets to this historic matchup are available by visiting fiestabowl.org/tickets or calling 480.350.0911. Fans are encouraged to attend the two pregame parties at State Farm Stadium. The Caesars Sportsbook Club ‘71 is a premium pregame party while the Caesars Sportsbook Fan Fest Pregame Party is a party for fans of all ages.

“We’ll be fired up to compete against a relentless competitor like him.”

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Michigan

Head

Coach Jim Harbaugh on preparing for TCU quarterback and Heisman-finalist Max Duggan.

FAN LOUNGE

The excitement of college football’s Bowl Season is here, and you can experience the action in a new, high-energy, engaging, and social atmosphere with the Caesars Sportsbook Fan Lounge at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl! This space is highly desirable, with only a limited capacity of tickets available – so act now to get in on the action! Tickets for this exclusive fan space are NOW AVAILABLE HERE

2022 GUARANTEED RATE BOWL GAME PREVIEW WISCONSIN VS OKLAHOMA STATE

The 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl will feature the first-ever meeting between Wisconsin and Oklahoma State, on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, in Downtown Phoenix. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. MST and it will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Wisconsin is in Bowl Season for the 22nd straight season, which is the third-longest active streak in FBS. It is the second appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl for the Badgers, the first coming with Heisman Trophy-winner Ron Dayne leading a 38-10 win over Utah in 1996. The Badgers will meet an Oklahoma State team making its 17th straight bowl game and third Guaranteed Rate Bowl appearance in program history, following victories in 2007 and 2015. Oklahoma State owns the second-best win percentage in bowl games (minimum 20 appearances) at 65.6% (21-11), while Wisconsin sits at 18-15 all time.

Wisconsin enters the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at 6-6, clinching eligibility with a week 12 win over Nebraska. Running back Braelon Allen has carried the Badgers offense, ranking fourth in the Big Ten with 1,121 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, the Badgers bring the pressure, ranking fourth in the Big Ten in sacks with 31, led by First Team All-Big Ten selection Nick Herbig’s 11, fourth in the FBS.

Oklahoma State finished the regular season with a 7-5 record and sport the second-highest passing offense in the Big 12 at 283.8 yards per game.

Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy is the third-longest tenured active head coach in the FBS in completing his 18th season. A former quarterback in his playing days at Oklahoma State, Gundy is fourth all-time in Big 12 history with 156 wins. Meanwhile, the Badgers recently announced Luke Fickell, the 2021 Walter Camp Coach of the Year (Cincinnati), as their new head coach.

This year’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl will be the 33rd in the game’s history, which has hosted players like Drew Bledsoe, Aaron Rodgers and Larry Fitzgerald along with millions of fans. Tickets are available by visiting guaranteedratebowl.com or calling 480.350.0911.

MORE THAN JUST A GAME

THE PARADE IS ON ITS WAY!

Don’t miss the highly anticipated return of the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, which will take its annual two-mile march down Central Avenue on Saturday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. MST.

OPERATION SANTA

Last Tuesday, 40 Valley children had the holiday shopping experience of a lifetime thanks to Fiesta Bowl Charities and partners Dick’s Sporting Goods and the Fighter Country Foundation. Every December, these organizations come together to produce Operation Santa, a shopping spree experience for children who have a parent deployed in active military service. The participating youth are selected through the Fighter Country Foundation, a local organization that supports programs and services at Luke Air Force Base that aid and honor Airmen and their families.

All participating youth were given a $300 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card and paired with a Fiesta Bowl Charities volunteer to assist with shopping for holiday gifts. The children were given free range of the store, where they tried on shoes and helmets, tested equipment and selected new gear to sport.

“We’re so thankful to Dick’s and Fighter Country for helping us provide this experience every year to families that make the ultimate sacrifice,” said Kristina Chumpol, Senior Director of Community Relations at the Fiesta Bowl. “We love spreading the holiday cheer to these kids, and you can see their eyes pop with excitement as they bounce from section to section!”

Giant balloons, colorful community floats, local performers and much more will take over Downtown Phoenix during Arizona’s highest-attended single-day event. The march will be led by Grand Marshal Al McCoy, with the help of special guests Barbara Barrett, Jagger Eaton and Dan Majerle in honor of the theme “Legends Made Here.”

The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe is free to all! Fans looking to elevate their experience can purchase premium and reserved seats for $30. If you can’t attend the big event, you can watch it live on Arizona’s Family 3TV online and through the AZFamily app.