The 2011 Fiesta Bowl kicks off at 8:30 p.m. EST, Saturday, Jan. 1. The game will be televised on ESPN. To help prime you for the matchup between Connecticut and Oklahoma, here's a few quick facts notes and notes about the game:
Full name: The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Tostitos has been the sponsor since 1996, replacing IBM).
Location: The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.
Traditional conference pairing: The Big 12 champion and an at-large BCS team.
2011 matchup: The 11-2 Oklahoma Sooners (champions of the Big 12) and the 8-4 Connecticut Huskies (champions of the Big East).
Announcers: ESPN's Sean McDonough, Matt Millen (:-/) and sideline reporter Heather Cox.
Neatest fact: DID YOU KNOW: Florida had -28 yards rushing against Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl. But really, the entire 2007 game between Boise State and Oklahoma is the neatest fact.
Closest finish: Arkansas and UCLA played to a 10-10 tie in 1978. And of course in 2007, there was that Broncos-Sooners game mentioned above.
Most lopsided finish: Nebraska dominated Florida in the1996 Fiesta Bowl, winning 62-24. The Huskers finished with 524 rushing yards (!) compared to the Gators' -28. QB Tommie Frazier amassed 304 total yards and three touchdowns, including his amazing 75-yard run in the fourth quarter.