Oregon quarterback Bo Nix threw for 363 yards and five touchdowns while the No. 8 Ducks handed No. 23 Liberty its first loss of the season 45-6 in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday afternoon.
Nix, a Heisman Trophy finalist, opted to play in the Fiesta Bowl. It paid off in a big way, as he amassed five touchdown passes for a second time this season.
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Liberty (13-1, 9-0 Conference USA) held a 6-3 edge after the first quarter following a 17-yard touchdown pass by Kaidon Salter to Bentley Hanshaw. The Flames’ point after missed.
Thereafter, the Ducks (12-2, 8-2 Pac-12 Conference) scored 42 unanswered points, thanks largely by five touchdown passes thrown by Nix. Each scoring throw went for 24 yards or less.
Nix threw four touchdowns in the second quarter as Oregon totaled 368 yards in the first half.
The Ducks caught over 400 yards for a fourth time in their past six games. Receiver Tysheem Johnson caught a game-high 172 yards on 11 receptions and a touchdown.
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Five different Oregon receivers brought in a touchdown.
Salter finished 15-of-24 for 126 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
The Flames rushed for 168 yards, led by 79 from Quinton Cooley, and CJ Daniels led Liberty with 79 receiving yards.
