2019 Fiesta Bowl (January)

2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
CFP New Year's Six
48th Fiesta Bowl
LSU Tigers UCF Knights
(9–3) (12–0)
SEC The American
40 32
Head coach: 
Ed Orgeron		 Head coach: 
Josh Heupel
APCoachesCFP
111111
APCoachesCFP
778
1234 Total
LSU 1014106 40
UCF 14738 32
DateJanuary 1, 2019
Season2018
StadiumState Farm Stadium
LocationGlendale, Arizona
MVPJoe Burrow (QB, LSU)
Rashard Lawrence (DL, LSU)[1]
FavoriteLSU by 7.5[2]
RefereeStuart Mullins (ACC)
Attendance57,246[3]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN and ESPN Radio
AnnouncersSteve Levy (play-by-play)
Brian Griese (analyst)
Todd McShay (sideline) (ESPN)
Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer and Olivia Dekker (ESPN Radio)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Deportes
AnnouncersRoger Valdivieso
Alex Pombo
Fiesta Bowl
 < 2017 2019 (Dec.) > 

The 2019 Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on January 1, 2019.[4] It was the 48th edition of the Fiesta Bowl, and was one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by Sony Interactive Entertainment via its PlayStation brand, the game was officially known as the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

The LSU Tigers defeated the UCF Knights by the score of 40–32, snapping UCF's 25-game winning streak, the longest in the nation at the time. The Tigers dominated time of possession (44:31) and racked up 555 yards of offense. The Knights offense was held to a season-low 250 total yards, but scored a Fiesta Bowl record 93-yard interception return for a touchdown. Despite the loss, the Knights extended their NCAA Division I FBS record with their 26th consecutive game scoring 30 or more points, and the FBS-leading 32nd consecutive game forcing a turnover. It was LSU's 26th bowl victory, and first Fiesta Bowl victory.

In a game that was described as "chippy",[5] three players were ejected in the first half alone, two for LSU and one for UCF. Tigers defensive back Terrence Alexander was ejected for throwing a punch, while safety Grant Delpit was ejected for targeting. Knights defender Kyle Gibson was ejected for targeting, while linebacker Nate Evans and defensive lineman Randy Charlton each committed costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

With the two participating schools both from the southeast, the announced attendance for the game was 57,246, the lowest since 1979.[6]

  1. ^ @TigerDroppings (January 1, 2019). "#LSU QB Joe Burrow & DL Rashard Lawrence take home Fiesta Bowl MVP honors" (Tweet). Retrieved January 1, 2019 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Fawkes, Ben (December 10, 2018). "Odds for every 2018-19 CFB bowl game". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "LSU vs. UCF - Team Statistics - January 1, 2019". ESPN. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "2018-19 College Football Playoff and bowl schedule". ESPN. May 2, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference espnrecap was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Karp, Austin (January 2, 2019). "Bowl Attendance: Outback Hits New Low; Fiesta Drops". Sports Business Journal Daily. Retrieved August 21, 2019.