Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. Connecticut: Sooners Get A BCS Win At Last, 48-20

2011 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. UConn: Bob Stoops' Sooners Clinch Elusive BCS Bowl Win, 48-20

The pointsapalooza isn't over yet in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl. Zach Frazer and Jordan Todman can only do so much when being swarmed by Oklahoma defenders on all sides, which is probably why the Huskies have yet to score an offensive touchdown this evening.

Landry Jones and his Sooners are having no such problems, wen they're not firing large-caliber weapons directly at their own cleats. Cameron Kenney hauls in a 38-yard pass to convert OU's next third down; Trey Franks pulls down a 20-yarder, and Oklahoma's all set for a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Broyles, who's playing pretty good football for a kid battling a stomach virus.

The field goal attempts are out and the fourth-down tries are in on UConn's next possession, but Frazer's attempt to connect with Robbie Frey goes nowhere, and the Sooners take over on downs. With 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma leads UConn, 41-20.

The heartbreak isn't over for the Huskies. With 2:52 remaining in this slow-rolling debacle, Zach Frazer gets pick-sixed from his own 22-yard line. The rest of the game plays out in slow motion, with Oklahoma players stopping a last-gasp touchdown drive at their own goal line, and we've gone final in Arizona. Final score of the 2011 Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma 48, UConn 20.

Celebrate and commiserate with UConn and Oklahoma fans in our live discussion threads.

2011 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. UConn: Sooners' Fake FG Fails; LB Ronnell Lewis Injured

The 2011 Fiesta Bowl may not exactly be a competitive football game at the moment, but it is by any standard an entertaining one. Following UConn's post-score kickoff, Oklahoma is held to another three-and-out, and the Huskies muff (but recover) the attendant punt. A Dave Teggart field goal ends the drive, but the Huskies can't keep pace if they keep kicking for their points.

Two possessions later, they get another shot at the endzone, as phenom Ryan Broyles fields a Huskies punt, breaks away from coverage, is chased down by UConn's Lawrence Wilson, and watches the ball flutter out of his hands apparently of its own accord. Jordan Todman converts the first set of downs, but the Huskies punt on the second, and Oklahoma sets up at their own 24-yard line. The Sooners are held to a field goal attempt, which turns out to be a fake field-goal attempt, wherein John Nimmo's high spiral is batted down near the goal line. It is entirely possible that Oklahoma's trying actively to throw this game because they're so recently unused to winning at BCS football. With 13:55 remaining in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma leads UConn, 34-20.

At some point during the past few series, sophomore OU linebacker Ronnell Lewis reportedly injures his neck on a block. It wasn't noticeable at the time because he walked off the field immediately after the play, but he's currently being strapped to a backboard and taken to a local hospital, despite moving all four limbs in what looks like normal fashion. We'll keep you updated on his condition as more news becomes available.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more live scoring updates throughout the game, and follow along with UConn and Oklahoma fans in our live discussion threads.

2011 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. UConn: 21 Points In Two Minutes

Wonder of wonders, Oklahoma opens the second half of the 2011 Fiesta Bowl with a three-and-out. That's all the fail you'll see out of the Sooners for at least the next few minutes, however: After a brief UConn possession that takes less than two minutes off the clock, and pins the Sooners in their own endzone, Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles, and DeMarco Murray combine for a four-play drive that spans 99 yards and concludes with Cameron Kenney catching a 59-yard touchdown pass.

The action burst isn't over. UConn's next drive opens with a 28-yard pass from Zach Frazer to Kashif Moore, but on the third play Frazer is pick-sixed and the Sooners' lead widens yet again.

 ... or does it?? The ensuing kickoff lands in the hands of Robbie Frey, who motors 95 yards for a UConn touchdown. If you're still with us and not collapsing onto your fainting couches, the score is Oklahoma 34, UConn 17, with 9:44 remaining in the third quarter.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more live scoring updates throughout the game, and follow along with UConn and Oklahoma fans in our live discussion threads.

2011 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. UConn: Sooners Double Up Huskies At The Half

The 2011 Fiesta Bowl is already a shocker, in that we're into the second quarter and UConn isn't already being blown out of the stadium by Oklahoma. That pick-six took the wind out of the Sooners' offensive sails, and their next possession fares better, but only slightly: they're held to a 41-yard field goal from Jimmy Stevens. Oklahoma 17, UConn 7.

UConn can't capitalize on their next possession, but their punt does pin Oklahoma inside their own ten-yard line. Once again, the Huskies defense stands up enough to hold the Sooners to a field goal. Oklahoma 20, UConn 7.

The ensuing kickoff return is carried for 34 yards by Nick Williams, enabling UConn to establish a scoring drive of their own in the final two minutes of the half. With 30 seconds remaining in the quarter, Dave Teggart knocks a 37-yarder through, and the Sooners' lead is shaved again. At the half, Oklahoma leads UConn, 20-10.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more live scoring updates throughout the game, and follow along with UConn and Oklahoma fans in our live discussion threads.

2011 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. Connecticut: Huskies Return Interception For A Touchdown

The Oklahoma Sooners are in a giving mood all of a sudden. After dashing to a 14-0 lead in the Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones gifted UConn a touchdown as Dwayne Gratz stepped in front of a pass and returned it 46 yards for the score. The pick-six finally gets UConn on the board after the Huskies were held scoreless in the first quarter.

Jones had been perfect on the day, completing all 11 of his passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. His 12th pass was completed, but to the wrong team. With the Oklahoma defense holding strong, and the offense looking dominant early, the pick-six breathes new life into a UConn team that was in severe danger of letting the game slip-away early in the Fiesta Bowl. The interception was the first turnover by either team in what’s been a relatively clean game thus far.

Early in the second quarter, UConn trails Oklahoma, 14-7.

2011 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. Connecticut: Sooners Looking Superb Early

When Oklahoma's offense is clicking, it tends to score a lot, and quickly.

Early in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma's offense is clicking.

DeMarco Murray bounced a dive off tackle after meeting resistance at the line and took in a three-yard carry for the Sooners' second touchdown of the night. Jimmy Stevens converted the extra point try to make it 14-0 in Glendale.

Oklahoma's offense, so far, has been fearsome: the Sooners have 151 yards through almost all of the first quarter, have converted the only two third downs they have faced, and have drives of 70 and 81 yards. (Landry Jones is a perfect 10-for-10 on his throws.)

Connecticut, by contrast, has tallied just 64 yards of total offense, and looks about as lost on defense as one might expect an 8-4 team that lost to Michigan and Temple to look against one of the nation's best offenses.

And if anyone predicted this was going to be the worst Fiesta Bowl or worst BCS bowl game in history ... well, early on, there is little evidence to contradict that claim.

2011 Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. Connecticut: Sooners Strike First With Speedy Spread

If the Fiesta Bowl is going to be competitive, it may require UConn's offense to put up points on the Oklahoma defense. Early returns suggest that the Huskies will have some problems with the Sooners' offense.

Oklahoma's James Hanna caught an eight-yard touchdown pass to cap a nine-play, 70-yard opening drive, and after the Jimmy Stevens extra point, it's 7-0 in the Sooners' favor at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale.

Oklahoma's big three on offense showed no signs of rust on the opening drive. Landry Jones was six of six for 55 yards, Ryan Broyles had two catches for 30 yards, and DeMarco Murray spurted up the middle for an 11-yard drive.

Connecticut's offense is now going to have to hold serve. It's already been broken once: the Huskies received the opening kickoff and failed to get even one first down on the drive, with Jordan Todman gaining just two yards on three carries.

2011 Fiesta Bowl Game: Time, Location, History And More

To help prime you for the New Year's Day college football-gasm, we've compiled this handy list of fun factoids concerning the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.

Proper name: The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Get ready for three-plus hours of delicious tortilla chips.

Setting: The fresh digs of University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the Arizona Cardinals.

Traditional conference pairing: Two BCS teams, the Big 12 and an at-large team.

2011 matchup: The 11-2 Oklahoma Sooners and the 8-4 Connecticut Huskies.

Announcers: The Fiesta Bowl is being heavily punished for providing such a rough matchup this year. ESPN is sending Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and sideline reporter Heather Cox to Glendale for the Fiesta Bowl. Good luck with Millen, folks.

Neatest fact: The combination of Tostitos tortilla chips and a fiesta makes for a perfect combination. In this case, the synergy between sponsor and bowl is dead-on.

Closest finish: Arkansas and UCLA played to a 10-10 tie in 1978. In 2007, we were treated to a one-point overtime thriller some of you may remember...

Most lopsided finish: Nebraska took Florida to the woodshed in the1996 Fiesta Bowl, winning 62-24.

Tidbits of interest: The Fiesta Bowl will also be the site of this year's BCS National Championship Game between Oregon and Auburn. Oklahoma has lost the last two times it played in the Fiesta Bowl. UConn has never made an appearance in the bowl.

The 2011 Fiesta Bowl kicks off at 8:30 p.m. EST, Saturday, Jan. 1. The game will be televised on ESPN. For a complete list of bowls, browse our 2010 college football postseason schedule.

Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Vs. Connecticut: Sooners Try To Erase Bad Memories In Glendale

Judging by the odds, the 2010 Fiesta Bowl is, on paper, the most lopsided bowl of them all. The Oklahoma Sooners, winners of the Big 12 Championship, head to Glendale, Arizona to battle the Big East winners, the Connecticut Huskies. Oklahoma heavily favored against a scrappy underdog in the Fiesta Bowl? Where have I heard this before?

The 2010 Fiesta Bowl will be Oklahoma's fourth appearance in the game. The Sooners won the first time they played in the Fiesta Bowl, in 1976, but are remembered for the ones that got away in 2007 and 2008. The 2005 Fiesta Bowl, if you'll remember, was the infamous Boise State hook-and-ladder bowl game in which Oklahoma lost in a heart-breaker to the little engine that could. The next year, it was the Big East dropping the Sooners as West Virginia cruised to a 48-28 win.

Connecticut won the lowly Big East in 2010, getting a default BCS bid for its efforts. The Huskies ran off five consecutive wins to end the season, narrowly edging West Virginia for the Big East title. At 8-4, Connecticut doesn't exactly scream BCS team, but none of that matters now. For the first time in school history, UConn is in a BCS Bowl with a chance to take down a traditional college football power.

The Fiesta Bowl kicks off on Jan. 1 at 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream right up through game time, as we review key unit matchups, odds, bowl history and more, and connect with Oklahoma fans at SB Nation's Crimson And Cream Machine and UConn fans at The UConn Blog. For a complete list of bowl games, browse our 2010 college football postseason schedule.