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Fiesta Sports Foundation

Fiesta Bowl History

52nd Annual Game, 2022

  • Teams TCU vs. Michigan
  • Score 51-45, TCU
  • Date December 31, 2022
  • Attendance 71,723

Biography

The first-ever meeting between No. 3 TCU and No. 2 Michigan was an instant classic.

It was a showdown between the underdog and the blue blood, between a first-year head coach and an eight-year program veteran. A freshly broken three-year bowl drought versus back-to-back conference champions and CFP appearances.

In a back-and-forth battle of epic proportions in front of a sellout crowd 71,723 strong, the Horned Frogs and Wolverines combined for a Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff regulation record 96 points, including a 69-point second half as the two teams went blow for blow with a trip to the National Championship at stake.

At the end of it all, TCU posted a 51-45 victory to keep its underdog season alive and record arguably the biggest win in school history.

TCU's defense came alive again on the first play of Michigan's second drive as Bud Clark picked off J.J. McCarthy and took it 41 yards to the house to give TCU a 7-0 lead. Michigan then went three-and-out, making way for Heisman-finalist quarterback Max Duggan to drive the ball down field. On a 3rd and 1 from the Michigan one-yard line, Duggan punched in his first touchdown to boost TCU up 14-0.

Michigan got on the board with a 42-yard field goal from Jake Moody to cut the TCU lead to 11 points before the explosive Horned Frogs offense once again began to march the ball downfield. A 32-yard completion to a wide-open Quentin Johnston, a projected first-round draft pick, set TCU up in the red zone. Under pressure from two Michigan defenders, Duggan got a pass off mid-hit to wide receiver Taye Barber, who took the ball in six yards for TCU's third touchdown of the half and a 21-3 advantage.

After the Wolverines were held to a field goal once again to put the score at 21-9 with 9:29 to play in the quarter, the explosive offensive back-and-forth that the 2022 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will forever be known for.

McCarthy launched a 34-yard touchdown pass on a flea-flicker to a wide-open Ronnie Bell to cut the TCU lead to five. Then the Horned Frogs settled into the high-octane offense they've been known for all season. Emari Demercado stepped up in place of injured Kendre Miller and scored a one-yard touchdown to bump the score to 28-16 TCU – a big answer to Michigan's quick score.

The TCU defense wouldn't go away, either, as linebacker Dee Winters snatched a McCarthy pass and returned it for the second Horned Frogs' pick-six of the game. After a failed 2-point conversion attempt, the Horned Frogs held an 18-point lead.

On the next drive, after consecutive incompletions, Michigan took the ball 69 yards on two plays –McCarthy scrambled for 39 yards and then rushed into the end zone for 20 more, flexing his dual-threat abilities. McCarthy's 2-point conversion attempt was no good, leaving the score at 34-22.

TCU answered with a three-play touchdown drive, thanks to a 69-yard rush by Demercado and another one-yard TD run from Duggan. But Michigan was undaunted and moved the ball 75 yards in four plays capped with a one-yard Kalel Mullings TD and successful McCarthy 2-point conversion.

In just 6:29 of game clock, the two teams combined for 41 points. In the third quarter alone, TCU and Michigan had combined for 44 points and 420 total yards.

It took two plays from the start of the game's final quarter for Michigan to find the end zone, as Roman Wilson rushed for an 18-yard touchdown and McCarthy pitched to Bell for a successful 2-point try, bringing Michigan within three of the lead – the closest margin since the start of the game.

But the TCU offense would not let up and recaptured momentum. Facing a 3rd and 7 from his own 24-yard line, with Michigan on a 22-7 scoring run, a pressured Duggan tossed a screen to Johnston who scampered 76 yards for a touchdown that sent the house into a frenzy.

Michigan's defense buckled in, forcing TCU to punt with :52 left, giving McCarthy the chance to lead the game-winning drive. On 4th and 10, with the game in the balance, a bobbled snap led to a turnover on downs and TCU advanced to the National Championship with a 51-45 upset victory.

Johnston earned Offensive Player of the Game honors, with six receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown. The defensive honor went to Winters, who notched seven tackles – including three tackles for loss – one PBU, and the interception return that pushed the score to 34-16 TCU.

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  • Stadium:

    State Farm Stadium

  • Attendance:

    71,723

  • Offensive Player of the Game:

    Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

  • Defensive Player of the Game:

    Dee Winters, LB, TCU

  • Head Coaches:

    Sonny Dykes - TCU, Jim Harbaugh - Michigan

  • Weather:

    Indoors, roof closed

Quarter Scores

Scoring 1 2 3 4 F
TCU 14 7 20 10 51
Michigan 0 6 24 15 45

Yardstick

TCU UM
19 First Downs 25
41-263 Rushes - Yards 40-186
225 Passing Yards 342
14-29-2 Passes 21-35-2
6-267 Punts - Yards 5-223
1-1 Fumbles - Lost 3-1
7-85 Penalties - Yards 5-28

Individual Statistics

Rushing
TCU Emari Demercado 17-150-1TD, Kendre Miller 8-57, Max Duggan 15-57-2TD
UM Donovan Edwards 23-119, J.J. McCarthy 10-52-1TD, Roman Wilson 1-18-1TD, Kalel Mullings 5-5-1TD, Colston Loveland 1-(-8)
Passing
TCU Max Duggan 14-29-225-2TD-2INT
UM J.J. McCarthy 20-34-343-2TD-2INT, Donovan Edwards 1-1-(-1)
Receiving
TCU Quentin Johnson 6-163-1TD, Jordan Hudson 2-34, Derius Davis 2-12, Taye Barber 2-12-1TD, Jared Wiley 1-6, Emari Demarcado 1-(-2)
UM Ronnie Bell 6-135-1TD, Roman Wilson 5-104-1TD, Colston Loveland 4-36, Cornelius Johnson 2-30, A.J. Henning 2-(-3), Luke Schoonmaker 1-32, Donovan Edwards 1-8

How They Scored

TCU UM
7 0 Bud Clark 41 yd interception return (Griffin Kell kick)
14 0 Max Duggan 1 yd rush (Griffin Kell kick)
14 3 Jake Moody 42 yd field goal
21 3 Taye Barber 6 yd pass from Max Duggan (Griffin Kell kick)
21 6 Jake Moody 59 yd field goal
21 9 Jake Moody 21 yd field goal
21 16 Ronnie Bell 34 yd pass from J.J. McCarthy (Jake Moody kick)
28 16 Emari Demercado 1 yd rush (Griffin Kell kick)
34 16 Dee Winters 29 yd interception return (Jordy Sandy rush failed)
34 22 J.J. McCarthy 20 yd rush (J.J. McCarthy rush failed)
41 22 Max Duggan 1 yd rush (Griffin Kell kick)
41 30 Kalel Mullings 1 yd rush (J.J. McCarthy rush)
41 38 Roman Wilson 18 yd rush (Ronnie Bell pass from J.J. McCarthy)
48 38 Quentin Johnston 76 yd pass from Max Duggan (Griffin Kell kick)
51 38 Griffin Kell 33 yd field goal
51 45 Roman Wilson 5 yd pass from J.J. McCarthy (Jake Moody kick)