Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin and Juice top storylines

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Top storylines involving Miami (Ohio) and Fresno State in the 10th Arizona Bowl, now sponsored by Snoop Dogg and presented by Gin and Juice:

— Tbe Arizona Bowl is the only bowl game in the country that gives 100% of net proceeds to non-profit organizations. Since the first game in 2015, millions of dollars have been given to more than 70 non-profit organizations in Southern Arizona. The economic impact of the game for Tucson is esimated by bowl officials at more than $100 million from out-of-town visitors. The bowl’s presence in Tucson goes well beyond the bowl with teacher appreciation awards, children’s hospital visits by participating teams the week of the game, and the “Heroes Program,” in which tickets are donated by various agencies to active military members, veterans, teachers and first responders. The bowl also partners with the National Foundation of Southern Arizona to appear at one local high school football game each week. A student-athlete from each school is recognized as Player of the Game based on outstanding performance, teamwork, and character.

— Miami will try to win the Arizona Bowl for the second straight in the first meeting between the schools on Saturday afternoon at Casino del Sol Stadium. No school has won consecutive Arizona Bowl championships. Miami is the first team in position to do so since the bowl started in 2015.

— The RedHawks defeated Colorado State 43-17 in the game last season to cap their fifth straight year in a postseason bowl game. “We loved it last year,” said Miami coach Chuck Martin. “We were very, very excited that we got to go again.”

— Fresno State is bowl-eligible for the fifth consecutive season after holding its opponents to 293.5 yards per game, the Bulldogs’ fewest in a season since 1988.

— Former Arizona running back Rayshon ‘Speedy’ Luke, who spent three years at Arizona before transferring to Fresno State, makes his return to Casino del Sol Stadium. Luke was injured during the first half in the regular-season finale against San Jose State last month but head coach Matt Entz said he expects Luke to be back on the field for Saturday’s game. He has rushed for 690 yards with six touchdowns this season. The rushing yardage is more than what he game in his three years at Arizona (271 yards on 56 carries with one touchdown). Luke has also been used as a specialist returning kickoffs and punts. “All the skill sets that you’re looking for,” Entz said of Luke. “We can use him on third down, we can use him on early downs. He’s a specialist. He can be a returner as well. He’s got breakaway speed. He’s explosive. He can turn what any of us would think is a 3- or 4-yard run and turn it into an explosive play.” Luke earned Mountain West honorable mention for his first year in the conference. “Just love the way he goes about his business — Very matter-of-fact. Very grounded. Very humble,” Entz said. “It’s just part of the process for him. I think that’s part of the reason he’s transitioned so well and hit the ground running with the bulldogs.”

— Opt-outs to the transfer portal — Fresno State: LB RL Miller and CB Jayden Davis. Miller (third-year sophomore) moved to safety this season and was limited by injuries. He contributed on special teams and finished with seven tackles and a pass deflection. Davis (fourth-year junior) started most of the 2024 season and started once in 2025. He had 34 tackles, one sack, and an interception this season, coming off of 51 tackles the year prior. Miami: OT Drew Terrill, S Mychal Yharbrough and DE Adam Trick. Terrill (fourth-year junior) was an All-MAC second-team selection. Yharbrough (third-year sophomore) had limited playing opportunities with only 41 tackles, six pass deflections and a fumble recovery in his first two years with Miami. Trick (fourth-year junior) is one of the top edge-rusher prospects in the portal with 8.5 sacks, including two against Wisconsin.

— The RedHawks began the season 0-3 and seventh-year starting quarterback Dequan Finn, who earlier played at Toledo and Baylor, departed in mid-November to begin training for the NFL Draft.

— Henry Hesson, a fourth-year senior with Miami, was given the first shot to be the starter, but freshman Thomas Gotkowski passed him and led the RedHawks to back-to-back wins against Buffalo and Ball State that advanced them to their third straight MAC championship game. In four games, Gotkowski has completed 32 of 64 passes for 503 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also has rushed for 99 yards and one score. In his first career start, he threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns against Ball State after engineering a comeback win at Buffalo the week prior. “I always expected to see the field at some point,” Gotkowski said. “My mentality going into the season was, ‘Let’s prepare at a high level in case that opportunity comes sooner than you think.’ It may come today, may come tomorrow, but let’s be in a position where I’m able to execute at a high level and know the game plan whenever that moment comes.”

— Miami’s ground game is led by senior Jordan Brunson, who has rushed for 724 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

— Simeon Harris has five interceptions for Fresno State while defensive end Finn Claypool has compiled 6 1/2 sacks in his first year playing at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. He had 30.5 sacks in four years at FCS Drake, where he was a teammate of former Walden Grove standout Sebastian Adamski.

— E.J. Warner, the son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, started the first seven games for Fresno State before he was benched in favor of sophomore Carson Conklin. The Bulldogs were shut out for the first time at their home stadium in Conklin’s debut, so Warner eventually became the starter for the final two games of the regular season.

— Entz has already earned $110,000 in bonuses for winning eight games and qualifying for a bowl game. He can pocket another $45,000 with an Arizona Bowl win. “We know what’s at stake,” Entz said of prestige for the program. “Our guys have shown all year they can rise to the occasion. Now it’s about executing for four quarters.”

— Entz, who came to Fresno State this season after serving as the assistant head coach for defense and linebackers coach at USC last season, knows the type of player he wants in his program. “The things that we look for are high character, intelligence in the classroom and on the field, athleticism, and a level of toughness to fit into our program,” Entz said. “We don’t skip the work and we don’t skip the development at Fresno State. So, if you’re looking for a place where you’re going to show up and move right into a playing role, this isn’t it. You’ve got to come earn it at Fresno State.”

— Entz has coached at Casino del Sol Stadium before, in 2022 when he led North Dakota State to a near upset of the Wildcats (31-28 final score). Entz told reporters last week one memory was playing in warm temperatures in mid-September and the water sprinklers in use for Arizona’s turf.

— Miami is bowl-eligible for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons and is playing in its fifth straight bowl game. The RedHawks are first in the MAC in wins (740), conference wins (329), league championships (17) and bowl victories (9). Their 740 career wins rank third among Group-of-Five programs, trailing only Navy and Army.

— Since Oct. 15, 2016, Miami has lost back-to-back conference games just three times and is 17-4 following a MAC loss during that span.

— Named Miami’s head coach in December 2013, Martin owns a 145-80 career record and has won more games at Miami (72) than any coach in school history. He is also the longest-tenured active head coach in the MAC. Martin’s first 18 MAC games produced a 4-14 record. Since then, Miami is 55-22 against conference opponents — the league’s best stretch over that period — including a 22-5 run across its last 27 MAC games and three straight trips to the title game.

— Fresno State is bowl-eligible for the fifth straight season. Its defense has allowed just 293.5 yards per game during the regular season, its fewest in a season since at least 1992.

— No offensive starters from last season’s bowl win are expected to start Saturday for Miami. Defensively, only Kaleb Martin and Oscar McWood return as starters from last year’s game against Colorado State.

— Miami’s Kam Perry ranks second nationally at 23.0 yards per catch and is 34 yards shy of becoming the ninth 1,000-yard receiver in program history. Cole Weaver has 31 catches for 444 yards over his past six games after entering the season with just two career receptions

— Miami’s defense ranks third nationally with 40 sacks, spread across 15 different players. Eight defenders have already set career highs in sacks this season. The pressure has helped team notch 14 interceptions, tops in the MAC and 15th nationally.

— Miami kicker Dom Dzioban is a two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist and has converted 19 of 21 field goals this season, including 10 of 11 from beyond 40 yards.

— Fresno State has the FBS’s 114th-ranked passing offense, but its 55th in rushing yards per game. Luke and Bryson Donelson lead the running attack. Donelson has 580 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.

— No Fresno State receiver has 500 yards, but Josiah Freeman is one way from that number.Outside of Freeman, the wide receiving corps hasn’t been heavy utilized this year. Tight end Richie Anderson III and Luke are the second- and third-leading receivers.

— Fresno State also ranks below 100th in the FBS in third-down percentage, fourth-down percentage, red zone scoring percentage, and turnovers committed.

— Despite turning the ball over 20 times, Fresno State is still at a plus-4 in turnover margin thanks to an opportunistic defense. The Bulldogs are 11th in the FBS with 24 takeaways and fourth with 19 interceptions. CB Al’zillion Hamilton (four interceptions) is an All-Mountain West Second Team selection and nickleback Simeon Evans leads the Mountain West with five interceptions.

— The Bulldogs’ passing defense ranks eighth in the FBS in fewest yards allowed at 161 per game, while holding opposing quarterbacks to a 55.5% completion rate.

ARIZONA BOWL RESULTS

Date	Winner	Loser	Att.
Dec. 29, 2015	Nevada 28	Colorado State 23	20,425
Dec. 30, 2016	Air Force 45	South Alabama 21	33,868
Dec. 29, 2017	NM State 26	Utah State 20 (OT)	39,132
Dec. 29, 2018	Nevada 16	Arkansas State 13 (OT)	32,368
Dec. 31, 2019	Wyoming 38	Georgia State 17	36,892
Dec. 31, 2020	Ball State 34	No. 19 San Jose State 13	0
Dec. 31, 2021	Canceled (COVID-19)	—	—
Dec. 30, 2022	Ohio 30	Wyoming 27 (OT)	27,691
Dec. 30, 2023	Wyoming 16	Toledo 15	30,428
Dec. 28, 2024	Miami (OH) 43	Colorado State 17	40,076
Dec. 27, 2025	Miami (OH) vs. Fresno State	—	TBA