The 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies (UConn), co-champions of the Big East Conference, and the Oklahoma Sooners, champions of the Big 12 Conference, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on January 1, 2011.
Oklahoma was selected to participate in the Fiesta Bowl after an 11–2 regular season that culminated with a 23–20 win over Nebraska in the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game.
The Huskies responded with an interception return for a touchdown early in the second quarter; after an exchange of field goals the halftime score was 20–10 in favor of Oklahoma.
Within 24 hours following the game Connecticut suffered two notable defections: running back Jordan Todman announced that he was leaving school early to enter the 2011 NFL draft and head coach Randy Edsall was hired as the new head coach at the University of Maryland.
In the wake of the 2011 contest, the Fiesta Bowl released an internal report stating that several members illegally gave campaign contributions and were reimbursed for it.
On December 4, 2010, the Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 23–20 in the 2010 Big 12 Championship Game to earn the automatic bid to the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.
[8] At the start of the season, Connecticut was picked to finish fourth in the Big East in a media poll with eight starters returning on offense and seven on defense.
By winning at South Florida, they won a share of the Big East title with West Virginia and Pittsburgh.
[15] Oklahoma's first conference game was against rival #21 Texas at the Red River Rivalry in Dallas, which the Sooners won 28–20.
Since Oklahoma held the higher BCS rank, they were the one to face Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship game.
[15][16] Oklahoma beat #13 Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship game by the score of 23–20 to win the conference's BCS bid.
In receiving, sophomore Ryan Broyles had a school record of 118 receptions gaining 1,452 yards as well as scoring 13 touchdowns.
On the seventh play Jones passed to Ryan Broyles for a 39-yard gain to end up on the Connecticut 6-yard line.
[26] At the start of the second quarter, Connecticut had possession of the ball however they were unable to gain any yards and went three and out and was forced to punt.
[27] On Connecticut's next possession, the Huskies were forced to punt after a 6-play, 11-yard drive stalled at their 40-yard line after a costly Substitution Infraction penalty on the offense on third down and four.
[27] The Huskies received good field position at their own 44-yard line with a 34-yard kickoff return by Nick Williams.
[28] When Connecticut regained the ball, Zach Frazer completed a 26-yard gain to Kashif Moore to bring them to their 49-yard line.
Two plays later, the drive ended when Zach Frazer was intercepted by defensive back Jamell Fleming on Oklahoma's 45-yard line.
Oklahoma's next drive was a short three and out when the Connecticut's defense able to stop two Murray rush attempts and a pass to him on third down.
A three-yard run from Todman and two incomplete passes from Frazer forced the Huskies to settle for a 38-yard field goal.
Nearing the end of quarter, Landry Jones was able to complete a 15-yard pass to Kenny Stills to bring them to their 45-yard line.
[28] At the start of the fourth quarter Jones was able to complete another first down pass to Ryan Broyles for 12 yards to the Connecticut 43-yard line.
With Connecticut in possession they were able to rush for four yards with Todman and Frazer completed 15-yard pass to bring them to their 49-yard line.
Another Frazer pass to Anthony Sherman for 4 yards put the Huskies on the Oklahoma 47-yard line, but the drive was stopped there and they were forced to punt once again.
[29] Halfway through the quarter, Connecticut received excellent field position with an Anthony Sherman return that brought the ball to their 47-yard line.
After a Robbie Frey four-yard rushing loss, Zach Frazer passed to Anthony Sherman for 41 yards to bring the Huskies to the Oklahoma 14-yard line.
Two more short Murray runs and an incomplete pass by Jones on third down ended the drive and left 3:01 remaining in the game.
Oklahoma's leading rusher DeMarco Murray ran for 93 yards on 25 carries, which included a rushing touchdown.
[2] After the bowl game, junior Jordan Todman announced that he would forgo his senior year to enter the 2011 NFL draft.
[31] Twelve hours later, Randy Edsall announced that he was leaving Connecticut in order to take the Maryland head coaching job.