Hogs, Texas Tech AutoZone Liberty Bowl by the numbers

Jerry Meadows

FAYETTEVILLE — The AutoZone Liberty Bowl has developed a close partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an internationally recognized research institution. St. Jude is dedicated to helping children throughout the world in their fight against catastrophic diseases.

However, the first Liberty Bowl was played in Philadelphia on December 19, 1959, and would feature Penn State against Alabama. With such rich beginnings, what are the numbers behind the history of the Liberty Bowl?

1 – The first Liberty Bowl would be the first of 24 consecutive bowl trips for Paul “Bear” Bryant of Alabama. 

3– Louis Campbell of Arkansas and Jeremiah Castille of Alabama are tied with the most interceptions with 3.

4– The Liberty Bowl history includes four Heisman Trophy winners: Ernie Davis, Terry Baker, Doug Flutie, and Bo Jackson.

5– Jalon Daniels of Kansas threw a Liberty Bowl record 5 TDs against Arkansas in 2022 and still lost the game.

6– Cam Little of Arkansas is tied with two others with the most extra points with 6 against Kansas in 2022.

7– The most Touchdowns in a game happened in 2022 when both Arkansas and Kansas scored 7 in 2022.

10– Arkansas has 2 receivers, Bobby Joe Edmonds and Luke Grimm, who are tied with the most Liberty Bowl receptions with 10.

18– Alex Collins, Arkansas tied with 3 others with 18 points he scored against Kansas State, 2015.

24– The Most Points scored in a quarter was 24 by Arkansas against Kansas in 2022,

55– On December 28, 2022, Arkansas defeated Kansas 55-53 in triple overtime and was the highest-scoring game in AutoZone Liberty Bowl history.

58– Most passing attempts was 58 by Illinois against Alabama in 1982.

73– Most rushing attempts was 73 by Penn State against Oregon in 1960.

99– The longest run from scrimmage was 99 years by Terry Baker of Oregon St in 1962.

108– Most Points scored in a game by 2 teams was 108 by Kansas and Arkansas in 2022.

254– Colorado running back Bobby Anderson rushed for an AutoZone Liberty Bowl record 254 yards.

417– KJ Jefferson of Arkansas had 417 total offense vs Kansas in 2022. It was the second-highest in Liberty Bowl history.

473– The most rushing yards gained was 473 by Colorado against Alabama in 1969.

544– The most passing yards in a game was 544 by Kansas against Arkansas in 2022.

681– Arkansas set the record for most offensive yards with 681 against Kansas in 2022.

1964– After five years in Philadelphia, the game moved to the Atlantic City Convention Center for one year. It became the first indoor college bowl game.

1965– Every AutoZone Liberty Bowl since 1965 has been played at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, TN.

2007– Mississippi State defeated UCF 10-3 in front of a record crowd of 63,816 fans on December 29, 2007.

2016– On January 2, 2016, a sellout crowd of 61,136 watched Arkansas defeat Kansas State 45-23. It was one of the most watched non-New Year’s Day ESPN bowl games of the year.

Next Friday, December 27, 2024, Arkansas will face Texas Tech in the Autozone Liberty Bowl at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee on ESPN at 7 p. m. on ESPN.