2004 Fiesta Bowl

2004 Fiesta Bowl

The 2004 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, played on January 2, 2004, was the 33rd edition of the Fiesta Bowl. The game pitted #7 Ohio State against #8 Kansas State. It was a match-up between a perennial powerhouse in Ohio State, and a school that was only recently accustomed to winning in Kansas State. Despite Kansas State's historically losing record, head coach Bill Snyder had turned around the program in the decade prior to the bowl game, and K-State was actually making its second Fiesta Bowl appearance in 7 years.

Kansas State was the Big 12 Conference Champion, and came into the game on a seven game win streak, winning those games by an average of 39–9. In the game immediately prior to the Fiesta Bowl, Kansas State had soundly defeated #1-ranked Oklahoma 35–7 in the Big 12 Championship Game. However, the K-State team was badly distracted one night before the bowl game when its quarterback and team leader Ell Roberson was accused of sexual assault. (No charges were ultimately filed against Roberson.) In fact, it was not known whether Roberson would play until gametime. Kansas State had been favored to win by 7 points, but some casinos pulled the line over the uncertainty about Roberson.

Despite being outgained 378–337 in the bowl game, and having a turnover margin of -1, Ohio State prevailed 35–28. It was Ohio State's second straight Fiesta Bowl win; they went on to win another one in 2006.