Football isn’t supposed to work like that. You don't just show up with a bag of tricks, a blue field mentality, and a quarterback who looks like he’s in a 90s garage band, and then go and topple a blue-blood juggernaut like Oklahoma. But on January 1, 2007, the University of Phoenix Stadium became a glitch in the matrix.
Honestly, if you weren’t there or watching live, it’s hard to describe the vibe. It was David vs. Goliath, but David had a playbook written by a mad scientist. The Boise State vs Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl wasn't just a game; it was the moment college football changed forever.
The Night the Blue-Bloods Flinched
Most people remember the "Statue of Liberty" play. That’s the highlight-reel fodder. But the game was a slow-burn masterpiece long before the final three minutes turned into absolute lunacy. Boise State, the "BCS Busters" from the WAC, came in 12-0. Oklahoma was, well, Oklahoma. They had Adrian Peterson. They had the pedigree.
The Sooners were seven-point favorites, which felt generous to the Broncos at the time.
Early on, it looked like a blowout—just not the one everyone expected. Jared Zabransky and Drisan James hooked up for a 49-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Then Ian Johnson punched one in from two yards out. Suddenly, it was 14-0 Boise. The stadium was quiet, except for the pockets of orange-and-blue fans who looked just as shocked as the Sooner faithful.
Boise State led 21-10 at halftime. They led 28-10 in the third quarter after Marty Tadman housed a 27-yard interception.
Then, the sleeping giant woke up.
The Collapse No One Talks About
Everyone forgets that Boise State almost choked. They really did. Oklahoma scored 25 unanswered points. Adrian Peterson, coming off a broken collarbone, started looking like the future NFL Hall of Famer he was.
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The turning point was a fluke. A Boise State punt hit the leg of one of their own players, Aiona Key. Oklahoma recovered. Peterson scored two plays later.
By the time Marcus Walker intercepted Zabransky and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown with 1:02 left in the game, it felt over. Oklahoma was up 35-28. The "Cinderella" story was turning into a pumpkin right in front of us.
Boise State had the ball on their own 22-yard line. They had no timeouts. They had a quarterback who had just thrown a soul-crushing pick-six.
The Hook, the Ladder, and the Absolute Audacity
4th and 18.
That’s the situation. If you’re a coach, you’re looking at your play sheet and seeing nothing but despair. But Chris Petersen, in his first year as head coach, had a play called "Circus."
Zabransky fired a 15-yard strike to Drisan James. As James was being tackled, he did something that still looks fake when you watch the replay. He flipped the ball blindly behind him to Jerard Rabb. Rabb caught it in stride and sprinted 35 yards for the touchdown.
Seven seconds left. Tie game. 35-35.
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Overtime: The Three Minutes That Defined an Era
Oklahoma got the ball first in overtime. Adrian Peterson took the first snap and went 25 yards to the house. Boom. 42-35.
Boise State’s response was a grueling seven-play drive. They faced a 4th and 2 at the Oklahoma 6-yard line. Instead of a standard run, they went "Wildcat." Receiver Vinny Perretta took the snap, rolled right, and floated a jump pass to tight end Derek Schouman.
Touchdown. 42-41.
This is where the legend was born. Coach Petersen didn't want a second overtime. He knew his defense was gassed. He didn't want to play more football against Adrian Peterson. He wanted to end it.
Statue Left
The play call was "Statue Left."
Zabransky stood in the pocket. He looked right. He pumped his arm like he was throwing a screen pass. He held the ball behind his back with one hand—hidden from the entire Oklahoma defense. Ian Johnson took it from his hand like a thief in the night and sprinted into the corner of the end zone.
Game over. 43-42.
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The image of Ian Johnson scoring and then immediately proposing to his girlfriend, cheerleader Chrissy Popadics, on national television is basically the "happily ever after" ending that sports movies try to fake. Except this was real.
Why This Game Still Matters in 2026
The Boise State vs Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl was the beginning of the end for the old BCS system. It proved that "mid-majors" weren't just plucky underdogs; they were elite programs that belonged on the big stage. Without this game, do we get the College Football Playoff expansion? Probably not as quickly.
It also changed how coaches think about "trickeration." You see "Statue of Liberty" variations in the NFL now. You see the "Circus" play (the hook and lateral) in desperation moments every Saturday.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era of football, here is how to truly appreciate what happened:
- Watch the "Four Sides of the Story" Documentary: CBS produced a great look at this game from the perspectives of Bob Stoops and Jared Zabransky. It adds layers to the "David vs Goliath" narrative.
- Analyze the Defensive Schemes: People credit the offense, but Boise State's defensive coordinator at the time was Justin Wilcox (now HC at Cal). Look at how they neutralized Peterson for three quarters by "daring" Paul Thompson to beat them deep.
- Check the Box Score Paradox: Oklahoma actually outgained Boise State in total yards (407 to 377). The game was won on turnovers and red-zone execution, not just big plays.
- The Recruiting Ripple Effect: Track how Boise State’s recruiting rankings jumped after 2007. It turned a regional school into a national brand overnight.
The 2007 Fiesta Bowl remains the gold standard for what college football can be when the stakes are high and the coaches are fearless. It was a night of pure, unadulterated chaos that we’re still talking about nearly two decades later.
To truly understand the impact of this game on the modern playoff era, you should compare the 2007 BSU stats with the "BCS Buster" runs of Utah (2004/2008) and TCU (2010). You'll find that while the others were dominant, Boise was the only one that felt like a tactical heist.