CFB Bowl Preview 2025: Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
By Rory Daniels
Bowl season is in full swing, and we will be previewing every bowl game this year. This year’s Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl will be contested between Miami Redhawks and Fresno State Bulldogs. Let’s take a look at the key matchups.
Where and When
Location: Casino Del Sol Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Date: Saturday December 27
Time: 4.30pm ET / 9.30PM GMT
Story So Far...
After a rocky start to the season with three losses, the Miami Redhawks put together a strong conference record of 6-2, which was enough to land them a spot in the MAC Championship game. They lost that one to Western Michigan, but now they get a chance to go back-to-back in the Arizona Bowl. Head Coach Chuck Martin, the winningest head coach in program history, leads them. Now in his 12th season, the Redhawks have made seven bowl appearances under his guidance.
Fresno State navigated a tough schedule in the Mountain West to finish the year with an 8-4 record (5-3 in conference play). They were strongest on defense, ranking in the top-25 nationally. The Bulldogs returned to winning ways after one season under interim Head Coach Tim Skipper. This offseason they hired Matt Entz, who had plenty of success at North Dakota State. Entz has shown early promise and could follow on the success achieved by Tedford and Kaelen DeBoer before him.
The Quarterbacks
Thomas Gotkowski will assume the starting role for the Redhawks, given Dequan Finn’s departure from the program. Finn never recaptured his Toledo form, first struggling at Baylor and then leaving Miami midseason to prepare for the draft. Redshirt freshman Gotkowski was impressive vs Ball State with three passing touchdowns, but struggled in the Championship game. Can he star in this one?
Experienced quarterback EJ Warner arrived to lead Fresno State in the offseason from Rice, and it was a mixed bag performance-wise. He threw five interceptions in his first three games and no touchdowns. Things got better midseason until a three-interception game against Colorado State led to his benching. He resumed his starting role in Week 13, but he fits the mould of a game manager rather than a playmaker.
Who to Watch
Miami (OH)
Jordan Brunson, Running Back
With Gotkowski’s inexperience, Miami will look to lean heavily on the running game. Jordan Brunson is the lead back, and he rushed for 724 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry and only 55 yards per game. He will need to be more productive in this one to trouble a strong Fresno State defense.
Fresno State
Simeon Harris, Cornerback
The Bulldogs’ strength is their defense and one of their star players is slot corner Simeon Harris. While undersized to survive on the outside, Harris has exceptional short-area quickness and ball skills. This is highlighted by his five interceptions in 2025. He also had 49 tackles, showing he has no qualms mixing it in run support.
Prediction
Fresno State starts as 4.5-point favourites in this one, and it could be a low-scoring affair. Neither quarterback has set the world on fire, and the teams will likely lean heavily on their run games. The Bulldogs possess one of the top defensive units in the nation, and that should get them over the line.
Miami (OH) 13-22 Fresno State
Rory-Joe Daniels
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.