Fiesta Bowl 2014: Top Storylines to Follow in Boise State vs. Arizona

Boise State enters the 2014 Fiesta Bowl looking to build on an already-prestigious history in the bowl, going up against an Arizona team that might feel a distinct home-field advantage.

But although the Wildcats should have somewhat of a crowd advantage due to the proximity, the Broncos will make this quite the spectacle. Along with prestigious history in the bowl game, Boise State has shown its grit amid emerging as the only non-Power Five team to notch a Top 25 ranking at season's end.

But the Broncos will go up against an Arizona team looking to make up for its most recent drubbing at the hands of Oregon, and also hoping to get its 11th win in what has been a memorable season.

Here's a look at the top storylines to watch for in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Quest for 3-0

No matter what Boise State accomplishes in bowl games for the distant future, the 2007 Fiesta Bowl will forever live in college football lore.

An unthinkable Statue of Liberty play won the Broncos the Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma in crazy fashion. Then, Boise State repeated the feat in 2010 by knocking off No. 4 TCU 17-10 in the program's second appearance.

Now back for the third time ever, the Broncos shouldn't expect anything other than to make it a perfect 3-0. 

Even though their first appearance in the Fiesta Bowl came just eight years ago, the Broncos can inch closer to history with another win, as 93.1 The Ticket's Jeff Caves noted:

The Mountain West-hailing Broncos haven't faced too much elite opposition this season to show how they'll fare against Arizona, but they have impressed in certain stretches. They hung in there for most of a 28-14 loss to Ole Miss in August, and they toppled bowl-bound foes like BYU, San Diego State, Utah State and Colorado State convincingly. 

Unlike the last two times the Broncos made it here, though, it hasn't quite been a banner year. With two losses on the slate, it remains to be seen whether Boise State has enough magic to make a third run at a bowl it has dominated.

Month-Long Hangover

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Conventional wisdom would suggest that Arizona's more than excited to be a part of the Fiesta Bowl. After all, the Wildcats haven't made it here since 1993.

But it'd be even easier to suggest that Rich Rodriguez's crew will have somewhat of a hard time getting up for this one.

The last time Arizona played, it faced an Oregon team that it beat the previous time the two met. The sequel wasn't as rewarding for the Wildcats, who were drubbed 51-13 in a game that could have propelled them into the College Football Playoff conversation.

It's made Rodriguez—and many around Arizona's facilities, probably—a little on edge, as Arizona Daily Star's Daniel Berk noted:

Of course, the Wildcat players can take that edge one of two ways—they can come into New Year's Eve with a chip on their shoulder, or come in deflated after a few weeks of lower spirits than normal.

Getting a bid to the Fiesta Bowl likely reinvigorated the Arizona players, but nothing turns things around like winning football games. And even though we're a few weeks removed from it, that loss to Oregon is freshest on the Wildcats players' minds.

If the hangover carries on into the first quarter, Rodriguez and Co. could get run out of Glendale.

Battle of the Best

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Boise State's Jay Ajayi and Arizona's Scooby Wright III have been impossible to contain for their respective teams in 2014.

Already declared for the NFL draft, Ajayi has proven to be uncatchable all season long. He's scampered for a whopping 1,689 yards, amassing a total of 2,225 yards from scrimmage and serving as a one-man wrecking crew.

The playmaker he'll be going up against first and foremost has him beat on postseason accolades, however. The sophomore linebacker took home the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award (top defensive player) rather convincingly, and he's only a spry 20 years old.

Wright typically makes his impact rushing the passer, and he'll certainly become acclimated with Grant Hedrick. But with how much the Broncos value the run, he'll be called upon to shed blockers and find Ajayi before he breaks loose.

What makes their matchup even crazier is that Wright could be in Boise blue, as Rivals.com's Jeremy Rodrigues noted:

When it comes down to it, Wright leads an Arizona defense looking to make up for two paltry performances against Oregon and Arizona State to close out 2014. He and the defense will be intent on a big performance to set the tone entering next year.

Meanwhile, Ajayi is playing in his last collegiate game and looking to leave a lasting impact on his legacy in practically Boise State's championship setting. 

Both players will have everything to play for on New Year's Eve, but in much different ways.