Boise State vs. Arizona: Key Matchups That Will Decide Fiesta Bowl 2014

It seems fitting that Boise State's first trip to one of the big New Year's Six bowl games in eight years is the Fiesta Bowl. This is the spot where the Broncos made their name against Oklahoma following the 2006 season. They get another chance in 2014, this time against an Arizona team that defeated three Top 25 teams. 

The Wildcats have taken huge steps forward in three years under Rich Rodriguez. The former Michigan head coach took over a 4-8 program in 2012 and has led the school three consecutive bowl appearances, including victories the past two years. Arizona won 10 games this year, the first time since 1998. 

Boise State is no longer the national powerhouse it was from 2006-11 under Chris Petersen, but first-year head coach Bryan Harsin did a masterful job of getting the program back on track. The Broncos enter the Fiesta Bowl with an 11-2 record and eight straight wins, though they only played one ranked team, losing to Mississippi in their first game. 

Before Boise State and Arizona meet in Tempe to decide the Fiesta Bowl champion, here are the matchups to watch that will decide the outcome. 

Grant Hedrick vs. Arizona's Secondary

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Singling out the quarterback matchup is an easy task, but Boise State goes as Grant Hedrick goes. In the Broncos' two losses, Hedrick threw one touchdown and eight interceptions. The low point of his season came against Air Force, when he threw four interceptions and was benched in a 28-14 loss. 

Hedrick was asked about that game and how it shaped the rest of his season, in which Boise State won eight straight games and Hedrick threw 17 of his 22 touchdown passes, during media day for the Fiesta Bowl, via Tyler Killian of The Arizona Republic:

"It was like, 'What the heck's going on?'" Hedrick said. "Everything you do, you can't do it right. You think you're making the right reads and you're not. It was just one of those days — nothing's going right and you have no explanation."

Even though Boise State doesn't have much of a resume against schools in the Power Five conferences, Arizona's defense could provide the elixir that Hedrick needs to succeed on the big stage. 

The Wildcats allowed 51 points to Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game. While Boise State isn't at Oregon's level offensively, the Broncos average 496 yards and 39.8 points per game. Arizona's defense has been a problem all year, allowing 27.5 points per game. 

If there was a bowl matchup designed for Hedrick to put those earlier struggles against Ole Miss and Air Force behind him, it's this one. 

Jay Ajayi vs. Scooby Wright

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

If there's a better matchup between a running back and linebacker this bowl season than Boise State's Jay Ajayi and Arizona's Scooby Wright, good luck finding it. 

Ajayi is the best running back who doesn't get much national attention. He finished sixth in the nation with 1,689 yards and 25 touchdowns in the regular season. After the junior declared for the NFL draft, his offensive coordinator offered this assessment, via Jay Tust of KTVB:

During Boise State's winning streak, Ajayi had seven straight 100-yard rushing games before Fresno State held him to 70 yards. 

Ajayi will have the unenviable task of going up against the nation's best linebacker. The sophomore star, per Shane Dale of ArizonaSports.com, led the nation with 27 tackles for loss and tied for the FBS lead with six forced fumbles. 

Adding a little more drama to this entire matchup, Wright told the media, via Chadd Cripe of The Idaho Statesman, that Boise State was interested in him coming out of high school:

“(The Broncos) said they were going to keep evaluating me,” Wright said. “We always kept in contact, but nothing too serious.”

Wright has used his lack of scholarship offers as a motivating tool, according to a profile from Bruce Feldman of FoxSports.com:

"

As a recruit two years ago, Wright was deemed a two-star prospect. Deep down he hated it, but in a way he loves it now. Wright uses it. The whole "TwoStarScoob" thing serves as a constant reminder of a time when no one expected him to be great or even wanted him on their football team. Thanks to a whole lot of grit, Wright’s proved all those naysayers wrong. 

"

Wright will be making plays all over the field, but if he's going to give Arizona a chance to win, his most important task will be spying Ajayi and preventing big plays in the running game. 

Samajie Grant vs. Boise State's Secondary

STEVE DYKES/Associated Press

Samajie Grant was having a breakout season for Arizona before having everything fall apart after being cited for suspicion of a DUI after the Wildcats defeated Arizona State. He didn't start in the Pac-12 Championship Game and had just one reception in the 51-13 loss. 

Rodriguez talked about Grant leading up to the Fiesta Bowl, praising the star wide receiver's work ethic, via Daniel Berk of The Arizona Daily Star:

Now that Grant has been able to properly prepare for this game, Boise State will have its hands full trying to contain him. The sophomore star leads the Wildcats with 15.8 yards per reception and is second with five touchdown catches. 

In a game that's expected to feature a lot of big plays, Grant is Arizona's home run hitter in the passing game, while the Broncos finished 63rd in pass defense despite allowing 17 touchdowns with 20 interceptions. 

Grant isn't a big receiver who will overpower defenders at 5'9", 177 pounds, but his speed and hands on the outside have been key components in Arizona's growth this season. The Broncos are opportunistic on defense, which has produced good results but can get them in trouble. 

If you want to talk sports, hit me up on Twitter: @adamwells1985.