The Oregon Ducks (10-3) were searching for something in head coach Dan Lanning’s first season to provide an exclamation point. Taking on a nine-win ACC Coastal champion -led by star quarterback Drake Maye- in the North Carolina Tar Heels (9-5) provided just the recipe. But after the Tar Heels went up 27-21 with just 2:29 remaining in the game, the outcome was still very much in doubt.
Enter Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix.
Up until that point, the Auburn transfer had been just okay. But he completed five-of-six passes on the drive for 56 yards, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown to senior wideout Chase Cota.
Nix talked about the connection in detail.
“That’s one of our go-to plays, we feel really good about that play (game-winning touchdown pass)…we’ve run it multiple times,” Nix recalled. “And sure enough they brought a house blitz and Chase knows over and over that’s the throw if we get house. He’s gonna get a natural pick going across the middle, and we did a great job of picking up the protection. We threw it over the middle and got a completion for a touchdown.”
On the other side of the field, ACC Offensive Player of the Year Drake Maye got off to a fast start (206 yards passing, 51%, 3 TDs) for the Tar Heels, but the Oregon defense began to combat some of his efforts in the second half.
A big reason?
They stayed in the present.
“I thought our team did a great job of being in the present,” Lanning said after the game. “Our players made great adjustments. Even some of those drives we stalled out…didn’t get a first down, I think our guys believed hey we’re gonna get a stop and get an opportunity to do it again. And that’s what it came down to. You’re talking about phenomenal players making great plays and down the stretch, that’s what you saw.”
![San Diego's Petco Park was the home of the 2022 Holiday Bowl]( "2022 Holiday Bowl Petco Park BEAUTIFULJPG copy")
For the first time, the 2022 SDCCU Holiday Bowl was held at Petco Park in downtown San Diego.
![The Navy Leap Frogs fly into the 2022 Holiday Bowl]( "Navy Leap Frogs BEST SHOT copy")
A Holiday Bowl tradition includes the Navy Leap Frogs flying in before the game...even on fire.
![Helicopter flyover at the 2022 Holliday Bowl]( "Navy flyover over the stadium copy")
After the Navy Leap Frogs finished flying in, a helicopter flyover left the stadium.
![Oregon's fans showed up in abundance after making the trip from Eugene]( "Oregon fans in stands again copy")
There was a large contingent of Oregon fans who made the trip to San Diego.
![Oregon head coach Dan Lanning leading his team out of the tunnel prior to the game.]( "Dan Lanning about to lead his team out copy")
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning (pictured) led the Ducks to a 10-win season in his first year as head coach.
![North Carolina running back Elijah Green eludes tacklers in the first quarer]( "Oregon's Mase Funa cannot catch up to North Carolina RB Elijah Green")
North Carolina running back Elijah Green, pictured, eludes Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP Mase Funa (7 tackles, QB sack, 2 TFLs) on this first quarter carry as a flag gets thrown for holding.
![Oregon's defensive backs vs. UNC's wide receivers in the Red Zone]( "UNC receivers 18 Nesbit, 1 Greene, Jr., led by 8 Paysour, running route vs 11 Bridges and 19 Hill with 4 Williams at the point MAGAZINE, 21 Brown rushing off the edge copy")
Oregon's secondary works through its man coverage versus UNC's wide receivers while defending a bunch trips formation in the Red Zone.
![North Carolina wide receiver Kobe Paysour tries to elude Oregon defenders]( "UNC WR Kobe Paysour (No. 8 pictured) running in the middle of the field")
Oregon safety Jamal Hill and defensive end Mase Funa attempt to corral North Carolina's Kobe Paysour (No. 8 pictured) on a six-yard completion in the first quarter.
![Mack Brown HC North Carolina]( "Mack Brown Head Coach North Carolina cool kicks")
North Carolina head coach Mack Brown walks the sideline during the 2022 Holiday Bowl. Brown -a former running back at Vanderbilt and Florida State- has won 274 games in his illustrious coaching career.
![Oregon RB Noah Whittington (No. 22 pictured) getting tackled by UNC LB Kaimon Rucker in space]( "North Carolina's Kaimon Rucker makes the tackle vs 22 Whittington as No. 11 Troy Franklin blocks No. 29 Marcus Allen on edge")
UNC LB Kaimon Rucker tackles Oregon RB Noah Whittington (No. 33 pictured) during the third quarter as Cedric Gray (No. 33 pictured) chases alongside.
![North Carolina's Drake Maye talks on the sideline with coaches during the game]( "UNC's sidelines during the pandemic")
UNC's Drake Maye talking on the sidelines with the coaches after a second quarter scoring drive. Maye finished a spectacular freshman campaign with three touchdown passes, but completed just 14-of-35 passes in the contest. The ACC Offensive Player of the Year accounted for 45 touchdowns (38 PASS, 7 RUSH) in 2022.
![Oregon offensive tackle T.J. Bass preparing before the snap in stance]( "56 T.J. Bass vs 5 Jahvaree Ritzie, 33 Gray copy")
Oregon left tackle T.J. Bass (No. 56 pictured) prepares to take on North Carolina defensive end Jahvaree Ritzie in the third quarter of the game.
![Oregon's Bo Nix throwing from the pocket]( "Oregon QB Bo Nix releasing the ball in the 2022 Holiday Bowl")
Oregon QB Bo Nix releases a ball during the team's game-winning fourth quarter touchdown drive. Nix -an Auburn transfer- accounted for 43 touchdowns (29 PASS, 14 RUSH) in his first year for the Ducks. He completed 77% of his passes (205 yds, 2 TDs, INT) in the 2022 Holiday Bowl.
![UNC CB Marcus Allen breaks down to tackle vs. Oregon RB Noah Whittington]( "Oregon RB Noah Whittington sizes up cornerback Marcus Allen near the sidelines copy")
Oregon's Noah Whittington (No. 22 pictured) goes one-on-one with cornerback Marcus Allen. Whittington finished the season with 779 yards rushing (5.6 YPC) and 5 TDs and also caught 22 passes (TD).
![Oregon's Trikweze Bridges with the tackle for loss in the 2022 Holiday Bowl]( "11 Bridges with the TFL in the backfield vs 28 Hampton NICE SHOT copy")
Oregon CB Trikweze Bridges (3 tackles, 2 PBUs) tackles North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton for no gain after rushing on a cornerback blitz in the fourth quarter.
![Oregon head coach Dan Lanning holds up the Holiday Bowl trophy as the team celebrates.]( "Dan Lanning holding up trophy for team copy")
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning holds up the Holiday Bowl trophy as his team celebrates.
![Oregon's Jeffrey Bassa celebrates with the 2022 Holiday Bowl trophy]( "Oregon players celebrating with trophy 1 copy")
Oregon's Jeffrey Bassa (pictured left) celebrates with his teammates after the team's Holiday Bowl victory.
