Miami (Ohio) cruises by Colorado State in Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

Traditionally, the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop has overtime thrillers or walk-off plays for the most part. 

In the first edition of the Arizona Bowl with hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg as the title sponsor, the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks clobbered the Colorado State Rams 43-17 on Saturday at Arizona Stadium.

It's the largest margin of victory in Arizona Bowl history, passing Air Force's 24-point win over South Alabama in 2016. Miami (9-5) head coach Chuck Martin said the Redhawks' win on Saturday "was a great team effort."

"Our kids deserve to go out in dominant fashion like they did," said Martin. "It was a fun game to be a part of."  

After the game, Snoop Dogg drove out on the field at Arizona Stadium in a 1964 Chevy Impala with the Arizona Bowl trophy. Each coach and player received a gold "Death Row Records" chain. 

"If I could've befriended Snoop and be a part of something that he does, this could be my last game," Martin joked. "Just fade off into the sunset with Snoop, that was my goal, but I don't think I got that done. Maybe if I come back and win another one, we can partner up. ... I'm sitting there with a gold chain and my wife is laughing her ass off. ... Then I'm sitting in the back of this vehicle and my wife is thinking, 'What a complete imbecile.' That's a moment I'll remember forever."  

Even though the Rams (8-5) outgained Miami, CSU committed four turnovers that resulted in 19 points for Miami. Additionally, Miami scored on seven of its eight trips to the red zone, while Colorado State scored twice in the red zone. CSU also had more plays (75) and first downs (19) than Miami. 

"There's going to be a lot of analyzing with this game, but it's pretty simple: we turned the ball over and had too many penalties," said Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell. "You can't when you do that. ... The most important stats that matter are turnovers. ... Just disappointed in how we played tonight. It wasn't typical of how we played this year particularly taking care of the football; that had a lot to do with the outcome."

After three field goals by Miami kicker Dom Dzioban, the Redhawks took a 9-3 lead over Colorado State at halftime. Miami scored touchdowns on its first three drives to begin the second half, which included a pair of running touchdowns by backup running back Kevin Davis, who ended the game with nine carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Davis, who replaced injured starter Keyon Mozee, had a 97-yard touchdown run, which set an Arizona Bowl record for longest touchdown. Davis' final touchdown put Miami ahead 29-3. 

Davis also had an 81-yard kickoff return in the second half and received Arizona Bowl MVP honors. 

"I wouldn't be able to do those things without the guys around me," Davis said. "My performance is a testimony to the guys around me and what they do to succeed for all of us."

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Snoop Dogg presented Davis with a gold chain and the Arizona Bowl trophy during the postgame celebration. The two shared a private conversation on stage, but "that's between me and Snoop," Davis said with a smirk.  

Winning the Arizona Bowl, the first bowl victory for Miami since the 2021 Frisco Bowl, "was really important to all of the seniors," Martin said. 

"I know every game is important to these guys, but I know today was very satisfying for all of those seniors that had another opportunity to play in 2024 and end 2024 the way our team should have. ... You get to my age and all you got is memories and when you think back, these moments ... will mean a lot to them when they get to my age. ... Seeing these guys go out the way they went out, that's a pretty awesome experience."

The overall experience at the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl "was fantastic," said Norvell, who coached Nevada in the 2018 Arizona Bowl, when it was sponsored by Nova Home Loans. 

"I really appreciate this bowl staff. I think it's a great community here to have a bowl game. ... I thought the whole game atmosphere was special," Norvell said. 

Added Martin: "They got this town to rally behind this bowl and it's a totally different experience for these guys. Going to a bowl game, usually it's like a Saturday morning scrimmage. ... The pride they take in this shows up at every turn you make. Everything is done just a little bit better.

"We've had great bowl experiences everywhere we've ever been, but this is just an upgrade. The players' lounge to the events and everything they do, it's pretty cool."

Extra points:

• Miami special teams coordinator Jacob Bronowski "entered the coaching portal", Martin said, and accepted the same role at Pittsburgh before the Arizona Bowl, so the Redhawks relied on multiple players and graduate assistants in a collaborative effort for coordinating. Miami defensive backs Ambe' Caldwell and Eli Blakey and linebackers Adam Trick and Corban Hondru were the player-coaches.  
• Announced attendance for the Arizona Bowl: 40,076, the highest attendance in the bowl game's history.
• Colorado State has now lost its last five bowl appearances, including the inaugural Arizona Bowl in 2015. The last time CSU won a bowl game was the 2013 New Mexico Bowl.
• The MAC is 3-1 in the Arizona Bowl. Miami joined Ball State and Ohio as victorious MAC teams in the Old Pueblo's bowl game. Toledo lost to Wyoming 16-15 last season.   

Photos: Miami (OH) gets offensive in the second half, dropping Colorado State 43-17 in the Arizona Bowl