Valley sports fans look forward to the Fiesta and Rate Bowls as ASU prepares for Peach Bowl showdowns

There is added buzz among college football fans in the Valley this year with Arizona State poised to make its playoff debut.

Although the Sun Devils will play in Atlanta, a big week of football locally kicks off Thursday with the Rate Bowl in downtown Phoenix.

Rutgers and Kansas State will exit Chase Field, both teams trying to end their season on a high note.

The stakes get higher in Glendale on New Year’s Eve, when the Fiesta Bowl hosts a playoff game between Boise State and Penn State.

Erik Moses of the Fiesta Sports Foundation said that whichever team wins, this will be a historic event.

“The VRBO Fiesta Bowl will be the first-ever college football playoff quarterfinal this year in our expanded twelve-team format,” he said.

The Rate and Fiesta Bowls draw thousands of people to the Grand Canyon State each year, and Moses said they are responsible for a significant economic boost to Arizona.

“Together with our two bowl games and our parade, we are responsible for more than $200 million in positive economic impact to the state of Arizona each year,” he said.

The Fiesta Bowl will be followed by three other quarterfinals on New Year’s Day – including ASU’s showdown in Atlanta against Texas.