Takeaway: Quarterback Brady Cook‘s record-setting profession ended appropriately with a one-score win and a formidable comeback. Missouri confronted a proficient Iowa protection with out extensive receiver Luther Burden III, who declared for the NFL draft, and beginning tight finish Brett Norfleet (knee surgical procedure). The Tigers additionally misplaced main receiver Theo Wease Jr. to an damage within the first half. However Prepare dinner, who grew to become solely the fourth Missouri participant to eclipse 10,000 profession yards of offense — becoming a member of Chase Daniel (13,485), Brad Smith (13,088) and Drew Lock (12,630) — led three straight scoring drives within the second half after Iowa took a 24-14 lead with 5:19 left within the third quarter. After a troublesome begin on particular groups that included a 100-yard kick return landing by Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen, Missouri held the sting there because of Blake Craig area targets of 51 and 56 yards, the latter marking his fourth go-ahead make from 50 yards or extra this season, most within the FBS. Six of Missouri’s 10 wins this season got here by seven factors or fewer, a testomony to Prepare dinner, who had 287 passing yards and two touchdowns and added a team-high 54 speeding yards. The Tigers’ protection additionally deserves credit score for limiting Iowa to 32 yards within the fourth quarter and stuffing a quarterback sneak to seal the win.
MVP: Prepare dinner is the decide after accounting for 341 yards of offense in his closing faculty sport, however mentions additionally go to kicker Craig and extensive receiver Marquis Johnson, who stepped up for injured teammates to submit profession highs for receptions (7) and receiving yards (122) and had a 7-yard landing catch. — Adam Rittenberg
Takeaway: After Solar Belt champion Marshall dropped out of this sport following the departure of its coach, Charles Huff, and a mass exodus to the switch portal, a bowl matchup with Louisiana Tech — which went 5-7 in the course of the common season — wasn’t precisely a becoming finish for AAC champion Army. So, contemplating the mismatch, it should not have come as a lot of a shock to see the overwhelming win by the Black Knights.
Military quarterback Bryson Daily capped an excellent season by working for 127 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. He broke the single-season FBS report for speeding touchdowns by a quarterback with 32. Solely Oklahoma State‘s Barry Sanders (37) and Wisconsin‘s Montee Ball (33) ever rushed for extra scores in a marketing campaign. Hayden Reed added 114 speeding yards and a landing as Military set a single-season faculty report with its twelfth win.
MVP: Day by day wrapped up top-of-the-line seasons in faculty soccer historical past with one other standout efficiency. — Kyle Bonagura
Takeaway: What began as “the folks’s Huge 12 championship,” as BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff known as it this week, become a BYU blowout. The Cougars took out a month of frustration after a 9-0 begin — together with a win over School Soccer Playoff decide SMU — that gave strategy to an Alamo Bowl berth, after successive losses to Kansas and Arizona State by a complete of eight factors knocked them out of rivalry for the Huge 12 title sport.
Colorado arrived with the star energy of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter in addition to quarterback Shedeur Sanders, however the BYU protection held the Buffaloes scoreless till halfway by the third quarter, with BYU already main 27-0. Sanders threw two interceptions, the Buffaloes gave up a 64-yard punt return landing to Parker Kingston and LJ Martin ran for 2 touchdowns for the Cougars. Each groups had outstanding seasons after being picked on the backside of the convention, however they are going to head into the offseason on totally different notes.
MVP: Linebacker Isaiah Glasker had eight tackles (one for a loss), an interception and was the face of a protection that annoyed Colorado’s high-flying offense that got here in averaging 34.5 factors. — Dave Wilson
Takeaway: What had been an exhilarating sport resulted in a melee that left one official bleeding as coaches for NC State and East Carolina struggled to get their gamers again to their respective sidelines with lower than a minute remaining. Frustrations boiled over after NC State’s potential game-winning drive ended with an interception with beneath a minute to play. It was a big blow to the ACC, which is presently 1-9 in its bowl video games. With NC State’s loss, the league went 0-4 on Saturday, with Miami, North Carolina and Boston School additionally dropping.
In what was a dreary, wet day in Annapolis, Maryland, the 2 groups positioned 83 miles aside in North Carolina battled to the bitter finish for bragging rights, however the struggle that broke out overshadowed what had in any other case been a seesaw sport. NC State has misplaced 5 straight bowl video games, the longest streak in group historical past, and Dave Doeren suffered his third dropping season (together with 2013 and 2019) in his twelfth total marketing campaign because the Wolfpack’s head coach. East Carolina gained consecutive bowl video games for the second time in class historical past, together with the 2022 Birmingham Bowl.
MVP: With 44 seconds left and NC State driving in ECU territory, ECU defensive again Dontavius Nash snagged an interception that was meant for Hollywood Smothers however was tipped, sealing the win for the Pirates as he held onto it whereas hitting the bottom. — Heather Dinich
Takeaway: Miami-Ohio‘s protection had been dominant in the course of the latter half of the season and was once more the distinction towards Colorado State.
Miami-Ohio has earned 20 wins over a two-year span, this system’s most since successful 21 video games from 2003 to 2004 (13 and eight respectively). Miami overcame a 1-4 begin this season and gained seven straight video games earlier than dropping to Ohio within the Mid-American Convention championship sport. Throughout that span, it allowed simply 12.9 factors per sport — the second greatest within the FBS behind Notre Dame. The RedHawks have been once more stifling, snagging three turnovers within the first three quarters. Sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert threw for 184 yards, and his 10-yard speeding landing within the third quarter put the RedHawks up 22-3. Miami has gained at the least 9 video games in back-to-back seasons for simply the third time in class historical past (1973, 1974 and 1975.) Colorado State, which was showing in its first bowl in seven seasons, dropped to 6-12 in bowl video games, together with 5 straight losses.
MVP: Working again Kevin Davis scored on a 97-yard landing run — the second longest in program historical past and the varsity’s longest play of any variety in a bowl sport — with 6:46 remaining within the third quarter to present the RedHawks a commanding 29-3 lead. He completed with 148 yards speeding and two touchdowns on simply eight carries. — Heather Dinich
Takeaway: The “It was a story of two halves” cliché is drained and dreadfully overused, however the Pop-Tarts Bowl was actually a story of two halves. The primary was a monitor meet by which the groups mixed for 625 complete yards, Cam Ward threw for 190 yards and three touchdowns and Miami outscored Iowa State 31-28.
The second, with Ward having organized to play just one half in his closing collegiate sport, was a rock struggle by which ISU topped the Hurricanes 14-10 because of a late 15-play landing drive and a scoring plunge by quarterback Rocco Becht. Add the 2 halves up, and the Cyclones gained by a cumulative 42-41. Miami’s Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher Jr. mixed for 241 speeding yards and two scores to just about fend off the Cyclones. However in the long run Matt Campbell’s Cyclones made a late defensive cease, lifted the fantastic Pop-Tarts Trophy and, in fact, cannibalized the large, cinnamon roll-flavored pastry.
MVP: Becht earned straightforward player-of-the-game honors with 270 passing yards — 117 of these went to wideout Jaylin Noel — plus three passing downs, quite a few key scrambles and the game-winning landing run. — Invoice Connelly
Takeaway: TCU averaged 9 wins per season in Sonny Dykes’ first two years in cost, however the Horned Frogs did it in simply concerning the wildest attainable manner, surging to 13-2 in 2022 after which plummeting to 5-7 in 2023. This yr they took the direct route, wrapping up a 9-4 season with a straightforward 34-3 win over Louisiana within the New Mexico Bowl. Josh Hoover threw landing passes to 4 totally different receivers, however the story of this one was a dominant protection. Louisiana gained simply 113 yards within the first three quarters and did not high 200 yards till the ultimate 30 seconds of the sport. After permitting 30.8 factors per sport in its first six video games beneath new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, TCU gave up simply 19.3 per sport over the previous seven.
This bowl season has been loaded with shut video games, however this one was over shortly. The 4 TD passes by Hoover and two area targets gave TCU a 34-0 lead barely 5 minutes into the second half, and UL did not get on the board till early within the fourth quarter.
MVP: Hoover was superior, however it’s important to go together with somebody on the defensive facet right here, and with extra cross breakups (3) than tackles (2) — you possibly can’t make a deal with in case your man does not catch the ball — nook LaMareon James was one of many important causes UL’s Ben Wooldridge went simply 7-for-20 passing. — Invoice Connelly
Takeaway: Matt Rhule has led Nebraska to its first successful season since 2016 and its first bowl victory since 2015. The Cornhuskers secured the win on a wet day inside Yankee Stadium in dramatic vogue, holding on within the closing minutes of what become a good one-score sport. Nebraska took a 20-2 lead into the fourth quarter because of its stout protection, which delivered 4 fourth-down stops within the Huskers’ first sport since dropping defensive coordinator Tony White to Florida State. However the Eagles answered within the closing six minutes with a 64-yard landing drive, then a blocked punt to arrange a straightforward 2-yard landing with 4:18 remaining. Dylan Raiola and Nebraska’s offense managed to expire the clock from there, driving 45 yards in 9 performs with a clutch fourth-down conversion by working again Rahmir Johnson. It was a becoming finale and a giant step in the correct course after the Huskers had misplaced 10 of 12 video games determined by one-score margins over Rhule’s first two seasons.
MVP: Johnson clinched the win on a fourth-and-1 conversion, breaking tackles on an inside run for an 11-yard achieve. The senior from Harlem made probably the most of his homecoming sport with 69 complete yards on 11 touches and his first speeding landing since 2021. — Max Olson
Takeaway: Jim Mora has achieved one of many extra spectacular turnarounds in faculty soccer at UConn, taking this system from 1-11 to 9-4 in simply three years. He closed out the Huskies’ first nine-win season since 2007 with a dominant efficiency towards North Carolina. UConn’s protection had no bother shutting down the Tar Heels, permitting simply 67 yards by three quarters with seven drives ending in three-and-outs. North Carolina went 0-for-9 on third downs and bought 86 passing yards from backup quarterback Michael Merdinger. The Huskies pulled away shortly within the first half, with quarterback Joe Fagnano main them to scores on 5 of their first seven possessions to energy this system’s first bowl win since 2009. UConn additionally secured its second victory over a Energy 4 opponent since 2017. Each wins have come beneath Mora’s management. North Carolina endured a 6-7 end for the second time in 4 years, nevertheless it has loads of purpose for optimism now that the Invoice Belichick period is formally underway. Belichick didn’t attend the sport whereas he focuses on roster constructing for 2025.
MVP: UConn defensive lineman Pryce Yates earned defensive MVP honors after recording six tackles, together with a team-high three tackles for loss and a sack of Merdinger that helped cease the Tar Heels’ closing drive of the day. — Max Olson
Takeaway: Simply when it appeared as if USC was going to limp to the end line in coach Lincoln Riley’s third season, the Trojans discovered some late magic for an unbelievable comeback win in Las Vegas. Each groups struggled to discover a rhythm on offense within the first half, however Texas A&M blew issues open with 17 straight factors to begin the third quarter for a 24-7 lead. At that time, it appeared unlikely the stagnant USC offense would deliver the Trojans again. But it surely did.
Ja’Kobi Lane‘s third landing reception of the sport got here with 4:30 left to place the Trojans up 28-24. Texas A&M shortly answered with a landing, just for the Trojans to place collectively a 75-yard successful landing drive, capped by a 7-yard cross from Jayden Maiava to Kyle Ford with 8 seconds left. The win prevented USC (7-6) from ending with a dropping report, which is a small comfort for what was an in any other case disappointing season in Los Angeles.
Riley has been principally immune from severe hot-seat discuss due to his dear buyout, but when a 3rd straight season of irrelevance comes subsequent yr, that might change. In the meantime, Texas A&M’s (8-5) once-promising season completed with 4 losses within the closing 5 video games.
MVP: USC’s Lane turned in a memorable sport with 7 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns. — Kyle Bonagura
Takeaway: Washington State entered the sport as depleted as any group within the nation with out its head coach, each coordinators, star quarterback and a number of other different key gamers. And for a lot of the primary half Friday, the Cougars have been capable of dangle round thanks largely to the impressed play of quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, who guided Washington State to a 21-14 first-quarter lead. However Syracuse scored three unanswered touchdowns within the second quarter and continued to pile it on offensively (607 complete yards) towards a Washington State group that did not stop preventing regardless of being down so many gamers. Eckhaus, who had tried solely seven passes all season (all within the season opener) as John Mateer’s backup, threw three landing passes and ran for an additional. However Syracuse’s quick-strike offense, with quarterback Kyle McCord passing for 453 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions, was an excessive amount of for Washington State to beat. Syracuse ended the season on a four-game successful streak in Fran Brown’s first yr as coach, and the Orange gained 10 video games for under the second time previously 23 seasons.
MVP: McCord grew to become the ACC’s single-season report holder for passing yards, and it was the twelfth time in 13 video games this season that he handed for 300 or extra yards. The Ohio State switch accomplished passes to seven totally different gamers and averaged 13.3 yards per try. — Kyle Bonagura
Takeaway: After a disappointing near the common season, Arkansas erupted with one in all its greatest offensive showings on this assembly of outdated Southwest Convention rivals. The Hogs jumped to a 21-3 lead within the first quarter, however the Purple Raiders pulled inside 21-19 within the second quarter. The Hogs regained management within the second half and made some key changes on protection and shut out Texas Tech till the Purple Raiders scored with 3:03 to play.
The win moved Arkansas to 7-6, serving to to ease the ache from a 4-8 end a yr in the past. The 2 groups mixed for 1,056 complete yards, and each rushed for greater than 200. Texas Tech (8-5) was enjoying with out Tahj Brooks, who opted out of the bowl sport. Brooks is Texas Tech’s all-time speeding chief.
MVP: Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green handed for 341 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 81 yards and a rating. His 97-yard landing cross to Dazmin James with the Hogs backed up towards their very own objective line late within the first quarter modified the complexion of the sport. — Chris Low
Takeaway: Vanderbilt led 14-13 with a little bit over 5 minutes to go within the third quarter. However a string of questionable calls went towards the Yellow Jackets, who then imploded with turnovers because the Commodores pulled away.
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct following a controversial defensive cross interference name on Trenilyas Tatum. The 2 penalties gave Vanderbilt a primary down and possession on the Georgia Tech 22-yard line. Diego Pavia completed off the drive with a three-yard landing cross to Eli Stowers.
Georgia Tech’s Haynes King was intercepted on the following snap, establishing one other Pavia landing cross three performs later. Then, off a Georgia Tech fumble, Pavia put the Yellow Jackets away with a six-yard scoring run.
The Commodores led 35-13 with 7:17 to play when the sport was delayed on account of lightning. Play resumed nearly an hour later. The Yellow Jackets scored two late touchdowns after the delay however did not get better a late onside kick.
The victory snapped Vanderbilt’s 13-game dropping streak to Georgia Tech relationship to 1941, when the Commodores final gained 14-7.
MVP: Pavia totaled 5 touchdowns (three passing, two speeding), probably the most by a Vandy participant in a bowl sport. — Jake Trotter
0:51
Navy wins Armed Forces Bowl after denying Oklahoma’s 2-point conversion
Oklahoma scores a landing with six seconds left, however elects to go for a win, and the Sooners are stopped by Navy on a 2-point conversion try.
Takeaway: The Sooners went for a 2-point conversion and the win after Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. discovered Jake Roberts for a 10-yard landing cross with six seconds remaining. However Navy‘s Justin Reed sacked Hawkins on the 2-point strive, sealing the victory for the Midshipmen. With the bowl defeat, the Sooners completed with a dropping report for the second time in three years beneath coach Brent Venables; till 2022, Venables’ first season, OU had not had a dropping report since 1998.
Quarterback Blake Horvath led the best way offensively for Navy (10-3), which reached double-digit wins for the primary time since 2019.
He sliced by the Oklahoma protection for a school-record 95-yard landing run to tie the rating within the third quarter, then engineered the game-winning drive within the fourth.
Hawkins had his moments too after taking on for Jackson Arnold, who transferred to Auburn earlier this month. However Hawkins bought little assist from his receivers, who dropped a number of passes. Although Hawkins is predicted again, the Sooners are banking that switch quarterback John Mateer — who adopted his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, from Washington State — can elevate an OU offense that struggled in its first yr within the SEC.
MVP: Together with his 155 speeding yards and two touchdowns, Horvath grew to become the primary FBS participant since Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts in 2019 to succeed in 1,250 speeding yards and 30 complete touchdowns in a season, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. — Jake Trotter
Takeaway: The primary bowl sport after Christmas featured 17 lead adjustments, a number of scuffles, two pick-sixes, a handful of untimely celebrations and the primary six-overtime end in FBS bowl sport historical past. Pitt entered Thursday decimated on the quarterback place with starter Eli Holstein (leg) sidelined by damage and backups Nate Yarnell and Ty Dieffenbach within the switch portal. The Panthers’ remaining quarterbacks — redshirt freshman walk-on David Lynch and true freshman Julian Dugger — mixed for simply 137 passing yards and prompted Pitt to run the ball 60-plus instances in a sport for the primary time in additional than a decade, leaning closely on junior Desmond Reid (33 carries, 169 yards, one landing). Dugger ultimately settled in and delivered a gutsy efficiency within the loss, however the quarterback battle decidedly belonged to Toledo junior Tucker Gleason, who threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns with an interception and accounted for 5 scores in extra time, together with his successful reference to Junior Vandeross III in OT No. 6. Down 30-20 earlier than Darius Alexander‘s 58-yard, fourth-quarter pick-six, Toledo stormed from behind to assert its second victory in seven bowl appearances beneath head coach Jason Candle. In the meantime, Pitt, which opened the season 7-0, grew to become the second bowl group in FBS historical past to finish its season on a six-game dropping streak.
MVP: Vast receiver Junior Vandeross III. On the day Gleason reached a career-high yardage complete, he discovered the junior extensive receiver on roughly 46% of his completions. Vandeross hit profession bests with 12 receptions for 194 yards, together with a 67-yard landing seize in regulation, earlier than finishing the game-sealing 2-point conversion. — Eli Lederman
Rate Bowl: Kansas State 44, Rutgers 41
Kansas State ranked sixteenth nationally in speeding in the course of the common season (204.5 yards per sport), and the Wildcats rode a dominant run sport to erase a 14-point, second-half deficit in Phoenix. Dylan Edwards‘ searing pace was the platform as Kansas State exploded for 340 speeding yards Thursday evening, representing this system’s second-best complete of the season and second-highest bowl sport speeding tally. Lacking star working again Kyle Monangai (opted out), Rutgers delivered a formidable speeding efficiency of its personal, leaning on Antwan Raymond and Ja’shon Benjamin (25 carries, 146 speeding yards, 5 touchdowns mixed) to construct a 34-17 lead six minutes into the second half. However Kansas State clawed again with Edwards’ pair of lengthy speeding scores and two second-half passing touchdowns from Avery Johnson, scoring 27 second-half factors to safe this system’s largest comeback win since 2020. Wildcats coach Chris Klieman has back-to-back bowl wins and three straight nine-plus win seasons.
MVP: Working again Dylan Edwards, who averaged a whopping 10.9 yards per carry and bookended Kansas State’s second-half scoring with electrical speeding touchdowns of 65 and 35 yards, the second of which put the Wildcats forward 44-41 with 4:15 remaining. Edwards’ 196 yards on 18 carries have been probably the most in a bowl sport in Kansas State program historical past. — Eli Lederman
68 Ventures Bowl: Arkansas State 38, Bowling Inexperienced 31
Takeaway: Regardless of being outgained by greater than 100 yards, Arkansas State emerged from Thursday evening’s bowl with this system’s first eight-win season since 2019. The Purple Wolves didn’t have a very explosive day on the bottom or within the air, however they made performs in each aspect of the sport and have been opportunistic within the face of the Falcons’ errors. The Arkansas State protection pressured a key fumble, made an important fourth-down cease within the second half and performed a job in three missed area targets from Bowling Inexperienced. Particular groups did its half, too, as Courtney Jackson returned a punt for a landing within the first quarter that put Butch Jones’ group up 10 early and gave the Wolves the mandatory momentum for the remainder of the sport. And when Arkansas State wanted it most, the offense stitched collectively an eight-play, 68-yard landing drive within the fourth quarter that ate up the clock and ended up being the distinction. Purple Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor was a gentle presence, whereas working again Zak Wallace ran for 99 yards, together with a number of clutch runs late within the sport that stored the chains transferring and ended any slim probability the Falcons had at a comeback.
MVP: It isn’t frequent to present this honor to a participant on the dropping facet, nevertheless it’s laborious to not acknowledge Harold Fannin Jr., who capped his unimaginable season with a 17-catch, 213-yard, one-touchdown efficiency. The junior tight finish completed his season with 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns. — Paolo Uggetti
Hawai’i Bowl: South Florida 41, San José State 39 (5 OTs)
Takeaway: The one soccer sport (faculty or professional) on Christmas Eve didn’t disappoint, technically ending on Christmas Day within the Jap time zone however not in Hawai’i, the place South Florida prevailed in a report fifth extra time. No bowl sport had exceeded three overtimes because the extra time guidelines have been applied in 1996. Coach Alex Golesh’s group in the end had the higher hand in key conditions, particularly on particular groups, because the Bulls had a 93-yard kick return landing, related on two area targets to increase the sport and acquired a 72-yard punt from Andrew Stokes — one in all three that traveled 50 yards or longer — that backed up San José State on the finish of regulation. The Bulls scored on 4 of their 5 extra time possessions and will have gained the sport within the fourth additional session if extensive receiver Michael Brown-Stephens had stayed in bounds on a inventive 2-point conversion try. Quarterback Bryce Archie began sturdy, finishing his first 12 cross makes an attempt, earlier than going chilly and throwing a close to pick-six that appeared to value South Florida the sport. However he responded effectively late in regulation and in extra time because the Bulls improved to 10-1 in extra time video games, the very best mark in FBS historical past. San José State acquired a profession efficiency from Matthew Coleman (12 receptions, 119 yards), filling in for FBS receiving yards chief and Biletnikoff Award finalist Nick Nash. However some situational miscues in the end doomed the Spartans.
MVP: South Florida linebacker Mac Harris had a giant evening for a playmaking protection, recording two tackles for loss, eight complete tackles, a quarterback hurry and a cross breakup. — Adam Rittenberg
Takeaway: By no means say the Well-known Idaho Potato Bowl does not offer you your cash’s value. Within the fourth quarter and extra time alone, we bought two missed go-ahead area targets (one from every group), three fast extra time touchdowns, countless extra time trickery from NIU and, ultimately, a crushing, game-winning fourth-down sack from Jordan Hansen to present the Huskies a 28-20 victory. And after the celebrations and french fry baths, we bought the successful group lifting Spuddy Buddy on its shoulders. What else might you presumably need out of your bowl expertise?
The ending was value it, however each groups had possibilities to grab the sport in regulation. Fresno State led 13-3 at halftime, however NIU scored 10 factors early within the second half — together with six on a phenomenal 26-yard landing catch from Grayson Barnes — to tie the sport heading into the fourth quarter. NIU drove the size of the sector late however settled for a 35-yard area objective try on fourth-and-1 (violating the swashbuckling spirit of the Potato Bowl) and missed with 3:02 left. Then Fresno State missed a 34-yarder on the buzzer, too. Future demanded extra time, and the Huskies took all of the potato glory.
MVP: Josh Holst. The freshman quarterback threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns, led NIU with 65 speeding yards and caught a 2-point conversion cross within the second OT. — Invoice Connelly
Takeaway: With Coastal Carolina enjoying at residence, and UTSA having misplaced every of its six street video games this season, Monday’s sport between 6-6 groups figured to be aggressive. However the Chanticleers have been decimated by losses within the switch portal, together with their high two quarterbacks, in addition to a couple of star gamers on protection. After a sluggish begin within the first quarter, UTSA scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to take a 21-0 lead on the half. The Roadrunners added two area targets within the third quarter. After Coastal Carolina lastly bought on the scoreboard on Tad Hudson‘s 50-yard landing cross to Bryson Graves on the primary play of the fourth quarter, UTSA answered with Chris Carpenter’s 93-yard kickoff return for a rating to make it 34-7. The spotlight of the sport got here when UTSA gamers celebrated Jakevian Rodgers‘ interception on a pretend punt by leaping into the makeshift seashore at Brooks Stadium. They have been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. It was one in all 10 such penalties within the sport. After beginning 3-5, the Roadrunners gained 4 of their previous 5 video games to complete 7-6. After beginning 4-1, the Chanticleers dropped six of their final eight to complete 6-7.
MVP: UTSA quarterback Owen McCown accounted for touchdowns passing and working, finishing 23 of 30 passes for 254 yards with one TD cross and one interception. He additionally ran 4 instances for 37 yards with one landing, serving to the Roadrunners set bowl data for factors and complete yards (513). — Mark Schlabach
Takeaway: It took some time for Florida to get occurring offense, as DJ Lagway struggled at instances — throwing two interceptions, together with one within the crimson zone. Certainly, the early journeys to the crimson zone resulted in area targets — protecting Tulane within the sport. However as soon as the Gators began changing their lengthy drives into touchdowns within the second half, they put the sport out of attain. Tulane struggled with out quarterback Darian Mensah, who has already transferred to Duke. The Gators, in the meantime, rolled up 529 yards — probably the most towards an FBS group this yr — and Lagway ended up throwing for 305 yards, transferring to 6-1 because the starter this season. The protection was stellar, with three interceptions and a close to shutout, giving up a landing with 29 seconds left. Florida finishes the season with eight wins for the primary time since 2020 — a considerably sudden consequence contemplating the best way the season started. However since athletic director Scott Stricklin introduced Billy Napier would return for 2025 in early November, Florida went 4-1 — together with a four-game successful streak to finish the season. Lagway returns subsequent season, alongside together with his high receivers and younger working backs, too. There ought to be purpose for optimism in Gainesville primarily based on the best way the season ended and who is about to return again.
MVP: Desmond Watson. The 449-pound defensive lineman had a number of viral moments — lifting Tulane’s working again within the air to make a deal with, then later within the sport, carrying the ball and gaining a yard on third-and-1 to choose up the primary down. –– Andrea Adelson
Takeaway: The Bobcats took a 20-point lead on the half after which held on within the closing two quarters for his or her seventh straight victory. After the Gamecocks pulled inside a area objective with about 3½ minutes left, Ohio ran out the remainder of the clock with a protracted drive. It was a formidable debut for Ohio coach Brian Smith, who was promoted from offensive coordinator on Wednesday after Tim Albin left for Charlotte. The Bobcats captured 11 victories in a marketing campaign for the primary time within the 63-year historical past of this system. They’ve additionally gained six straight bowl video games; their final loss was on the 2016 Greenback Basic Bowl. After punting on every of its first two possessions within the Treatment Bowl, Ohio scored touchdowns on 4 of its subsequent 5 to seize a 27-7 lead on the half. The Bobcats piled up 309 yards of offense within the first half-hour, together with 153 speeding. Jacksonville State, which gained a Convention USA title in its second season as an FBS member, did not put up a lot of a struggle within the first half. The Gamecocks have been led by interim coach Rod Smith, after former coach Wealthy Rodriguez agreed to return to West Virginia. Jacksonville State is hiring Auburn defensive coordinator Charles Kelly to interchange Rodriguez, sources instructed ESPN on Friday. The Gamecocks had solely 8 speeding yards and 5 first downs within the first half. They’d greater than a dozen gamers enter the switch portal after Rodriguez’s departure, together with high edge rusher Reginald Hughes (Colorado) and security Zechariah Poyser (Miami), who did not play towards Ohio.
MVP: Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro, who was the offensive MVP of the MAC championship sport, accounted for 4 touchdowns within the first half towards Jacksonville State, scoring on three runs and throwing an 11-yard cross to working again Anthony Tyus III. — Mark Schlabach
Takeaway: Sam Houston captured its first bowl victory as an FBS group. The Bearkats nabbed three first-half interceptions that they become 14 factors. QB Hunter Watson had 14 straight completions at one level within the first half, tying the New Orleans Bowl report beforehand set by Louisiana’s Terrance Broadway in 2014. Sam Houston’s protection and particular groups continued to overwhelm Georgia Southern within the second half, intercepting JC French a fourth time and forcing a fumble on a punt return. The Bearkats put the ending touches on what would grow to be a 10-3 season with a powerful defensive efficiency towards one of many higher groups within the Solar Belt this season.
MVP: Sam Houston DB Jaylon Jimmerson had his first and second interceptions with the Bearkats on this sport, and it is a part of what helped them construct a 21-7 lead within the first half. He additionally had 9 complete tackles and a TFL. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Takeaway: It could have been straightforward for UNLV to not present up for this one. After ending off a 10-3 season throughout which two of their losses got here to the identical group (Boise State) with the second stopping them from making the School Soccer Playoff, plus watching their head coach Barry Odom take the Purdue job, not many would have blamed the Rebels for being overwhelmed by a feisty Cal group. As a substitute, interim head coach Del Alexander stepped up and stored UNLV rolling because it pressured two turnovers and restricted the Bears to solely 13 factors. The Rebels had the seventh-best turnover margin within the nation this season and appeared the a part of a top-25 group all yr lengthy. Incoming head coach Dan Mullen may have quite a bit to stay as much as after an 11-win season and this system’s first bowl win since 2000.
0:36
UNLV executes pretend punt to perfection
UNLV’s Marshall Nichols fakes a punt and shovels a cross to Greg Burrell for 52 yards vs. California.
MVP: UNLV’s Marshall Nichols punted the ball eight instances Wednesday evening, however he’ll be remembered for his arm after pulling off an unimaginable fake-punt cross play that was drawn up and executed to perfection. — Paolo Uggetti
Boca Raton Bowl: James Madison 27, Western Kentucky 17
Takeaway: Taylor Thompson hauled within the successful landing with superhero aptitude, and Khairi Manns completed off the Hilltoppers with the defensive play of the evening. With the rating tied within the fourth quarter, Thompson capped off JMU’s 75-yard drive by snagging a cross in the long run zone excessive of Western Kentucky linebacker Terreance Ellis. After protecting his physique in bounds, Thompson slapped his personal helmet 3 times, then jumped and flashed his arms as if he have been capturing Spider-Man webs. The acrobatic rating gave JMU a 24-17 lead. Later within the fourth quarter, Manns ended Western Kentucky’s final probability to tie the rating. He beat the blocker off the sting, swatted the ball out of the arms of quarterback Caden Veltkamp and recovered the fumble himself. The Dukes completed 9-4 together with their first bowl win, a formidable accomplishment for a program that misplaced coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana and a number of other key gamers from final season’s group.
MVP: JC Evans. In line with ESPN Analysis, the freshman quarterback grew to become the primary FBS participant since Washington’s Richard Newton (2019) to hurry for a landing and likewise throw a landing on his solely passing try in a bowl sport. — Jake Trotter
Takeaway: A sport that started with three straight drives leading to punts become an offensive shootout because the Tigers and Mountaineers mixed for greater than 1,000 yards of complete offense and 79 factors.
Whereas 10-2 Memphis in management, going up by as many as 18 within the third quarter, West Virginia scored back-to-back touchdowns to get again in it. The Tigers added one other landing to go up 5 factors within the fourth. That is when the enjoyable started. A 50-yard area objective that will have sealed the consequence for Memphis missed with beneath a minute left. Then, WVU quarterback Garrett Greene threw what a game-deciding interception, however Elijah Herring appeared to fumble the ball giving interim coach Rod Smith one final probability to present West Virginia the unbelievable win earlier than the Wealthy Rodriguez period begins once more. Not so quick. A replay assessment then decided Herring was sliding and thus, dominated down earlier than the fumble, put an finish to the insanity and gave Memphis’ head coach Ryan Silverfield an 11-win marketing campaign and a shower of iced espresso his gamers joyously dumped on him. That is what bowl season is all about!
MVP: Memphis extensive receiver Demeer Blankumsee. The senior had top-of-the-line video games of the season, totaling a game-high 120 receiving yards, together with an 89-yard chunk play, an 18-yard landing and a two-point conversion. — Paolo Uggetti
Takeaway: After choosing up their first bowl win in class historical past a yr in the past, the Jaguars added No. 2 with a convincing win towards Western Michigan to cap their first season beneath coach Main Applewhite. Early within the season, it did not seem to be this was seemingly. South Alabama went 2-4 to open the season earlier than successful 4 of 5 — with a win towards Louisiana — to succeed in bowl eligibility.
Shortly earlier than the sport started, it was reported that South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez wouldn’t play towards Western Michigan as he continues to take care of a turf toe damage. This gave Bishop Davenport the chance to make his second begin of the season and first since a 27-20 loss to Ohio within the second week of the season. The Jaguars bought off to a sluggish begin, falling behind 10-0, however they went on a 23-3 run to take management.
MVP: Davenport. The fill-in starter accomplished 15 of 24 passes for 271 yards with two scores and ran for 85 yards on 11 carries with a 50-yard landing run. — Kyle Bonagura
Takeaway: Issues appeared promising early for Jackson State regardless of working again and SWAC Offensive Participant of the 12 months Irv Mulligan having simply 29 yards on 13 carries (with a landing) within the first half, and two different touchdowns wiped off due to penalties. The Tigers took a 14-0 lead into the break, with South Carolina State unable to discover a rhythm on offense. It was a lot of the identical within the second half, because the Bulldogs got here out flat, maybe a product of rust, having not performed a sport since Nov. 23. Jackson State’s protection was stout all through the sport, holding South Carolina State’s offense to simply 212 complete yards.
Regardless of Chennis Berry main South Carolina State to a Celebration Bowl look in his first yr, changing the legendary Buddy Pough, it was T.C. Taylor’s group that got here out with extra vigor in avenging its 2021 loss on this similar soccer sport to the Bulldogs. The win was additionally Jackson State’s first within the Cricket Celebration Bowl, after dropping consecutive appearances in the course of the Coach Prime period in 2021 and 2022.
MVP: Sophomore WR Joanes Fortilien had seven receptions for 55 yards, together with two nice landing grabs and one final catch to seal the sport for Jackson State. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Previews
North Texas
Season storyline: The Imply Inexperienced began 5-1 with solely a loss to Texas Tech, then suffered eight-point losses to 2 of the AAC’s greatest, at Memphis and residential towards Tulane. They misplaced 14-3 towards Military, adopted by losses at UTSA and towards East Carolina. The Imply Inexperienced rebounded with a street win at Temple to finish the five-game skid and grow to be bowl eligible for the primary time beneath second-year coach Eric Morris.
Participant to observe: Damon Ward Jr.’s North Texas profession is about perseverance. He tore his ACL his senior yr of highschool, and UNT honored his scholarship. He did not play in 2019 or 2020, and the Denton Report-Chronicle reported he has had 12 knee surgical procedures since then. He missed three video games this season with an ankle damage however opened the marketing campaign with 12 catches for 230 yards and two TDs towards South Alabama and completed the season with 36 catches for 622 yards and 4 touchdowns. After beginning quarterback Chandler Morris went into the switch portal, Ward, probably the most skilled offensive participant on the roster with 32 profession begins, will likely be counted on to regular whoever emerges because the beginning quarterback for the bowl sport.
Texas State
Season storyline: The Bobcats return to the First Responders Bowl after beating Rice 45-21 final yr within the first bowl win in class historical past. It was a breakthrough season in coach G.J. Kinne’s first yr after the Bobcats had gained 4 or fewer video games in every of the earlier eight seasons. Expectations have been excessive, and so they began 2-0 and in Week 3 nearly upset Arizona State, the eventual Huge 12 champ and No. 4 seed within the CFP, which escaped with a 31-28 win. Shut losses would grow to be a theme: The Bobcats completed 7-5, with these 5 losses by a mean of 5.6 factors.
Participant to observe: Senior Jordan McCloud was the Solar Belt participant of the yr at James Madison final season, transferring in to take the reins of Kinne’s offense. He is skilled and well-traveled, making 43 profession begins at Arizona, South Florida, James Madison and Texas State, throwing for 9,828 yards and 87 TDs with 37 INTs and working for 984 yards and 20 scores. This yr, he has thrown for two,920 yards and 29 TDs, and the Bobcats are averaging 37.1 factors per sport, tenth within the nation. — Dave Wilson
ESPN BET early line: Texas State -7.5
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Charlotte, North Carolina
Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Minnesota
Season storyline: PJ Fleck’s eighth season in cost at Minnesota was as up-and-down as any he has had. The Gophers began with a disappointing 2-3 report with residence defeats to North Carolina and Iowa, however they rallied, upsetting USC and Illinois, practically doing the identical to Penn State and pummeling Wisconsin 24-7 in a sport that returned Paul Bunyan’s Axe to Minneapolis and prevented the hated Badgers from reaching bowl eligibility.
Participant to observe: CB Ethan Robinson. The Bucknell switch earned honorable point out All-Huge Ten honors, and you can make the case that he deserved even higher than that: He led the Gophers with three interceptions and 10 cross breakups and allowed only one landing cross. Robinson and a sticky secondary might make issues awfully tough for the Virginia Tech offense.
Virginia Tech
Season storyline: Coming into the season with Prime 25 expectations following final season’s late surge, Tech as an alternative started the yr 2-3 with disappointing losses to Vanderbilt and Rutgers. The Hokies performed brilliantly in a last-second loss to Miami and gave the impression to be peaking simply in time for accidents to wreck their offensive backfield. Nonetheless, a midseason three-game successful streak and a late-season pummeling of Virginia salvaged bowl eligibility.
Participant to observe: The quarterback, whoever it’s. With so many senior stars — working again Bhayshul Tuten, edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland, nickelback Keonta Jenkins — who would possibly select to choose out within the coming weeks, it is laborious to determine which Hokies will certainly see the sector in Charlotte. However whether or not it is Kyron Drones‘ swan tune after an injury-plagued season or it is freshman William Watson III trying to proceed a fairly stable audition for the 2025 beginning job, Tech may have somebody fairly intriguing behind middle. — Invoice Connelly
ESPN BET early line: Minnesota -4.5
Buffalo
Season storyline: The Bulls rebounded properly from a 3-9 season in 2023 beneath first-year coach Pete Lembo, who returned to the MAC and helped Buffalo to its highest wins complete since 2019. Buffalo recorded notable MAC wins towards Northern Illinois (in extra time on the street) and Toledo, and after a number of blowout defeats, it gained its closing 4 regular-season contests. Lembo’s group has a balanced offense that limits turnovers and a protection with some star energy however some inconsistent play. The Bulls boast one of many nation’s most prolific linebacker tandems in Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock, who’ve mixed for 302 tackles to steer the MAC, together with 30.5 for loss and eight quarterback hurries.
Participant to observe: Dolac. The senior linebacker gained MAC Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors after main the FBS in complete tackles with 159, whereas main the convention in each tackles for loss (16.5) and interceptions (5). He additionally led the league in tackles final season with 147, which ranked second nationally. Dolac earned MAC defensive participant of the week honors 5 instances, a program report, and had two interceptions (together with a pick-six) in a late-season win towards Jap Michigan. Liberty might want to craft its offensive sport plan round figuring out the 6-1, 225-pound Dolac, who’s everywhere in the area for coordinator Joe Bowen’s protection.
Liberty
Season storyline: The Flames gained a team-record 13 video games and reached the Fiesta Bowl in 2023, and returned star quarterback Kaidon Salter and different key items for coach Jamey Chadwell. However after a 5-0 begin, Liberty noticed its nation-leading win streak finish towards beforehand winless Kennesaw State, marking the primary time in 23 years — and simply the sixth time within the AP ballot period — {that a} group 5-0 or higher fell to an opponent 0-5 or worse. The Flames would drop two extra video games and did not qualify for the Convention USA championship sport. Led by Salter and working again Quinton Cooley, Chadwell’s offense remained stable however did not attain its commonplace productiveness degree.
Participant to observe: Cooley. After a 1,400-yard season in 2023, Cooley continued to persistently pile up yards, even for a less-potent Liberty offense. He had eight 100-yard speeding performances and 4 multi-touchdown video games, ending the common season with 1,254 yards and 13 touchdowns in 11 contests (Liberty’s sport towards Appalachian State was canceled). A bowling ball at 5-7 and 220 kilos, Cooley averaged at the least 4.1 carries in each sport and 6 yards per carry in six video games. He will likely be a problem for a Buffalo group that ranks 62nd nationally in defending the run. — Adam Rittenberg
ESPN BET early line: Liberty -2
