Connect with us

Published

on

Bowl season is finally upon us! Our reporters are breaking down the best of the games from notable performances, breakout players and so much more.

Full schedule | Results

Friday, Dec. 23

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Wake Forest Demon Deacons 27, Missouri Tigers 17

If this was Sam Hartman‘s last game as Wake Forest’s quarterback, as rumored, he went out with a bang. He threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, two to Taylor Morin, and his Demon Deacons beat Missouri 27-17 in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. After falling behind early in the second half, they scored the final two touchdowns to pull away. Missouri’s offense picked up steam following a slow start but went just 2-for-5 on fourth downs and fell short. It’s a fitting potential send-off for Hartman, who has thrown for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns in a Wake uniform. He led the Deacs to a 19-8 record over the last two seasons, plus an ACC Coastal title in 2021. The win was also Dave Clawson’s fourth bowl victory in the last seven years at Wake; they had won just six bowls in their history before his 2014 arrival. — Bill Connelly

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Houston Cougars 23, Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 16

Houston has been playing with fire all season long with seven games decided by one score or less and three games that went into overtime. So it’s no wonder things would come down to the wire against Louisiana, clawing out of a 13-0 hole in the first half to make it a tie game with under 3 minutes to play. Then senior quarterback Clayton Tune went to work, starting off the drive with a 33-yard run. A few moments later, after a 41-yard pass and a 15-yard run, Tune connected with Nathaniel Dell for a 12-yard game-winning touchdown. Tune tied the FBS lead in passing touchdowns this season with 40 and set an AAC record with 119 career touchdowns responsible for. The win gives Houston eight-plus wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2016. Louisiana finishes with its first losing season since 2017. — Alex Scarborough


Thursday, Dec. 22

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force 30, Baylor 15

The Falcons dominated the Bears, rushing for 276 yards to finish 10-3 with their fifth straight victory, polishing off back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time since 1997-98. Brad Roberts was the workhorse as usual, rushing 37 times for 116 yards and two TDs for his 11th 100-yard game of the season. Baylor, the preseason pick to win the Big 12 for the first time in school history, finished 6-7, suffering the indignity of a blowout loss in rival TCU’s stadium in the bitter cold with wind chill in the negative digits. The Baylor offense struggled mightily, finishing 0-for-11 on third downs, with Blake Shapen completing just 11 of 23 passes for 188 yards and two scores. Freshman running back Richard Reese came into the game needing 38 yards for a 1,000-yard season but was held to 10 yards on eight carries. — Dave Wilson


Wednesday, Dec. 21

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky 44, South Alabama 23

Senior quarterback Austin Reed made things look easy in the Big Easy as Western Kentucky blitzed South Alabama for 677 total yards. Reed, second in the FBS in passing yards to Washington‘s Michael Penix Jr. coming into the contest, completed 36 of 55 passes for a career-high 497 yards and four touchdowns in what was his ninth 300-yard passing game of the year. Seven different receivers caught passes from Reed, with Dalvin Smith (145 yards, one TD), Jaylen Hall (138 yards, one TD) and Malachi Corley (114 yards, two TDs) combining for 26 receptions and Smith adding a 25-yard scoring pass. The Hilltoppers, who racked up 434 total yards in the first half, tallied the game’s first 24 points and led by 28 points at halftime after Reed threw for 329 yards and three scores. — Blake Baumgartner


Tuesday, Dec. 20

Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo Rockets 21, Liberty Flames 19

Liberty’s defensive front dominated in Tuesday night’s Boca Bowl. Everything else, not so much. The Flames racked up 12 tackles for loss and four sacks, but they gained just 253 total yards and fell 21-19. Toledo scored on three straight second-half drives to take control, and the Rockets, fresh off of their first MAC title in five years, won all three of the game’s pivotal two-point conversions — they converted one and stopped two. After going just 24-20 from 2018 to ’21, Toledo’s Jason Candle engineered a 9-5 campaign this fall, their best since going 11-3 in 2017. — Connelly

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Eastern Michigan 41, San Jose State 27

play

0:25

Chris Creighton gets a bucketful of French fries as Eastern Michigan defeats San Jose State 41-27 to win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

It took 35 years, but Eastern Michigan did it again. The Eagles’ 41-27 win Tuesday against San Jose State was the program’s second bowl win — ever — and its first since 1987 against … San Jose State. After starting the season 2-2, the Eagles earned their first nine-win season since finishing 10-2 in 1987. San Jose State had lost the ball just six times all season, tied with USC for the fewest turnovers among all FBS teams, but finished with three Tuesday. Two turnovers in the first half led to a 30-13 deficit the Spartans couldn’t overcome, and quarterback Chevan Cordeiro‘s interception with less than two minutes remaining sealed the win for Eastern Michigan. Eastern Michigan’s 41 points set a school record single-game point total in an FBS bowl. — Heather Dinich


Monday, Dec. 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl: Marshall Thundering Herd 28, UConn Huskies 14

Rasheen Ali and Khalan Laborn combined to rush for 182 yards and a touchdown and the Marshall defense forced four takeaways to lead the Thundering Herd to their first bowl win since 2018. Still, it was a worthy performance for a UConn team that was a major surprise to even make a bowl. The Huskies still haven’t won a bowl since 2009, but they outgained Marshall and staged a second-half comeback that fell short largely on the back of a couple of failed fourth down tries. — David Hale


Saturday, Dec. 17

Frisco Bowl: Boise State Broncos 35, North Texas Mean Green 32

In his first season at Boise State, freshman running back Ashton Jeanty had only crossed the 100-yard threshold in a game one time. On Saturday against North Texas, Jeanty exploded through that mark for 178 yards on the ground, 6.4 yards per carry and one touchdown. Jeanty’s performance, as well as two interceptions forced by the defense, keyed Boise State’s win over North Texas, after the Broncos were down 10-3 early. The victory gives the Broncos a 10-win campaign as well as a glimpse of what their offense could look like next season with Jeanty in the backfield as the team’s primary ball carrier. — Paolo Uggetti

New Mexico Bowl: BYU Cougars 24, SMU Mustangs 23

Cornerback Jakob Robinson saved the night for BYU by denying SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai‘s potential game-winning 2-point conversion with eight seconds left in regulation, preserving a 1-point victory. The Cougars built a 14-point lead in the third quarter on a 76-yard pick-six from linebacker Ben Bywater and running back Christopher Brooks‘ 22-yard scoring run, only to see the Mustangs come back with 13 fourth-quarter points. The Cougars, buoyed by the efforts from Robinson and Bywater, won despite the Mustangs holding a 389-256 edge in total yards. Quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters and Brooks combined to run for 184 yards and two scores as BYU ran for at least 200 yards for the fourth time in its past five games (209) while ending the season with a fourth straight victory. — Baumgartner

Lending Tree Bowl: Southern Miss Golden Eagles 38, Rice Owls 24

play

2:16

Southern Miss takes home a LendingTree bowl victory thanks to Frank Gore Jr.’s 329 rushing yards and 3 total touchdowns.

Frank Gore Jr. not only rewrote Southern Miss’ bowl and school record books, he broke the NCAA bowl game record with 329 rushing yards in a 14-point victory. Gore ended his sophomore season with a bang by running for two touchdowns and throwing for another as he also broke Camerun Peoples‘ bowl rushing record. Spurred on by Gore, Southern Miss churned out a season-high 361 rushing yards and won its first bowl game since 2016. Senior linebacker Daylen Gill recorded three of Southern Miss’ five sacks. Rice freshman quarterback AJ Padgett (295 passing yards) threw three touchdown passes — two to senior wide receiver Isaiah Esdale — in the third quarter as the Owls erased a 14-point halftime deficit, taking a short-lived 7-point lead. — Baumgartner

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel: Fresno State Bulldogs 29, Washington State Cougars 6

A 1-4 start to the season now feels like a lifetime ago. Fresno State hasn’t lost since then, beating Washington State to finish the year with a 10-4 record. Quarterback Jake Haener was sharp, completing 24 of 36 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. And Jordan Mims went off for the Bulldogs, rushing for a career-high 210 yards and two touchdowns on only 18 carries. But don’t forget the Fresno State defense, which limited quarterback Cameron Ward and Washington State to the Cougars’ lowest total of the season. Fresno State picked off Ward — a 3,000-yard passer on the season — and held him to only 137 yards passing on 32 attempts. — Scarborough

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: No. 14 Oregon State Beavers 30, Florida Gators 3

play

0:28

Silas Bolden puts on his cape and dives to make an incredible snag for a Beavers first down.

A week after signing a six-year deal worth $30.6 million, Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith led his team to a dominating triumph over Florida, securing the Beavers’ first 10-win season in 16 years and their first-ever victory against an SEC opponent. It was a balanced, all-round effort for Oregon State, which threw for 189 yards and rushed for 164 yards — 107 of which came from junior running back Deshaun Fenwick. The defense allowed only 1.2 yards per rush. A 40-yard field goal by Adam Mihalek with less than a minute remaining avoided the shutout and extended the Gators’ streak of scoring in games to 436. — Scarborough

Cricket Celebration Bowl: NC Central Eagles 41, Jackson State Tigers 34 OT

In his final game as coach at Jackson State, Deion Sanders failed to complete an undefeated season as NC Central upset the Tigers 41-34 in a wild overtime finish. Shedeur Sanders threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Travis Hunter with no time left to send the game to overtime. But it was NC Central’s Davius Richard who did the scoring in the extra period. NC Central reached 10 wins, the third team in program history to reach double-digit wins in a season. NC Central had 276 yards rushing. Richard had 177 passing yards, 97 rushing yards and 3 total touchdowns. But all eyes were on Jackson State and what would happen as Deion Sanders exits for Colorado. It was a back-and-forth game throughout. Shedeur Sanders finishes the season with 46 total touchdowns. With one chance left to send the game into a second overtime, he threw an incompletion to end the game. Jackson State finishes 12-1, the most wins in a season in program history. — Andrea Adelson

Wasabi Fenway Bowl: Louisville Cardinals 24, Cincinnati Bearcats 7

Louisville claimed the Keg of Nails trophy in the renewal of its rivalry with the Bearcats, using a dominant defense and run game to win 24-7 — its first bowl victory since 2019. The game featured two interim coaches — Kerry Coombs at Cincinnati for Luke Fickell (who left for Wisconsin) and Deion Branch for Louisville, after Scott Satterfield left to replace Fickell. Satterfield was not at the game, instead hosting recruits in Cincinnati. But his former team played hard without him, and its aggressive defense — No. 2 in the nation in sacks — made play after play, making it a long day for Cincinnati quarterback Evan Prater. Louisville, playing without quarterback Malik Cunningham (opt out) was far from perfect on offense but had a season-high 287 yards on the ground — getting 100-yard rushing performances each from reserve running backs Maurice Turner and Jawhar Jordan. — Adelson


Friday, Dec. 16

Hometown Lenders Bahamas Bowl: UAB 24, Miami (Ohio) 20

play

1:21

UAB LB Reynard Ellis makes the game-saving tackle at the 2-yard line to secure the victory for the Blazers in a 24-20 thriller vs. the RedHawks.

Junior running back Jermaine Brown Jr.’s big day led the way as UAB secured a 24-20 victory over Miami (Ohio), giving incoming head coach Trent Dilfer some momentum to build off heading into 2023. Brown ran 24 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns to help the Blazers win without the services of FBS-leading rusher DeWayne McBride, who opted out of the game. Brown’s fourth-down touchdown run with 1:33 left in the game put UAB in front to stay — the game’s fourth lead change in the second half. Despite losing the turnover battle (3-0), UAB pulled out the victory with the help of six players combining for four sacks. — Baumgartner

Duluth Trading Cure Bowl: No. 24 Troy 18, No. 25 UTSA 12

What a finish for Troy first-year head coach Jon Sumrall, closing out a 12-2 season by scoring 18 unanswered points to beat UTSA on Friday for the Trojans’ 11th straight win. Troy had just 153 total yards and did not cross midfield in the first half, but five takeaways — including two interceptions and a forced fumble on UTSA quarterback Frank Harris, who was sixth in the FBS in passing coming into the game — was too much to overcome for the Roadrunners. The Trojans became the first team to win a bowl game with less than 175 yards of offense since UCLA in the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl against New Mexico. — Wilson

Continue Reading

Sports

11 second-year players who could break out this season

Published

on

By

11 second-year players who could break out this season

Not every five-star recruit from the 2024 ESPN 300 was inserted into a starting role as a true freshman last fall, despite what their ranking might suggest. Numerous variables can take precedent over pure talent, and it often takes a year of seasoning or depth-chart movement before elite prospects break out in their second season.

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Alabama’s Ryan Williams became instant superstars as true freshmen in 2024, and we have a strong list of super sophomores ready to emerge in 2025, following the path of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who made this list last year.

Note: These rankings omitted any player who started more than two games last season.

A heralded quarterback recruit in 2024, Sayin has the physical tools, poise and supporting cast in Columbus to be one of the top passers in the country. Yes, we understand he still has to win the job, but we are doubling down on the former five-star recruit. Sayin, who was the No. 2 QB behind DJ Lagway in the 2024 rankings, possesses outstanding arm talent, both in strength and accuracy, and he can move the chains with his legs. He is seasoned and polished, with arguably the best receiving corps in the country. We project he will win the job, opening the season with steady production and developing down the stretch into one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten.


We got a taste of what Marshall brings to the table at the ReliaQuest Bowl. The No. 7 back in the 2024 ESPN 300, he went for 100 yards on 23 carries in the first and only start of his young career. The former Ohio Mr. Football will team up with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes in the Wolverines backfield. Early in preseason camp, it appears the reps will be shared, with Haynes as 1a and Marshall 1b. Marshall is elusive in tight quarters, fast in the open field and powerful on contact with a low center of gravity. He boasted the top verified shuttle (5-10-5) out of high school with 4.1 seconds, which would have been second among running backs at this year’s NFL combine.


While many expected greater impact from Robinson as the No. 1-ranked player in the ESPN 300, Georgia’s defense had three players selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Even this season, Robinson is not projected to start on the outside, but he’ll see plenty of meaningful snaps at nickel and has the skills to take over the perimeter as a lockdown corner at any point. Word from Athens is that the light has come on. Robinson is seeing the game more clearly, allowing him to play faster. Reminder: Robinson possesses a rare blend of length, speed and ball skills. He just happens to be part of a defense where that’s the norm.


Miami fans may have expected more from Trader a season ago as the No. 6 receiver in the ESPN 300, but he was part of a very experienced and productive receiving room. He had only six receptions on the year but did start the Pop-Tarts Bowl and made three catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. That flash will become more consistent this year for the Canes. Trader is 6-foot-1 with smooth, fluid movements and quick hands to pluck the ball on the run for big gainers. He’s a legitimate three-level threat. Trader will team up with tight end Elija Lofton to give Miami two breakout stars on offense for Carson Beck to work with.


Yes, we are hedging our bet with this pick. We expect Matthews or Staley to break out this year as a top SEC receiver. Who that will be depends on who stays healthy, as both have been injury prone. They both have flashed as well. Matthews is as expected. Sudden and elusive after the catch, the No. 5 wide receiver in the ESPN 300 headlined the Vols’ No. 15 class. Staley was inside the top 300 but as the No. 21 receiver. A former state champion in the 200 meters and triple jump, Staley, who redshirted last season, has excellent short-area quickness, explosive movements and elite ball skills. This WR room needs to produce for the Vols to return to the College Football Playoff.


Lopa has one of the best blends of size and range of any back-end defender in the country, and the Ducks have production voids to fill at safety. The No. 13 safety in the 2024 ESPN 300 had limited reps last season, but in the Big Ten championship game against Penn State he was in third-down packages matching up with All-America tight end Tyler Warren. Lopa is 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds but covers ground fast with his long stride. He will come up inside the box and tackles soundly as well. In high school he played both sides of the ball, tallying four interceptions and 16 receiving touchdowns. Lopa will need to develop as the season progresses with his reads and recognition, but we project he will begin to reach his potential this fall.


There may not be a more highly scrutinized job in college sports than the starting quarterback at Notre Dame. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, has been well prepared on and off the field and will be ready for the challenge. Carr is still locked in a battle with Kenny Minchey for the starting job coming off a strong spring practice, but we think he will be handed the keys before Week 1. Carr was ranked as the No. 2 pocket passer in the class of 2024 in part because of his great accuracy and acumen. With running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price returning and an experienced offensive line, the Irish might not need Carr to break out with huge production. But he will need to anticipate, get the ball out and push it downfield to his targets. All of this is within his skill set, which is why he’s on this list.


Wisconsin didn’t dip into the portal to help replace Tawee Walker and Chez Mellusi’s production; it felt good about the underclassmen still in the running back room. So do we. Jones arrived in Madison with SEC offers and blue-chip skills. The No. 8 running back in the ESPN 300, Jones ran through his high school competition, and we project he’s ready to do the same in the Big Ten. He’s got an impressive size-to-speed ratio and good change-of-direction skills. Jones isn’t just a classic bruising back that Badgers fans are accustomed to. He can also hit the home run and make tackles miss in the open field. It’s a good RB unit and Jones won’t have to carry the load, which should keep him fresh and healthy as the Badgers look to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season.


Expectations are sky high in Austin as Texas ranks No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time in program history. While the roster is loaded, there is turnover at key spots — and offensive tackle is one of them. Baker was a highly touted 2024 prospect (No. 2 OT in the ESPN 300) and was in a battle to start this season. Unfortunately for Texas, Andre Cojoe recently went down with a season-ending injury, which means Baker has more than likely won the starting spot. He has improved his strength this offseason and has worked hard at the technical points of the position. He will be tasked with protecting the most anticipated player in all of college football in Arch Manning.


The 11th-rated pocket passer in the ESPN 300, Brown saw limited action last year and was able to preserve a redshirt season. He is a winner above all his great physical traits. He’s the only quarterback from national power Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California) to win two state championships. He threw for more than 8,000 yards and 100 touchdowns, and now has the challenge of leading Stanford back to its storied levels. While young, he will have one of the better quarterback tutors in Frank Reich and a GM, Andrew Luck, who knows a thing or two about winning in Palo Alto. Brown has pro-style skills that fit well in Reich’s scheme. While experienced sixth-year transfer Ben Gulbranson was just named the starter in a close battle, we still expect Brown behind center early this season.


Boise State lost Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty to the NFL, but the Broncos have another under-the-radar recruit ready to emerge. Gaines was ranked the 45th running back out of high school and originally projected as a linebacker. He combines great downhill power and physicality between the tackles with 10.9 100-meter speed and polished receiving skills. He has gone from 6 feet, 195 pounds to close to 220, and early reports indicate he looks ultra-fast and explosive as he regains his form from an injury that kept him out most of last season and this spring. We got a glimpse of what he can do when he ran for 110 yards and added 44 yards on three receptions in his collegiate debut against Georgia Southern. Boise barely made the cut in the preseason AP Top 25 but Gaines could help them climb the poll.

Continue Reading

Sports

‘Game changer’: Kansas gets hefty $300M gift

Published

on

By

'Game changer': Kansas gets hefty 0M gift

The University of Kansas has received an unprecedented $300 million gift from donor David Booth, believed to be among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics and the largest in school history.

Kansas plans to allocate $75 million of Booth’s gift toward launching the second phase of its ongoing transformation of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and construction of the surrounding Gateway District, Kansas athletic director Travis Goff told ESPN.

Though school officials have not revealed a timetable for construction and completion of Phase 2, the funds will allow Kansas to move forward with renovating the east side of the stadium after the 2025 football season.

The remainder of Booth’s gift will establish an annual additional revenue stream for Kansas athletics, Goff said.

“I’d say it’s transformative and a game changer,” Goff told ESPN. “This gift makes an immediate impact on our top priority in a profound way, and it also provides us with an incredible revenue stream that gives us a chance to really invest in unique ways in the future of Kansas athletics.”

Kansas has already invested $450 million in the first phase of the Gateway District project, which included an overhaul of the southwest, west and north sides of the stadium and a major renovation of the Anderson Family Football Complex. Stadium construction got underway at the end of the 2023 football season and will be completed in time for the Jayhawks’ season opener later this month.

The second phase of the Gateway District project would also bring the development of a new hotel, outdoor event plaza, student housing, retail and restaurant spaces and parking located east of Kansas Memorial Stadium.

The total cost of Phase 2 — finishing the stadium and the mixed-use development — is estimated to be $360 million. Lawrence city commissioners voted Tuesday night to approve a package of financial and tax incentives worth around $94 million to support the project.

Kansas Memorial Stadium was named after Booth, a KU graduate and founder of global investment firm Dimensional Fund Advisors, in 2018. The Lawrence, Kansas, native previously provided a foundational gift of $50 million in 2017 to kick off renovations of Memorial Stadium, but the university didn’t move forward with renovating its more than 100-year-old stadium until Goff and chancellor Douglas Girod announced plans for the Gateway District in 2022.

“One of life’s greatest privileges is being able to give back to the people and places that gave so much to you,” Booth said in a statement. “KU and Lawrence are a big part of my story, and it means a lot to support the community that invested in me. Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time. Each gift compounds, creating opportunities not just for today, but for years to come. This is really about the future we’re building.”

After playing their six home games in the Kansas City area during the 2024 season, the Jayhawks will open the season with their first home game inside the renovated Kansas Memorial Stadium on Aug. 23 against Fresno State.

Continue Reading

Sports

NASCAR won’t curb celebrations after Zilisch fall

Published

on

By

NASCAR won't curb celebrations after Zilisch fall

NASCAR says it has no plans to limit driver celebrations in the aftermath of Xfinity driver Connor Zilisch‘s fall in Victory Lane and subsequent broken collarbone.

Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications, addressed the incident on the series’ “Hauler Talk” podcast released Wednesday, saying that some Victory Lane precautions would be put into place but that no new policies were being implemented.

Zilisch had recorded his series-leading sixth victory Saturday at Watkins Glen International when he climbed onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet to celebrate. He slipped after apparently getting his left foot caught in the driver’s side window netting and tumbled awkwardly onto the asphalt.

The 19-year-old was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone.

“Very grateful to be able to walk away from that, and I guess I didn’t walk away, but I’m very grateful to be walking today and to just be all right,” Zilisch said during the USA broadcast of the NASCAR Cup race Sunday.

Forde said NASCAR wouldn’t tell drivers not to climb on the door in Victory Lane.

“We have not put in any policies or best practices or anything like that,” Forde said.

At the same time, NASCAR will take some new precautions to avoid the specific circumstances that led to Zilisch’s fall.

“I think that was part of the problem that the window net was flapping on the outside,” Forde said. “I think Connor even said that may have been a problem, and one of our safety guys actually mentioned the same thing. So we may do just sort of a check to make sure that if that’s inside the car, it’s one less thing you can slip on.”

Zilisch underwent surgery Tuesday, and it is unclear whether he will recover in time for the Xfinity Series’ next race at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 22. Zilisch missed a race earlier this season because of a back injury from a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, for which he received a waiver.

Forde did not say whether Zilisch would receive a waiver for the playoffs if he misses the Daytona race.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Continue Reading

Trending