Florida: 2019 Orange Bowl Champions



The Orange Bowl between No. 9 Florida and No. 24 Virginia may not have been the most anticipated New Year's Six game when it was announced. However, it turned into an entertaining game of back-and-forth momentum swings with a little Las Vegas drama at the end to boot. Ultimately, the Gators walked away winners with a 36-28 final score. The victory moves Florida to 4-0 in the Orange Bowl all-time and gives it an 11-win season for the first time since 2012.

Monday night was also the Gators' best bowl performance of the decade offensively. They finished 549 yards of offense, the most since the 2010 Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati -- Tim Tebow's final game. Additionally, it gives Florida consecutive BCS/New Year's Six bowl wins for the first time in a decade (2008-09), making coach Dan Mullen the first coach in history to accomplish that task in his first two years at a school.

It also puts the team at 21-5 in two seasons under coach Mullen. Only Urban Meyer had a better record in his initial back-to-back seasons in Gainesville, Florida.

"Just under a year ago, this team was born, and we talked about going from four wins to 10 wins was special, but to go from 10 wins to 11 is going to be a lot harder, and those guys bought into it," Mullen said after the game. "They started working last January, and they worked, they grinded all season long in everything that they did. ... A couple years ago, this senior class, a new coach got brought in and we told them, 'Hey, if you buy into what we're doing, just buy into what we're doing, believe we're going to be successful.' They've done that, they've bought in. Back-to-back 10-win seasons, back-to-back top-10 teams, back-to-back New Year's Six bowl victories. They've bought in, and they've restored that Gator standard, and they get to walk out the door knowing they've restored the Gator standard to what it is, building that foundation of a team."

Gators quarterback Kyle Trask, who was tremendous in place of Feleipe Franks this season, was a little shaky in the game, completing 24 of 39 passes for 305 yards, a touchdown to running back Lamical Perine and an interception; Trask also nearly fumbled the ball, but the play was not overturned on review. Trask's numbers weren't necessarily bad, but a lot of his downfield throws were erratic. It was a good thing for the Gators to have a more reliable weapon in Perine.

"I think this win is huge for this program, not only for the program but also this team and the seniors that bought in when Coach Mullen first got here from Day 1," Trask said. "They worked day in and day out, and as far as my season went, I couldn't be more happy the way that my teammates had my back when I won versus Kentucky, and we just continued to grind every single week and get better each and every single week and here we are winning the Orange Bowl. That's pretty incredible."

While the game was close at times, the only real drama of the night came at the end when the game was pretty much in hand. With under a minute remaining, the Wahoos attempted a trick play by passing to an offensive lineman for a score. The play was called back, though, as an illegal forward pass. Still, Virginia scored two plays later, and while it didn't get the win, it secured the cover.

Here's what else we learned from Monday's Orange Bowl.

1. The Gators decided to run, and Perine was unstoppable: Three of Florida's four touchdowns on the evening came from Perine, a valued senior who totaled 181 yards on 18 touches -- just about 10 yards per touch -- and three touchdowns to receive Most Valuable Player honors. Perine has long been one of the most underrated (and perhaps underutilized) parts of Florida's offense, and he was absolutely untouchable against the Hoos on Monday night running for a career-high 138 yards with 43 more in the passing game. Who knows where Perine will go during the NFL Draft weekend. He may not hear his name called for a while. But he's one of those players who probably meant more to his offense than the stats indicated. He accomplished all of this behind a Gators offensive line that struggled mightily throughout the season, unable to create holes for its rushers. It appeared to step up as well.

2. Florida's defense turned it on for a short while: The first 30 minutes of the Orange Bowl was like a tennis match. Each team was volleying points back and forth waiting to see who would blink first. For a vaunted Florida defense, that didn't seem ideal. However, credit the Gators for drawing up some good halftime adjustments and having a bigger impact in the second half. The pass rush was good most of the night but certainly more effective both on and off the stat sheet in the third and fourth quarters. Florida finished with three sacks, five tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Virginia countered Florida's defensive front in the first half with quick passes and a moving pocket with successful results. UVA QB Bryce Perkins even made a few incredible individual plays in the face of that rush. But when it needed stops and negative plays, Florida came through and built a large enough lead that it was able to hang on to a lead late. However, it did ultimately give up 375 yards of total offense, including Perkins' best passing game.

"I'm looking at what they've got coming back. ... I'm excited. I mean, this is only just the beginning of it, honestly," said graduate transfer Jon Greenard, who showed out in his final game. "Last year was a little taste of it. We keep building. We got 11 wins, which is really difficult. So next year, a couple plays this year and we would've been right where we wanted. Next year, they are just going to capitalize off of that, understand where we were this past year, and national championship in my eyes. So we've got that in our eyes now."

3. Perkins will be missed at Virginia: The Hoos' signal caller will be an interesting late-round/undrafted prospect, but there's no denying what he's meant to this program. It took him all 60 minutes, but he broke the school's record for total offense career with 7,910 yards. The mark was previously held by quarterback Shawn Moore. That's pretty incredible in and of itself, but even more so when you consider all the problems Virginia had up front this season. For Perkins to be able to rack up yards running and throwing, usually in the face of pressure, says a lot about his playmaking ability. He didn't have a perfect night against Florida -- he missed a couple of surefire touchdowns that he'd love to have back -- but he also did things like this on his way to 323 yards passing with four touchdowns and an interception.

4. This is why conference tie-ins should be removed: Virginia played hard, gave Florida a game and has nothing to be ashamed about, but let's be honest: a four-loss team shouldn't be playing in a New Year's Six game. Conference tie-ins don't always produce bad matchups in these major bowl games, but in a year like this one when the ACC was average at best, you get this type of result. It wasn't bad, per se, but it could have been a lot better. So what's the solution? Ditch the tie-ins and use the College Football Playoff Rankings to help determine the games? It's interesting that there's so much disdain for the CFP Selection Committee in terms of their selection criteria for the field of four, because you could actually make an argument their process would be better suited for drumming up interesting matchups in these games without being held back by conference tie-ins.

California: 2019 Redbox Bowl Champions



Cal was two teams during the regular season. It was the team with quarterback Chase Garbers and the team without Chase Garbers. When Garbers started and finished a game, Cal went 6-0, picking up wins over Washington and Ole Miss, among others. The only two games Cal lost that Garbers started were games he didn't finish due to injury. In the four games he didn't play, the Golden Bears went 1-3.

Well, Garbers started for Cal in the Redbox Bowl against Illinois on Monday, finishing the game as well while leading the Bears to a 35-20 victory over the Illini. Garbers had one of the best games of his career, completing 22 of his 31 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns. The four touchdown passes tied his career-high against Ole Miss earlier this season. Garbers even got in the end zone with his legs, scoring on a QB sneak in the first half.

Garbers was not getting the work done alone, however. Running back Chris Brown rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries and caught three passes for 17 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Makai Polk caught five passes for 105 yards as he was Garbers' favorite target on the day. Cal finishes the season at 8-5, meaning the team's win total has improved in each of Justin Wilcox's last two seasons with the program, but the team is left to wonder what might have been had Garbers never gotten hurt.

As for Illinois, it was a disappointing end to a season that had a couple of high notes with wins over a then-undefeated Wisconsin, as well as a 25-point comeback against Michigan State, but the Illini limped the finish line. This loss is the team's third straight to finish the season as they were banged up down the stretch. While Illinois got Brandon Peters back at QB, it was without its three leading receivers as well as a couple of key starters on defense.

Louisville: 2019 Music City Bowl Champions



Louisville finished off a remarkable 2019 season on Monday night in the Music City Bowl with a 38-28 win over Mississippi State at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, and the youngsters were the stars of the show.

Sophomore quarterback Micale Cunningham threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 81 yards on 16 carries and the Cardinals racked up a whopping 511 total yards to finish off an 8-5 season in Scott Satterfield's first year at the helm. Freshman running back Javian Hawkins was the workhorse for the Cardinals, rushing for 105 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. Sophomore Chatarius Atwell provided balance through the air with nine receptions for 147 yards.

The Louisville defense -- which entered the game next-to-last in the ACC in rushing defense -- held the stout Bulldogs rushing attack to just 145 yards after star Kylin Hill was knocked out of the game with an injury.

It was the culmination of a remarkable turnaround for Satterfield, who took over a broken program following a 2-10 season under former coach Bobby Petrino. In one short season, Louisville transformed itself from the punchline of a very bad ACC joke into a program that looks more like the one that was a threat to Clemson and Florida State in the ACC Atlantic when Petrino had things cooking with quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The college football world is begging another team in the ACC to become a threat to knock Clemson off of its pedestal. Why not Louisville? The Cardinals are the second team in conference history to go from 0-8 in conference play to 5-3, and Satterfield just orchestrated the biggest turnaround in Power Five football in 2019. The school has made a major investment in the football program since joining the ACC earlier this decade, is in a fertile recruiting ground and has momentum on its side.

Is Louisville the next Clemson? No. It's way too soon for that. But in the crowded mess that is the ACC, it has the best chance to become the primary threat in 2020 and beyond.

Western Kentucky: 2019 First Responder Bowl Champions



Western Kentucky freshman kicker Cory Munson ran onto the field, then off and then back on. All of that before kicking a career-long 52-yard field goal with no time left after a rules review moved him five yards closer to the goal posts.

And Munson, who’d sliced a 29-yarder wide right on the final play of the first half, closed the game with the kick that gave the Hilltoppers a 23-20 victory over Western Michigan in the First Responder Bowl on Monday.

“I was just breathing and saying to myself: ‘You got this. Don’t worry about the last kick. You got this one. Just stay calm,’ and I just swung through it,” Munson said. “Next thing I knew, it was up there.”

The Hilltoppers (9-4) drove 36 yards in 27 seconds before Munson kicked his third field goal in four tries. The game appeared headed to overtime when Ty Storey's desperation heave was knocked down by the Broncos. But the Broncos were hit with a five-yard defensive substitution penalty and Munson was awarded an untimed down after a video review determined that Western Michigan had 12 players on the field as it switched between its field-goal unit and regular defense.

“We knew we could make the kick when we saw they had 12 men on the field and might get penalized,” first-year Western Kentucky coach Tyson Helton said. “I wanted our true freshman Cory Munson to get a chance to kick it, and he did. It was a great kick.”

Munson had tied the score at 20 on a 31-yarder with 1:36 to play. He also kicked a 26-yarder.

Thiago Kapps’ 20-yard field goal with 4:58 to play gave Western Michigan (7-6) a 20-17 lead.

“When they have their Hail Mary team and then the kickoff team and then the Hail Mary team out there, you have to stand over the ball and give us time to change,” Western Michigan coach Tim Lester said, “and it didn’t happen.”

Kapps’ field goal, his second of the game, capped a 62-yard drive that took 5:35 after Western Kentucky had tied the score on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Storey to Lucky Jackson with 10:40 to go. Jackson had 17 catches for 148 yards and was named the game’s most valuable player.

Western Michigan’s other touchdowns came on a 6-yard pass from Jon Wassink to DaShon Bussell midway through the third quarter and an 88-yard interception return by Kareem Ali in the first half’s closing minutes.

Storey, a graduate transfer from Arkansas, threw a 17-yard pass to Jahcour Pearson in the second quarter for the Hilltoppers’ other touchdown.

THE TAKEAWAY

Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers will lose only two defensive starters from a unit that went into the bowl season ranked 21st in FBS scoring defense. With Storey leaving, Steven Duncan figures to return to No. 1 after starting this season’s first three games as a junior before injuring his left foot and missing the rest of the year.

Western Michigan: The Broncos will lose five starters each on offense and defense, including their three-year starter at quarterback (Wassink) and the Mid-American Conference players of the year on offense (RB LeVante Bellamy) and defense (LB Treshaun Hayward).

PASSED ON FIELD GOAL

Western Michigan could have attempted a go-ahead field goal of about 47 yards with 31 seconds left but instead went for it on fourth-and-3 at the Western Kentucky 30. Wassink’s pass into the end zone intended for Giovanni Ricci was broken up by Ta’Corian Darden.

Lester said he passed on a field goal try because the kick would have been into the wind. Kapps’ long this season was 45 yards.

VIVA HILLTOPPER

Lucky Jackson shares the name of Elvis Presley’s lead character in “Viva Las Vegas.” The senior now also owns the school record for catches in a game, became the fourth Western Kentucky player to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season and moved into second place in career catches with 209, behind Taywan Taylor’s 253.

UP NEXT

Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers, who will open at home against Chattanooga on Sept. 5, will again play two Power Five programs (Louisville again and Indiana) next season. They play both defending Conference USA division winners on the road: Florida Atlantic and UAB.

Western Michigan: Next season the Broncos will return to Notre Dame, where they most recently played in 2010. Western Michigan will also welcome a Power Five team to Kalamazoo, Syracuse, a week after visiting South Bend.

FFXIV: I Wanna Be A Cowbae

#FFXIV

Japan X Bowl 33 (2019)

#JapanXBowl #XLeague

Kiss You All Over



When you get home babe, gonna light your fire
All day I've been thinking about you babe your my one desire
Gonna wrap my arms around you and hold you next to me
Oh, baby wanna taste your lips I wanna be your fantasy
Yeah



I don't know what I'd do without you babe don't know where I'd be
Your not just another lover no you're everything to me
Every time I'm with you baby can't believe it's true
When your laying in my arms and you do the things you do



You can see it in my eyes I can feel it in your touch
You don't have to say a thing just let me show how much
Love you
Need you
Yeah babe



I wanna kiss you all over, all over again
I wanna kiss you all over
Till the night closes in, till the night closes in



Stay with me, lay with me, holding me, loving me baby
Here with me, near with me, feeling you close to me baby
So show me, show me everything you do
'Cause baby no one does it quite like you



Love you
Need you
Yeah babe



I wanna kiss you all over, all over again
I wanna kiss you all over
Till the night closes in
Till the night closes in
Till the night closes in...


I've Got No Strings



La bailarin siente igual
Yo siento amor para vivir
Yo estoy felis aqui a tu lado
No se tan mal vivir



Perdonare vivir sin ti
Dejamos ya
Es todo igua
Queremos aqui
No pensara
Queremos el vivir



Se de que te estoy cantando
De la vida llorara
Caminandose para ya vivir
Ser feliz, ser feliz, y a junto a ti



Para vivir yo sere feliz
Tambien, tambien seras de mi
No tenga no perdonare
Ya otra vez igual



Te buscare, el premio amor
No diga na si la verdad
No diga na sera mi amor
No diga na de mi



Se que ya vive cantando
Y tan rica la alegria
Nunca de querer
La ablamos ya
Pensara, pensara y otra mas







I've got no strings, so i am free
I'm not make up to anyone
Who i love
My liberty,
There are no strings on me



Yo se mi amor
Te buscare para bailar
Muy, muy, muy bien
Que a ti sera
La cantare
Siente igual
bailara!



A Tu Vera



A tu vera
A tu vera siempre la verita tuya
A tu vera siempre la verita tuya
Ai que no muera la pena


A tu vera
A tu vera siempre la verita tuya
A tu vera siempre la verita tuya
Ai me enamore ai me enamore



A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li a
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li a...



Ai que ya acaba de ser te
Ai que yo me voy comprendo
Ai que acaba de ser te
Ai me enamore ai me enamore
Ai que yo me voy que parecerte
Que yo me voy echando tanta mia
Ai me enamore ai me enamore



A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li a
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li a...



A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li a
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li
A li ai li ai liai li ai li a...


2019 Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. Brigham Young



Anytime, anywhere. Since 1909. By the grace of His Majesty King Kamehameha the Great, the plantation in Halawa and the Pride Rock must be protected to a man at all costs. And so those brave young men of the gridiron who, of their own volition, take up the Green, Black and White of the University of Hawaii do strive, by day, and by night, to Live Aloha and Play Warrior.

So begins a lifelong commitment that goes beyond the completion of their playing days and their richly-deserved degrees and the memories shared with the world.

Thus is the century-plus legacy of Hawaii Rainbow Warrior Football. The state's team. Polynesia's team. The Pride of the Pacific. The Spirit of Aloha.

It's a sport. A sport. A SPORT!

Go Bows.

Your 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game



Clemson University Tigers vs. 
Louisiana State University Tigers
2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana,
United States of America
13 January 2020
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Division I Football Bowl Subdivision

Clemson: 2019 Fiesta Bowl Champions



A season seemingly destined to place Ryan Day's first year as Ohio State head coach atop all the other seasons of distinction in OSU history instead ending suddenly and stunningly in a 29-23 loss to No. 3 Clemson in the College Football Playoff on Saturday at the Fiesta Bowl.

Justin Fields, who threw only one interception all season, threw two against the defending national champion Tigers, including the clincher with 37 seconds left.

Fields was looking for Chris Olave from the Clemson 30, but Olave broke left and Fields threw to the middle of the field, where the Tigers intercepted.

The 30th consecutive victory for coach Dabo Swinney's team moves them into the national championship game Jan. 13 against LSU, which hammered Oklahoma in the other Playoff semifinal.

Fields finished 30-of-46 for 320 yards, with one TD.

J.K. Dobbins gained 174 yards on 18 carries, but had only 30 yards after injuring his ankle in the third quarter.

Clemson's Trevor Lawrence led his team 94 yards to take the lead in the final two minutes.

He finished 18-of-33 for 259 yards and rushed 16 times for 107 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown.

OSU embarked on its potential game-winning drive from its 25 with 1:49 left, trying to overcome a 29-23 deficit that resulted from Travis Etienne's 34-yard touchdown catch with 1:49 left.

That culminated a four-play drive by the Tigers, but Ohio State started just as promptly in response.

Fields found Dobbins with three swing passes and hit K.J. Hill for 13 yards to move quickly inside the Clemson 30 with 43 seconds left.

That's where Fields and Olave miscommunicated and Clemson free safety Nolan Turner intercepted in the end zone, ending the Buckeyes' hopes for a thrilling comeback.

Clemson gained the chance to take the lead by holding on third-and-five with 3:53 left, denying Austin Mack the three additional yards he needed to sustain the drive after a catch at the Tigers' 39.

OSU elected to punt, giving the Tigers the ball at the 6-yard line with two timeouts and 3:07 left to drive for a go-ahead field goal.

Instead, the Tigers used just four plays to go 94 yards for a touchdown.

Lawrence passed for 11 yards to Justyn Ross, ran for 11 himself to go over 100 yards for the game, then found Amari Rodgers over the middle.

He slipped a tackle from Jeff Okudah at midfield and gained 38 yards to the 34-yard line with 2:06 left.

Etienne covered the distance that remained on the next snap, taking a short pass behind the OSU defensive line and speeding through the secondary to get in the end zone for the third time.

The Tigers tried to pad their resulting 27-23 lead to six points, and got that when Tee Higgins got away from Okudah to catch the two-point pass from a scrambling Lawrence.

OSU shook off a streak of 21 straight Clemson points that erased a 16-0 second-quarter deficit to re-take the lead with 11:46 left on Fields' 23-yard touchdown pass to Olave.

Olave got free over the middle with Clemson's defense crowding the line on fourth-and-one, anticipating a Dobbins' or Fields run.

Ohio State will forever lament its missed opportunities that undermined its chance of getting to the national championship game.

The Buckeyes' early 16-0 lead could have been much larger had they not settled for three Blake Haubeil field goals inside 35 yards.

Two of those came after near Fields touchdowns to Dobbins, who earlier scored on a 68 yard run and broke off another 64-yarder inside the 10.

Replay overruled a Dobbins 5-yard TD catch because the football hit the ground and slid down his leg in the end zone.

Shortly after that, Dobbins dropped a screen floated to him in the left flat with three blockers to clear the one Clemson defender in the 20 yards separating him from the goal line.

Those mistakes weren't the extent of the Buckeyes' self-inflicted damage.

Midway through the third quarter, with Clemson punting from its 15, Cameron Brown roughed Will Spiers to sustain a drive that two plays later resulted in Travis Etienne scoring on a 53-yard screen pass.

As much as that hurt, it wasn't the last debilitating mental blow to the Buckeyes.

Replay overturned Fuller's scoop-and-score touchdown the next time Clemson had the ball, denying OSU what appeared a touchdown when Okudah stripped possession from Ross at the Clemson 25.

The Buckeyes' 16-0 second-quarter lead evaporated in a flurry of two Clemson touchdowns in a span of just 1:35.

OSU gave the Tigers a second chance to score its first touchdown, converting a third-down incompletion into a first down when cornerback Shaun Wade slammed into Lawrence and drew a targeting call.

That continued the possession and Clemson pounced.

Amir Riep replaced Wade and, on second down, Lawrence returned from a brief medical check on the sideline and went deep. That drew pass interference and a provided a Clemson first down at the OSU 16.

Etienne took it from there, avoiding Fuller and Malik Harrison on third-and-2 from the 7-yard line to knife into the end zone and get Clemson within 16-7 with 2:45 left in the half.

Ohio State tried to run out the clock, but Dobbins came up short on third down and Clemson took over with 1:55 left.

It took the Tigers less than a minute to get within 16-14.

Lawrence converted third-and-10 with a throw to Ross, then broke OSU's heart with a 67-yard run on a quarterback draw.

He broke free up the middle, juked safety Josh Proctor and Fuller, then outran Barron Browning to the end zone.

The Tigers made it 21 straight points right after that, cashing in another second chance off the personal foul of their punter and Etienne's 53-yard catch and run with a screen pass.

LSU: 2019 Peach Bowl Champions



What happened Saturday afternoon in Mercedes Benz Stadium, to put it simply, was the stuff of legend.

Whether it was Joe Burrow's seven touchdown passes or Justin Jefferson's four touchdown receptions, the Tigers 63-28 route of Oklahoma provided an eye-popping moment nearly every step of the way.

The offensive performance was so unique, the Peach Bowl communications department passed out a sheet of the records that were broken, in the first half alone. And that sheet was a full page long.

There was Burrow's seven touchdown passes, which broke the Peach Bowl, New Year's Six and CFP semifinal records while his 403 passing yards also broke the CFP semifinal record.

In addition, Burrow's 56 passing touchdowns are now the second most for a single season in NCAA history, two behind Colt Brennan, who had 58 in 2006. The senior quarterback also became the all time LSU leader in passing touchdowns, passing Tommy Hodson (69) with his 70th touchdown pass as the first half drew to a close.

Then there was Jefferson's first half that saw the junior break the Peach Bowl, New Year's Six and CFP semifinal record for touchdowns and the Peach Bowl record for receptions by days end (14).

In total, Jefferson hauled in 14 balls for 227 yards and four touchdowns while Burrow went for 493 yards and eight total touchdowns, both College Football Playoff records. The offense as a whole scored 49 points in the first half alone, also Peach Bowl, New Year's Six and CFP semifinal records.

The 63 total points would go on to set a College Football Playoff record, coming on a six-yard John Emery touchdown run.

While the offense was historically great, particularly in the first half, the intensity and performance of the defense was nothing to sneeze at either.

Sooner quarterback Jalen Hurts was scrambling all afternoon thanks to the LSU pass rush as Hurts mustered only 43 rushing yards while passing for another 217.

Outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson had a hectic afternoon, recording six tackles and two sacks while Kary Vincent recorded the game's lone turnover, an interception off of Hurts with LSU already up 35-14 in the first half.

The Tigers held Oklahoma to 14 first half points while the offense was doing its thing on the other end. Oklahoma would add 14 more points in the second half, which tied its season low on offense from a points perspective.

Up next for the Tigers is a berth to the National Championship game in New Orleans against either Clemson or Ohio State.

Penn State: 2019 Cotton Bowl Champions



The No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions saved their best rushing performance for the last game of the year.

Amassing 369 total rushing yards, Penn State held on to beat the No. 17 Memphis Tigers 53-39 in Saturday’s Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Running back Journey Brown finished with a Penn State bowl record 202 rushing yards — the second-most ever in a New Year’s Six bowl game — while Noah Cain added 92. Ricky Slade also had 58, and Devyn Ford even added 2 yards and a TD.

Memphis QB Brady White had a memorable game himself, throwing for 454 yards and two interceptions. And Memphis kicker Riley Patterson set a Cotton Bowl record, and an overall all-time bowl record, with six field goals from distances of 42, 41, 51, 44, 37 and 48 yards.

James Franklin’s squad got off to a slow start and trailed early. But Penn State rebounded, and Memphis had no answer for its running game.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Penn State RB Journey Brown: The redshirt sophomore saved the best game of his career for the final game of the season. Let’s just list his stats here first because they tell quite the story: 16 carries for 202 rushing yards andtwo touchdowns. He also had two catches for 7 receiving yards.

Brown flashed speed, power and versatility Saturday, and the Memphis defense simply couldn’t stop him — even when it knew what was coming. We’ll get to one of his more memorable plays a little farther down, but Brown was simply unstoppable. His previous career high was 124 yards against Minnesota.

Only one running back has recorded more rushing yards in a New Year’s Six bowl game — Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott, who had 230 against Alabama in the 2015 Sugar Bowl.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Penn State LB Micah Parsons: The sophomore All-American was a one-man wrecking crew and absolutely dominated Saturday. He finished with a team-leading 14 total tackles, to go along with three tackles for loss, two sacks, two breakups and two forced fumbles. If it wasn’t for him, this game could’ve been a whole lot closer.

He made clutch plays at key times. When Memphis was just 20 yards shy of the end zone in the first quarter, he sniffed out a reverse for a 10-yard loss to force a third-and-20 situation. In the second quarter, he forced a three-and-out after stopping Memphis’ back for no gain and, on the next play, sacking the quarterback for an 8-yard loss. In the third quarter, he pressured Memphis QB Brady White into throwing a pick-six to safety Garrett Taylor. And, in the final period, he made Memphis settle for a field goal after a pass deflection — well, dropped interception — and sack pushed the Tigers into a third-and-19 situation early on.

Parsons should make every single all-bowl team this postesason.

PLAY OF THE GAME
RB Journey Brown’s bruising 32-yard TD run: He’s not just a burner with the 100-meter high school state record; Brown is proving he’s a multidimensional threat.

The Pennsylvania native made national highlights early in the first quarter, when he broke four tackles en route to a 32-yard touchdown run to give Penn State the 7-3 lead. On first-and-10, he followed his blockers and broke a linebacker’s arm tackle about five yards upfield. Then he shimmied to avoid a defensive back, before stiff-arming him to the ground. And then? Well, he still wasn’t finished.

Brown stiff-armed another defensive back, who tried to pull Brown down by his collar — but Brown powered through the tackle and then carried a 250-pound defensive end about 5 yards into the end zone. If it wasn’t the most impressive run of the season for Brown, it sure made his end-of-year highlight tape.

TURNING POINT
Penn State safety Garrett Taylor’s pick-six: No, this play didn’t exactly put it away for Penn State. But it gave the Nittany Lions the necessary momentum to carry them to a win.

Let’s set it up. Late in the third quarter, with Penn State nursing a 38-36 lead, the Memphis offense found itself facing a critical third-and-8 on its own 24-yard line. As soon as QB Brady White snapped the ball, linebacker Micah Parsons was bearing down on him.

With one hand on White, the signal-caller just tried to shovel the pass forward — but it landed in the waiting arms of Garrett Taylor, who didn’t hesitate and sprinted 15 yards into the end zone. That gave Penn State a 45-36 lead, and it eventually gave it the win.

Notre Dame: 2019 Camping World Bowl Champions



ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- So much for the notion that No. 14 Notre Dame didn't have anything to play for in the Camping World Bowl.

A year removed from an appearance in the CFP national semifinals, the Fighting Irish closed out another double-digit win season with arguably their best all-around performance in a 33-9 victory over Iowa State on Saturday.

"I'm just so proud of our football team. 2019 will be one that I'll always remember, for a group of guys that just loved to play the game. They had such a strong brotherhood," coach Brian Kelly said.

"They did not listen to what the naysayers had to say about them. The negative tone, the negative people out there. All they cared about was playing the game," Kelly added. "It was clean. It was about competing. Always looking to better themselves."

Ian Book threw for 247 yards and a touchdown, Tony Jones Jr. scored on an 84-yard run and game MVP Chase Claypool had seven receptions for 146 yards and a TD for the Irish (11-2, No. 15 CFP), who finished on a six-game winning streak after losing to Michigan to tumble out of contention for a playoff berth in late October.

Notre Dame also lost to Georgia in September; however, Kelly said the team remained focused and continued to focus and get better.

"Even this week. `Notre Dame is not ready to play.' They used that as another form of motivation to show people wrong, They just read this team wrong," Kelly said. "It's just so satisfying that this group has been rewarded with 11 wins. ... They overcame adversity, lived the life lessons of it. They're not perfect. They never pretended to be perfect and never wanted to be, but always strived for excellence."

Book completed 20 of 28 passes without an interception, including a 27-yard TD throw to Claypool, who went over 1,000 yards receiving for the season and also recovered a fumble on special teams to set up an early field goal.

Iowa State (7-6) lost to four ranked teams -- Iowa, Oklahoma, Baylor and Oklahoma State -- by a combined 11 points this season and was hoping to end its fourth season under Matt Campbell with a signature win for a once-downtrodden program.

"You know, when we got here ... there wasn't even a thought that we could compete with teams like this. There was no thought that we could compete with the best teams in our conference," Campbell said. "And, you know, to be quite honest with you, I don't know if there was a lot of people that thought we could compete with our rival in our own state."

Brock Purdy was 17 of 30 for 222 yards and no interceptions for the Cyclones, but he was unable to get his team into the end zone after throwing for a school single-season record 27 TDs during the regular season.

The sophomore quarterback left the game in the closing minutes with what Campbell described as a high ankle sprain.

Connor Assalley kicked field goals of 41, 26 and 42 yards .

"I think why you're so disappointed is because you feel how close you really are to where you want to be," Campbell said.

"Getting over that hump, taking that next step , that's a great challenge," Campbell added. "It's a great challenge for Iowa State football, but no greater challenge, to be honest with you, that I'd rather tackle than that."

THE TAKEAWAY

Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish had 26 takeaways during the regular season, including a nation-leading 17 fumbles. The defense set the tone from the start against one of the Big 12's top passing attacks and never really allowed the high-scoring Cyclones to establish a rhythm offensively. As expected, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound Claypool was a difficult matchup for Iowa State's smallish secondary. The Irish also outrushed the Cyclones 208-45, with a huge chunk of that advantage being built on Jones' long scoring run.

Iowa State: After losing four games to ranked opponents by a combined 11 points during the regular season, the Cyclones were looking for a signature win against Notre Dame. Instead, they dug a hole with the early turnovers and never escaped. Until Jones' long run put the Irish up by three TDs, it was a fairly close game statistically. Notre Dame ran 33 plays and gained 207 yards in the first half, while Iowa State had gained 204 yards on 32 plays up to that point. Ultimately, the difference were the fumbles and the Cyclones' inability to get the ball in the end zone after scoring a school single-season record 53 touchdowns and 409 points during the regular season.

UP NEXT

Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have won 10 or more games in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1991-93. Book is a senior but has a year of eligibility remaining. Coach Brian Kelly faces some tough decisions for 2020, including naming an offensive coordinator after parting ways with Chip Long earlier this month. Quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees called plays in the Camping World Bowl. The Irish open next season against Navy in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 29.

Iowa State: The Cyclones have won 23 games over past three seasons, one shy of the program record for a three-year span. With Purdy returning after setting single-season records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and total offense, the future seems bright -- especially if they can turn some of those narrow losses that kept them from being more successful this year into victories. The Cyclones begin next season at home against South Dakota on Sept. 5.

Air Force: 2019 Cheez-It Bowl Champions



Air Force polished off its best season in 21 years with a 31-21 victory over Washington State at the Cheez-It Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday.

The Falcons ran for 371 yards, including 178 from Kadin Remsberg. The 5'9" junior running back provided the play of the day after withstanding a crushing hit and extending the ball to score a touchdown that gave the Falcons a 30-21 edge with 3:50 remaining.

Taven Birdow added 108 yards and one touchdown for Air Force, which finished its year with 11 victories. That mark is one shy of the school record set in 1985 and matched in 1998.

The Falcons ended on an eight-game win streak, with their only losses occurring against No. 19 Boise State and No. 23 Navy.

Washington State wideout Brandon Arconado had 11 catches for 167 yards and touchdown for the 6-7 Cougars, whose four-year streak of winning seasons ended.

                   

Notable Performances

Air Force RB Kadin Remsberg: 26 carries, 178 yards, 1 TD

Air Force QB Donald Hammond III: 15 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD; 4-of-12, 30 yards, 1 INT

Air Force FB Taven Birdow: 20 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD

Washington State QB Anthony Gordon: 28-of-42, 351 yards, 3 TD

Washington State WR Brandon Arconado: 11 catches, 167 yards, 1 TD

Air Force entered Friday ranking third in the FBS with 292.5 rushing yards per game.

Washington State began the day first in the FBS with 444.3 passing yards per matchup, or 57.5 more yards than second-place LSU.

While neither offense is the most efficient (the rushing and passing honors go to Clemson and Oklahoma, respectively), it's clear how these two teams like to operate.

The question was which offense would win in a clash of disparate styles, and the answer was Air Force thanks to 373 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 67 attempts.

The Falcons made an immediate statement by going 98 yards in 20 plays and taking up 12:23 of the clock en route to a Donald Hammond III one-yard touchdown run.

That drive helped Air Force dominate time of possession, with the Falcons holding the ball for 43:24. Air Force also mounted three other scoring drives of six minutes or longer.

As for Washington State, the Cougars offense didn't have much trouble moving the ball down the field en route to 366 scrimmage yards. The problem was that they didn't have much to show for it.

A game-opening 71-yard drive ended at the Air Force 2-yard line when a 4th-and-goal conversion attempt proved unsuccessful. A 75-yard drive in the third quarter down to the Air Force 5-yard line finished with WSU getting stuffed on a 4th-and-2 run.

The Cougars did mount scoring drives that combined for 180 yards, with Anthony Gordon tossing touchdown passes to end each one. The final TD was a 13-yard pass to Brandon Arconado, the leading receiver on the night.

However, Air Force responded with Remsberg's score on 4th-and-goal to take a two-score lead. Washington State couldn't score on its final drive, and Air Force ended the game in victory formation.

Iowa: 2019 Holiday Bowl Champions



SAN DIEGO —  At the end of a long month, in the final moments of a long season, Matt Fink, the backup quarterback who’d played hero once before, trotted onto the SDCCU Stadium field Friday night to a grateful roar from the cardinal-and-gold faithful who still held onto hopes of a strong finish.

But around Fink, everything cardinal and gold was coming undone. USC’s defense had yet to force a punt against Iowa — and wouldn’t until late in the third quarter. Its special teams had been anything but special, allowing yet another untouched return for a touchdown. And now, Kedon Slovis, the Pac-12 offensive freshman of the year, the only bright spot in a dark night that would end in a 49-24 drubbing, sat on the sideline, surrounded by trainers working on his injured right arm.

The Holiday Bowl was supposed to help begin the healing within a frustrated USC fanbase, which was still seething with the decision to keep coach Clay Helton. Here was a shot at a strong finish, a chance for partial vindication, an opportunity to prove their pride was still intact.

But as Fink took the field at the start of the fourth quarter, the Trojans were already well beyond saving. Instead of redemption, No. 22 USC (8-5) was confirming every doubt and frustration its fan had made known all season.

Then, as if on cue, a snap soared over Fink’s head. No. 16 Iowa (10-3) recovered on the doorstep of USC’s end zone. And a long offseason of discontent began in earnest.

Even before Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa slammed into Slovis’ right arm, ending his night late in the third quarter, the Trojans had already been tiptoeing around disaster.

Slovis threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns before being sidelined, capping an unforgettable freshman season with another impressive performance. As his defense and special teams threatened to derail them, the quarterback’s play had been just enough to keep the Trojans on track.

Without him, any hope of a strong finish soon imploded altogether.

Against an Iowa offense that’d failed to score four touchdowns in a Big Ten game all season, USC gave up four scores in the first half alone. After weeks of preaching third-down defense, the Trojans allowed the Hawkeyes to convert six of eight third downs over the first three quarters.

By game’s end, Iowa had put up 49 points, the most its bottom-tier Big Ten offense had scored all season. Only Oregon scored more against USC this season.

Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast’s job was already in jeopardy, with staff changes expected to come after the bowl game. But after a brutal performance in which Helton stood on the sideline, begging his defense for just one stop, a decision on Pendergast appeared to be made for him.

The same could be said for John Baxter, USC’s special teams coach, who’d spent all season answering questions about his questionable kick coverage. As the Trojans still clung to a tie, the kickoff team watched helplessly as Hawkeyes wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette sprinted 98 yards, untouched, on his way into the end zone.

It was the last time the Trojans would come within a sniff of their Big Ten counterpart, as their own offense stalled and a plodding Iowa group pushed down the gas pedal.

In a clash of conflicting styles, it was a more dominant performance than the Hawkeyes could’ve hoped for.

Iowa wasted no time in exerting its will. The Hawkeyes’ first two drives lasted nearly a full quarter (14:44), tiring out a Trojans defense that couldn’t manage to get off the field.

In the three-plus minutes USC did manage to have the ball in the first quarter, though, the Trojans appeared poised for their own brand of fireworks. After nearly having a pass intercepted to start, Slovis completed his other six passes, capping the drive with a short touchdown to Drake London. It was London’s fifth straight game with a score.

USC scored again on its next possession, as Slovis watched Vavae Malepeai slide past Iowa’s secondary on a wheel route and delivered a perfect pass from 16 yards out.

But without the ball, a high-powered offense couldn’t make up issues in just about every other facet of the game.

Still, Fink tried to drive the offense one last time. With only pride on the line late, he flung one last pass into the Iowa secondary. It was picked and returned for a touchdown, adding even insult to an already insulting bowl finish.

Texas A&M: 2019 Texas Bowl Champions



HOUSTON – Kellen Mond ran for a career-high 117 yards and threw a touchdown pass as Texas A&M scored 24 consecutive points to overcome an early deficit and beat Oklahoma State 24-21 in the Texas Bowl on Friday night.

Mond ran 67 yards to give the Aggies (8-5) a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. Mond cut to the right to avoid a couple of defenders and outran everyone else. Tre Sterling had a shot to tackle him around the 25, but Mond ran away from his diving attempt.

The Cowboys (8-5) went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Texas A&M 34 on their next possession, but Spencer Sanders was stopped for no gain.

The Aggies added a 24-yard field goal to make it 24-14 with about three minutes to go.

Oklahoma State cut the lead to three on a touchdown reception by Braydon Johnson with about a minute left. The Cowboys attempted an onside kick, but A&M recovered it to secure the victory.

Chuba Hubbard, who finished the regular season as the nation’s leading rusher, ran for 158 yards, and Johnson had 124 yards receiving and two touchdowns for the Cowboys.

Hubbard finished the season with 2,094 yards rushing to become the second player in school history to reach 2,000, joining Barry Sanders, who did it in 1988 when he won the Heisman Trophy. Sanders tweeted congratulations to Hubbard after he reached the mark and said: “I know the effort it takes to get there.”

Mond, who threw for 95 yards, fumbled twice early and the Aggies trailed 14-0 after the first quarter and were down by seven at halftime.

He had just 35 yards passing in the first half, but got going on Texas A&M’s first possession of the second half. He had a 28-yard completion on a drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jhamon Ausbon which tied it at 14-14 early in the third.

Mond fumbled on A&M’s first drive and it was recovered by Oklahoma State. But the Cowboys came away empty when Matt Ammendola missed a 53-yard field goal.

The Cowboys took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when they capped a 97-yard drive with a 42-yard touchdown reception by Johnson. Hubbard had a 37-yard run to power that drive.

Dru Brown connected with Johnson on a 57-yard pass later in the first quarter to give Oklahoma State a first down at the 9. The Cowboys pushed the lead to 14-0 when Brown dashed into the end zone on the next play.

Brown threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

Mond fumbled again early in the second quarter, but once again the Cowboys couldn’t turn the mistake into points and they had to punt it away.

The Aggies cut the lead to 14-7 on the next drive on a 1-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Spiller.

Oklahoma State had a chance to pad the lead just before halftime, but Ammendola’s 46-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

THE TAKEAWAY

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys started out strong but were unable to build on their early lead and allowed Mond to control the game after halftime.

Texas A&M: The Aggies did a good job of shaking off their bad start and get the win to end the season on a positive note after losing their last two regular-season games.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys will wait to see if Hubbard will return for his junior season or enter the NFL draft. He has said he’ll make his decision sometime after the bowl game.

Texas A&M: The Aggies have yet to become true contenders in the rugged SEC West, but they could be poised for a strong 2020 campaign in Mond’s last season with the return of an experienced offensive line and talent at running back.

Michigan State: 2019 Pinstripe Bowl Champions



NEW YORK – Michigan State ended a disappointing season on a high note.

The Spartans (7-6, 4-5 Big Ten) topped Wake Forest (8-5, 4-4 ACC) 27-21 in the Pinstripe Bowl on Friday at Yankee Stadium in New York. It was their third straight victory and their first time accomplishing that feat since beating Washington State in the Holiday Bowl to close the 2017 season.

Michigan State, which won its final two regular-season games just to become bowl eligible, came out on top of an entertaining bowl game that featured five lead changes. The Spartans squandered chances to put the game away late, including a 28-yard missed field goal by Matt Coghlin with three minutes left, but got the defensive stops they needed while blanking the Demon Deacons in the second half.

Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke closed his career with an impressive outing in his 38th and final start. The fifth-year senior was 26-for-37 passing for 320 yards, one touchdown and one interception and had 11 carries for 46 yards and a score. With that performance, he passed Connor Cook for the most yards of total offense in program history and finished with 9,548.

Cody White had eight receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown to lea the Spartans, Jalen Nailor had five catches for 60 yards while tight end Trenton Gillison had four grabs for 88 yards. Elijah Collins led the team with 21 rushes for 96 yards.

Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman finished 12-for-27 passing for 175 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and had 17 rushes for 87 yards before leaving the game injured late in the fourth quarter. Cade Carney had 15 carries for 64 yards.

Michigan State won the opening coin toss, deferred to the second half and Wake Forest quickly took the lead. The Demon Deacons went 65 yards in just seven plays and Newman hit Kendall Hinton for a 29-yard touchdown.

The Spartans mounted a 16-play drive on their second possession of the game but stalled after facing first-and-goal from the 6-yard line. Matt Coghlin made a 23-yard field goal to pull the team within four points with 2:44 left in the first quarter.

Michigan State took a 10-7 lead three plays later on a 14-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk. Newman’s pass was deflected by Panasiuk’s younger brother, junior defensive end Jacub Panasiuk, bounced off linebacker Noah Harvey and Panasiuk returned his second career interception for his first touchdown. Panasiuk was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking off his helmet and lifting it to the crowd after he was mobbed by teammates.

Wake Forest reclaimed the lead when Newman connected with Donavon Green for a 16-yard touchdown. Michigan State needed just three plays to respond as Lewerke hit Gillison for a 64-yard completion and the quarterback followed with an eight-yard touchdown run on the next play for a 17-14 lead midway through the second quarter.

Michigan State’s lead lasted less than two minutes as Wake Forest responded with a big play by their tight end. A blown coverage led to Newman finding a wide-open Jack Freudenthal for a 44-yard touchdown as Wake went ahead 21-17.

The Spartans had a chance to reclaim the lead, but they had another long drive stall in the red zone. A 13-play possession ended with Coghlin making a 44-yard field goal to pull Michigan State within one at 21-20 with 49 seconds left in the second quarter that stood up as the halftime score.

Michigan State opened the second half with an impressive scoring drive. Lewerke rushed for two yards on fourth-and-1 and Collins ripped off a 31-yard gain on the next play. That set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lewerke to White for a 27-21 lead.

The Spartans had a chance to extend their lead to two scores but came up empty after driving inside the Wake Forest 30-yard line. On third-and-7, Lewerke’s pass was a bit high and behind Collins crossing the middle of the field and it bounced off his hands and was intercepted by Ryan Smenda Jr.

Michigan State’s next possession was another blown opportunity after reaching the red zone. Lewerke threw a shovel pass to Gillison, who was stripped of the ball and fumbled as Wake Forest recovered at its 6-yard line while the Spartans came away empty.

After Michigan State’s defense got another much-needed stop, Lewerke used his arm and legs to drive the team down with a chance at a potential game-sealing score. However, Coghlin missed a 28-yard field goal wide left as Michigan State’s lead remained at 27-21 with 3:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing possession, defensive end Kenny Willekes got to Newman for a sack to force a fumble and the quarterback had to leave the game. Sophomore Sam Hartman took over on third down but threw a pair of incompletions as the Demon Deacons turned over the ball on downs and the Spartans ran out the clock.

GAME NOTES:

* Michigan State was shorthanded on offense and that included a new injury as tight end Matt Seybert didn’t dress and was spotted with a brace on his right leg while using a crutch. The fifth-year senior leads the team’s tight ends with 26 catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Offensive linemen Luke Campbell, Tyler Higby, Kevin Jarvis and Cole Chewins were also out for the Spartans. Campbell, a redshirt junior, missed the last two games of the regular season. Higby, a fifth-year senior, missed the final five games of the regular season. Jarvis, a junior, missed the last nine games of the regular season. Chewins, a fifth-year senior, didn’t play this year due to a back injury.

* Fifth-year senior receiver Darrell Stewart Jr. returned to the lineup to close his college career for Michigan State after missing the final four games of the regular season with a lower leg injury. Redshirt junior center Matt Allen was also back after missing the previous four games and started. True freshman Nick Samac started at center in the final four games of the regular season while burning his redshirt.

* During a press conference prior to the game, Michigan State president Samuel Stanley Jr. voiced support for Dantonio before the end of a disappointing season. Asked if he was confident in the direction of the program, Stanley said “Yes. I am excited about the future and I think this is a great opportunity. … I think Coach Dantonio has really an incredible track record – as you know, the winningest coach in MSU history – so I am pleased with the direction of the program overall.”

North Carolina: 2019 Military Bowl Champions



North Carolina coach Mack Brown told anyone who would listen that the Tar Heels were going to win right away in his first season there.

Few believed it was possible. The Tar Heels were coming off a 2-9 season in 2018, and 3-9 in 2017.

Turns out, he was right.

And just as the Tar Heels opened their season with a victory, they ended it with one, too.

The Tar Heels dominated Temple in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md 55-13. on Friday. They will finish the 2019 season 7-6, their first winning season since 2016. It was also the Tar Heels’ first bowl win since 2013.

With the win Brown is now 14-8 all time in bowl games, and 4-2 at UNC.

Temple entered the game with some big wins this season, including a 30-28 victory over Memphis, which is playing in one of the New Year’s Six bowl games.

But in this game, the Tar Heels looked more confident, more polished, and the better overall team.

They were led by true freshman quarterback Sam Howell, who for much of this season, has delivered when needed. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 294 yards, and three touchdowns.

He even caught a 2-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

The Tar Heels’ defense was just as good as the offense.

They allowed only two touchdowns, and in the third quarter scored one of their own. Storm Duck intercepted Temple quarterback Anthony Russo, and took it back 20 yards for a touchdown.

It was one of three touchdowns the Tar Heels scored in the third quarter. And by the end of that quarter, the game was all wrapped up, as the Tar Heels led by four touchdowns.

The Tar Heels 42-point victory was its second-largest of the season. They never trailed in this game.

FIRST DOWN
The Tar Heels intercepted two passes, including the pick-six from Duck. The second interception was by UNC linebacker Tomon Fox in the fourth quarter. They won the turnover battle 2-1, which helped their dominating effort.

TOUCHDOWN
The Tar Heels had one of their best offensive performances of the season. They gained 534 total yards. They did it by establishing the run.

Even Howell got into the action. He had 53 yards rushing at halftime. That kept Temple guessing all game. Running it with Howell is something the Tar Heels haven’t been able to do this season with the lack of depth at the position. Backup quarterback Jace Ruder is out for the season with a leg injury.

PENALTY
The Tar Heels made few mistakes on Friday. But the one mistake they did make was a turnover in the third quarter. Junior wide receiver Dazz Newsome caught a screen pass from Howell, and fumbled it as he was tackled. The turnover gave the Owls the ball near the 50-yard line, and set up a 45-yard touchdown a short time later.

ICYMI
Howell, who won the game’s MVP award, passed Clemson’s Tahj Boyd for third place for most passing touchdowns in a single season in the ACC. He finished with 38.

Boyd threw 36 passing touchdowns in 2012, and Howell entered the game one touchdown behind him. The ACC record is 41 touchdown passes thrown by Clemson’s Deshaun Watson in 2016.

UNC junior running back Michael Carter rushed for 1,000 yards this season.

And UNC wide receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome became the fourth and fifth UNC receivers to join the 1,000-yard club. They are also the first wide receiver duo to get a 1,000 yard season in the same year.

KEY NUMBERS
238 rushing yards. The Tar Heels were 4-0 this season when they rushed for 200 or more yards in game.

11 out of 14conversions on third downs. Temple could not get the Tar Heels off the field.

55 The number of points UNC scored. It was a Military Bowl record.