Las Vegas • It’s been a busy few weeks for the Utah Utes.
Showing posts with label las vegas bowl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label las vegas bowl. Show all posts
USC: 2024 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
LAS VEGAS -- — The Southern California Trojans ended their season the way they started it.
On Sept. 1 at Allegiant Stadium in the opener, the Trojans overcame a third-quarter deficit and scored with eight seconds left to beat LSU 27-20.
On Friday night back at Allegiant, Jayden Maiava threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Ford with eight seconds left to give USC a 35-31 victory over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl.
A graduate of Liberty High School in nearby Henderson and a transfer from UNLV, Maiava helped the Trojans (7-6) overcome a 17-point third-quarter deficit.
Maiava finished 22 of 39 for 295 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Bryan Jackson ran 16 times for 66 yards and scored once.
Maiava put an ugly start behind him with an impressive final drive that included a stunning pass to Lane on third-and-13 that turned into a 33-yard gain. He and Lane connected once more and got to the 2, but a delay-of-game penalty pushed the Trojans back to the 7 with just 12 seconds remaining.
“At the end of the day we all realized what we came to do in Vegas, and that is come out with a win,” said receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who caught seven passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns. “And I think we’re all happy with that, and it’s time to go home and enjoy a little bit of Christmas time that we missed.”
After Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed raced 19 yards for a touchdown with 1:49 remaining to regain the lead, Maiava stole the role of hero on the same field he began his collegiate career by driving Southern California 75 yards in 10 plays for the winning score.
The Aggies (8-5) opened the third quarter by scoring 17 straight points to take a 24-7 lead, but squandered the lead thanks to several untimely penalties that allowed the Trojans to mount a comeback, eventually taking a 28-24 lead with 4:30 remaining.
The Aggies finished with eight penalties for 73 yards, including four for 40 yards in the second half.
“It is huge,” Elko said. “We go up 24-7, and we have three 15-yard penalties on the next drive. I think the story of the game is the story of our season. We don’t understand how to play zone coverage, which is mind blowing to me. ... We can’t cover the forward pass well enough to be a good football team, and so that’s my fault.”
Reed completed 26 of 42 passes for 292 yards. He threw three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 46 yards on nine attempts.
Reed spread the wealth to eight targets, including Jabre Barber, who caught seven passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. Noah Thomas had five catches for 29 yards and two TDs.
Northwestern: 2023 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
LAS VEGAS — Ben Bryant passed for 222 yards and found Bryce Kirtz in the corner of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, helping Northwestern beat Utah 14-7 Saturday night in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Bryant went 22 for 34 with two touchdowns as Northwestern (8-5) closed out its season with a fourth straight win. The Wildcats limited Utah (8-5) to 221 yards and had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Bryson Barnes was 8 for 13 for 55 yards with two interceptions, and Ja'Quinden Jackson rushed for 55 yards on eight carries to lead Utah, which lost three of its last four games.
The Utes trailed 7-0 early in the fourth quarter and tied the game with 12:38 left when Micah Bernard scored on a 6-yard run. The touchdown capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive that took 3:59. Bernard was playing for the first time since injuring a knee in the season-opener against Florida.
Northwestern scored the first points of the game with 1:20 left in the first half when Bryant connected with Cam Johnson from 12 yards out for a score. The touchdown capped an eight-play drive that covered 75 yards, including a 25-yard completion to Marshall Lang to set up a first down at the 12 yard line.
The Wildcats had a chance at a field goal on the last play of the half, but Jack Olson missed a 40-yard attempt. It was his second miss of the half after failing to convert from 51 yards in the first quarter.
Northwestern threatened earlier in the second quarter after Jaheem Joseph intercepted Barnes and returned it 45 yards to the Utah 7. But Northwestern was stopped on a third-and-goal play from the 1, and Barnes then threw incomplete on fourth down, turning the ball over.
Joseph also intercepted a pass in the end zone to thwart a Utah drive in the first quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Utah: The Utes will hope to rebound from a disappointing season with quarterback Cam Rising, who missed the whole season with a knee injury, returning for 2024. It will be his seventh season of college football.
Northwestern: Coach David Braun inherited a team that went 1-11 in 2022 and improved to 8-5 with a bowl victory in his second year as Wildcats’ coach.
UP NEXT
Utah: The Utes, who will move from the Pac 12 to the Big 12 next season, will open the season at home against Southern Utah on Aug. 29.
Northwestern: The Wildcats open the 2024 season at home against Miami of Ohio.
Oregon State: 2022 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
LAS VEGAS – The 14th-ranked Oregon State Beavers shutout Florida, 30-0, in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday afternoon to cap a 10-3 campaign. For the third time in program history, the Beavers (10-3, 6-3) have won their 10th game in a season.
Ben Gulbranson threw for 165 yards and a score, completed 12-of-19 passes and ran for another 15 yards and a score on the ground. Deshaun Fenwick led the rushing attack with 107 yards on 21 carries. Jam Griffin and Tyjon Lindsey each added a rushing touchdown.
Kyrei Fisher-Morris led the defense with 11 tackles – including seven solo stops, three for loss and a sack. Jaden Robinson and Omar Speights combined for 13.0 total stops, including Robinson's five solo tackles. Alex Austin and Ryan Cooper Jr. each registered a pass breakup to stifle Florida's passing game.
The Beavers found the scoreboard first following a eight play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by a Tyjon Lindsey rush for eight yards for the 7-0 advantage. Jaden Robinson and Omar Speights combined for 13.0 total stops, including Robinson's five solo tackles. Alex Austin and Ryan Cooper Jr. each registered a pass breakup to stifle Florida's passing game.
After keeping the Gators off the board on downs, Oregon State added to the lead after a 59-yard drive set up a 27-yard score from Everett Hayes to make it a 10-0 affair with 4:32 left in the second. The Beaver defense kept the opposition off the board twice to keep the score intact going into the break.
An 11-yard rush by Colletto off a Beaver fake punt set the offense with their second touchdown of the day on the second half's opening drive. Gulbranson found Golden between a pair of Florida defenders for the 15-yard connection to add seven to lead following Hayes' PAT. On the ensuing drive – set up by a punt blocked by Colletto – Gulbranson sprinted seven yards to the endzone for his second score.
Fenwick stretched the lead even further when he found the endzone from two yards out to make it a 29-0 ballgame before Atticus Sappington connected on the PAT to make it 30. The Beavers chewed off 6:33 from the clock and went 98 yards on 33 plays.
Oregon State previously won 10 games in the 2000 and 2006 seasons.
Wisconsin: 2021 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
LAS VEGAS – When Graham Mertz led Wisconsin’s offense back onto the field with a little less than 10 minutes remaining in the Las Vegas Bowl, the members of UW’s defense were hoping for just about anything but another three and out.
“We were gassed,” senior linebacker Noah Burks said.
What the members of Jim Leonhard’s unit got Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium was the rest of the game off.
Eighteen plays.
Ninety yards.
Nine minutes and 57 seconds.
When fullback John Chenal got the final handoff from Mertz, wrapped both arms around the football and gained 3 yards to run out the clock, UW’s 20-13 victory over Arizona State was secure.
“It was a perfect Wisconsin drive to go end it,” Burks said. “Let’s run the football. Let’s eat the clock. And let’s go win this game.”
Mertz said the same in few words.
“That drive,” Mertz said, “that’s what this program is about.”
BOX SCORE: Wisconsin 20, Arizona State 13
The drive was needed because UW (9-4) began the game without four starters – right tackle Logan Bruss, center Joe Tippman, cornerback Faion Hicks and wide receiver Danny Davis – and kickoff returner Stephan Bracey.
They lost wide receiver Kendric Pryor, tailback Brady Schipper and tight end Joe Ferguson to injuries during the game.
Freshman tailback Braelon Allen carried 10 times for 49 yards on the drive and finished with 159 yards on 29 carries and the MVP trophy.
Mertz completed 2 of 2 passes on the drive, both for first downs, for 40 yards.
“We were mentally prepared to go out there again and put it back on our shoulders,” said safety John Torchio, who had a first-quarter interception to set UW’s first touchdown. “But that was awesome what they did. We were cheering them on.”
Play after play, yard after yard and second after precious second.
“They’re scary,” said Arizona State coach Herm Edwards, whose team finished 8-5. "Because when you watch them on tape, that's what they can do, they can chew up some drives. They can chew up a lot of time.
“I kept looking up at that clock, trust me. Every time they made a first down I kept looking at the clock, I said: ‘We’re running out of time.’ ”
The Badgers’ final possession began at their 3 after a 44-yard punt.
UW’s first three series of the second half generated a total of zero yards on 11 plays.
"The second half we struggled offensively,” UW coach Paul Chryst said, “but it was a heck of a drive to finish it out.”
Allen gave UW some breathing room on the final series with runs of 5, 4 and 3.
Then five plays later, on third and 12 from his 24, Mertz made his best throw of the night, arguably of the season.
Mertz was given good protection until Stanley Lambert executed a stunt and came free through the middle of the line. Mertz saw the 6-foot-4, 234-pound defensive end bearing down on him but didn’t flinch.
He knew Chimere Dike, who missed several series earlier after suffering a blow to his back on a reverse, was covered by single defender and trusted the sophomore would work open. Mertz delivered a strike just before being drilled in the midsection for a 30-yard gain to the Sun Devils’ 46 with 5:38 left.
“That play to Chim,” Torchio said, “once they hit that I (said): ‘Oh, my gosh. They might drive this thing all the way down.’”
Chenal picked up another first down two plays later with a 3-yard run on second and 1. Allen, whose 9-yard run set up the second and 1, then powered his way for 14 yards to the Sun Devils’ 20.
Allen gained 7 yards but appeared to be stopped. He stayed on his feet, though, and several UW players, led by wide receiver Jack Dunn, kept the pile moving.
“That was a lot of fun,” right tackle Tanor Bortolini said. “That might be one of my favorite plays of the game.”
Arizona State was penalized for being offside three plays later, with UW facing third and 4 from the Sun Devils’ 14.
With Arizona State out of timeouts, UW ran out the final 2:15.
“We came out with the mentality that we were going to own this drive, make it ours,” Bortolini said. “There was nothing they could do to stop us if we all clicked.
"It was just Wisconsin football.”
The drive conjured memories of the 2006 Capital One Bowl.
UW closed out that game, a 24-10 victory over Auburn, with a non-scoring drive that covered 98 yards in 15 plays and 8:58.
The drive Thursday was equally sweet to the current players.
"That drive is what I think of Wisconsin football," Ferguson said. "It is gritty. It’s hard. It’s going to be tough. You’re going to be hurting. …
"It is the mentality of the offense: We’re going to get this done. We’re going to finish this. It’s in our hands. It is in our control."
Washington: 2019 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
Washington coach Chris Petersen stunned the college football world earlier this month when he announced that the Las Vegas Bowl vs. Boise State -- a program that he helped build -- would be his last with the Huskies. His Washington team sent him out in style with a 38-7 win over Boise State on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
The game-sealing touchdown was fitting for a Petersen team. Up 24-7 early in the fourth quarter, running back Richard Newton took the toss, rolled right and found Terrell Bynum for a 13-yard touchdown. A trick play in a bowl game from a coach who announced his presence to the college football world with a trick play in a bowl game more than a decade ago.
The biggest play in Boise State history was called by Petersen in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma that capped off a perfect 13-0 season in 2006 -- his first with the program. Down one in overtime after scoring a touchdown, Petersen went for the win with the famous "Statue of Liberty" play. Quarterback Jared Zabransky faked a pass, handed off to Ian Johnson behind his back, and Johnson scampered into the left side of the end zone to give the Broncos the win. It was the third trick play that Petersen called that night.
Petersen rode off into the sunset as the coach of the Huskies on Saturday night, but it might not be the end of his career. He left the door open to return to coaching after he recharges his batteries. Whether that happens or not, his legacy is set in stone as somebody who built Boise State into the most powerful Group of Five program and led Washington back to being Pac-12 power.
Here's a look and how Petersen has fared during his head coaching career:
| YEARS | TEAM | OVERALL | IN CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
8 ('06-'13)
|
Boise State
|
92-12
|
57-6
|
6 ('14-'19)
|
Washington
|
56-26
|
34-20
|
He might not have been the only Husky riding off into the sunset on Saturday night, though.
Junior quarterback Jacob Eason went 22 of 32 for 210 yards with one touchdown and was in complete control of the offense from the outset. Eason is the third-ranked quarterback and No. 20 overall in the CBS Sports NFL Draft prospect rankings. Eason hasn't announced whether he is returning to play for new coach Jimmy Lake or jumping to the NFL. If this was his last college game, he went out with a bang under the bright lights in Las Vegas.
Fresno State: 2018 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
LAS VEGAS -- Running back Ronnie Rivers might be the embodiment of Fresno State's turnaround.
It wasn't guaranteed Rivers would be able to play this season after sustaining a foot injury in spring practice, and he was limited by a shoulder injury late in the year. But Rivers was there, leading the way as the Bulldogs completed their journey after going 1-11 two seasons ago.
Rivers rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns to help No. 19 Fresno State beat Arizona State 31-20 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday.
Anthoula Kelly had a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown, and Marcus McMaryion rushed for a touchdown and was 15-of-29 passing for 176 yards to help Fresno State (12-2) set a school record for wins in a season.
"It's a group that persevered," Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford said. "This group can be remembered as the only team in NCAA history that went from a double-digit losing season to back-to-back double-digit winning seasons."
Rivers put Fresno State back in front 24-20 with a 68-yard touchdown run up the middle in the third quarter and had a 5-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter to seal it. The Bulldogs were 2-0 against Pac-12 opponents this season, also beating UCLA 38-14 in September.
"We've been emphasizing on the word `finish' this past week and just going out there and finishing the job, getting this 12th win," said Rivers, who gained 156 yards on 15 carries in the second half and was honored as the game's most valuable player.
Fresno State was able to overcome turnovers on three consecutive drives in the second half, including when McMaryion threw the first of two interceptions to set up Brandon Ruiz's 44-yard field goal that gave Arizona State a 20-17 lead.
Dejonte O'Neal also fumbled off the pylon when reaching out to score on a throwback screen.
"But I think it says a lot about our team," Tedford said. "Our team plays together, believe in one another. They don't panic and they just keep playing."
Eno Benjamin rushed for 118 yards a one touchdown for the Sun Devils (7-6) in their third straight bowl loss. Manny Wilkins threw for 129 yards, with a 3-yard scoring pass to Kyle Williams and two interceptions.
First-year coach Herm Edwards put the loss on the failure to score points off takeaways, getting three points following the three Fresno State turnovers. Arizona State had 63 yards of offense in the second half.
"We made it a game we wanted to play in. We made it uncomfortable for them," Arizona State coach Herm Edwards said. "But then they got a score. We had to catch up a little bit and that's where they can really come after you."
Benjamin set the school single-season rushing record on a 13-yard run in the second quarter, finishing with 1,642 yards rushing to break Woody Green's mark of 1,565 yards in 1972.
Wilkins said he did not sustain an injury despite taking a hit to the knee on the final pass of his college career, which was intercepted by Juju Hughes.
"I'm good. I left it all out there, so that's all I needed to do," Wilkins said.
THE TAKEAWAY
Arizona State: The Sun Devils will be disappointed to finish with the exact same record as last season, but signs of progress under Edwards were evident. The defense found several young playmakers and played well against Fresno State without freshman linebacker Merlin Robertson. The offense, which played without star wide receiver N'Keal Harry after he declared for the NFL draft, needs to be upgraded to contend in the Pac-12.
Fresno State: The Bulldogs used a strong second half to complete its best season in school history. The senior-heavy offensive line led the way for Rivers, who will be the focal point of the offense in 2019. With a 22-6 record in two seasons at Fresno State, Tedford has reminded everyone why he is one of the best coaches in college football.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Fresno State will finish the season ranked for the third time in school history and should earn its highest final-ranking ever. Arizona State could merit consideration from voters in the preseason poll.
UP NEXT
Arizona State: The Sun Devils need to replace Wilkins, and with commitments from three top high school quarterbacks, it seems his successor might not have been in uniform at the Las Vegas Bowl. If Arizona State can find stability there quickly, the pieces look to be in place to challenge in the Pac-12 South.
Fresno State: The Bulldogs are looking at a major roster overhaul, losing McMaryion, four of five starting offensive linemen and four defensive starters. However, a return to the Mountain West Conference title game isn't an unreasonable expectation based on what Tedford has accomplished in his first two seasons at Fresno State.
Boise State: 2017 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
LAS VEGAS -- Bryan Harsin didn't have to say anything.
Boise State had committed two turnovers that were returned for touchdowns in the final minute of the first half, turning a 24-0 rout in the making into a competitive 24-14 contest and allowing Oregon back into the game.
Without any special speech from their head coach, the Broncos regrouped and responded.
Cedrick Wilson caught 10 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown, Kekaula Kaniho returned an interception 53 yards for a score and No. 25 Boise State beat Oregon 38-28 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday.
"New slate. It's a whole different half. As far as we were concerned, it was 0-0," Broncos linebacker Leighton Vander Esch said.
Brett Rypien threw for 362 yards and two touchdown passes -- with two interceptions -- to help the Broncos (11-3) break a three-game losing streak against Power 5 opposition. Ryan Wolpin rushed for two touchdowns.
Troy Dye and Tyree Robinson each scored a defensive touchdown, and Justin Herbert was 26 of 36 passing for 233 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Ducks (7-6) in new head coach Mario Cristobal's debut.
Boise State forced four turnovers in the first half, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on Wolpin's 1-yard touchdown run and Rypien's 26-yard scoring pass to Wilson. Haden Hoggarth added a 39-yard field goal before an off-balance Herbert heaved a pass toward the sideline that was easily picked off and run back by Kaniho, who also had a strip-sack.
Oregon clawed back after Dye recovered a fumble on a botched Statue of Liberty handoff and returned it 86 yards for a touchdown with 37 seconds remaining.
A 65-yard reception by Wilson to set the Boise State single-season record for yards receiving got the Broncos right back in the red zone, but Robinson picked off Rypien's pass in the end zone and took it back 100 yards on the longest interception return in school history with 7 seconds remaining to make it 24-14.
If not for those defensive scores, the full extent of Boise State's dominance would have been evident. The Broncos outgained the Ducks 294-77 in the first half and reached Ducks' territory on 10 of 15 meaningful possessions in the game. They held Oregon to 47 yards rushing and 1.7 yards per carry, recording nine tackles for loss with four sacks while outclassing their Pac-12 foe on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
"They are a great team, and we came out and we played some awesome football," said Vander Esch, who had 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss with one sack. "We didn't take any days off from the moment we won that Mountain West championship. We knew as soon as we won that we still had part of our goal left to go finish."
After Alec Dhaenens caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Rypien in the third quarter, the Ducks pulled back within 31-21 on a 24-yard scoring throw from Herbert to Brendan Schooler with 10:07 remaining.
Oregon had a chance to cut it to a one-possession game but Herbert was sacked near midfield, and Boise State drove 86 yards in 11 plays capped by Wolpin's second 1-yard touchdown run.
"I think a lot of teams would fold their tent when they're down 24-0 or things don't go their way," Cristobal said. "You look at the way they just kept fighting, scratching and clawing to make this thing a competitive game, to me, that's the positive."
THE TAKEAWAY
Boise State: The Broncos are still the class of the Mountain West. After being written off in September after losses to Washington State and Virginia, Boise State closed the season by winning nine of their last 10 games, including the conference title game and the conference's marquee bowl tie-in.
Oregon: The Ducks didn't exactly do much to back up their push for Cristobal's promotion to head coach. Oregon got pushed around on both lines of scrimmage and make plenty of ill-advised decisions, best exemplified by running back Tony Brooks-James throwing a ball at a defender in the third quarter to scuttle a promising drive.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
It wasn't a vintage season for Boise State, but the Broncos will finish ranked for the third time in the last six seasons. Oregon has plenty of work to do before making itself a regular in the top 25 again.
UP NEXT
Boise State: With 18 players that started the Las Vegas Bowl eligible to return next season, including all 11 defenders, the Broncos should be back in the mix to reach a New Year's 6 bowl game. An early road game at Oklahoma State will give a good indication of just how high Boise State's ceiling might be in Harsin's fifth season.
Oregon: A soft non-conference slate and favorable home schedule bodes well for Oregon's record in Cristobal's first season in change, but the Ducks need significant personnel upgrades over the long haul to compete in the loaded Pac-12 North.
San Diego State: 2016 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
LAS VEGAS -- Donnel Pumphrey seemed nowhere near as excited about the chance to become the NCAA career rushing record as his San Diego State teammates during the week leading up to his final game.
Fittingly, when he broke the record on a 15-yard toss sweep to the right early in the fourth quarter, Pumphrey ended being pushed out of bounds on the sideline where he could be immediately swarmed by his friends and coaches.
Pumphrey passed former Wisconsin star Ron Dayne's mark of 6,397 yards and wrapped up his sensational career in his Nevada hometown with 6,405 yards, earning the game's most valuable player honors.
Pumphrey's senior total of 2,133 yards rushing ranks in the top 10 for an FBS player.
"It means the world to me," Pumphrey said on the field immediately after the game as his father wiped away tears before hugging him.
It means just as much to his teammates.
"It's emotional," running back Rashaad Penny said. "To watch that guy do what he do and accomplish so many goals, it's amazing."
"We're just as fired up as he is," linebacker Calvin Munson said. "All of our defensive guys hate him in practice because he is good and he gets us better. He couldn't have done it without the O-line, the fullbacks, the offense.
"I'm just trying to take some credit for you," Munson joked, with a smiling Pumphrey sitting next to him.
Head coach Rocky Long turned to Munson and responded: "You don't block anybody."
Ron Smith returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown, Curtis Anderson caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Christian Chapman, Juwan Washington ran for a touchdown, and John Baron kicked two field goals for the Aztecs (11-3). They overcame a 10-0 first-quarter deficit against the Cougars (9-4) to turn their second consecutive bowl win into a laugher.
Neither the victory nor Pumphrey's record-setting performance seemed likely after Houston's defense absolutely smothered the Aztecs in the first quarter. Led by freshman Ed Oliver, Houston had seven tackles for loss on San Diego State's first 16 plays. Pumphrey had minus-1 yard rushing on seven carries in the first quarter and the Aztecs didn't have a first down until the first play of the second quarter -- on a penalty for running into the kicker.
"The first quarter, they came out with more intensity than we did, at least their defensive side of the ball," Pumphrey said.
But Pumphrey started to gash Houston on the perimeter, giving San Diego State the lead for good on a 32-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, and the defense intercepted four of Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr.'s passes in the second half.
"When you are leaving your defense out there too long that's what happens," Houston coach Major Applewhite said. "When you give a great back that many at-bats and that many opportunities, one is going to hit at some point and it did."
Ward threw for 229 yards and had a 2-yard touchdown run, tying Bryce Beall's school record of 39 rushing touchdowns.
Houston finished with 254 yards of total offense and just 25 yards rushing.
"They beat the crap out of us," tight end Tyler McCloskey said. "We didn't show up. We didn't execute the way we needed to."
THE TAKEAWAY
San Diego State: The running game for the Aztecs was historic. Not only did Pumphrey set NCAA and school records, but Penny topped the 1,000-yard mark to give San Diego State the first college backfield with a 2,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard rusher in the same season. Capping its most prolific rushing season ever, San Diego State had 127 yards on the ground against the nation's No. 3 run defense.
"We a run-first team," Penny said. "That's all we count on."
Houston: Oliver is the real deal, finishing his remarkable freshman season with 23 tackles for loss and five sacks after picking up 3.5 stops in the backfield in his first bowl game. With his knack for delivering in showcase games -- Oliver had 8 1/2 tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble against Oklahoma, Louisville and San Diego State -- it wouldn't be a surprise if his second season ends with national awards.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The Aztecs could find themselves ranked in the final poll for the first time since 1977. Houston's tumultuous season will end outside the Top 25.
HE SAID IT
"They don't get their per-diems unless they show up for curfew, so they were all there because they love money." -- Long on why his team obeyed curfew this week.
Houston wide receiver Chance Allen, who had a team-leading six touchdown receptions this season, did not play after breaking curfew Thursday night.
UP NEXT
San Diego State: The Aztecs must replace four starters on the offensive line, but should be contenders to defend their Mountain West title for a third consecutive season with a strong group of returning skill players.
Houston: After dropping his first game as head coach, Applewhite must build a staff. Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is set to join Tom Herman at Texas, and the American Athletic Conference is not lacking for offensive firepower.
Utah: 2015 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
Thanks to five BYU turnovers on their first five possessions of the game, the Cougars fell behind Utah 35-0 in the first 11 minutes as Utah turned each turnover into a touchdown -- two directly via pick sixes. The deficit proved to be seven points too many for the Cougars.
Story of the game: It has to be the turnovers. Based on how the final three quarters of the game went, if not for the horrid start to the game, BYU probably wins this one. The fact of the matter is Utah's offense was not good on Saturday. Of the Utes touchdown drives, none of which occurred outside the first quarter, the longest was 39 yards. Utah only had one drive longer than that the entire game, and it ended with a turnover on downs early in the fourth quarter.
All in all, BYU actually out-gained Utah 386-197 in the game, as the Utes averaged only 3.1 yards per play. In essence, BYU handed Utah a 35-0 lead early, and then the Utes held on for dear life.
Player of the game: I'm actually going to go with Utah punter, and Ray Guy award winner, Tom Hackett. As I said, Utah's offense was basically non-existent during this game. If not for Hackett averaging 49.5 yards on his six punts -- three of which were over 50 yards, four of which pinned BYU inside its own 20-yard line -- the Cougars may have been able to pull off this comeback.
Oh, and then there was Hackett running this fake punt in the second half to pick up what seemed like a pivotal first down at the time. BYU had scored two touchdowns to open the half and steal all the momentum, and for a moment you thought this fake punt would put the final nail in BYU's coffin. It didn't, though, because Hackett then came off the field and was replaced by Utah's impotent offense.
Highlight of the game: This was the second BYU turnover, which is also the first pick-six. Utah's Tevin Carter snagged this ball out of the air after the deflection and took it 28 yards to the house.
#PickSix for the Utes! Utah up 14-0 early in this postseason rivalry game! #LasVegasBowl pic.twitter.com/MjGjAFGbot
Tweet of the game:
There were a lot of good tweets during this game, particularly early
when Utah jumped out to that 35-0 lead, but my favorite was actually a
quote of something Brent Musberger said while calling the game.Brent is a national treasure.
Grade: This game was a lot more exciting than anybody thought it would be after the first couple minutes of action, but even so, I just can't give it an "A." The fact is that while there was nearly an epic comeback, it's not like either team played very well. I mean, BYU did have five turnovers after all, and as I mentioned earlier, Utah's offense averaged only 3.1 yards per play. B+
Utah: 2014 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
Las Vegas • Colorado State’s vaunted passing attack dried up and wilted while Utah’s maligned offense buried the Rams in the Mojave Desert.
Before 33,067 fans at UNLV’s Sam Boyd Stadium — three-fourths wearing red — Utah made the most of its first bowl appearance in three years.
Some had wondered how these Utes would fare against a powerhouse from their old conference. Their answer: 45-10.
Junior quarterback Travis Wilson was named most valuable player, Kyle Whittingham tied John Robinson for the best bowl win percentage in NCAA history among coaches with at least seven wins, at 8-1, and fans who planned on attending the Runnin’ Utes game against UNLV later Saturday night were able to leave early for the nightcap.
It’s what Utah had been waiting for.
"That really was a product of the preparation of the last three weeks," Whittingham said. "All they had to do was come out and do what they did the last three weeks and execute."
On Utah’s very first play, Wilson handed it to Devontae Booker, who pitched it to Jason Thompson, who threw it back to Wilson, who heaved it 36 yards downfield to Kaelin Clay.
Any notion that offensive coordinator Dave Christensen would be too conservative was quickly dispelled.
Two plays later, Wilson jogged in from 8 yards out for his first of three rushing touchdowns, to complement 158 yards and another score through the air.
Colorado State interim head coach Dave Baldwin said afterward that Utah’s offensive firepower — they totaled 548 yards, 359 on the ground — surprised him.
The fight went out of his Rams when sophomore defensive tackle Filipo Mokofisi recovered a third-quarter fumble and Wilson darted over the goal line, followed by an interception from senior linebacker Jacoby Hale that led to a 10-yard rushing touchdown from junior running back Bubba Poole.
The Rams were on their back foot from the opening kick, though.
Redshirt freshman running back Troy McCormick broke free for 49 yards, on Utah’s second drive — on just his fifth carry since Week Two — and another redshirt freshman, wideout Delshawn McClellon, caught a 16-yard Wilson pass in the back left corner of the end zone.
But while the Rams couldn’t match the Utes’ class, in the earlygoing, at least, they didn’t lack for sass.
CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson tossed a lateral pass to wideout Charles Lovett, who fired it right back, and Grayson trailed a herd of Ram blockers 39 yards to the end zone.
After Booker rumbled 60 yards for a first-down score, the Rams then responded with a 59-yard connection between Grayson and Biletnikoff finalist Rashard Higgins and a 41-yard Jared Roberts field goal to make it 21-10 — the highest-scoring first quarter in Las Vegas Bowl history.
Grayson finished with 227 yards, giving him 4,006 for the season, but struggled as Utah’s down linemen applied regular pressure.
"I’m very surprised, to be honest," he said. "I never, in a million years, saw that score happening."
USC: 2013 Las Vegas Bowl Champions
LAS VEGAS -- It was an appropriate setting for USC's unforgettable, unpredictable and altogether crazy season to end.
After all, what city encapsulates extreme highs and lows better than Las Vegas?
USC's season played out like a maddening night at the tables where you wade through one dealer after another, hoping to settle on one who will finally make you a winner.
In USC's case, the Trojans are hoping the magic number is four.
Saturday's game not only ended the most unusual and tumultuous season in USC history, but also ended an odd three-week stretch in which Helton attempted to be the team's third head coach this season while Sarkisian was around the team and players, preparing to take over as soon as the game was finished.
Sarkisian was not only around the team during practices at USC the past two weeks, but was also a constant presence this weekend at the team hotel and bowl practices. He even met with the players' parents in a hotel ballroom to discuss his philosophy and plans for next season.
It would have been easy to assume USC players would view the trip to Las Vegas as a vacation at the end of the season rather than the final game of the year. The images of the Trojans getting embarrassed last year at the Sun Bowl and in their previous trip to the Las Vegas Bowl served as a perfect template for this game. It's always a smart bet to go against USC when playing in a lesser bowl against a lesser opponent.
Not this year's Trojans.
They may not have finished the season with the trophy they wanted or even the coach they wanted, but they never gave up.
No USC team in recent memory has embodied the school's motto to "Fight on!" more than this group. It fought on through NCAA sanctions, a quarterback controversy to start the season and three head coaches during the season to finish with 10 wins for only the second time since 2008 and the school's first bowl win since 2009.
There was little doubt that USC was ready to play from the opening kick, after which the Trojans drove 65 yards on 12 plays, culminating with a 10-yard pass from Cody Kessler to Marqise Lee. It was only the beginning of a big day for both players, as Kessler completed 22 of 30 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns and Lee had seven catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
As Lee gave his gloves and wristbands to fans on the field, he still had a hard time putting into words what he and his teammates went through at the end of this season.
"Four coaches in four months is crazy," Lee said. "You'd never expect a team that's been through as much as we have to get these many wins. No team has ever won 10 games after three coaching changes."
As the final minutes ticked off the clock, Sarkisian left his suite in the press box at Sam Boyd Stadium, where he was watching the game with USC athletic director Pat Haden, and made his way through the crowd, showing off his credential to security guards along the way.
"It was a very unique experience to be up there in a suite and watching the game," Sarkisian said. "I was kind of pacing. I didn't really know what to do with myself."
Sarkisian watched the final seconds of the game outside of the locker room by the team buses, deciding not to go on the field and allowing Helton and the current players and coaches to enjoy their moment before he officially took over.
"I want them to enjoy it and embrace it," Sarkisian said as players boarded the buses behind him. "I couldn't be more proud of them, that they were able to come out and perform the way they did. They deserve it. I just tried to stay out of the way, the best I could. Now I get to get my hands on them and get going -- and there's a lot to work with, that's for sure."
Sarkisian's tenure as USC's fourth head coach in four months officially began Saturday night in Las Vegas, but before the Trojans start the next chapter of their program with their new coach, the players and coaches who survived this whirlwind season hope this year's team is never forgotten.
"There's so many words you can say for this team but you find yourself speechless," Kessler said. "You sit back and you're in awe of what these guys have gone through. I'm just so proud of these guys. This is a team that will hopefully be remembered forever in USC history."
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