Texas State: 2023 First Responder Bowl Champions

 Texas State fans weren’t messing around in their first bowl appearance on Tuesday night in the Dallas area. The Bobcats were facing Rice in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at SMU’s stadium, and it sounds like stadium reps weren’t prepared for the hydration practices from fans.

Making their first ever appearance in a bowl game, Texas State fans made the trek to Dallas in full force, taking up their side of the stadium. To be honest, this should’ve been expected, as Bobcat fans are known to take down some frosty beverages.

But it doesn’t sound like First Responder Bowl reps were prepared for the amount of celebrating Texas State fans were preparing for.

According to a number of media outlets and fans, the Bobcats side of the stadium sold-out of alcohol before the first half ended. This sent fans to the opposite side of Gerald J. Ford stadium to collect any extra beverages that weren’t being bought by Rice fans.

Carter Yates of ‘Dave Campbell Texas Football’ summed up the atmosphere, along with a communications problem for both teams.

This is certainly a great problem to have when it comes finances. Not only did the Bobcats win their first bowl game, Texas State fans drank the entire stadium dry in the process, with a little help from the Rice contingent.

But, running out of beer before halftime is a rough situation for fans looking to continue their holiday celebration.

Minnesota: 2023 Quick Lane Bowl Champions

 

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-7) defense looked shaky in the first and fourth quarters, but Darius Taylor was a problem for the Bowling Green Falcons (7-6) from his first carry, leading his team to a 30-24 win for an unprecedented third Quick Lane Bowl victory.

The true freshman running back was named Quick Lane Bowl MVP after 35 carries for 208 rushing yards and a touchdown in his first game action since Oct. 21.

The Gopher defense was without All-Big Ten safety Tyler Nubin, starting strong safety Darius Green, and starting will linebacker Devon Williams, in addition to key contributors Maverick Baranowski and Aidan Gousby. The Falcons wasted no time taking advantage. They opened the game with a three-play scoring drive capped by a 46-yard touchdown pass from Conner Bazelak to Odieu Hiliare, who beat cornerback Justin Walley deep.

With fifth-year senior quarterback Cole Kramer making his first (and last) career start, the offense responded to Bowling Green’s quick scoring drive by chewing up nearly eight minutes of game clock. Taylor, seeing his first action since the Iowa game, made his presence known with eight carries for 43 rushing yards on Minnesota’s opening possession. Kramer connected with Elijah Spencer for a four-yard score to get the Gophers on the board.

But Minnesota failed to tie the score, attempting a two-point conversion play that saw kicker Dragan Kesich hurdle a defender before landing on his butt short of the goal line.

The Gophers took their first lead of the game on a 31-yard field goal by Kesich midway through the second quarter. The go-ahead field goal was made possible by Kramer, who sprinted through the middle of the defense for 31 yards to set up Minnesota at the 26-yard line.

The Falcons were able to retake the lead before halftime thanks to an interception by defensive back Darius Lorfils. Kramer dropped back on a play-action pass and was hit as he threw by Bowling Green pass rusher Cashius Howell, sending the ball floating into the waiting arms of Lorfils. Taking over at the Minnesota 15-yard line, Bowling Green failed to gain a yard on three plays before settling for a 33-yard field goal by Alan Anaya and a 10-9 halftime lead.

The Gophers came roaring out of the locker room, riding Taylor on an 11-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that ended with Kramer scoring on a quarterback sneak. With a 16-10 lead, the Minnesota defense proceeded to force a three-and-out, with the punt coming after Jah Joyner sacked Bazelak on third down. Quentin Redding returned the punt 27 yards to set up his offense at the Bowling Green 27-yard line. Six plays later, Kramer faked a sneak on 3rd & 2 and instead found Jameson Geers for a seven-yard touchdown, extending their lead to 23-10.

In the fourth quarter, the Gopher defense took their foot off the pedal. Falcons running back PaSean Wimberly broke loose for 42 yards down the sideline, getting Bowling Green into Minnesota territory. Facing 4th & 3 at the 31-yard line, Bazelak took advantage of egregious no-call on a hold and found Hiliare for 13 yards and a first down. Wimberly capped the drive with an 18-yard jet sweep for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 23-17.

Le’Meke Brockington responded by returning the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to the Bowling Green 48-yard line. The Gopher offense took care of the rest, with Taylor finding the end zone on a 17-yard run. The Falcons refused to go quietly, mounting a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on their next possession to make it a six-point deficit with two minutes and 30 seconds left to play. But Minnesota recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock from there.

Kramer finished 8-of-16 for 26 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

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Coastal Carolina: 2023 Hawaii Bowl Champions

 

Freshman quarterback Ethan Vasko threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns Saturday night as Coastal Carolina beat San Jose State 24-14 to win the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu.

Vasko completed 20 of 33 passes, wrapping up the win with 2:43 remaining when he found Sam Pinckney for an 8-yard scoring strike. The play capped an eight-catch, 123-yard performance for Pinckney in his last college game.

The Chanticleers (8-5) possessed the ball for more than 37 minutes, converting 8 of 15 third downs. They were outgained 374-336, but their defense came up with two key fumble recoveries to halt third-quarter drives.

Spartans quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who was born in Honolulu and playing the final game of his college career, hit 16 of 30 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. He led two fourth-quarter scoring drives that got San Jose State (7-6) within three points, first finding Sam Olson on a 35-yard strike at the 12:27 mark.

Quali Conley added a 12-yard touchdown run with 8:30 remaining, but the Spartans couldn't get the stop they needed. They had a chance to get within seven points with 1:09 left but kicker Kyler Halvorsen missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt, ending their hopes of a dramatic comeback.

San Jose State entered the game as a clear favorite. The Spartans came in with a six-game winning streak, and Coastal Carolina's star player, quarterback Grayson McCall, departed for NC State via the transfer portal.

But Vasko orchestrated a patient attack that hogged the ball for nearly 18 1/2 minutes in the first half. It was Vasko who broke the scoring seal with 3:16 left in the first quarter, flipping a 2-yard touchdown pass to Matt Alaimo to cap an 80-yard drive that lasted nearly 5 1/2 minutes.

Meanwhile, San Jose State couldn't get going against a Chanticleers defense that was lit up frequently down the stretch. They limited the Spartans to 24 plays, 127 yards and six first downs in the half.

--Field Level Media

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.

South Alabama: 2023 68 Ventures Bowl Champions

 

History in the making was the story tonight in Mobile, Alabama, as both teams were looking to etch another accomplishment into the record books. Still, South Alabama would be the ones to do so as they knocked off Eastern Michigan University, 59-10, to acquire the program's first-ever bowl game win. 

It was the third consecutive bowl game appearance for the first time in program history for the Eagles as they were searching for back-to-back bowl game wins for the first time but will have to wait to do so. 

After an early 3-0 start the Jaguars would add to their total after quarterback Desmond Trotter would find wide receiver Jeremiah Webb for a 49-yard reception to EMU’s three-yard line. 

On the next play, a shuffle pass from Trotter would end up in the hands of wide receiver DJ Thomas-Jones to extend South Alabama’s lead, to 10-0. 

On the Jaguars’ ensuing offensive possession, quarterback Gio Lopez connected with wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett for a South Alabama touchdown to go up, 17-0, with 3:30 left in the first quarter. 

EMU linebacker Joe Sparacio would intercept Trotter to give the Eagles some momentum heading into the second quarter, but that was quickly dwindled after South Alabama running back Kentrel Bullock rushed for a 17-yard Jaguars touchdown to extend their lead, 24-3. 

The Jaguars would continue to roll as Marquise Robinson intercepted EMU’s Cam’Ron McCoy, which led to another South Alabama touchdown to extend the lead, 31-3, with 8:07 left in the second quarter. 

It wouldn’t stop there as Lopez would connect with Pritchett for another first-half touchdown for South Alabama to put the Jaguars up, 38-3, heading into halftime. 

It was pure dominance in the first half by South Alabama as they totaled 417 yards of offense while EMU only compiled 27. The Jaguars also converted 19 first downs to the Eagles’ one. 

The 38 points scored by South Alabama tied the 68 Ventures Bowl record for most points scored in the first half.

The second half wasn't much different than the first, as South Alabama outscored the Eagles 21-7 to win the 68 Ventures Bowl, 59-3.

The Jaguars would also set another record by scoring the most points since joining the FBS with 59 points.

Lopez would finish the game by completing 14 of his 19 passes for 192 yards and three passing touchdowns while adding 88 rushing yards and one touchdown. Pritchett would haul in eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns. 

Georgia State: 2023 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Champions

 

NEW ORLEANS — Georgia State scored 31-consecutive points and held Utah State scoreless for nearly three quarters in a 45-22 rout in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. 

 

The Panthers, who were one of an FBS-leading 12 Sun Belt football programs to compete in Bowl Season, improved to 4-2 in six all-time bowl appearances—including three-straight bowl wins. 

 

Redshirt senior quarterback Darren Grainger accounted for five touchdowns on the day, tying his own career high and program record. Grainger rushed for the first two Georgia State touchdowns—then added three through the air as part of the 31-point outburst that turned a 14-14 game at the 3:41 mark of the first quarter into a 45-14 rout at the 9:18 mark of the fourth quarter. 

 

The Aggies halted the Panthers streak with a final touchdown strike at the 4:48 mark of the fourth quarter, ending nearly three quarters of dominance by Georgia State. 

 

Senior running back Freddie Brock rushed for a Georgia State single-game program record 276 yards and the lone touchdown not accounted for by Grainger. Brock had rushed for just 31 yards in three appearances on the season for the Panthers prior to the record-setting bowl performance.   

 

Redshirt senior wide receiver Cadarrius Thompson caught five passes for a game-high 117 yards and two scores, while redshirt junior wide receiver Tailique Williams had the other touchdown reception for the Panthers. 

 

Four different Georgia State defenders accumulated five-or-more tackles. 

 

With the win, Georgia State improves to 7-6 on the season. 

Air Force: 2023 Armed Forces Bowl Champions

 

James Madison's magical season came to an end in a not so magical way on Saturday.

The Dukes faced a 31-21 loss to Air Force in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl under interim head coach Damian Wroblewski, who took over after Curt Cignetti went to Indiana following the conclusion of the regular season.

Following the loss, college football fans called JMU fraud for going 11-1 in the regular season just to get blown out in its bowl game.

The lack of a run defense was ultimately what hurt the Dukes. James Madison gave up a whopping 340 yards on the ground, and it was more than enough for Air Force to control the game.

Now James Madison is gearing up for its third year in FBS with a new coach, Bob Chesney, at the helm. The Dukes had a positive season, but faced the reality of the challenges of FBS in their bowl game.

Duke: 2023 Birmingham Bowl Champions

 

Todd Pelino kicked three field goals and Duke relied mostly on defense to defeat Troy 17-10 in the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala., where interim coaches guided both teams.

Troy didn’t score until the second half but made a game of it until a late interception doomed the Trojans’ final chance.

Pelino had second-quarter field goals from 34 and 37 yards, including the latter on the last play of the first half. Combined with Jaylen Coleman’s 1-yard run late in the first quarter and Nicky Dalmolin’s two-point conversion run, the Blue Devils carried a 14-0 lead to halftime.

Quarterback Grayson Loftis finished the game 19-for-29 for 183 yards with an interception for the Blue Devils.

Duke (8-5) received 73 rushing yards from running back Jaquez Moore and 66 yards from running back Jordan Waters.

Troy quarterback Gunnar Watson completed 21 of 36 passes for 230 yards, and running back Kimani Vidal gained 79 yards on 17 carries. The Trojans (11-3), the Sun Belt Conference champions, had a 10-game winning streak end.

Both teams saw their previous coaches depart for other jobs after the regular season. Mike Elko left Duke to go to Texas A&M, while Jon Sumrall departed Troy for the Tulane position.

Trooper Taylor, the running backs coach, was in charge for Duke. Defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato oversaw Troy.

Troy finally got on the board on Scott Taylor Renfroe’s 44-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter. That capped a 10-play, 53-yard drive.

After Pelino’s 45-yarder with 13:29 remaining, the Blue Devils made a fourth-down stop that seemed critical at the time.

But Damaje Yancey’s interception gave the Trojans the ball back. They got going and moved 87 yards in 10 plays to score on Derrick Graham’s 2-yard run with 5:54 left.

Troy forced a Duke punt and started their last possession at its own 11-yard line with 1:40 left. Two plays later, Jeremiah Lewis intercepted Watson as Duke sealed the outcome to push its bowl winning streak to five games.

–Field Level Media

Northern Illinois: 2023 Camellia Bowl Champions

In a game that was contentious from warmups on, the Northern Illinois Huskies defeated the Arkansas State Red Wolves 21-19 in the 2023 Camellia Bowl. Both teams were 6-6 entering the day.

Huskies' head coach Thomas Hammock secures Northern Illinois' second winning season in his tenure and their first bowl win in eight appearances. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi completed 18 passes on 29 attempts for 200 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Here's what else stood out from the MAC's second win of this bowl season.

Kicker Kanon Woodill's Play of the Day

Northern Illinois' third touchdown of the day came from an unlikely source. Place kicker Kanon Woodill took a short toss from holder Tom Foley 32 yards for a touchdown. It's his first career touchdown. Woodill didn't make a field goal in the win, but this arguably made up for that.

Husky Ball Control

Despite being shutout in the second half, Northern Illnois managed to win the game through expert ball control. The Huskies had the ball for forty minutes and 21 seconds - over 75% of the game. Running back Antario Brown had 25 carries for 132 yards, his fifth 100-yard performance of the season. All together, the Huskies rushed for 189 yards in the win.

A Comeback Attempt That Fell Just Short

In the final minutes, Jalen Raynor led a touchdown drive for the Red Wolves that made the score 21-19 in favor of NIU. The two-point conversion that would have tied the game was unsuccessful. Arkansas State then attempted an onside kick and appeared to recover it, but the officials called the Red Wolves for offsides on the kick, much to Butch Jones' chagrin. NIU were able to run out the last minute on the clock to secure the win.  

Arkansas State are still searching for their first winning season under Jones. 

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Manchester City: 2023 FIFA Club World Cup Champions

Goals: Alvarez (1, 88), Nino OG (27), Foden (72)

Man of the Match: Julian Alvarez (MCI)

Manchester City made history by beating Fluminense 4-0 to win the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™. It saw them become the first English team to conquer the competition at their first attempt – Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea had failed – and Pep Guardiola outrank Carlo Ancelotti and claim and outright-record fourth crown as coach.

The roar from kick-off had barely settled when the fastest goal in the tournament’s history snapped the deadlock. Fabio fingertipped a Nathan Ake curler from outside the box on to the post, and Julian Alvarez chested the ball into the unguarded net.

City doubled the lead when Rodri cannily slipped Phil Foden through and the latter’s centre was inadvertently diverted into the Fluminense net by Nino.

Guardiola's side continued to control the game and they made it 3-0 18 minutes from time. Alvarez was the creator on this occasion, sending in an inviting cross which the onrushing Foden slotted in from close range.

The outstanding Alvarez rounded off the scoring late in the game when he rifled an unstoppable finish beyond Fabio after some sublime close control.

Georgia Tech: 2023 Gasparilla Bowl Champions

 TAMPA, Fla. — For the first time in seven years, Georgia Tech has won a bowl game.

The Yellow Jackets finished off a very productive season in head coach Brent Key's first full season with the team by capping off the year with a 30-17 win over the University of Central Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl.

After going down 14-0 early, the Jackets responded with 17 second-quarter points to tie the game up at 17-all heading to the break.

In the second half, their weakest unit all season stepped up in a big way. Tech's defense shut out UCF's offense in the second half in dominant form.

After the offense was led by quarterback Haynes King for most of the season, it was Georgia Tech's ground game that shined brightly in Tampa, Florida, on Friday night.

The Jackets rushed for over 270 yards, led by sophomore running back Jamal Haynes, who tallied 128 yards on 18 carries. King even provided a spark of his own with his legs, rushing for 89 yards on 12 carries -- including a 5-yard score in the second quarter.

The big play of the game came for the Jackets just before halftime, when King connected with wide receiver Malik Rutherford on a 41-yard touchdown pass to tie the game up with just 56 seconds before halftime.

The Yellow Jackets had a bounce-back year in head coach Brent Key's first full year as head coach. They were 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, with ranked wins over Miami (FL) on the road and North Carolina at home on The Flats.

It was Georgia Tech's first winning season since 2018, Paul Johnson's last season as head coach.

Key got some revenge over the team he used to coach for 10 years, from 2005-2015. In 2022, Tech lost to UCF in Orlando 27-10 under then-head coach Geoff Collins.

Key also defeated his wife's alma mater, which he joked about prior to the bowl game matchup.

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South Florida: 2023 Boca Raton Bowl Champions

 

BOCA RATON, FLA. DEC. 21, 2023– The USF football team (7-6) put an exclamation mark on a memorable first season under first-year head coach Alex Golesh as the Bulls rolled to a 45-0 victory over Syracuse (6-7) in the Boca Raton Bowl in front of a vocal throng of Bulls fans and a national television audience on ESPN.

USF posted its first bowl win since 2017 and first winning record since 2018 to complete a season that also saw the greatest turnaround in program history with a six-win improvement, the first road win in three years, first bowl appearance since 2018, highest ranked recruiting class in 10 years and the program's first-ever 3,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard receiver.

On Thursday, the Bulls defense rose to the occasion, swarming Syracuse from the outset forcing four punts (including three three-and-outs) and three turnovers – including a pair of scoop-and-score touchdowns – in the first half as they limited the Orange to 91 first half yards (including -15 rushing) in pitching USF's first, first half shutout since 2019.

Syracuse finished with 159 yards, 10 punts, and just nine first downs (going 1-of-17 on third down) as the Bulls posted their first complete game shutout since 2009 and didn't allow the Orange to reach the redzone in a complete domination. Daquan Evans was named Defensive MVP after posting five tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and forcing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Meanwhile, Aamaris Brown-Bunkley was named Special Teams MVP after returning a botched field goal attempt for a touchdown and adding three tackles.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Byrum Brown, who was named Offensive MVP, started the game 10-of-11 before finishing 19 of 26 for 214 yards and three touchdowns passing, posted a team-best 64 yards rushing on 14 carries, and caught a 21-yard pass from Sean Atkins. He became just the second Bull to surpass 4,000 total yards in a season, finishing with 4,101 yards, second only to Quinton Flowers' 4,342 yards posted in 2016.

Sean Atkins became the Bulls' first 1,000-yard receiver, as he grabbed six passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bulls jumped to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. USF got on the board first when Brown hit Atkins in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.

After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Bulls had great field position, but a pass to the flanks from Brown to Atkins went astray and was ruled a lateral. Syracuse picked it up and ran it back to the end zone, but Brown, hustling downfield, was blocked in the back by an Orange player and Syracuse took over possession at the USF 28 after the penalty.

Syracuse went backward from there and was forced to attempt a 47-yard field goal. The snap was mishandled and then punched out the hands of an Orange player by Tavin Ward. Brown-Bunkley scooped it up and raced 64 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

The Bulls made it 21-0 when Brown hit Khafre Brown with a perfect 31-yard touchdown pass that completed and 81-yard drive.

A John Cannon 40-yard field goal made it 24-0 with 2:40 to play in the first half. Syracuse had 53 yards, four punts and two turnovers to that point.

The defense put another touchdown on the board when Evans hit Syracuse quarterback Braden Davis on a blitz, dislodged the ball and Tramel Logan scooped it up and ran 61-yards for the touchdown, his USF season record tying third defensive touchdown of the season, to make it 31-0 at the half.

The Bulls got their fourth turnover of the game with an interception by Tavin Ward on Syracuse's first possession of the second half, and Brown quickly capitalized hitting Atkins with a 35-yard touchdown pass to make it 38-0.

Nay'Quan Wright plunged in from two yards out early in the fourth quarter to make it 45-0 as USF fans began the celebration.

KEY STATS

• The 45-0 victory marked USF's largest margin of victory ever in a bowl game and its fourth bowl win over an autonomous "power" conference program.

• The USF defense forced four turnovers, scored two defensive touchdowns, and posted its first, first half shutout since 2019 on the way to completing its first complete game shutout since a 59-0 victory over Charleston Southern in 2009.

• USF held Syracuse to 1-of-17 on third downs and 1-of-3 on fourth while allowing just nine first downs in the game.

• USF out-gained Syracuse 407 to 159 and allowed just 20 yards rushing from Syracuse.

NOTABLES

•   QB Byrum Brown became just the second Bull to surpass 4,000 total yards in the season, finishing with – yards, second only to Quinton Flowers' 4,342 yards posted in 2016.

•   Brown threw three touchdown passes in the game to set a new USF season record with 26 and completed 73 percent of his passes to set a new USF season completion percentage record with 64.6 percent on the year.

•   WR Sean Atkins posted six catches for 93 yards to extended his season receptions record to 92 and extended his season receiving yards record 1,054, becoming the first 1,000-yard receiver in program history. He also completed a 21-yard pass to finish 4-of-4 for 149 yards passing on the year.

•   DE Tramel Logan returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown, marking his third defensive touchdown of the season (two fumble returns, one interception) to tie Trae Williams (3, in 2007) for the most defensive touchdowns in a season in program history.

UP NEXT

USF welcomed 25 new Bulls on the first day of the NCAA Early Signing period in the top class in The American and among non-autonomous "power" programs on Wednesday. The Bulls will begin spring practice in March.

Season tickets • Single-game tickets • Group tickets (10+): call 1-800-GoBulls

ABOUT USF FOOTBALL

The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 26th season in 2022 while completing construction on a new $22 million Indoor Performance Facility. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections, including 2021 consensus All-American kick returner Brian Battie, and had 32 first-team all-conference selections. USF has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft and has made 10 bowl game appearances (going 6-4 in those games), posting a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010 and most recently making four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18. The Bulls posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season. 

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UTSA: 2023 Frisco Bowl Champions

Owen McCown completed 22 of 31 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns, and UTSA earned the first bowl victory in program history by beating Marshall 35-17 in the Frisco Bowl on Tuesday night in Frisco, Texas.

McCown, a redshirt freshman and the son of longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown, got the starting nod because decorated starter Frank Harris sustained a shoulder fracture on Nov. 24 – an injury that was revealed just hours before kickoff Tuesday.

Joshua Cephus hauled in seven receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Roadrunners (9-4). Robert Henry ran for two touchdowns and 37 of UTSA’s 135 rushing yards.

Marshall quarterback Cole Pennington, son of program legend Chad Pennington, completed 15 of 33 passes for 258 yards. Rasheen Ali gained 92 yards and a touchdown on nine carries for Marshall (6-7).

Pennington was shaken up on a big third-down sack during the fourth quarter, with Marshall trailing 28-17. Colin Parachek relieved Pennington on a fourth-and-14 attempt and threw to his left, where Kam Alexander made a leaping interception and returned it 57 yards to the Marshall 17-yard line.

Rocko Griffin stormed into the end zone on the next play to put UTSA up 35-17 with 8:39 to go.

Mike Green had two of the Marshall defense’s six sacks, and Micah Abraham and Eli Neal intercepted McCown during the first quarter.

While McCown took his lumps early, Marshall jumped out to a 14-0 lead.

Ethan Payne scored on a 1-yard rush following McCown’s second pick for the first points of the game. Ali burst away for a 64-yard touchdown sprint on the first play of the second quarter to make it 14-0.

Henry responded for UTSA with a 3-yard scoring run on the next drive. Then, Cephus caught a pass in the right flat and navigated the right sideline for a 44-yard touchdown to tie the game with 8:53 left in the half.

After Rece Verhoff put Marshall ahead with a 44-yard field goal, UTSA conducted a 13-play, 75-yard drive to take a 21-17 lead just before halftime. Henry’s 1-yard rushing score capped off the march.

With 4:49 remaining in the third quarter, McCown used play action to reach David Amador II on his left, and the freshman receiver took it 19 yards to the end zone for his first career touchdown and a 28-17 advantage.

–Field Level Media

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Star Rail Misadventures, 2024 Edition

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The Misadventures, 2024 Edition

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Genshin Misadventures, 2024 Edition

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FFXIV/Genshin Impact: Lamentation et Triomphe

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Keiser: 2023 NAIA Football National Champions

DURHAM, N.C. — Keiser (Fla.) used a dominating run game and a stifling defense to claim its first NAIA Football Championship Series title, ending a 27-game win streak by Northwestern (Iowa).

The Seahawks amassed 373 yards on the ground led by Most Outstanding Player Jaden Meizinger's 261 on 22 carries with a touchdown in a 31-21 win over the Red Raiders.

Meizinger broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run right up the middle on the first play from scrimmage to set the tone for Keiser. Nico Cavanillas pushed the lead to 10 with 7:00 left in the second with a 31-yard field goal at the end of a nine-play, 66 yard drive that ate up over six minutes of the quarter with 41 yards coming on seven running plays.

"We worked so hard and I really can't explain it," said Meizinger. "We're just a bunch of underdogs and are really resistant."

The Seahawk defense added a takeaway at the 6:15 mark of the second with a strip sack of Jalyn Gramstad at the 14-yard line, which was punched into the endzone by Andrew Burnette four plays later.

"These kids have done such a great job," said coach Doug Socha. "We have a saying 'ride the wave' and they did it through all the momentum swings."

Gramstad and the Red Raiders took advantage of a Kylar Fritz interception at the Keiser 45 with 1:43 left in the second quarter with a six-play drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown pass to Austyn Gerard with 29 seconds left in the half.

Northwestern was held to 26 rushing yards gained on 14 attempts in the first half which netted -13 yards due to sacks. An offense that racked up the most first downs in the NAIA this season was held to just eight in the first half and 118 total yards with over a third coming on the final drive.

Clayton Bosma came away with an interception in the end zone on Keiser's first possession of the second half and the Red Raiders followed it up with their biggest play of the game, a 39-yard completion from Gramstad to Michael Story. The drive didn't result in points, but Eli Stader's 38-yard punt was downed at the Keiser 1-yard line.

Story had a game-high 121 receiving yards on six catches.

Meizinger got the Seahawks out of the shadow of their own goalpost with a 53-yard run on first down. Four plays later, it was Justin Wake making his first start at quarterback, finding Maurico Porcha for a 30-yard touchdown to go up 24-7 with 5:17 left in the third.

Wake finished 10-of-15 passing for 117 yards. Porcha was the top receiver with 45 yards on two catches.

The Red Raiders attempted to rally in the final frame on Gramstad's second touchdown of the game, a 53-yard strike to Konner McQuillan with 10:54 left to make it 24-14 with 10:54 left. The Red Raiders then recovered an onside kick and seven plays later, McQuillan scored from two yards out to get within a field goal with 7:06 left.

Keiser ended the thoughts of a Northwestern comeback with a 77-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Louis Lubin III. Lubin III also had an interception in the endzone at the 5:02 mark of the final frame to help secure the win.

Gramstad was 15-of-34 through the air for 287 yards and was the leading rusher for Northwestern with 47 yards, but was sacked four times.

"Our guys don't flinch, our coaches did a great job, but most important our players stayed calm and found a way," said Socha.   

Maddox Aprile was the Most Outstanding Defensive Player with a solo sack and two assisted sacks among his six total stops.

Western Kentucky: 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl Champions

When you pull off the fourth-largest comeback in bowl history, you have to find the perfect celebration to match it.

Western Kentucky trailed Old Dominion 28-0 in the second quarter of the Famous Toastery Bowl in Charlotte on Monday, but a 28-7 run sent the game to overtime, where the Hilltoppers ultimately won on a walk-off field goal.

With plenty of toast on hand thanks to the game’s sponsor, the players had a creative way to celebrate the unlikely, come-from-behind victory. While some threw bread in the air like graduation caps, others engaged in the new art of making toast angels.

That’s right — toast angels.

The Hilltoppers finished the season 8-5 with the comeback win, which was completed without star quarterback Austin Reed, who opted out of the game. Third-stringer Caden Veltkamp ultimately had to take the reigns, and his 383-yard, five-touchdown performance was enough to pull off one of the wildest wins we’re likely to see in bowl season.

Texas Tech: 2023 Independence Bowl Champions

SHREVEPORT, La. ― The Texas Tech football team ended with a bowl victory for the third year in a row, beating California 34-14 Saturday night at the Independence Bowl.

Behren Morton threw three first-half touchdown passes and Gino Garcia kicked a 25-yard field goal as Tech built a 24-14 lead by halftime. Tahj Brooks, who recently announced he will stay with the team for 2024 on the Covid-bonus year, tacked on a 7-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Tech finished 7-6, winning for the fourth time in five games since a 3-5 start. The Red Raiders snapped a three-game win streak by Cal (6-7), which became bowl eligible by winning its last three games of the regular season.

The Golden Bears led 7-0 after Tech's Drae McCray fumbled the opening kickoff and Fernando Mendoza flicked a 25-yard touchdown pass to Monroe Young, a brother of Red Raiders' tight end-linebacker Matthew Young. On its next possession, Cal went 79 yards to reach the Tech 5-yard line, but linebacker Ben Roberts threw Jaydn Ott for a loss on fourth-and-2.

Morton threw touchdown passes on Tech's next three possessions, to Coy Eakin for 27 yards, Mason Tharp for 15 yards and Loic Fouonji for 14 yards.

Here's the Red Raiders' report card.

Offense: A

This becomes Behren Morton's team in 2024, and he showed what that could look like with a sharp performance. Coy Eakin had a career high in receiving yards, and Eakin, Mason Tharp and Loic Fouonji pitched in with touchdown catches.

Defense: B

Any team's first order of business facing Cal is to contain Pac-12 rushing leader Jaydn Ott. The Red Raiders held the FBS's seventh-leading rusher to 42 yards through three quarters and foiled him twice on fourth down in Tech territory.

Special Teams: B

Tech ostensibly spotted Cal the game's first touchdown with Drae McCray's fumble on the opening kickoff. Xavier White set up a touchdown with a 24-yard punt return, and Austin McNamara pinned the Golden Bears at their 15-yard line or inside three times.

Coaching: A

Golden Bears wobbled the Red Raiders with a first-play touchdown and another long drive on its second possession. Whatever Joey McGuire's staff said worked, because the Red Raiders kept their poise and answered with authority.

Overall: A

Any bowl victory over a team from a power-five conference is a good victory. Can the Red Raiders use it as a springboard for a more satisfying 2024 season than their disappointing follow-up to last year's Texas Bowl triumph?

UCLA: 2023 LA Bowl Champions

 

UCLA defeating Boise State in the LA Bowl was not just another win but maybe the hope the fanbase needed.

The UCLA fan base was for the most part not very thrilled with how the season ended. Yes, the Bruins defeated USC but they lost three of their last four regular season games and many alums and fans wanted a coaching change. However, the LA Bowl may have changed many fans minds and optimism and excitement may be back in Westwood.

To top things off, the UCLA basketball team lost another marquee game to Ohio State today. Then, the football team was down by double digits at the half. December 16th was not looking like a good day for Bruin fans but one individual would end up putting a smile on many UCLA fans faces with a remarkable second half performance.

Statically speaking, starting quarterback Colin Schlee was 11 for 16 for 78 yards and a touchdown completion. He also ran the ball seven times for 127 yards as well. However, Garbers came into the game in the third quarter and completed eight for eight passes for 112 yards and threw a touchdown. He also due to his accurate passing, opened up the UCLA running game allowing TJ Harden to run for two second-half touchdowns. Also, the Bruins' defense stepped up big time in the second half.

The Bruins defense did not have a great first half as the Broncos did not punt the ball one time prior to half time. In four possessions, Boise State had three field goals and a touchdown. In the second half, UCLA's defense really stepped up their game. The first four offensive possessions of the second half for Boise State lead to four straight punts. On their fifth offensive possession, Alex Johnson intercepted a pass by Broncos quarterback CJ Tiller that would lead to an UCLA touchdown on the following possession. It wasn't until late in the fourth quarter that Boise State would score again.

Garbers threw a 40 yard touchdown pass to J. Michael Sturdivant to give the Bruins a 35-16 lead. After a Boise State touchdown to cut the lead to 13, Garbers ran for 20 yards on a third and sixteen to put the icying on the cake to ensure a UCLA victory. The win for UCLA was needed as the Bruin fanbase has not had much to cheer for since the USC win.

The win for UCLA gives the Bruins their 8th win of season and winning the LA Bowl was a great way to give the seniors a lasting memory of winning their last game in a UCLA uniform.