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South Florida: 2024 Hawaii Bowl Champions
In the absence of NFL, NBA, NHL, and college basketball, the 2024 Hawaii Bowl was thrust into the thick of the sports spotlight on Christmas Eve. Not only did the matchup between South Florida and San Jose State revel in that spotlight — it did so in historic fashion.
South Florida and San Jose State strung together the longest bowl game in college football history by sheer number of periods needed to decide a winner. It took five overtimes before the Bulls prevailed 41-39 over the Spartans in Honolulu to earn the right to be called the 2024 Hawaii Bowl champions.
Overtime would have never happened in the first place if not for a fortuitous bounce off the goalpost where South Florida kicker John Cannon doinked in a 41-yard field goal attempt with two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. That set up a war of attrition where neither team could gain an edge over the other until several rounds of a 2-point shootout passed. South Florida struck with a touchdown in first overtime, and San Jose State matched to keep it at 34 apiece. In second overtime, both teams nailed short field goals to extend the game into the 2-point shootout.
Third overtime is when the chaos was fully unleashed. After South Florida made its 2-point attempt, San Jose State answered but its successful conversion was nullified by a holding penalty to move back to the 13-yard line. However, the Bulls regifted the Spartans advantageous field position thanks to a pass interference penalty, and San Jose State capitalized with a conversion from the 2-yard line.
San Jose State and South Florida failed their attempts in fourth overtime, extending the game into a fifth overtime — becoming just the fourth game since the overtime rules changed in 2019 to tack on five extra periods (2019 Virginia Tech-North Carolina, 2021 Illinois-Penn State, and 2024 Georgia-Georgia Tech). In that fifth and final period, South Florida quarterback Bryce Archie connected with Keshaun Singleton to hand the Bulls a 41-39 advantage. San Jose State looked to respond as quarterback Walker Eget backpedaled while targeting wide receiver Justin Lockhart. Thanks to South Florida’s backfield pressure, the throw landed short and middle linebacker Mac Harris broke it up to usher in a thrilling victory.
The path from regulation to a quintuple overtime affair was anything but linear. South Florida took full command of the first half, opening its lead to as large as 21-7. One instrumental first quarter play that set the tone was a San Jose State fumble on the 1-yard line which was originally ruled a touchdown, but overturned to a touchback in favor of the Bulls. South Florida capitalized with an 80-yard drive, finishing in the end zone with Nay’Quan Wright to strike first in Honolulu.
An interception by Tavin Ward returned to the San Jose State 16-yard line perfectly positioned the Bulls for a 14-0 advantage. Five plays after the critical takeaway, South Florida sixth-year senior running back Kelley Joiner cashed in for his 16th and final rushing touchdown of a lengthy career in Tampa.
San Jose State dug its way out of the 14-0 hole with a Floyd Chalk Jr. rushing touchdown, but the Bulls instantly responded as Ta’Ron Keith raced 93 yards to the end zone on the ensuing kickoff. The tide didn’t begin to turn in San Jose State’s favor until a pair of Kyler Halvorsen field goals cut the deficit to 21-13 by the mid-third quarter.
The Spartans inched within one point on a Walker Eget passing touchdown and then rewrote the score to 27-24 lead with 11 minutes remaining on a Lamar Radcliffe rushing touchdown, assisted by an interception credited to inside linebacker Noah McNeal-Franklin.
South Florida watched its 14-point cushion dwindle into a deficit mainly due to offensive futility. The Bulls gained a collective nine yards on their first four drives of the fourth quarter, with none of those four series lasting more than four plays. They were subject to five three-and-outs overall, but remained in the game due to consistent stops generated by the defense. The most essentially stop transpired after the 2-minute timeout when Michael Williams II stuffed a Chalk run on 3rd and 1. San Jose State opted to punt rather than risk a 4th and 1 from its own 14, where converting would have sealed the victory.
A stellar return from super senior wide receiver Sean Atkins (11 receptions, 104 yards on the night) brought the ball to midfield and Archie did the rest, guiding the Bulls down to the Spartan 23 with six seconds remaining. Then on his 41-yard attempt, Cannon received an early Christmas present from the goalpost just a few hours early on Dec. 24, as the ball ricocheted off the right crossbar and through the uprights to force overtime, where South Florida prevailed after five periods.
San Jose State dropped to 7-6, while South Florida improved to 7-6 after securing its fifth win in its last seven contests in the historic Hawaii Bowl. The Bulls clinched back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2017 and 2018 and consecutive bowl wins for the first time since 2016 and 2017. Some bowl games are more memorable than others though, and this 5-overtime barnburner was a piece of history to all who participated and to all who watched.
Northern Illinois: 2024 Idaho Potato Bowl Champions
BOISE, Idaho -- — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl.
Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season.
Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game.
Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime.
Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown.
Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season.
Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters.
UTSA: 2024 Myrtle Beach Bowl Champions
CONWAY, S.C. -- — Owen McCown threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and UTSA scored the opening 27 points of the Myrtle Beach Bowl to cruise past short-handed Coastal Carolina 44-15 on Monday.
UTSA (7-6) broke away in the second quarter by scoring a touchdown on three straight drives for a 21-0 lead. McCown was 14 of 17 in the first half, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer. McCown also scored on a 35-yard run after breaking two tackles near the end zone. The other score was a 9-yard touchdown run by Brandon High.
Coastal Carolina (6-7) finished the first half with just 140 total yards — 60 coming on the final drive. The Chanticleers punted on five straight drives to begin the game — with the longest possession lasting seven plays for 25 yards.
UTSA added short field goals on its opening two drives of the second half, while Coastal Carolina started with two straight three-and-out drives. UTSA ended CCU’s third drive on Jakevian Rodgers’ first career interception to extend the program's single-game streak with an interception and a sack to 23 games.
CCU’s first touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Bryson Graves caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tad Hudson. But UTSA’s Chris Carpenter returned the ensuing kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown to make it 34-7.
It was the largest margin of victory in the five-year history of the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
MISSING KEY PLAYERS
Hudson, a third-string quarterback, made his first career start for Coastal Carolina, which was without starter Ethan Vasko and backup Noah Kim. Vasko and Kim combined for 2,353 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. Hudson was 17 of 26 for 173 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
UTSA rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns despite being without its top rushers Robert Henry, who entered with a team-high 130 carries for 107 yards and seven touchdowns. McCown, High and Will Henderson III each had a rushing touchdown.
Ferris State: 2024 NCAA Division II Football National Champions
Ferris State joined an elite group of NCAA Division II football dynasties on Saturday, blasting Valdosta State, 49-14, for its third national championship in four seasons.
Trinidad Chambliss signaled the rout early with a nimble 43-yard run on the Bulldogs’ first play from scrimmage, then finished with 153 yards and three touchdowns passing and 78 yards (on 13 carries) and two touchdowns rushing as Ferris State hoisted the NCAA trophy at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas, for the third time, following back-to-back titles in 2021-22.
Tony Annese’s group is just the fifth program (since Division II began in 1973) with at least three titles in four seasons, following Northwest Missouri State (2013, ’15, ’16), Grand Valley State (2002, ’03, ’05, ’06), North Alabama (1993, ’94, ’95) and North Dakota State (1983, ’85, ’86, ’88).
Trophy time for Ferris State
The 2024 title comes after Ferris State lost its season opener, 19-3, to Pittsburg (Kan.) State. Since then, the Bulldogs have won 14 straight games, knocking off Division II's only remaining unbeaten team to get there.
Following chants from his players of “All day!” Annese received the trophy amid a sea of red and yellow confetti.
“This team just keeps on working," Annese said during the trophy presentation ceremony shown online by ESPN. "They’re definitely a team that knows what it takes to be great and pursue greatness every day. We lost our first game, we just kept on pursuing greatness and, at the end, this is what happens.”
Chambliss finished 11-for-20 passing, and his five total TDs gave him 51 on the season — 26 passing, 25 rushing.
"He’s such a great young man, so it’s awesome to coach him," Annese said. "I’m really tough on him. He said after he came off, the last thing was, ‘Man, love you coach, but you’re tough on me.’ So I, uh, expect perfection — he’s never gonna be perfect, but he’s close to it.”
During the trophy presentation, Chambliss shared credit with his teammates.
“Man, this team’s special, man," the Grand Rapids native said. "Ever since summer workouts, in August, and they doubted us. Vs. Pitt State — after Pitt State, everyone doubted us, and this team’s so special, I couldn’t be more proud of ’em.”
Chambliss shared the rushing load Saturday with Kannon Katzer. The former Washington State back rushed 14 times for 97 yards and added a touchdown catch for 30 yards.
“I got trust in these guys, they got trust in me," Chambliss said. "You know, this is the best team in the nation for a reason, they just work so hard in the offseason — any workout, they were there, man, so we just work hard and we’re a great team, so I’m just so proud.”
Plenty of misdirection early
Chambliss, who finished third in voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy (D-II’s version of the Heisman Trophy), ignited the Ferris State attack with a 43-yard run up the left sideline after faking a pass to the far right side. The Bulldogs used the threat of the pass frequently to set up the run and had few issues moving the ball on the ground in the first quarter, racking up 86 yards on 10 runs in their first 11 plays.
Then, with a little under four minutes left in the first quarter, Ferris flipped the script. After a pair of RPO handoffs to sprinting slot receiver Emari O’Brien picked up 15 yards, the Bulldogs used their third play of the drive on another wide receiver run, as Chambliss handed off to wideout Brady Rose. Except this time, the former high school quarterback (at Muskegon Mona Shores) ran to the right side, planted his feet and lofted a deep ball that Cam Underwood was able to run underneath and rumble into the end zone for a 61-yard score.
On Ferris’ next drive, the Bulldogs again used the run to set up the pass, as an apparent option run by Chambliss to the left became a short lob pass to running back Kannon Katzer — the lead blocker on the play — for a 30-yard TD to give the Bulldogs a 21-0 lead with 12:39 left in the first half.Costly penalties
After the Bulldogs grabbed their early lead, the Blazers regrouped with a pair of stops, sandwiched around a touchdown drive aided by an offsides call on Ferris State defensive lineman Deron Irving-Bey (formerly of Michigan and Central Michigan) on fourth-and-1.
Valdosta State returned the favor on the final drive of the first half, extending the Bulldogs’ run with an offsides wiping out a punt and then a facemask grab for 15 yards on an apparent third-down stop. Four plays later, on fourth-and-5 with 15 seconds left, Chambliss found O’Brien uncovered on the left side on a crossing route, and the Detroit native went 30 yards untouched to the end zone as time expired, for a 28-7 Ferris lead.
Familiar faces
Saturday’s victory was also Ferris’ second title win against Valdosta State, with the Bulldogs topping the Blazers, 58-17, in the 2021 title game. That followed a 49-47 Valdosta win (featuring a failed 2-point conversion by Ferris State late) in the 2018 championship.
Ferris State has won nine straight postseason games with Annese on the sidelines. The Bulldogs' only NCAA playoff loss in the past four seasons came last year, a first-round defeat at the hands of rival Grand Valley State in which Annese was suspended by the NCAA for the Bulldogs' cigar-smoking celebration following their 2022 title game win over Colorado School of Mines in McKinney.
Contact Ryan Ford atrford@freepress.com. Follow him on X at@theford or on Bluesky at @theford.bsky.social .
Grand View: 2024 NAIA Football National Champions
DURHAM, N.C. - Second seeded Grand View (Iowa) claimed the 69th Annual NAIA Football National Championship with a 35-7 victory over No. 1 Keiser (Fla.) Saturday afternoon at Durham County Memorial Stadium, dominating the game from start to finish and claiming the program’s second national title 11 years to the date of its first.
This battle of undefeated teams began with a methodical drive from the Vikings, highlighted by a big fourth down pickup when Jackson Waring found Lance Clayburg in the flats who muscled his way for a gain of 19 to get into the red zone. Two plays later, Waring battled through multiple defenders to get inches from the goal line before a clutch punch out from KU defensive back CJ Gilmore knocked the ball free and Hunter Hargrave recovered on the one yard line.
In the shadows of their own goal line, Shea Spencer dropped a 31 yard dime to Refeno Vangates to get some breathing room, but Grand View battened down the hatches to force the punt.
The Vikings went back to work offensively on an eight-play, 63-yard drive capped off with a 14-yard dart from Waring to Aisea Toki on a post route into the back of the end zone to take a 7-0 lead 4:40 to play in the first. It was Toki’s seventh touchdown reception of the season and the 22nd touchdown pass for the NAIA Player of the Year.
Keiser's Andrew Burnette broke off a 28-yard run to break into Grand View territory and eventually set up a fourth down decision from AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year Myles Russ who called Burnette’s number again. The third team All-American running back picked it up easily with a seven yard carry up the gut. However, the Vikings stood tall again at the start of the second quarter as the Iowa-based side found their goal line stand and forced a turnover on downs on the five-yard-line.
Waring showed the dual-threat nature again, breaking off a 53-yard carry to hit 100 yards on the ground on just seven carries for the Grand View signal caller. On second and 19, Waring dropped it into the bucket of Toki again with a 22-yard seam route for their second six-point connection of the day to end a 95-yard drive and take a two-score lead just under 20 minutes into the game.
The Vikings forced a three-and-out on the Seahawks, but the Keiser defense answered the call, capitalizing on a couple of false starts to stall the drive out around midfield ahead of a brilliant punt from Kody Kruschwitz that was downed at the six.
Spencer escaped the deep danger again with a sideline fade for 30 yards to Elisha Edwards, but once again the Vikings forced a turnover-on-downs as Aaron Brown and Dane Johnson led the charge stopping the fourth-down quarterback sneak to take possession on the positive side of the field for the first time of the day at the two minute timeout.
Waring led a clinical drive with the short field and time winding down in the opening half before finding Triston Williams on the post route for a 19 yard touchdown strike. Justyn Hamm cashed in the extra point for the third time in as many tries with 1:05 to go. Waring closed the first half with 111 passing and 148 rushing yards, becoming the first player since Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Patrick Crayton (2003) to eclipse the century mark in both categories in the national title game.
With one minute left in the half and getting the ball back to start the second half, Keiser took advantage of the essential double possession as Spencer threw a beautiful pass with a stunning grab by Maurico Porcha to gain 35 before linking up with the third year wideout on a 26 yard strike across the middle for his eighth receiving touchdown of the season to start climbing the mountain with a 21-7 score line at half.
The adjustments made by Grand View Head Coach Joe Woodley, who was the defensive coordinator last time the Vikings stood tall over the NAIA, were extremely effective and its evidence bloomed early. The Seahawks turned to Burnette to start the second half and the running back opened it with a bang with a 20-yard rush, but the drive stalled out before the defense responded with holding the Vikings to just 30 yards on eight plays. A 55 yard punt from Kody Kruschwitz was downed at the two to again put Keiser in poor field position.
Following another KU three-and-out, Grand View started its second drive in Seahawk territory and called four straight run plays before Waring scrambled and linked up with Corey Phillips in the corner of the end zone for his fourth passing touchdown of the afternoon and Phillips’ fourth receiving score of the year, on a 20 yard completion.
Keiser gutsily went for it on fourth-and-one from their own 19 yard line and went to Burnette again with a 13 yard carry to pick up a fresh set of downs before Spencer scampered for 11 yards himself to get into GVU territory. Spencer scrambled to convert another fourth down just across midfield. Three plays later, the Seahawks were faced with another fourth down and a massive pass break up from Prince Brown forced the third turnover on downs of the day for Keiser. It was Brown’s ninth pass breakup of the season.
The Seahawk defense answered the call with a three-and-out of their own to get the ball back into their offense’s hands but a couple of deep heaves narrowly misconnected, setting the Seahawks up with their sixth fourth down conversion attempt of the day. A check down pass to Jaden Meizinger moved the chains. On second-and-four from the 18, Kellen Moore stayed disciplined in the play action and picked off Spencer in the end zone before returning it 20 yards.
With time and the score on their side, Grand View relied again on the run game and let Dalten Van Pelt feast, giving the running back seven carries in which he picked up 54 yards capped off with an 11 yard rush to the pylon to put a bow on the national title. The run put him over 100 yards rushing, marking the first time in NAIA history that a team has had two centurion rushers in the championship game.
Spencer put together a nice drive to try to get a consolation touchdown, but the Grand View defense stood tall once more to hold Keiser scoreless in a half for the first time since Oct. 7, 2023.
Following the game, Waring was named the Offensive Player and Jackson Filer the Defensive Player of the Game. Waring ended the game with 203 yards rushing, 132 yards passing and four touchdowns. Filer concluded with eight tackles with four solos and a hurry on a defense that held Keiser to just one third down conversion on 13 attempts and allowed zero points on three Seahawk trips to the red zone.
For Grand View, Van Pelt ended the game with 107 yards rushing and a score. John Argo had nine tackles with six solos and a pass breakup.
On Keiser's side, Shea Spencer had 277 yards on 22 completions and a touchdown. Porscha led all pass catchers with 102 yards receiving and Brunette finished with 85 yards on the ground. Evan Jackson led all defenders in the game with 13 tackles with 12 solo; Tristan Vann added eight tackles with seven solos.
The game snapped a 23-game win streak for last season’s champion Keiser. The result also avenged a 2022 semifinal matchup for Vikings in which Keiser went to Iowa and picked up the road win 38-21.
Grand View is now 52-3 dating back to the beginning of the 2021 season. Grand View adds the 2024 Red Banner to the 2013 title in which the Vikings defeated Cumberlands (Ky.) 35-23.
Florida: 2024 Gasparilla Bowl Champions
TAMPA, Fla. — At the end of an oftentimes turbulent season and a game with its share of yawns, the Gators did what winning bowl teams do.
They danced and laughed and took silly photos together. They clutched the Gasparilla Bowl trophy and paraded around the field at Raymond James Stadium, relishing Friday's 33-8 victory over Tulane.
Florida's first bowl victory in five seasons was far from a masterpiece, but that had little significance to the players and coaches celebrating the final moments of a long and trying season.
"Great to finish the right way,'' head coach Billy Napier said.
The Gators, after a pair of blowout losses to Miami and Texas A&M early in the season, after Napier's future in charge of the program was in question, after losing several key players to season-ending injuries, after not becoming bowl-eligible until the next-to-last game of the regular season, finished the season on a four-game winning streak and a healthy dose of momentum heading into 2025.
Florida's season featured more zigzags than anything the players rode at Busch Gardens earlier in the week. And Fridays' thumping of the Green Wave was no different.
Two moments stood above all others in the end. Both featured 6-foot-5, 449-pound senior defensive lineman Desmond Watson, who grew up a short drive from downtown Tampa and played at nearby Armwood High School. The first came in the first quarter when Watson stopped Tulane quarterback Ty Thompson on a third-and-2 play at UF's 48. Watson didn't just stop Thompson short of the first down; he bear-hugged him and lifted him three feet off the ground as officials blew their whistles. He turned the 6-foot-4, 224-pound Thompson into a rag doll.
The second play that had people talking about Watson afterward — and earned him a highlight on ESPN's "SportsCenter" — happened on third-and-1 from Tulane's 26-yard line late in the fourth quarter as Florida attempted to run out the clock. Napier inserted Watson into the game at running back as part of what the Gators call the "Hawk Package," a nod to Armwood High's mascot.
"Been thinking about it the whole year," Napier said. "And Des has played really good. Bowl games, you're looking for buttons to push. I think this one helped our team. You saw that sideline light up when he went out there. A lot of fun, and he did a great job. I think the guys rallied around him."
Watson took the handoff from backup quarterback Aidan Warner and rumbled for a first down to the delight of the prominent Orange & Blue faithful among the announced crowd of 41,472. Watson stayed in on the next play to serve as lead blocker for walk-on running back Anthony Rubio, the son of Florida senator Marco Rubio.
The party had officially started with the Gators on their way to a final touchdown scored on a 9-yard run by Rubio, a walk-on who rushed six times for 32 yards in his memorable bowl debut. Watson grinned ear to ear when discussing his turn in the spotlight.
"It was great,'' he said. "Since I came to college, every time I go on the internet, I see somebody say I should be in some type of package to get the ball, especially since I wear No. 21, a running back number. I never really looked too much into it. I never went to Coach Napier about it. But I feel like he's seen it, too. It was a great moment to finish off my career as a Florida Gator."
Watson even did a Heisman pose when he returned to the sideline.
"They were begging me to do it," he said.
Watson is part of a senior class that had not tasted victory in a bowl game until Friday. He is a rarity in today's landscape, playing as a true freshman in 2021 and spending all four seasons at one school.
Watson said he had 20 friends and family at the game and, more than anything else, wanted to leave the field as a winner in his final game.
"That was the biggest thing for me, being here all four years, that was a great way to finish it,'' Watson said. "I feel like the season we had, it set the floor for the young guys. I say the floor because we always feel like we need to get better. If things go the way they should go, I feel like I'm part of the reason and helped the team."
While Watson's show-stopping moments highlighted the victory, Gators true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway (22 of 35, 305 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) earned MVP honors. Lagway tossed a 7-yard touchdown to tight end Tony Livingston late in the third quarter to overcome a pair of first-half interceptions that cost the Gators in the red zone.
Lagway finished 6-1 as Florida's starting quarterback and was undefeated in games he started and finished. His only loss came to Georgia when he left the game in the second quarter with the Gators leading because of a hamstring injury. Lagway is still not 100 percent, but he and kicker Trey Smack (four field goals) provided enough offense for the Gators to turn back the Green Wave handily.
But he was not satisfied.
"It's a bad taste in my mouth, that performance,'' Lagway said. "I was just playing bad football, not taking care of the football. Seeing plays that I thought I could make and just forcing it."
Lagway's two interceptions, one a pass into coverage in the end zone, became a nonfactor thanks to another strong defensive performance. Despite missing starting defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Cam Jackson to injuries and edge rusher T.J. Searcy absent after he entered the transfer portal, the Gators recorded three interceptions, stopped Tulane on fourth down three times, and limited the Green Wave to a season-low 194 yards.
"We were sloppy early,'' Napier said. "We were a little rusty on offense. We could have had control of the game earlier if we played cleaner on offense. You're going to have days like that. That's why you play complementary ball.
"One of the reasons we've been able to turn it around is we've played really good defense. Today was no different. We stopped the run. We made them one-dimensional. We kept the shots in front of us. We did a good job of tackling on the perimeter."
Smack scored the early points, Lagway was MVP, and the defense dominated. Those factors added to a winning recipe, as Florida finished 8-5 in its first winning season since 2020. With the victory, Napier climbed back to .500 (19-19) and boarded the bus back to Gainesville, eager to work on the future.
But before all that, he took part in the fun. He put in a running play for Watson that they created on the fly.
"I can do it all,'' Watson said.
"We literally put the play in on the field at practice,'' Napier said. "The guys were, 'Hey, give him the ball, Coach. Give him the ball.'
"Have you ever seen a 400-plus guy run the ball before?"
No, Coach, we have not. Refrigerator Perry was listed at only 335 pounds. But it was fun to watch, another memorable moment in a season full of plot twists.
Ohio: 2024 Cure Bowl Champions
ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio football program (11-3, 7-1 MAC) wrapped up their 2024 season at the StaffDNA Cure Bowl with a historic 30-27 victory over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (9-5, 7-1 CUSA) at Camping World Stadium Friday afternoon (Dec. 20). Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro's standout performance earned him game MVP accolades.
This win marks Ohio's first time in program history recording an 11-win season as well as the program's sixth-straight bowl victory, becoming the first Mid-American Conference program to win six-straight bowl games.
The win also marked head coach Brian Smith's first win at the helm of the Bobcats.
The offense saw multiple individual records set, led by graduate student wide receiver Coleman Owen (Gilbert, Ariz.), becoming the Bobcats' all-time single-season receiving yards leader (1,216). Additionally, Navarro (Tempe, Ariz.) became the second quarterback in program history to log over 1,000 rushing yards in a single season (1,062), an accomplishment an Ohio quarterback hasn't claimed since Kareem Wilson (1996, 1,072 yds). Notably, he is the second Bobcat to run for over 1,000 yards this season, joining graduate student running back Anthony Tyus III (Portage, Mich.), and he is the first quarterback in program history to record over 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season.
Navarro finished the game 19-for-28 with one touchdown on 227 yards in the air. On the ground, Navarro logged all three of the Bobcats' rushing touchdowns on 15 carries and 119 yards. Navarro's four total touchdowns tied a Cure Bowl record for touchdowns in a game. Tyus led the rushers with 123 yards on 26 touches. He also snagged Ohio's lone receiving touchdown of the game, logging three receptions on 34 yards.
In the air, Owen finished the game with 11 catches for 111 yards, while Tyus added his three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman tight end Mason Williams (Mogadore, Ohio) added one catch for 18 yards.
Defensively, the Bobcats held a Jax State squad who averaged 267.3 this season on the ground to 40 total rushing yards.
Graduate student linebacker Blake Leake (Culpeper, Va.) finished with nine total tackles, .5 sacks for three yards and one interception for 17 yards. Senior cornerback Tank Pearson (Oxford, Miss.) finished with 11 tackles, while redshirt junior defensive end Bradley Weaver (Hilliard, Ohio) finished with five tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, .5 sacks and one fumble recovery.
Navarro struck late in the first quarter, wrapping up a seven-play, 79-yard drive with a 24-yard rushing touchdown. The quarterback logged his second rushing touchdown of the day the next drive, rushing up the middle eight yards into the end zone. The Gamecocks bounced back quickly, cutting Ohio's lead to 14-7 with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter with a 75-yard receiving touchdown.
Ohio's offense ended a 6:12 drive with Navarro's third rushing touchdown of the day, extending their lead to 20-7. After the following Jacksonville State drive ended in a failed field goal attempt, the Bobcats quickly extended their lead with an 11-yard pass to Tyus, marking the first passing touchdown of the game and Tyus' second on the season.
The Gamecocks scored the only touchdown of the third quarter, putting the score at 27-14 with 9:36 remaining in the quarter. Sophomore kicker Gianni Spetic (Chardon, Ohio) opened the fourth quarter with a 48-yard field goal, extending Ohio's lead to 16 points. Jacksonville State scored two more rushing touchdowns, cutting their deficit to just three points, but Ohio maintained possession for the final drive of the game, taking victory formation to solidify their 30-27 victory.
Eyyyy Luigi! What you do!?
I hear there's gonna be a documentary on the Luigi Mangione case. Hmph! An Academy Award sample plotline:
A stuffy, well-heeled Ivy grad who has everything for him decides to shock the world and assassinate a lynchpin of Big Health Insurance after being allegedly wronged. The man gets caught in a McDonald's while the snitcher gets nothing because she is nothing and that is something. The man faces the death penalty for committing a federal offense against humanity and sanity...only to be pardoned by two tall people: Donald Trump...and the real puppet-master of the Disjointed Provinces of America, Elon Musk. The man goes on to work in the Cabinet as an understudy of one RFK Jr. to Make America Healthy Again through drafting responsible health insurance provisions et al. Tough work, lots of work, big pay, good life, right?
But then it all comes crashing down when the snowflakes of the Democratic left come calling for the protagonist of this sordid story because they want to summon a blue wave in the 2026 midterms. Because in America, the loseurs will make life hell for the wieners and the wieners will always be hounded by the loseurs. This is American Way. Since 1776. A tradition that built America, and can destroy America. The film ends...when the protagonist is slowly brought into the death chamber in Huntsville, Texas by the tie down team, with his head shaven, and tattoos all over his scrawny body. He looks on slowly at the camera, and as he turns away, cut to black. Vine boom.
See this whole thing for what it truly is, you hopeless cravens on Facebook! This...is...
Sam Houston: 2024 New Orleans Bowl Champions
The unstoppable Sam Houston Bearkats met the immovable Georgia Southern Eagles in this year’s New Orleans Bowl. The Big Easy was anything but as these two teams threw haymakers back and forth at each other. This slug-it-out type of college football game, however, should come as no surprise to those familiar with the FCS style of play.
Sam Houston Georgia Southern
Kats Have Claws
The best way to describe the first quarter is total Sam Houston domination. As Last Word On Sports discussed earlier this week, the transfers remaining made a world of difference. Even with this being their last game under the Bearkats banner, these players were giving it their all.
Whether it was penalties or a tenacious Sam Houston defense, the Eagles couldn’t get anything going in the first fifteen minutes. JC French’s very first play of the game was snatched out of the air by Jaylon Jimmerson and ran back for an amazing pick-six.
Anyone who was doubting that Sam Houston could persevere without their head coach was, very quickly, forgotten.
Eagles Have Talons
Ryan Aplin’s team wasn’t ready to fly home just yet, though. After being pushed down, Georgia Southern got back up, dusted itself off, and knocked Sam Houston straight in the teeth. French, despite his early interceptions, showed why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the Sun Belt. Working in tandem with running back Jalen White, he led the Eagles on an eighty-yard drive down the field.
Indeed, the Bearkats defense was clearly caught off guard as the mobile quarterback kept bouncing back and forth between the lines. The opening minutes of the second quarter were everything the first quarter wasn’t. Despite some good effort, the Sam Houston defenders couldn’t keep up. A final pass to Josh Dallas put the Eagles on the board.
While the Georgia Southern offense was stumbling to success, the Eagles defense was putting the fear of God into the Sam Houston offense. Defenders and linebackers alike kept blasting through the Bearkats’ line. Hunter Watson stuck in the backfield, was their target each and every time. Each time Watson got back up, it was clear he never wanted to get hit like that again.
Clawing Back the New Orleans Bowl
A late Georgia Southern drive in the first half couldn’t close the gap fast enough, and the third quarter would open with a 21-10 lead for Sam Houston. That’s when the Eagles began clawing their way back into this bowl game.
A touchdown and field goal would bring that big lead down to just three points. Big hits began closing the walls on Watson and the Bearkats. Somehow, some way, their lead was disappearing. In the fourth quarter, Georgia Southern took as much time off the clock as they could. Yet, just as it had been all game, they couldn’t maintain the momentum.
French would throw his fifth interception of the night, Dallas fumbled a punt recovery, and then the Eagles followed this up with a personal foul and a targeting penalty. Despite a last-minute push, these mistakes held a Georgia Southern victory well out of reach.
The 2024 New Orleans Bowl: By The Numbers
At 31-26, the Bearkats walk out with the victory. Watson completed 23 out of 28 passes for 213 yards of offense. The leading rusher for the Bearkats is Jay Ducker with 26 total yards on the ground. Overall, Sam Houston comes away with 265 total yards of offense and 28 minutes of possession time.
Georgia Southern leaves the New Orleans Bowl with 393 total yards of offense and 31 minutes of possession time.
The Future of Sam Houston and Georgia Southern Football
Both teams have some big decisions to make in the future. The New Orleans Bowl may have been the end of Sam Houston’s football dominance- at least for now. With so many outgoing transfers, the Bearkats are in an uncomfortably similar position to the SEC’s Oklahoma Sooners right now. It’s not rebuild time just yet, but the success of 2024 will be difficult to recreate in 2025.
Georgia Southern, on the other hand, is looking to next year with hope. Unlike so many teams in college football, the Eagles are a cohesive unit. Perhaps it’s the FCS legacy, but this team is one that’s sticking together. As college football competition heats up, Georgia Southern and the Sun Belt’s 2025 season is looking to be the hottest yet.
A nightmare.
I had a nightmare this morning. I had someone from SPJA, possibly a higher-up, tell me that I had been banned from Anime Expo. First off, I'm retired from working as a volunteer for the show. Secondly, if I want to return to AX, it will be solely as a paid attendee. This guy tells me that allegedly in my 15 years of serving AX, I had consistently misled attendees to the wrong rooms and areas, something which I know I did not engage in in reality. If I knew where an event or panel was, I direct them, otherwise I redirect the guest to Information Services so that they will know. I also expect they read the program as preparation. Also in this nightmare, I climbed up a fence and jumped into a ditch...or so I thought. I was apparently saved and I was asked to be tested again, and this test involved me matching places with puzzle pieces, but in one section, when I was supposed to place map pieces, I ended up posting stickers of text abbreviations. The proctor said I was doing something bold...and then told me I was not following directions of this section and allowed me to redo, which I did, and then I ended up passing. So I was banned, then unbanned. However, I understand that if you are banned from AX, you are banned for life and can never return to the con. So I found this nightmare to be a complete mess and an utter joke, especially when technically I have nothing to do anymore with the show after serving 15 editions.
So this is what you call the holiday season, huh? I need a vacation.
Real Madrid: 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup Champions
Real Madrid 3-0 Pachuca
Goals: Kylian Mbappe (37), Rodrygo (53), Vinicius Jr (84 pen)
Real Madrid are the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™ champions after beating Pachuca 3-0 in Wednesday’s final.
Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr were on target for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who rounded off a superb year in style at Lusail Stadium.
Exactly two years after scoring a hat-trick at the same venue in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ final, Mbappe applied the finishing touch to a slick team move to put Madrid in front. Jude Bellingham played in Vinicius Jr, who produced some dazzling footwork to take the ball around Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno, before squaring for the Frenchman to slot into an empty net.
Pachuca had, in fact, started the game brightly and Luis Rodriguez fired an early warning shot, but Thibaut Courtois was equal to his powerful drive.
Madrid, however, gradually started to stamp their authority on the game and, after Mbappe put them ahead, the striker almost made it 2-0 when he rifled a 20-yard shot just past the post.
Madrid would double their advantage just after half-time, with Rodrygo curling home wonderful effort from the edge of the penalty area. There was a VAR review as Bellingham was standing in an offside position when Rodrygo took aim, but the referee judged he was not interfering.
Pachuca, to their credit, refused to buckle and captain Salomon Rondon saw a sweetly struck free-kick well saved by Courtois. The veteran striker then went even closer to reducing the deficit when his header went inches over the bar.
Madrid, however, put the game beyond doubt late in the piece. Vinicius – fresh from being named The Best FIFA Men’s Player on Tuesday night – converted an 84th-minute penalty to crown a dream trip to Qatar for the Brazilian.
Quotes
“I am very happy, it is natural. We did the things we prepared and this made the difference. Everyone played a good match, I am very happy. It was a match that in the middle of the season could have caused problems and instead we deservedly won it."
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach
"These two days have been incredible for me. Yesterday, I received the award for best player in the world – and today I came here and won and was named the best player of the match.”
Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid forward
"I've been following Vini since when he started in Brazil. We never played against each other in the professional league, only with youth teams. We've always talked about all the difficulties he had in the beginning. He is an example of resilience, for everything he went through, and now he has become the best player in the world. I’m always happy for my friend's achievements, especially after seeing his work every day.”
Rodrygo, Real Madrid forward
"We had our chances, but their efficiency was decisive. We had opportunities and couldn’t capitalise on them. Many young players gained their first international experience throughout the tournament. It was an amazing experience. Of course, we wanted to win the final, but the effort was outstanding."
Guillermo Almada, Pachuca coach
Award winners
Aramco Player of the Tournament: Vinicius Jr
adidas Golden Ball: Vinicius Jr
adidas Silver Ball: Federico Valverde
adidas Bronze Ball: Elias Montiel
UNLV: 2024 LA Bowl Champions
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The UNLV football team earned its first bowl victory since 2000, defeating Cal 24-13 in the LA Bowl on Wednesday at SoFi Stadium.
The Rebels (11-3) capped arguably the greatest season in program history and now head into the offseason under new coach Dan Mullen. Wide receivers coach Del Alexander served as the interim coach against Cal (6-7).
Freshman wide receiver Kayden McGee caught a 49-yard touchdown, the first of his career, in the first quarter, and senior wide receiver Jacob De Jesus had a 9-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter as UNLV took a 14-13 halftime lead.
De Jesus’ touchdown was set up by a spectacular 52-yard reception on a fake punt by senior defensive back Cameron Oliver.
Senior running back Kylin James scored on a 23-yard run in the third quarter to extend the lead to 21-13.
Freshman Caden Chittenden made a 48-yard field goal with 6:01 to play to give UNLV some breathing room at 24-13.
The Rebels’ last bowl win came against Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl in 2000.
James Madison: 2024 Boca Raton Bowl Champions
In an electrifying showdown at this year’s Boca Raton Bowl, the James Madison Dukes etched their name in history with their first-ever win at the event, defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 27-17. The thrilling matchup kept fans on the edge of their seats, culminating in a triumphant celebration for JMU.
Despite the setback of starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III not in action due to an injury sustained against Marshall, the Dukes were up to the challenge.
The JMU defense was very instrumental in the team’s success with three takeaways, which is the fifth time this season they’ve achieved that feat.
Wright, primarily known for his blocking, made his first catch of the season in spectacular fashion, fooling the defense with a perfectly executed fake.
The Dukes’ second-half surge started with wildcat quarterback JC Evans, who guided a 11-play, 71-yard drive. Evans completed it with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyi Wright, making it a 14-14 contest.
It was Gannon Weathersby’s third-quarter fumble recovery that marked a complete turn of events, stopping any momentum by Western Kentucky and allowing the Dukes to dominate through the second half.
Backup quarterback Billy Atkins, who had combined for just three pass attempts over the past two years, turned in the performance of a lifetime. Atkins’ fourth-quarter heroics included a 21-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Thompson that sealed the deal and gave the Dukes a decisive 24-17 lead.
This victory seals an amazing 9-4 season for the Dukes, who time and time again prove themselves in the biggest of games. The historic win solidifies James Madison’s football program as an emerging power. On the other hand, Western Kentucky closes out the season 8-6 and has gained important experience for the future.
While fans are celebrating JMU’s victory, speculation for next year’s Boca Raton Bowl is already starting to build. With the changes on the team, such as the new coaching staff and incoming transfers, could UCF qualify for the Boca Raton Bowl next year? Only time will tell, but for now, the stage belongs to the James Madison Dukes, who have claimed their place as the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl champions.
Memphis: 2024 Frisco Bowl Champions
On Tuesday night at Toyota Stadium, the No. 25 Memphis Tigers football team defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers, 42-37, to win the Frisco Bowl.
The Tigers finish the season with an 11-2 overall record. This team's accomplishments have been sensational. Their 11 victories are the second-most wins in a season in their program history.
The Tigers scored 21 of their 42 points in the second quarter. Tigers quarterback Seth Henigan was named the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl Offensive MVP after completing 18-of-26 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns.
Not only did Henigan torture the Mountaineers with his arms, but he did it with his legs as well. Hanigan rushed for 61 yards on eight carries.
Wide receiver Demeer Blankumsee led the team with 120 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Late in the second quarter, Blankumsee caught an 18-yard touchdown pass that put the Tigers up 28-14.
The Tigers led as many as 35-17 in this game. West Virginia didn’t quit. They scored 13 straight points. Every time the Tigers would score, the Mountaineers would answer back in the second half.
Both quarterbacks, Henigan and Garrett Greene traded explosive plays after explosive plays.
However, the Mountaineers ran out of time. The game ended pretty wild, with the officials ruling that Herring was sliding when he lost the ball, thus marking himself down after giving himself up.
Mountaineers finished the year with a 6-7 record. Greene went 29 of 40 completions with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 96 yards. His longest was a 56-yard play run.
Running back CJ Donaldson Jr rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Hudson Clement had 166 yards on 11 receptions with two touchdowns.
Henigan achieved an achievement in this game. He reached 14,000 career passing yards, moving him to No. 13 in NCAA history. He concluded his career with 14,266 yards.
South Alabama: 2024 Salute To Veterans Bowl Champions
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- — Bishop Davenport made his second start of the season and accounted for three touchdowns, Jeremiah Webb had six receptions for 182 yards and two TDs on Saturday night and South Alabama rallied to beat Western Michigan 30-23 at the Veterans Bowl.
South Alabama (7-6), under first-year head coach Major Applewhite, played in a bowl game for the third consecutive season.
Hayden Wolff threw a 7-yard TD pass to Anthony Sambucci to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive and trim Western Michigan’s deficit to 23-20 with 6:17 to play but Kentrel Bullock ran five times for 50 yards, including 22-yard scoring run, on the ensuing drive to make it a 10-point game with 2:42 left.
Bullock finished with 130 yards rushing on 17 carries. Davenport completed 15 of 24 for 271 yards and two touchdowns and added 85 yards rushing, including a 50-yard TD in the third quarter.
Quarterback Gio Lopez (turf toe) and wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett (opt out) did not play for South Alabama. Pritchett led the Sun Belt Conference in receptions (91), receiving yards (1,127) and touchdown catches (9).
Jalen Buckley scored on a 1-yard run and Luka Zurak kicked a 37-yard field goal 10 seconds into the second to give the Broncos (6-7) a 10-0 lead.
After a Broncos three-and-out, Davenport threw a pass deep down the right sideline to Webb, who high-pointed the ball to take it from a defender for a 45-yard TD that gave the Jaguars the lead for good at 16-10 with 4:50 left in the first half.
South Alabama, which beat Eastern Michigan 59-10 in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, has won back-to-back bowls — the first two in program history.
Jackson State: 2024 Celebration Bowl Champions
A game that some predicted to be close was never in doubt as SWAC champion Jackson State handled MEAC winner South Carolina State 28-7 to win the 2024 edition of the Celebration Bowl and its first HBCU national championship since 1996.
The Tigers led wire-to-wire and never were seriously challenged in spite of having to go straight from the SWAC title game the previous week to Atlanta to play a South Carolina State team that had not played a game in over two weeks.
That level of dedication, preparedness, and desire to stay on top of one’s game comes from the top, so there is no surprise that this Jackson State team is molded by a program legend, current head coach T.C. Taylor.
Taylor, a highly regarded quarterback coming out of high school, accepted a switch to receiver his junior year at J-State. By his senior year of 2001, he was one of the top pass catchers in the country (84 receptions, 1,234 yards, and 11 touchdowns). He earned training camp deals with the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions before turning his attention to coaching.
Taylor worked his way up those ranks as well, serving as a quarterbacks and receivers coach and offensive coordinator at schools from Coahoma Community College in Mississippi to North Carolina Central before returning to Jackson State five years ago.
He served as a coordinator under John Hendrick and Deion Sanders before being named head coach in December 2022 following Sanders’ move to Colorado. Taylor set about building a roster ready to climb the Celebration Bowl mountain and represent a proud tradition of JSU football.
All T.C.’s Tigers have done in his first two seasons on the job is compile a 19-6 overall record, 13-3 in SWAC play, and topped the 2024 season off with a measure of revenge in dominating South Carolina State Saturday.
This was Taylor’s fourth Celebration Bowl appearance (he was the offensive coordinator in NCCU’s 10-9 loss to Grambling in 2016), and it turned out to be the charm as he and his players, who shared an unwavering belief in each other, shared in one of the great victories in JSU history.
“They believed in me,” Taylor said of his players. “I said we’re going to work our butts off because we were going to get to this moment.”
If you don’t believe in storybook endings, you may find it hard to believe that a proud son of an HBCU powerhouse returned home to lead his football team to the Promised Land.
But it actually happened.
And Taylor and the Jackson State football team wrote an ending to the 2024 HBCU football season that few will forget.
Travis Hunter: 2024 Heisman Trophy Winner
Six days after 12 teams were selected to compete for a national title in the College Football Playoff, a different kind of college football honor was handed out.
The Heisman Trophy is college football’s most hallowed individual achievement, with even the trophy itself — depicting a player throwing a stiff arm — standing as a central element of the sport’s mythology.
This week, four college football standouts — Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Miami’s Cam Ward — headed to New York with dreams of becoming the latest player to join a list featuring some of the sport’s most iconic figures. Ultimately, though, only one of them was able to leave Manhattan with the trophy.
Colorado’s Travis Hunter was presented with the 2024 Heisman Trophy during a ceremony Saturday night in New York.
Hunter won the award after putting together a season with few, if any, peers in modern college football history.
The Georgia native and Jackson State transfer did a little bit of everything for the Buffaloes while leading them to a 9-3 record in their second season under coach Deion Sanders. Hunter played both offense and defense, logging a total of 1,360 snaps during the 2024 season despite missing the second half of Colorado’s games against Kansas State and Arizona with an injury.
Hunter had emerged as the sizable betting favorite in recent weeks, with the most recent odds from BetMGM putting him at -2500 to take home the award. Ashton Jeanty, at +1000, had the next-best odds.
The possibility of winning the Heisman followed Hunter for much of the season as he racked up seven games with at least 100 receiving yards and five games with a forced turnover. He regularly struck the Heisman pose after making a big play, beginning with a September 28 win at UCF after coming down with an acrobatic interception.
As the Heisman race seemingly came down to Hunter and Jeanty, Hunter’s coaches and teammates routinely touted his candidacy. After Hunter had an interception and three touchdown receptions in Colorado’s 52-0 victory against Oklahoma State on November 29, Sanders said his two-way star “clinched” the coveted award.
“You’ve never seen it before,” Sanders said. “He’s the best player in college football. You can find ways to hate and criticize him and you won’t come out of that looking professional because now you’re just searching for something, like the idiots was talking about with the (Jim) Thorpe (Award) that I guess he didn’t have enough tackles. Well, if a cornerback has a lot of tackles, that means they caught a lot of balls. It’s just stupid. Travis Hunter proved today and he proved every week that he’s the best player in college football.
“You’ve got to give me another definition of the award. The award is to go to who? The best quarterback? I don’t know how you could be voted in every category in some sort. I think he’s up for best offensive player, best defensive player, best receiver. Who else has done that ever?”
Hunter is the second Heisman winner in Colorado history, joining the late Rashaan Salaam, who won the award in 1994.
Heisman voting results 2024
Hunter won with 2,231 total points, as compared to Jeanty, who finished with 2,017 points. The 214-point difference is the smallest margin of victory since Alabama running back Mark Ingram beat out Stanford RB Toby Gerhart in 2009.
Here's the full points total, including first-place votes:
1st place: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter (2,231 points, 552 first-place votes)
2nd place: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (2,017 points, 309 first-place votes)
3rd place: Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel (516 points, 24 first-place votes)
4th place: Miami QB Cam Ward (229 points, six first-place votes)
5th place: Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo (170 points, three first-place votes)
6th place: Army QB Bryson Daily (69 points, three first-place votes)
7th place: Penn State Tyler Warren (52 points, one first-place vote)
8th place: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders (47 points, one first-place vote)
9th place: Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke (22 points, two first-place votes)
10th place: Syracuse QB Kyle McCord (nine points)
Travis Hunter stats
During his Heisman-winning season, Hunter truly did it all for Colorado.
As a wide receiver on offense, he finished with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. Hunter ranks fifth among FBS players in receptions, sixth in receiving yards and second in touchdown receptions. He also has a rushing touchdown.
While playing for a coach who’s arguably the greatest defensive back in the history of football, Hunter excelled as a cornerback, as well, recording 11 pass breakups and four interceptions, ranking him first and second, respectively, among all Big 12 players. He had a forced fumble, as well, which allowed his team to hold on for an overtime victory against Baylor on Sept. 21.
Heisman Trophy finalists' stats
Here's a look at the stats of the four Heisman Trophy finalists in 2024:
Travis Hunter
Offense: 92 catches, 1,152 yards, 14 touchdowns; two carries, five yards, one touchdown
Defense: 31 tackles, 11 pass breakups, four interceptions, one forced fumble
Ashton Jeanty
Rushing: 344 carries, 2,497 yards, 29 touchdowns, 7.3 yards per carry
Receiving: 20 catches, 116 yards, one touchdown
Dillon Gabriel
Passing: 297 of 406 passing (73.2%), 3,558 yards, 8.8 yards per attempt, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions
Rushing: 63 carries,192 yards, seven touchdowns
Cam Ward
Passing: 293 of 435 passing (67.4%), 4,123 yards, 9.5 yards per attempt, 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions
Rushing: 58 carries, 196 yards, four touchdowns
Receiving: One catch, 7 yards, one touchdown
Heisman Trophy winners
Here’s a look at the past 10 Heisman Trophy winners, with Saturday’s honoree becoming the latest inclusion on the list:
For full list of winners, click here.
2024: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
2023: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
2022: QB Caleb Williams, USC
2021: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
2020: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
2019: QB Joe Burrow, LSU
2018: QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
2017: QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
2016: QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
2015: RB Derrick Henry, Alabama
LA Galaxy: 2024 MLS Cup Champions
CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy are back on top, storming to a 2-1 victory over New York Red Bulls in MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi Saturday afternoon at Dignity Health Sports Park.
By capturing the league's ultimate prize, LA hoisted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy for a sixth time – extending the MLS Cup title record they already held.
The Galaxy scored twice inside the game's first quarter-hour, with Joseph Paintsil (9') and Dejan Joveljić (13') beating Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel from close range. When celebrating, both stars offered a tribute to Riqui Puig after LA's Best XI midfielder tore his ACL in the Western Conference Final and couldn't feature in MLS Cup.
Despite the early hole, New York got a lifeline in the 28th minute when center back Sean Nealis volleyed home a mis-cleared corner kick. But an equalizer never came for the Emil Forsberg-led Red Bulls, who left empty-handed in their second-ever MLS Cup appearance and remain one of three league originals to never win a league title.
LA were not only champions at the final whistle, but ended their Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs run with a record 18 goals scored.
Three Things
THE BIG PICTURE: The Galaxy are back on top, going from a 13th-place Western Conference finish in 2023 to MLS Cup champions for the first time in a decade. This turnaround coincides with DP wingers Paintsil and Gabriel Pec being signed for reportedly around $20 million in the winter, giving head coach Greg Vanney the final pieces for his attack-centric vision. LA also end 2024 undefeated at Dignity Health Sports Park, going 17W-0L-4D across all competitions and ensuring the Red Bulls’ Cinderella run falls short. New York (East No. 7) were the lowest-ever seed to reach MLS Cup.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Joveljić's game-winning goal almost unfolded in slow motion, before the Serbian striker toe-poked past Coronel. He ends the postseason with six goals, the second-most in MLS history.
MAN OF THE MATCH: All week, debate ensued about how Galaxy coach Greg Vanney would fill their Puig-sized hole. He ultimately started Gastón Brugman, who assisted Paintsil’s opener and bossed the midfield before being replaced by Marco Reus in the 75th minute. The Uruguayan veteran was named MLS Cup 2024 MVP presented by Audi.
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