Jaylen Raynor completed 18 of 30 passes for 221 yards and two touchdown connections to Corey Rucker as Arkansas State fended off Bowling Green 38-31 to win the 68 Ventures Bowl on Thursday night in Mobile, Ala. Rucker finished with four catches for 107 yards and Zak Wallace rushed 15 times for 99 yards and a score for the Red Wolves (8-5), who earned their first bowl win since 2019. Courtney Jackson returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown. Connor Bazelak went 32-for-49 passing for a season-high 390 yards and three touchdowns for Bowling Green (7-6), which lost a bowl game for the third year running. Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. finished with career highs of 17 receptions and 213 yards with a touchdown, and he broke two major FBS records along the way. Fannin set the single-season tight end records for receiving yards (previously held by Jace Amaro, 1,352 for Texas Tech in 2013) and receptions (previously James Casey, 111 for Rice in 2008). Fannin ended his season with 117 receptions for 1,555 yards. Bowling Green trailed 24-21 at halftime and received the ball to start the second half. However, on the first play from scrimmage, Terion Stewart was stripped of the ball and Arkansas State's Noah Collins recovered. Raynor threw his second touchdown to Rucker, this one from 6 yards out, for a 10-point Red Wolves lead. The Falcons cut it to seven before the end of the third, but their next three drives ended in a turnover on downs, a missed field goal and a punt. Arkansas State turned to Wallace to close the game. He gained 59 yards on six straight rushes, the final of which was a 14-yard touchdown with 3:10 to go. Wallace's insurance score was crucial, as Bowling Green scored late on Bazelak's 23-yard pass to Rahkeem Smith (seven catches, 97 yards). The Red Wolves held an early 10-0 lead after Jackson broke down the left side on his punt return TD less than seven minutes into the game. Bowling Green got revenge on its second possession when it had backup QB Baron May disguise himself as the punter. May tossed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Johnson Jr. Raynor's 5-yard TD run put Arkansas State ahead 17-7. Bazelak responded with 6:46 left in the second quarter, hitting Jaison Patterson for an 8-yard score. Raynor hit Rucker over the top for a 79-yard catch-and-run score, punctuating a 93-yard drive. The Falcons drove to the 4-yard line, and Bazelak threw to the end zone with 1:36 left. His pass went in and out of a defender's hands, and Fannin caught it as he fell to the ground. --Field Level Media

Alabama and Michigan were part of the four-team College Football Playoff last season, with the Wolverines eventually capturing the national title. The teams meet again this postseason, albeit on a considerably smaller stage. The No. 11 Crimson Tide and Michigan look to end underachieving seasons with a victory when they meet on Tuesday in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Tampa, Fla. Alabama (9-3) was the last team omitted from the new 12-team playoff format, while the Wolverines (7-5) weren't even in the running. That represents quite a descent for a Michigan program that beat Alabama 27-20 in overtime in last season's CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl before rolling to a 34-13 victory over Washington in the championship game. The New Year's Eve game is more for pride this season with no true way to salvage the season. But Alabama standout guard Tyler Booker has found a goal worth fighting for -- stretching the Crimson Tide's streak of 10-win seasons to 17. "There's a lot of goals that we had set out in front of us before this year took place," Booker told reporters. "And, obviously, we can't achieve most of those goals now. But one of the goals that is left to achieve is reaching 10 wins. So that's at the forefront of our minds right now, and going out to Tampa and getting a ‘W'." The Crimson Tide are beat up in the secondary with the recent news that All-American safety Malachi Moore underwent season-ending surgery. Alabama had previously lost Keon Sabb due to injury for the season with a lower-body injury, and fellow safety DeVonta Smith left the program and transferred to Notre Dame. The Crimson Tide have even lost two players to Michigan since the transfer portal opened -- defensive lineman Damon Payne Jr. and running back Justice Haynes. Haynes (448 yards) was the backup to top running back and second-leading rusher Jamarion Miller (641). Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Richard Young (140 yards on 25 carries) will receive a big increase in playing time. "Richard will be ready to go, just as he always is," DeBoer said. "He's a strong running back, and does a lot of things. ... When somebody leaves at your position, you have more opportunities to take advantage of." Quarterback Jalen Milroe leads the Crimson Tide with 719 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Milroe also has passed for 2,652 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Michigan quarterback Davis Warren is in an odd predicament as the Wolverines recently signed the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class in Bryce Underwood, who is expected to start at quarterback from the moment he steps on campus. Warren hasn't decided if he will enter the transfer portal, but he has had extensive chats with coach Sherrone Moore. "He's been clear that he cares about me and wants what's best for me and wants me to be at Michigan," Warren said of Moore. "That's been clear. I know in this day and age what that looks like." The downside is Warren has more interceptions (nine) than touchdown passes (six). The Wolverines will be short-handed in the bowl as defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, tight end Colston Loveland and running back Donovan Edwards are among the players who have opted out in favor of the NFL draft. One player thrilled about the opportunity to play is defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, who broke his right leg in the first quarter of last season's contest against Alabama. "I didn't get a chance to play last year," Benny told reporters, "so this will be my national championship." The teams have split six previous meetings, with five of the matchups coming in bowl games. This is the third time they have met in Tampa, with Alabama posting a 17-14 victory in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 1997, and the Wolverines notching a 28-24 win in the Hall of Fame Bowl on Jan. 2, 1988. --Field Level Media

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sixth-seeded Penn State and No. 3 seed Boise State enter their College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday with perfect records in their Fiesta Bowl history. The Broncos, who earned a bye into the matchup in Glendale by winning the Mountain West title, are 3-0 in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State, which advanced to the quarterfinals after beating visiting SMU 38-10 last week in the opening round, is 7-0 in the Fiesta Bowl. No other school has won more Fiesta Bowls. Arizona State and Ohio State each have five wins in the bowl's history. "Our guys are very aware of our history here at Penn State," coach James Franklin said after a practice this week in Phoenix. "We spend a lot of time in the offseason talking about those things, or former players come back and talk to our guys." Boise State (12-1) won its three Fiesta Bowls between 2007 and 2014, including a 43-42 classic in overtime over Adrian Peterson and Oklahoma in 2007. The Broncos were underdogs in that game and in wins over TCU in 2010 and Arizona in 2014. They were 10.5-point underdogs to Penn State (12-2) when the Fiesta Bowl line opened. "We might not have what everybody else has, but we definitely have enough," Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. "We're going to continue to push forward." Boise State is the last non-Power 4 conference team to win the Fiesta Bowl. "Boise State has been built on earning our right to play against one of the top football teams in the country like Penn State," Danielson said. "I believe in our team ... please count us out. People, media, count us out. I know how we are going to work, and I know we are going to work to play our absolute best." Franklin, an assistant coach at Washington State and Idaho State in 1998 and 1999, respectively, appreciates the Boise State program after coaching in the area. "Boise State has the ingredients to succeed," Franklin said. "It's in the university. It's in the community. It's embedded there. And that's why you've seen so many people be able to go there and have success." Franklin also praised running back Ashton Jeanty for what he means to Boise State being in the playoffs. "I think it starts and ends with Jeanty," Franklin said. "He can run away from you and score from a distance. Breaks a ton of tackles -- 1,300 yards of his rushing yards are after contact, which is like a ridiculous stat." Jeanty, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, has 344 carries for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns. He took home the Maxwell Award as the most outstanding player in the sport and was a unanimous All-American selection. Jeanty is 132 yards from breaking the NCAA single-season rushing record set by Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988. Danielson is similarly in awe of Penn State senior tight end Tyler Warren. Warren, who has a team-best six TD receptions, leads the Nittany Lions in receptions (92) and receiving yards (1,095). Both of those marks are single-season Big Ten records for tight ends. He won the Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end and finished seventh in the Heisman voting. "Tyler Warren is elite," Danielson said. "That's not just my opinion; I'm very positive he's going to be the first tight end taken off the board in the NFL draft because of that. "He can do it all. He is extremely violent at the point of attack. He can catch every ball. He's one of their top targets on all downs. And he can play wildcat and throw the ball. You talk about just an extremely gifted athlete, we've got to know where (Warren) is at all times." --Javier Morales, Field Level Media

Dylan Edwards ran for 196 yards and two touchdowns and added a third score receiving as Kansas State defeated Rutgers 44-41 in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on Thursday. The Wildcats trailed by 17 points at the midpoint of the third quarter but won their fourth game this season when trailing in the fourth quarter. Kansas State (9-4) had 542 yards of total offense. Avery Johnson was 15 of 30 passing for 195 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He also ran for 57 yards and a score. Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said of the contributions of running backs Edwards and Joe Jackson, backups this season to starter DJ Giddens, who sat out while preparing for the NFL draft, "It's what our team is. ... It's somebody different all the time that comes up and makes plays. "We got down in that third quarter. We weren't playing great. All of a sudden you get one stop and all of sudden we get some momentum going. I knew that our running backs had to show up and play really well." Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis finished 14 of 32 for 237 yards, a touchdown and an interception for Rutgers (7-6). "Obviously disappointed, but not discouraged," Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano said. "We have a really good core in our program right now, and we have a huge debt of gratitude to the guys who played their last game today. Unfortunately we came up short today in a heck of a football game (between) two really good football teams that played really hard." After opening with a punt, the Scarlet Knights scored on six straight possessions, capped by a touchdown the first time they had the ball in the second half. Kaliakmanis found Ja'shon Benjamin for a touchdown on a 7-yard screen pass to give Rutgers a 34-17 lead. Following an exchange of punts, Edwards rushed 65 yards to trim the lead to 34-23. On Rutgers' next possession, Daniel Cobbs intercepted Kaliakmanis, and the Wildcats capitalized with 13-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Garrett Oakley, slicing the deficit to 34-29. Late in the third, Rutgers took over at the Kansas State 18-yard line following Christian Dremel's 67-yard punt return. Soon after, Antwan Raymond ran for a 1-yard touchdown, giving Rutgers a 41-29 lead with 14:02 left. Johnson then found Jackson on a 9-yard touchdown pass to trim it the Wildcats' deficit to 41-36. After a three-and-out, Edwards ran for a 36-yard score, giving Kansas State its first lead since early in the second quarter. Johnson found Oakley for the two-point conversion and a 44-41 lead with 4:15 left. The Wildcats then stopped Rutgers on fourth-and-7 at the Scarlet Knights' 44-yard line with 1:55 left. In the first half, Kansas State got a 29-yard Chris Tennant field goal. The teams then traded 75-yard touchdown drives, as Raymond and Johnson scored on 2-yard runs. Rutgers got a 31-yard field goal from Jai Patel to tie the game. Raymond had a 65-yard run to set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Benjamin for a 17-10 lead with 9:31 left in the half. Moments later, Johnson found Edwards on a screen for a 26-yard touchdown to tie the game. Raymond subsequently raced untouched for a 24-yard touchdown to give Rutgers the lead. Rutgers closed the half with Patel's 48-yard field goal with 4:15 left. --Field Level Media

LSU began the season hopeful of qualifying for the expanded College Football Playoff. Baylor found itself scrambling just to get bowl eligible after a 2-4 start. The Tigers (8-4) didn't come close to the CFP, but the Bears (8-4) have won six straight heading into the Texas Bowl in Houston, where the teams will meet Tuesday afternoon. Dave Aranda became Baylor's head coach in 2020. As LSU's defensive coordinator, he helped the Tigers win the CFP championship following the 2019 season. In his second season with the Bears, he led them to the Big 12 title and a victory over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. But after a 6-7 record in 2022, a 3-9 mark last season and a 2-4 start this season, Aranda's future at the school appeared uncertain Then Baylor came out of an open date to whip host Texas Tech 59-35 in Lubbock, Texas, on Oct. 19 and hasn't lost since. "There wasn't any panic," Aranda said of the poor start. "There wasn't any doubt. There wasn't any disbelief. There's wasn't any, ‘We have to throw this whole thing out and do something new.' I think everybody knew that we had a good team and that we had to do X, Y and Z better, and these are the steps that we've got to do to do that." Sawyer Robertson finished the regular season third in the Big 12 in passer rating (155.0) and in touchdown passes (26). He said he's eager to face a team from the SEC, which sent three teams to the CFP. "It's going to be good for me just because I get to see where I'm at. I get to just play against elite competition," Robertson said. "That's why you do what you do. That's why you want to be in these types of games." Baylor has the enthusiasm of a winning streak that saved a teetering season, while LSU is playing in a less prestigious game than it envisioned. But Tigers coach Brian Kelly said he has seen no indication that his team won't be emotionally ready. "The morale has been great," Kelly said. "Every guy that has been out there (at practice) wants to be out there. I've been in some (bowls) where you're just trying to keep everybody to be motivated to be out there. The practices have been lively. It's been fun." The Tigers' prospects against Baylor got a boost when quarterback Garrett Nussmeier decided not to enter the NFL draft. In his first season as a starter, Nussmeier threw for the second-most yards (3,735) and the second-most touchdowns (26) in the SEC. "Obviously it's not where we want to be, but we get an opportunity to play another football game," Nussmeier said. "I get another opportunity to play football with my teammates, and at the end of the day that's all that matters." Nussmeier will be operating behind a makeshift offensive line after tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones opted out to prepare for the draft. Guard Garrett Dellinger's status is uncertain. He hasn't played since suffering an ankle injury in a loss Oct. 26 at Texas A&M. --Field Level Media

South Carolina's best defensive player -- actually, the nation's best defensive player -- won't play in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve. Illinois won't have its all-Big Ten receiver. But aside from the Gamecocks' Kyle Kennard and the Fighting Illini's Pat Bryant opting out for NFL Draft purposes, both No. 15 South Carolina and No. 20 Illinois will be loaded and eager to battle for a coveted 10th win Tuesday afternoon in Orlando, Fla. The Gamecocks (9-3) are riding a six-game winning streak -- including three victories over Top 25 opponents -- as they shoot for their first 10-win season since 2013. The Illini (9-3) have won three in a row as they vie for their first 10-win campaign since the 2001 Big Ten champions. Of course, this clash to end 2024 is also about what can happen for both schools in 2025. "We're either the first- or second-youngest team coming back in Power 4 football," Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. "We're all juniors and sophomores." That includes junior quarterback Luke Altmyer, who publicly committed for the 2025 season when he addressed the sellout crowd at Illinois' home basketball game versus top-ranked Tennessee on Dec. 14. Altmyer clicked on 60.9 percent of his passes during the regular season for 2,543 yards, 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions. "In this crazy world that we're in with the portal and the transfers, he's the definition of what you're looking for," Bielema said. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers has made a similar agreement to return to South Carolina, signing a deal with the school's NIL collective. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound dual threat racked up 2,274 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air along with 655 yards and seven scores on the ground. Sellers and the Gamecocks are working with a new offensive coordinator. Former Alabama head coach Mike Shula was upgraded from offensive analyst last week when offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains took the head coaching job at Appalachian State. "I trust him," Sellers said of Shula. "He's coached a lot of guys, had a history with a lot of guys in the NFL." As prolific as Sellers has been, South Carolina's defense has been the superior unit most of the year, allowing just 17.8 points per game. The Gamecocks will miss Kennard, who led the Southeastern Conference with 11.5 sacks and won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player, but they still boast first-team All-American safety Nick Emmanwori. He led South Carolina with 83 tackles and returned two of his four picks for touchdowns. Without Bryant (54 receptions, 984 yards, 10 TDs) to serve as Altmyer's go-to guy, the Illini will rely on Zakhari Franklin (51 catches, 613 yards, three scores) to keep drives going. Illinois split its rushing workload between the speedy Aidan Laughery (522 yards, four TDs) and the stout Josh McCray (495 yards, eight scores). South Carolina doesn't expect to have its leading rusher available. Second-team all-SEC running back Raheim Sanders (881 yards, 11 TDs) announced on social media his intent to enter the NFL Draft. That puts more on Sellers' plate, but he's facing an Illini defense that allowed 59 points across its season-ending wins at Rutgers and against Northwestern. Illinois also surrendered 35 points in the first half against top-ranked Oregon during its visit to the West Coast on Oct. 26. --Field Level Media

Tucker Gleason threw for two touchdowns and capped a career-best 336-yard performance with a game-winning two-point conversion pass to Junior Vandeross III to propel Toledo to a 48-46, six-overtime victory over Pitt in the GameAbove Sports Bowl Thursday in Detroit. Vandeross also had a career day, posting personal bests of 12 passes for 194 yards for the Rockets (8-5), who, with the win over the Panthers (7-6), beat two power-conference opponents in the same season for just the second time in school history. Toledo needed to come back from a 10-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to force overtime and then had two earlier stops in the extra sessions nullified by a penalty and a replay reversal. Still, Toledo pulled out a victory in the first six-overtime bowl game in college football history -- breaking a record set by the five-overtime Hawaii Bowl two days prior. "It just showed what Toledo is about," Vandeross, who earned game MVP honors, told ESPN during the award ceremony. "The hard work we've been putting in since January. A testament (to) our team." It appeared Toledo would have the game in hand in the first half. Gleason and Vandeross connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass to give the Rockets a 13-12 lead midway through the second quarter. Then, just 14 seconds later, cornerback Braden Awls picked off a David Lynch pass on Pitt's first play and returned it 42 yards to extend the lead to eight points. The loss overshadowed the debut of Pitt freshman Julian Dugger, who replaced fellow freshman Lynch in the third quarter after his second interception. The Pittsburgh native completed 7 of 13 passes for 72 yards and two scores to help the Panthers take a 30-20 lead early in the fourth quarter. He also ran 21 times for 88 yards with a touchdown in the first extra period, but his throw for Kenny Johnson was incomplete in the sixth OT as the Rockets prevailed. Dugger also threw an interception with 7:49 left in regulation that Darius Alexander returned 58 yards for a touchdown that cut the Panthers' lead to 30-27. Dylan Cunanan tied the game with 1:45 left on a 51-yard field goal. Desmond Reid, an all-purpose All-American, ran for a season-high 165 yards on 32 carries for the Panthers, who collected 301 of their 438 yards on the ground. Cunanan kicked a 33-yard field goal to start the second overtime and make it 40-37 Toledo. Pitt then had four plays within the Toledo 3 to on its possession. Neither Reid, who had been battling apparent cramps late in the game, nor Dugger touched the ball on any of the first three plays. Rather than try for the win on fourth-and-goal at the 1, coach Pat Narduzzi opted for an 18-yard field goal by Ben Sauls to extend the game. "Fourth-and-one, if you don't get it, you lose the game," Narduzzi told reporters after the game. "I don't want to end like that. I want our kids to make plays ... For the coach to make a decision to lose the game or win the game, I'm not for that." The Panthers finished the season losing six straight thanks to injuries decimating the roster. That included Eli Holstein, a freshman quarterback who threw for 2,228 yards but was unable to play in the bowl due to an ankle injury he suffered at Louisville on Nov. 23. Lynch, a walk-on freshman who threw just nine passes in the regular season, got the start. --Field Level Media

Longtime NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson will take over as head coach at Delaware State, Victory Formation Media and ESPN reported Thursday. If confirmed, it would be the latest data point in a growing trend of FCS football teams hiring well-known former players -- with little to no prior coaching experience -- in an effort to stand out. Jackson, 38, has no connection to Delaware State but according to ESPN, "it has always been a dream" of his to coach at an HBCU (historically black colleges and universities). Earlier this month, Norfolk State hired Michael Vick to take over the Spartans' program. Vick, who also reportedly heard from Sacramento State, hails from the Norfolk, Va., area. Norfolk State is one of Delaware State's rivals in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Colorado coach Deion Sanders spent three seasons (2020-22) as the head coach of Jackson State before moving up to the FBS level. His only prior coaching experience came at the high school level, including at his own short-lived charter school in Texas, "Prime Prep Academy." Jackson last played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. He is best known for two stints with the Philadelphia Eagles (2008-13, 2019-20) and played for a total of six teams in a 15-year NFL career. Jackson caught 641 passes for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns, adding four rushing touchdowns and four punt return touchdowns in 183 career games. Delaware State went 1-11 in 2024 (0-5 MEAC) and fired coach Lee Hull after the season. The Hornets have not had a winning season since going 6-5 in 2012. --Field Level Media

Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday after three seasons with the Wolverines. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound junior was a third-team All-American and a second-team All-Big Ten selection this season. He had three sacks among his 32 total tackles over 12 games in 2024. As a sophomore, Grant helped the Wolverines claim the national championship with 29 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks in 15 games. "I am very appreciative to Coach (Jim) Harbaugh and coach (Sherrone) Moore and the rest of the University of Michigan staff that I have crossed paths with," Grant posted on social media. "It has been an honor to be developed into a Michigan Man." Other Michigan players who intend to leave the program for the draft include defensive lineman Mason Graham, cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland. --Field Level Media

Keshaun Singleton caught a game-winning two-point pass from Bryce Archie in the fifth overtime to help South Florida post a dramatic 41-39 victory over San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl on Tuesday night in Honolulu. The Spartans' attempt to force a sixth overtime came up empty when Walker Eget's pass toward Justin Lockhart fell incomplete. "That was a heck of a football game," San Jose State coach Ken Niumatalolo said. "We had our chances in regulation. ... Our kids battled. Super proud of our kids." Ta'Ron Keith scored on a touchdown run in overtime and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown for South Florida (7-6). Archie was 24-of-35 passing for 235 yards and one interception for the Bulls, who traveled nearly 4,700 miles for the game. Kelley Joiner and Nay'Quan Wright rushed for touchdowns. Archie got the start over Byrum Brown, who had been sidelined due to a lower leg injury. Prior to kickoff, Bulls coach Alex Golesh wasn't sure who was going to be under center, but he commended both quarterbacks following the victory for their unselfishness. "Byrum tried all the way through warmups," Golesh said. "As much of a game-time decision as I've ever had in my career." Sean Atkins had 11 receptions for 104 yards for USF. Atkins became the program's all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,167, passing Andre Davis (2,136 from 2011-14). Eget completed 33 of 58 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Spartans (7-6), who lost their fourth straight bowl game. Matthew Coleman had 12 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown and Jackson Canaan had a scoring reception while Floyd Chalk IV and Lamar Radcliffe rushed for touchdowns. San Jose State played without consensus All-American receiver Nick Nash, who opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft. USF's John Cannon forced overtime with two seconds left in regulation when his 41-yard field-goal attempt hit the right goalpost and went through the uprights to tie the score at 27. In the first overtime, Keith scored on a 2-yard run for the Bulls, and Eget tossed a 4-yard scoring pass to Coleman for the Spartans. Kyler Halvorsen kicked a 24-yard field goal for the Spartans in the second overtime before Cannon answered with a 36-yard field goal to tie the contest at 37. In the third overtime, where teams look to convert two-point conversions, Archie's shovel pass to Payten Singletary put the Bulls ahead before Eget connected with Coleman to tie the game. Both teams came up empty in the fourth overtime. Radcliffe's 2-yard TD run gave the Spartans their first lead of the game at 27-24 with 11:14 left in regulation. The Spartans trailed by 11 at halftime but later moved within 21-20 on Eget's 5-yard scoring pass to Canaan with 3:41 left in the third quarter. The Bulls increased their lead to four on Cannon's 33-yard field goal with 13 minutes left in the fourth. USF struck first on Wright's 3-yard scoring run with 45 seconds left in the opening quarter. The Bulls pushed the lead to 14-0 on Joiner's 4-yard TD run with 6:53 left in the second period. Chalk scored on a 3-yard run to get the Spartans on the board with 2:09 left in the first half. Keith fielded the ensuing kickoff, broke two tackles and eluded a late tackle attempt on a 93-yard touchdown to give the Bulls a 21-7 lead. --Field Level Media

Conference foes No. 17 BYU and No. 23 Colorado will square off on Saturday night in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. The Cougars (10-2) and Buffaloes (9-3) once had their sights set on a Big 12 Conference championship game appearance and a berth in the College Football Playoff. But late-season losses dashed those dreams, and in the era of mega conferences, the rare intra-conference bowl game will pit teams that didn't play in the regular season. Another rarity is the lack of players opting out to prevent injury. Colorado has taken out disability insurance to safeguard Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. In its latest NFL mock draft, CBS Sports had Hunter going No. 2 to the New England Patriots and Sanders going No. 3 to the Las Vegas Raiders, who would need to trade up to acquire that pick. Sanders completed 74.2 percent of his passes for 3,926 yards, 35 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Hunter rarely took a snap off, doubling as a wide receiver on offense and a cornerback on defense. Hunter has declared for April's NFL draft and had 92 catches for 1,152 yards, 14 receiving touchdowns and a rushing score. He had four interceptions, 11 passes defended and 31 tackles at cornerback. "Colorado has a ton of talent in all three phases," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. "I think a lot of credit goes to the offense for the Heisman Trophy winner (Hunter), Shedeur and the rest of the crew. But we are excited, they are a complete team and we're excited about the matchup." The rest of the crew Sitake referenced includes second-leading receiver LaJohntay Wester, who caught 70 passes for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Will Sheppard, who had 617 yards and six TDs. Colorado was 4-8 last year in coach Deion Sanders' first season at the helm. Freshman receiver Drelon Miller came on late in the season with two touchdowns in the Buffaloes' last three games and is part of a youth movement that has Deion Sanders excited. "We have some young talent here that's going to help this program tremendously," said the elder Sanders, who has the Buffaloes in just their third bowl game in the past 17 seasons. "When those (young) guys walked on the field, you felt their presence and they wanted us to know that they belong. And it was phenomenal. I don't want to throw names out, but we got some talent." A 9-0 start had the Cougars rise to No. 6 in the Week 11 CFP rankings, but back-to-back losses to Kansas and eventual Big 12 champion Arizona State knocked them out of a shot in the conference title game. Jake Retzlaff led the BYU turnaround -- the Cougars were 5-7 last season -- with 2,796 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns. Chase Roberts was his top target with 51 catches for 843 yards and four scores. Darius Lassiter racked up 679 receiving yards and four touchdowns, but he will sit out the first half of the Alamo Bowl after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the second half of the Cougars' last game of the regular season. "To flip it and turn it around, what they've accomplished this season isn't a surprise given who their coach is," Deion Sanders said. "(Sitake is) a good guy with a great team and I adore him." --Field Level Media

East Carolina turned its season around following an October coaching change. The Pirates became bowl-eligible, and their reward was a game against an in-state rival. North Carolina State will meet East Carolina and new coach Blake Harrell in the Military Bowl on Saturday in Annapolis, Md. Harrell, the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, became the Pirates' interim head coach on Oct. 20 when the program fired Mike Houston following a 3-4 start to his sixth year in charge. East Carolina (7-5) proceeded to win four straight games under Harrell, who had the proverbial interim tag removed before the regular season came to a close. The Pirates were invited to the 2021 Military Bowl but saw the game canceled when their opponent, Boston College, had to withdraw for issues related to COVID-19. "We have 12 players on our current roster that were up there last time," Harrell told WNCT in Greenville, N.C. "We made all those preparations, didn't quite get to play in a game, but we're looking forward to playing this time." There's double the reason to look forward to a bowl game against a nearby rival. NC State owns a 19-13 edge in the all-time series and has won the past three meetings, though East Carolina made it hard in the 2022 season opener before the Wolfpack prevailed 21-20. The only previous time the programs met outside the state of North Carolina was at the Peach Bowl following the 1991 season. East Carolina won, 37-34. The Wolfpack (6-6) became bowl-eligible when they defeated another rival, North Carolina, 35-30 on the final day of the regular season. NC State trailed by a touchdown entering the fourth quarter, but quarterback C.J. Bailey led the offense to three touchdowns and a field goal as the Wolfpack turned the tables. Bailey passed for 2,183 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the regular season after original starting signal-caller Grayson McCall sustained a season-ending concussion and eventually announced his retirement from football. Bailey won't have standout receiver KC Concepcion (53 receptions, 460 yards, six TDs), who entered the transfer portal, but most of the NC State roster is primed to play. "We look forward to playing them," NC State coach Dave Doeren said earlier this month. "It's a game that goes a long way back. We don't get to play each other very often. It's been a while. "I don't know how many of our players, the way rosters change anymore, are going to remember the last time we played. They're excited to go to a bowl game." NC State hasn't won a bowl game since the 2017 season, losing in four trips since then. Meanwhile, this is East Carolina's second bowl trip in the past decade. The Pirates won in their other appearance, the 2022 Birmingham Bowl. Katin Houser has been in charge of the ECU offense since replacing Jake Garcia under center. He's thrown for 1,859 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine picks. He'll be missing wide receiver and portal entrant Chase Sowell (34 receptions, 678 yards, three TDs), but still has leading receiver Anthony Smith (767 yards, six TDs on 38 catches). Smith had a breakout season after transferring from NC State to East Carolina. He gets to wrap up the year by facing his former team. "It's a fresh start, and sometimes that's all we need as individuals to kind of spark us and get us going," Harrell said, per the Raleigh News & Observer. "Anthony has certainly done that." --Field Level Media

Like every team in postseason play, Iowa suffered defections to the transfer portal or NFL draft preparations, like star running back Kaleb Johnson deciding to turn pro. But the Hawkeyes (8-4) got quarterback Brendan Sullivan back from injury for their Music City Bowl matchup with No. 19 Missouri (9-3) on Monday in Nashville, Tenn. Sullivan hasn't played since he suffered a sprained ankle on Nov. 8 in a 20-17 loss to UCLA. "He feels fully confident," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "The injury is in the history now, it's passed. Just getting caught up because he missed a couple weeks there. This has been a good period where he's getting some work." Sullivan, who became starter after Cade McNamara suffered a concussion against Northwestern, has completed 24 of 35 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns. He will be backed up by Jackson Stratton, who led the Hawkeyes to victories over Maryland and Nebraska while both McNamara and Sullivan were injured. McNamara subsequently entered the transfer portal. Running backs Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson figure to step up in Johnson's absence. Moulton ran for 377 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries this season while Patterson rushed for 235 yards on 54 carries. The Hawkeyes of the Big Ten earned this bowl invitation by winning four of their last five games. "Midseason we were teetering a little bit," Ferentz said. "The guys came back, really rallied." Missouri's offense will be missing several contributors. Wide receiver Luther Burden III opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft while tight end Brett Norfleet and receiver Mookie Cooper underwent season-ending surgeries. But quarterback Brady Cook will be healthier after suffering a high ankle sprain and a hand injury this season. The latter injury happened against Southeastern Conference foe Alabama and caused him to sit out against Oklahoma. He has completed 183 of 289 passes for 2,248 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions. Cook also ran for 169 yards and five TDs. With Burden gone, receiver Theo Wease Jr. (55 catches, 809 yards, three touchdowns) will be even more important for the passing attack. "They have some veteran players where it really counts," Ferentz said. "The quarterback is an outstanding player." Running backs Nate Noel (804 yards, three touchdowns on 157 carries), Marcus Carroll (578 yards, 12 touchdowns on 134 carries) and Jamal Roberts (214 yards, three touchdowns on 52 rushes) lead a ground game that is back to full strength. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz expects Iowa to present a stiff defensive challenge under coordinator Phil Parker. "Their defensive coordinator, we were joking, he's been there since 1998, that's older than most of our team, most of our players," Drinkwitz said. "(Parker) runs the same system, very disciplined, very, very detailed on the defensive side of the ball." In the chaotic college football landscape, Iowa has maintained an enduring identity. Since 2001, the Hawkeyes have failed to earn a bowl game invitation just twice. "Coach Ferentz, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and what he's done with the Hawkeye program," Drinkwitz said. "I think he's done 26 years as the head coach. Model of consistency and development. Does an excellent job with player identification and development." This game gained a bit more spice when Missouri beat out Iowa for transfer quarterback Beau Pribula from Penn State during the leadup to this bowl game. --Field Level Media

Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie knows how to pull off a bowl game upset. Flash back to the 2004 Holiday Bowl, when Cumbie threw for 520 yards to lead No. 23 Texas Tech to a 45-31 win over Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch and No. 4 California. Twenty years later, Cumbie hopes to engineer another postseason surprise as Louisiana Tech (5-7) is a prohibitive underdog against No. 22 Army (11-2) in the Independence Bowl on Saturday in Shreveport, La. The Bulldogs weren't supposed to be a part of this game. They are a replacement for Marshall (10-3), which withdrew because of the exodus of at least 25 players through the transfer portal. Enter Louisiana Tech, which adds local flavor as Shreveport is an hour drive from the Bulldogs' campus in Ruston. Cumbie said that the seniors were especially excited after they had left campus for the holiday break figuring their college careers were over. "The first guys we got on the phone with were the seniors," Cumbie said. "They thought it was like a prank call. They thought we were jacking with them." Louisiana Tech is dealing with 16 portal losses, including several linemen from a defense which allowed 301.9 yards per game, the best mark in Conference USA. Defensive lineman David Blay, who led the Bulldogs in sacks (6.5) and tackles for a loss (10.5), has committed to Miami. Offensively, Louisiana Tech averages just 3.0 yards per carry. The Bulldogs rely more on Evan Bullock, who has thrown for 1,932 yards and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Army has an opportunity to finish the season on a positive note after surrendering the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy in a deflating 31-13 loss to Navy on Dec. 14. It's also a chance for Bryson Daily to rebound as he threw three interceptions against Navy after tossing just one previously in the regular season. Daily, who finished sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy, is the bell cow in Army's rush-heavy triple-option offense. He has carried for 1,532 yards and 29 touchdowns and has also thrown for nine scores. Army will be without its second-best running threat, Kanye Udoh, who announced his transfer to Arizona State hours after the Navy game, prompting Black Knights coach Jeff Monken to call the transfer landscape "off the rails." "I don't think it's healthy to have a transfer portal window open during the season," Monken said. Udoh rushed for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. If Army can handle Louisiana Tech, it will finish with 12 wins, which would be the most in a season in program history, even if it didn't get the one it wanted the most. "Anytime you get your butt whipped, you want to get back out there and prove that's not who we are," Monken said. This will be Louisiana Tech's first bowl appearance since 2020 and its sixth time in the Independence Bowl, where it has a 3-2 record. Army was last in a bowl game in 2021, and this is its second appearance in the Independence Bowl. In its first appearance, it lost to Auburn 32-29 in 1996. Army and Louisiana Tech have met twice before, with the Black Knights winning both matchups in 2008 and 2013. --Field Level Media

Miami of Ohio and Colorado State will try to overcome notable transfer-portal defections during Saturday's Arizona Bowl at Tucson, Ariz. Miami (8-5) enters the game without its top two wide receivers Javon Tracy and Reggie Virgil after the duo elected to play elsewhere. Tracy, a redshirt sophomore who caught 57 passes for 818 yards with seven touchdowns, is moving on to Minnesota. Virgil, a junior who tallied 816 yards on 41 receptions with nine touchdowns, is bound for Texas Tech. "It's kind of insane, to be honest," Miami coach Chuck Martin said. "We'll lose some real good kids in the portal, but we'll also gain some good ones. It's just crazy. "In some ways, it stinks, but in some ways, it's fun, too. We're looking at a lot of some good ones." Miami has also lost two cornerbacks, including sophomore Raion Strader to Auburn. Strader had 53 tackles with two interceptions and a team-best 17 passes broken up. Will Jados, a redshirt junior offensive tackle who started 38 games for Miami, is transferring to Texas Tech. Colorado State (8-4) also lost its two top receivers in the portal. Sophomore Caleb Goodie committed to Cincinnati and sophomore Jamari Person remains undecided. Goodie caught 21 passes for 436 yards with four touchdowns, and Person had 36 receptions for 386 yards and a touchdown. Another sophomore, linebacker Buom Jock, also is in the transfer portal after he led the Rams with 100 tackles. "They lost a couple receivers in the portal, just like us, so they've adjusted, just like most teams in the bowl season have adjusted to the team that they have available," Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said. Redshirt sophomore Armani Winfield, who had 37 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns, is the top available receiver for the Rams. Miami's leading receiver entering the game is fifth-year senior Cade McDonald (49 catches for 606 yards and three touchdowns). Miami won seven straight games before losing to Ohio in the MAC championship game behind sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert, who has completed 57.6 percent of his passes (204 of 354) for 2,737 yards and 21 touchdowns. Gabbert has been prone to throw interceptions, with 11, including one against Ohio in the conference title game. He did not throw an interception in a 30-20 victory over Ohio earlier this season. Keyon Mozee is Miami's featured running back with 1,073 yards on 170 carries with four touchdowns. Matt Salopek, a sixth-year linebacker, leads Miami with 113 tackles. He is the first player in program history with four 100-tackle seasons. Colorado State won six of its last seven games -- committing only seven turnovers in that span. Senior running back Avery Morrow has 956 yards on 166 attempts with nine touchdowns. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, a redshirt sophomore, has thrown for 2,475 yards while completing 207 of 335 attempts (61.8 percent) with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Chase Wilson, a fifth-year senior linebacker, has 91 tackles this season, three for loss. --Field Level Media