Pasadena, CA- Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith put on a show with 187 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 6 Ohio State to a 41-21 win over No 1. Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
The Buckeyes scored 34 points in the first half and Will Howard passed for 319 yards to give Oregon its first loss of the season. This was a revenge game for Ohio State, who lost to Oregon 32-31 in the regular season.
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“I think sometimes in this game coaches get too much attention,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “This is about these guys right here. A lot of good players out there, but they’ve got to make it work. And I thought they really put it on the field and we came out aggressive.”
Ohio State didn’t waste any time getting on the board as Howard connected with Smith for a 45-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead on its opening drive. Howard gave the Buckeyes a 14-0 lead in the first quarter when he hit Emeka Egbuka with a 42-yard touchdown pass.
After Ohio State added a field goal at the beginning of the second quarter, Howard threw his third touchdown of the first half, second to Smith, to give the Buckeyes a 24-0 lead.
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“Will does a great job in practice just trusting us, just throwing the ball out there.” Smith said. “We tell him, just throw it out there. We’ll make a play for you.”
Senior running back TreVeyon Henderson took the handoff and raced down the right sideline for a 66-yard touchdown. The Buckeyes added another field goal to take a 34-0 lead. Oregon was able to avoid the first-half shutout with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Dillion Gabriel to Traeshon Holden at the end of the second quarter.
Noah Wittington scored on a 2-yard run to cut the Ohio State lead 34-15 but the Buckeyes extended the lead on Henderson’s second touchdown of the game. Gabriel threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns but their championship hopes ended in Pasadena.
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“When you play a great team like Ohio State, you can’t not be playing on all cylinders.And they were. They were clicking on all cylinders,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “We really didn’t have the ability to stop them, and we didn’t have the ability to get something going for us, on offense.”
Ohio State advanced to play No. 4 Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, with a shot at the national title game. Texas advanced after a double-overtime win over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.
Los Angeles, CA – The No 4. USC Trojan women’s basketball team kicked off 2025 with a 75-55 victory over the visiting Nebraska Cornhuskers on New Year’s Day. Sophomore guard Juju Watkins led the Trojans in scoring with 26 points and four assists to help them advance to 3-0 in Big Ten play and 13-1 overall.
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Nebraska and USC were evenly matched throughout the first two quarters, with Nebraska holding a slight lead in the second. Southern California responded with a 10-0 run to close out the first half and take a narrow 39-35 lead into halftime. The Cornhuskers shot 46% from the field and went 3-5 from long distance for 60% in the first half. USC shot 48% and 3-9 from behind the arc for 33% in the first two periods of play.
The Women of Troy turned up the defensive pressure in the second half holding Nebraska to 23% shooting from the field and only allowing them to score 7 of 30 field goals. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb spoke about the defensive adjustments that were made at halftime, “We just really challenged our players to play with more toughness and aggressiveness. They’re a good team and if you’re um sort of uh passive at all they’re going to make you pay so we made a point to try not to let them get anything easy and we communicated better in the second half too.”
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USC’s defense forced 18 Cornhusker turnovers which the Trojans turned into 25 points. USC shot 40% from the field in the second half going 11-27 from the floor. The Trojans also dominated inside the paint finishing the contest with a 42-18 advantage.
Kiki Iriafen was the second leading scoring for the Trojans contributing 14 points and grabbing 6 rebounds.
Logan Nissley led Nebraska with 14 points finishing 4-5 from three-point range. USC now prepares to go on a road trip to face Rutgers next weekend in a tough conference matchup and also a top-10 showdown with the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins, who currently sit at 12-0.
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Coach Gottlieb spoke on what the team needs to do to be locked in for their upcoming road trip. “Just lock in on what makes us great and try to sustain that for 40 minutes we’re never going to be perfect, nobody’s perfect but you need to pack with you on a road trip a kind of tenacity and togetherness that no one can take away. We know this is a big road trip also it’s two really talented teams and we’ll get the team as ready as possible and I think we’ll be up for the challenges”.
GLENDALE, Ariz.— Penn State made history on December 31, 2024, with a commanding 31-14 win over Boise State in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the first-ever College Football Playoff quarterfinal. The Nittany Lions (13-2, 8-1 Big Ten) showcased a balanced offense and stifling defense to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
“We played a complete game—offense, defense, and special teams,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “We played complementary football and did some special things tonight. I’m just proud of our guys.”
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Allar Leads the Charge
Quarterback Drew Allar spearheaded Penn State’s (13-2, 8-1 Big Ten) offensive efforts, throwing three touchdown passes, including two to tight end Tyler Warren. Allar’s 11-yard strike to Warren in the first quarter set the tone, and a third-quarter touchdown to Warren re-established control after Boise State closed the gap to three points.
“Drew makes big-time throws,” Franklin said. “He started out the game on fire, and we made things a little harder than they needed to be with penalties. But he stepped up when it mattered.”
Turnovers Define the Game
Turnovers played a pivotal role in the Nittany Lions’ success. Penn State’s defense forced three interceptions and recovered a fumble. Safety Zakee Wheatley’s interception in the second quarter and a fumble recovery in the first halted Boise State drives and set up crucial scoring opportunities.
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Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen threw for 304 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted three times, halting their momentum at critical junctures. Conversely, Penn State’s lone turnover, a fumble by Allar in the first quarter, went unpunished as the Broncos failed to capitalize.
“Football always comes down to execution, and we just didn’t execute as much as we needed to, to establish the run game as much as we have to in a game like this.” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said. “It’s something that we’ve got to look back and learn and grow from.”
Shutting Down Ashton Jeanty
Penn State’s defense effectively neutralized Boise State’s standout running back Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for 104 yards on 30 carries but struggled to break free. His longest run was just 26 yards, and he fumbled in the first quarter, leading to a Penn State touchdown.
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Penalties Create Drama
Both teams struggled with penalties, with Boise State committing 13 for 90 yards and Penn State 10 for 98 yards. Boise State’s mistakes were particularly costly, including a false start on 4th-and-1 in the second quarter that forced them to punt and a roughing-the-passer call in the third that extended a Penn State touchdown drive.
Key Performances
Penn State’s offensive balance shone, with Kaytron Allen rushing for 134 yards on 17 carries, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. Nicholas Singleton added 87 yards on 12 carries, including a game-sealing 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Allar finished with 171 passing yards, completing 13 of 25 attempts. Tight end Tyler Warren stood out with six catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns, while Omari Evans contributed a 38-yard touchdown reception.
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Defensively, Dani Dennis-Sutton recorded six tackles, a sack, and 2.5 tackles for loss. The secondary, led by Wheatley and Zion Tracy, disrupted Boise State’s passing game and forced turnovers at key moments.
A Historic Start to the Expanded CFP
This game was the first of four quarterfinals played over two days in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format, marking a new era for college football. Penn State’s victory solidified its place in history as the inaugural CFP quarterfinal winner, setting the tone for the remaining games.
When Penn State head coach James Franklin was asked his thoughts on getting to face Georgia or Notre Dame next “Honestly, I want to enjoy this Boise win and this Fiesta Bowl win for a couple hours.” he remarked. “Two great programs. History, tradition, talent, coaching. At this point in the season, you’re going to play really good people, and we’re excited about that opportunity.”
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With a balanced offensive attack, opportunistic defense, and contributions from every unit, Penn State not only made history but also positioned itself as a strong contender in the chase for the national championship. “
Tucson, Az-The Miami University Redhawks showcased an explosive second half to defeat Colorado State 43-17 in the inaugural Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl on Saturday afternoon, marking their largest bowl game victory in program history.
Redhawks running back Kevin Davis delivered a career-best performance, rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. His electrifying 97-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the second-longest in Miami history and solidified his place as the game’s MVP. Davis also amassed 245 all-purpose yards, including an 81-yard kickoff return. The outgoing senior shared his thoughts on his last game with the team “It’s like a dream come true. It doesn’t even feel real. The biggest thing about it is I get to do it with the guys I love. “
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The Redhawks (9-5, 7-1 MAC) led 9-3 at halftime, with kicker Dom Dzioban contributing three field goals. Defensive efforts in the first half included a forced fumble by Ambe’ Caldwell and an interception by Adam Trick, setting the stage for Miami’s offensive explosion.
The third quarter belonged to the Redhawks. Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin remarked “We got going in the third quarter.” Setting a tempo and “It worked and then the next drive it worked and next thing you know the floodgates opened.” Brett Gabbert, in his final game as Miami’s quarterback, orchestrated multiple scoring drives, including a 4-yard touchdown by Davis and his own 10-yard rushing touchdown. A forced fumble by Matt Salopek, recovered by Silas Walters, further fueled the momentum. After Colorado State failed to convert on fourth down, Davis’ 97-yard dash widened Miami’s lead to 29-3.
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The Rams (8-5, 6-1 Mountain West) fought back with a 56-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Stephon Daily, but Miami’s defense, led by seniors Ty Wise and Salopek, kept the game out of reach. Jordan Brunson added two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Colorado State’s season ended with turnovers playing a critical role. The Rams committed four, leading to 19 Miami points. Commenting on the game Rams Head Coach Jay Norvell said “We talked a lot about what we had to do to win this game. And we didn’t execute what we talked about.” In what was their first bowl game appearance since 2017.
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Miami’s win improved its all-time bowl record to 9-7 and provided a triumphant finish to a memorable season.
The Arizona Bowl is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization supporting programs in southern Arizona. They are the only bowl game in the country that gives 100% of net proceeds to non-profit organizations.
Colorado Shedeur Sanders (2) is tackled by BYU Isaiah Glasker (16) and Harrison Taggart (11) in the first quarter of the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday December 28, 2024. BYU won by a score of 36 to 14. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
San Antonio, TX- Saturday night, the greatest father-son era in college sports took his last ride in the Alamo Dome .
As Deion Sanders walked down the sideline with his son Sheduer one last time you can see the emotion in his eyes knowing this will be the last pre game walk with his son as his coach . Also coaching his son Shilo Sanders the hard hitting safety who choose to follow his father to Jackson State who will turn pro with many of his teammates who have made Colorado one of the most popular team in sports .
BYU Jakob Robinson (0) trips up Colorado LaJohntay Wester (1) in the third quarter of the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday December 28, 2024. BYU won by a score of 36 to 14. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
To think what Deion Sanders has done in the past four years is mind blowing to college football he has put the spotlight back on the young players who will be the future stars of NFL and has started at all time high level. Name another coach that can flip the number one player in the country from Florida State to HBCU. I don’t even think the likes of The Great Nick Saban could do that what Deion his sons Travis Hunter and the rest of the Colorado Buffaloes have done has shifted the attention back to college football as it was in the 90s when Bobby Bowden was dominating at Florida State and when the Miami hurricanes were an unstoppable force. Saturday night’s outcome of two power houses from the Big 12 proved that BYU is the big brother for now and Colorado has the potential to run the table in the future, maybe the future of college football, considering the talent that Colorado has coming in from around the nation.
BYU Mata’ava Ta’ase (88) stretches out for a pass while Colorado Shilo Sanders (21) closes in during the first quarter of the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday December 28, 2024. BYU won by a score of 36 to 14. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
Speaking of the future Julian Lewis Carde Smith and Kaidon Salter were present . Salter could be the key next year to the bus run for the college football championship with His championship caliber play coming from Liberty being in the preseason Heisman Trophy conversation at the beginning of the season and Juju being the future of Colorado Buffalo football.
BYU had everything working most of the game and Colorado had a hard time converting on third down . Sheduer completed 16 of 23 passes for 208 yards and 2 touchdowns. Despite the loss Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter put on a show in his last game for Colorado with 106 yards and a touchdown and no touchdowns given up on defense. BYU also opted to stay away from throwing to Hunter side unlike most teams this season but the Buffalo still came up with three interceptions one that didn’t count went to Shiloh Sanders, but was brought back on an offside penalty by Colorado. Sanders did pick off a two point conversion try late in the game that prevented BYU From going up by 35 points. The one thing I can say Colorado never gave up the entire game. They kept in all their starters and the entire team during the game.Sheduer and Coach Prime spoke after how important it was to keep fighting so the team would follow suit the entirety of the game.
BYU celebrates their victory over Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday December 28, 2024. BYU won by a score of 36 to 14. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
Colorado did a complete 180 from last season finishing 9-4 second in the Big 12 conference which leads plenty excitement for next season with a new class of players coming in. Coach Prime is proving he’s the master of the transfer portal with few key players that the team signed over the last few weeks that could set up Colorado to push for a berth in the college football playoffs and a national title. The future looks bright in Boulder . #TheBuffsAreHere
LAS VEGAS, NV – USC quarterback Jayden Maiava found receiver Kyle Ford for a 7-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining to comeback and defeat Texas A&M 35-31 to win the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night.
It looked like Texas A&M (8-5) was primed for the win after quarterback Marcel Reed capped off a 7 play 75-yard drive with his 19-yard touchdown run to put the Aggies up 31-28 with 1:49 remaining.
Maiava and the Trojans had an up-and-down night but found a way to make the plays when it mattered.
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USC (7-6) put together a 10-play drive for 75 yards that led to Maiava and Ford’s touchdown connection.
Maiava went 8-for-9 on the final drive for 78 yards including a 33-yard pass to receiver Ja’Kobi Lane on 3rd-and-13 from the Aggies’ 46.
“He didn’t play his best there for a while, missed a few things he doesn’t’normally miss, ”USC coach Lincoln Riley said of Maiava, “but he stuck with it. That’s what you’ve got to do. You’ve got to keep fighting.”
Lane was the star of the night with seven catches for 127 yards and a Las Vegas Bowl-record three touchdown catches.
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“At the end of the day we all realized what we came to do in Vegas, and that is come out with a win,” said Lane. “And I think we’re all happy with that, and it’s time to go home and enjoy a little bit of Christmas time that we missed.”
USC trailed 24-7 with 5:12 left in the third quarter before turning it around starting with Lane’s second touchdown of the day making 24-14 late in the third quarter.
Maiva finished the game 22-for-39 passing for 295 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Reed gave everything he could to help knock off the Trojans but he left too much time in the end. He finished the game with a total of 339 yards (293 passing & 46 rushing) and 4 touchdowns ( 3 passing & 1 rushing).
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On Sept. 1 at Allegiant Stadium in the opener, the Trojans overcame a third-quarter deficit and scored with eight seconds left to beat LSU 27-20 and they finished their season in a very similar way.
It was a fitting end for USC to end a season marked by frustration, on a high note from which they hope for a bright future ahead.
“You just kind of feel it within the locker room right now,” Riley said. “A confidence that we’re going to be in every fight, that we’re not going to go away.”
San Diego, CA- The Syracuse football team capped off first year head coach Fran Brown’s inaugural season with an emphatic 52-35 win over Washington State in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl.
It was a dominant effort from the Orange on offense as they combined for 606 total yards.
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Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns. McCord broke Deshaun Watson’s Atlantic Coast Conference season passing yards record in the win. On the ground, it was one of the best performances of the season from running back LeQuint Allen. He rushed 17 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
Washington State came into the game without their head coach as Jake Dickert accepted the head coaching job at Wake Forest and their starting quarterback John Mateer transferred to Oklahoma as well.
All in all, the Cougars lost over 20 players to the transfer portal, head coach, both coordinators, and their quarterbacks and running backs coach.
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Despite all their losses, the Cougs still performed admirably. Mateer’s backup, Zevi Eckhaus threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in the losing effort. In the last game of his WSU career, senior wide receiver Kyle Williams went out with a bang. Williams reeled in 10 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown.
Washington State were +18.5 underdogs coming into the game, but it didn’t matter to them as they came out and put up 21 points in what was an explosive first quarter. The two teams exchanged blow for blow and totaled 35 points in the first quarter alone as the defense seemed to be non-existent early on.
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The Orange didn’t take their foot off the pedal and added an additional three touchdowns in the second quarter to jump into the lead and they didn’t look back. McCord found wide receiver Oronde Gadsen II twice in the endzone for two passing touchdowns.
“The way we practice, there are so many reps that guys are getting a lot of reps,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said postgame. “So when it’s their time to go, they should be ready to play.”
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Gadsden II would finish the game with four receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cougs offense would tail off after their 21-point first quarter, mustering up two touchdowns in the second half after being shutout in the second quarter.
“I mean I’m just thankful for all of them you know I’m happy that we’re we in the position we’re in and uh we set a standard I think the 10 win show that we are becoming a successful program,” said Brown.
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Syracuse would hold on to win the bowl game and improve to a 10-3 record and will undoubtedly finish the season as a ranked team. The win gives Brown and the program momentum heading into year two after posting 10 wins in his first season at the helm.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - DECEMBER 27: Navy quarterback Blake Horvath (11) celebrates the game winning touchdown over Oklahoma at the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
DFW, TX- Navy’s head coach Brian Newberry described Friday’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl 21-20 win as symbolic of the Navy football program, especially the seniors.
“It’s a perfect ending; you’re down 14-0; it symbolizes everything these guys have been through, how things started, things looked bleak, things weren’t going great, adversity, and they kept scratching, clawing, and fighting. [They] stayed the course and came out on top.”
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Navy fullback Alex Tecza (46) runs past Oklahoma defensive lineman Damonic Williams (52) during the third quarter of the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in, Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
Friday’s Armed Forces Bowl built up to one final play. Jake Robert caught a touchdown pass with six seconds left, and Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables kept his offense on the field to win it with a two-point conversion.
“We had a chance to win there and had the coverage and defense we hope to get,” Venables said. “[Navy] did a good job of staying back outside the route. I think [if] we’ve been able to hold it a little longer. I think we worked one over the middle [and] working late. I would go for it again every situation.”
Before the game, the Oklahoma Sooners were without two of their top offensive players. Jackson Arnold entered the transfer portal and signed with Auburn 2 weeks ago, and Jovantae Barnes suffered an ankle injury back in early November vs. Maine and was unavailable. However, that didn’t stop the Sooners’ offense from starting out of the gate briskly Friday. Oklahoma’s opening drive took nine plays and sixty-five yards, thanks to a kickoff penalty to start the afternoon. The drive consisted of four carries for Gavin Sawchuk, capped off with a 21-yard touchdown run up the middle for Sawchuk.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Oklahoma receiver Zion Ragins (81) beats a Navy defender for a gain during the first quarter of the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
After the Sooners forced Navy to punt, Oklahoma went down the field for an 85-yard scoring drive. The drive had four incompletions, but on the fifth pass attempt of the drive, Michael Hawkins Jr. found Zion Kearney down the field for a 56-yard touchdown pass and catch. Navy picked up a 37-yard run by Blake Horvath, but the Midshipmen couldn’t make any more on the drive afterward; on a 4th and 5, Horvath missed Eli Heidenreich too tall, and Navy turned it over on downs at the Oklahoma 25. Both Midshipmen drives in the first reached Sooners’ territory, but Navy couldn’t crack the scoreboard.
To start the second, Oklahoma moved the ball in the same brisk manner. The Sooners even managed a successful fake punt pass by Luke Elzinga to Woodi Washington for 28 yards from their own 43. However, the drive stalled on a 4th and 1 at the Navy 20 when the Midshipmen defense bottled up Xavier Robinson and turned the Sooners over on downs. The next string of possessions ended with a 70-yard punt by Navy’s Riley Riethman and another Midshipmen defensive hold on 4th and 1.
The defensive hold propelled Navy down the field, aiding on a perfect play-action fake from Horvath to Cody Howard for 21 yards on a 3rd and 1. Alex Tecza, with a power run up the middle for 11 yards, capped off the drive with Navy’s first score of the afternoon at the 3:40 mark of the second quarter. It was a turnaround for Oklahoma’s offense, which picked up 185 total yards in their first 22 plays (8.41 yards/play) and 79 yards in their last 23 plays of the first half (3.43 yards/play).
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins (9) is taken down by a Navy defender Jordan Sanders (33) during the first quarter of the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
“We had opportunities for a lot of explosive players, which have been hard on this year. Mike did a really great job putting the ball right where it needed to be several times,” Venables said regarding the fast start but offensive struggles afterward on the Sooners offense. The rhythm was affected with several drops [7], had a penalty on one drive, and didn’t convert a couple of fourth downs that we’ve got to convert in order to win.”
Both teams punted in their first possession to begin the second half. However, a Horvath 95-yard touchdown burst up the middle. The 95-yard rush was an Armed Forces Bowl record for the longest touchdown rush, previously held by Rashaad Penny in 2017 for San Diego State and a Navy school record. It was also the longest run of Horvath’s career, previously at 90 yards on September 21st vs. Memphis. The scramble evened the game up at 14 late in the third quarter.
“There’s plenty of guys faster on our team than me,” Horvath said with a smirk when asked about his record-breaking run. “It’s not the longest without Brandon Chapman and the offensive line. I’m going to give him some slack, but Alex Tecza could have gone for 96 the play before it.”
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Oklahoma tight end Jake Roberts (87) hauls in a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter during the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
Hawkins Jr. fumbled the ball on the ensuing play for Oklahoma, forced by Navy’s Colin Ramos, to which Midshipmen’s Andrew Duhart recovered. The fumble resulted in a missed field goal by Nathan Kirkwood.
Oklahoma followed suit and moved down the field right on the fringe of field goal range. The drive featured a 56-yard touchdown run by Hawkins, which was wiped away due to a holding penalty on Febechi Nwaiwu. Zach Schmit attempted a 52-yard field goal, but it was wide right, keeping things even.
Navy took their next drive and moved down the field, similar to Oklahoma’s first touchdown drive. It was an 11-play 66-yard touchdown drive with no plays going for more than 10 yards until their 10th play, a fourth-down 16-yard conversion from Horvath to Eli Heidenreich. On the next play, Horvath too kit 6 yards to give Navy their first lead of the game at 21-14.
After both teams punted, Oklahoma, with under two minutes, converted a fourth down and a third and long to set up a game-tying scoring drive. Hawkins Jr. found Roberts in the corner of the end zone with six seconds on the clock. However, coach Venables went for two for the win, but Justin Reed brought Hawkins Jr. back in the backfield for the sack, securing Navy’s comeback victory.
Navy’s head coach Brian Newberry wasn’t shocked by the decision to go for two.
“[Oklahoma] had a little momentum right there. They struggled to move the ball after the first 14 points or struggled to get into the end zone. I thought it was the right decision by Coach Venables. I think I would have done the same thing.”
The players were a little surprised, but after the past few days of 5-6 overtimes, they were happy about it, especially considering the final result.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: The Navy Midshipmen celebrate their Armed Forces Bowl win over Oklahoma at Amon Carter G. Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Texas. Photo by Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News
“I didn’t know,” Justin Reed said when asked if he anticipated the Sooners going for two at the end. “But I was glad they did. I didn’t want to go to five [or] six overtimes.”
“That was my thought process,” Colin Ramos said. “It’s something we always talk about, those moments where it’s make or break on the game. Who are you going to be when the pressure is on? Seeing everyone in the secondary doing a hell of a job to cover in the back end gives us time to get the pressure. Everyone had their points to a quarterback. No one blinked, no one hesitated, [and] we all pulled the trigger.”
Navy picks up their first ten-win season since 2019, while Oklahoma’s 6-7 finish is only their second losing season since 1998 (2022, they finished 6-7).
PHOENIX, AZ –– Dylan Edwards rushed for 196 yards and three total touchdowns to lead the Kansas State Wildcats (9-4) to a 44-41 Rate Bowl victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-6) Thursday night before 21,659 at Chase Field.
After opting out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft, Edwards replaced DJ Giddens, one of the premiere running backs in the Big 12.
“I’m just so proud of the guys and their resolve and continuing to fight,” said K-State head coach Chris Klieman, whose team finished with a 9-4 record. “We’re so thrilled with finding a way to get stops on defense and then capitalizing with some big-time plays offensively.”
Kansas State used a 27-point second half to rally past Rutgers.
Photo by Troy Flowers / fi360 News
At the half, Rutgers led 27-17.
Rutgers pushed their lead to 34-17 on their opening drive of the second half when Ja’shon Benjamin caught a 7-yard touchdown from Athan Kaliakmanis.
Edwards rushed for a 65-yard touchdown on the Wildcats third possession, sparking the comeback.
On the ensuing possession, Kaliakmanis was picked off by Daniel Cobbs, setting up a four-play, 42-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 13-yard Johnson touchdown pass to Garrett Oakley.
The Wildcats attempted two-point conversions after their third-quarter touchdowns but were unsuccessful.
Rutgers scored their final points in the early fourth quarter on an Antwan Raymond 1-yard touchdown run.
Kansas State drove 85 yards on the ensuing possession in 14 plays, capped by a 9-yard Johnson pass to Joe Jackson.
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Rutgers tried to reclaim the momentum but went three-and-out for -5 yards.
Three plays and 60 yards later, the Wildcats celebrated a 36-yard Edwards touchdown run and a converted two-point Johnson pass to Garrett Oakley in the endzone.
After amassing 319 yards in the first half, Rutgers had 82 yards in the second.
Rutgers over their final six possessions went: punt, interception, punt, touchdown, punt, downs.
“As they say in life, things get rocky,” said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, whose team finished with a 7-6 record. “They played better. We had some issues. I tip my hat to Kansas State. They did a heck of a job and controlled the game in the second half on offense and defense.”
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Kaliakmanis was 14 of 32 for 237 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Raymond carried 18 times for 113 yards and three touchdowns. Benjamin had seven carries for 33 yards and one touchdown and caught one pass for seven yards with a touchdown.
Johnson was 15 of 30 for 195 yards, with three touchdowns with an interception, and rushed 11 times for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Junior Vandeross III touchdown to secure the win in the 6th overtime during, GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
Detroit, MI- Junior Vandeross delivered a standout performance with 12 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown, including the game-winning reception in a thrilling six-overtime 48-46 victory over Pittsburgh in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field on Thursday.
“It felt like we had to win the game three or four times today, but we are so proud of this team,” Toledo head coach Jason Candle said after the Rockets’ thrilling six-overtime 48-46 victory over Pittsburgh in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
In a fast-paced and thrilling first half of the 2024 Gameabove Sports Bowl, the Toledo Rockets surged ahead early, but the Pittsburgh Panthers mounted a strong comeback before Toledo seized control again.
Toledo struck first with an explosive 31-yard run by Jacquez Stuart and a 30-yard reception from Junior Vandeross, capped by Tucker Gleason’s 4th-down touchdown pass to Anthony Torres for a 6-0 lead. Pittsburgh quickly answered as linebacker Kyle Louis blocked a field goal attempt and scooped it up for a score, cutting Toledo’s lead to 6-2 early in the first quarter.
A blocked field goal ignited a 10-0 scoring run for Pittsburgh, with the offense capitalizing on an 11-play drive capped by Desmond Reid’s three-yard touchdown run to take a 9-6 lead. Ben Sauls extended the advantage to 12-6 in the second quarter with a record-setting 57-yard field goal from NFL range.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
But Toledo wasn’t done. They quickly regained the lead with a four-play drive that saw Gleason connect with Vandeross for a 67-yard touchdown, making it 13-12.
In a back-and-forth contest, momentum shifted repeatedly, but the game ultimately came down to dominance in the trenches and sheer determination. Toledo’s star defensive tackle Darius Alexander applied relentless pressure, culminating in a pivotal pick-six by Braden Awls just before halftime. The play capped a 14-0 run, giving the Rockets a 20-13 lead heading into the break.
The second half of the 2024 Gameabove Sports Bowl showcased strong defensive efforts from both teams, with Pittsburgh leveraging two key Toledo turnovers in the third quarter. A quarterback change to freshman Julian Dugger proved crucial for the Panthers. Dugger immediately made an impact, finding Jake Overman for an 11-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20-20.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
The Panthers’ offense, sparked by Desmond Reid’s hard running and electrifying moves, continued to dominate. Reid’s playmaking and Dugger’s arm put the Panthers in position, and Ben Sauls added a field goal to give Pittsburgh a 23-20 lead as the game headed into the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh’s defense held strong in the fourth quarter, while freshman quarterback Julian Dugger showcased poise under pressure, making plays with both his arm and legs. Dugger orchestrated a six-play drive capped by a touchdown pass to Raphael Williams, extending the Panthers’ lead to 30-20. However, Dugger’s only mistake came on a critical 3rd-and-6 when Toledo’s star defensive tackle Darius Alexander intercepted his pass and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. The play cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 30-27, keeping the Rockets within striking distance with less than eight minutes left in the game.
Quarterback Tucker Gleason and wide receiver Junior Vandeross kept the fans on their feet all day. Vandeross, with 11 catches for 184 yards and a touchdown, made a key 27-yard reception on 4th down to set up kicker Dylan Cunanan, who tied the game at 30-30 with under two minutes remaining, sending both teams into overtime for one final shot at victory.
Four quarters weren’t enough to settle this intense matchup, as the game went into overtime with Toledo winning the toss and electing to play defense first. A pivotal moment occurred when Desmond Reid dropped a wide-open touchdown catch. Freshman quarterback Julian Dugger responded by using his legs, scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown to put Pittsburgh up 37-30. Dugger, who had already rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown, continued to make plays.
GameAbove Sports Bowl Toledo Rockets vs Pittsburgh Panthers at Ford Field on December 26, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
Toledo’s offense quickly responded, with quarterback Tucker Gleason leading an 8-play drive capped off by a QB sneak to tie the game at 37, sending it into yet another round of overtime. What started as a thriller seemed destined for more drama. At one point, Toledo stormed the field in celebration, believing they had won, only for the call to be reviewed, leading to a heavyweight battle between the teams.
Both quarterbacks found open targets in the overtime battle, but the defenses refused to give up anything. Pittsburgh’s offense was forced into an incomplete pass on the final play. Ultimately, it was the Gleason and Vandeross connection that sealed the win for Toledo. Vandeross walked off the field as both the game’s MVP and a champion, capping off a memorable performance.
