Los Angeles, CA- Sometimes a game turns not on a timeout board, but on a feel for the moment. USC Trojans men’s basketball found that moment early in the second half and never gave it back, pulling away from the Maryland Terrapins men’s basketball for an 88-71 Big Ten Conference win at Galen Center, Tuesday, Jan. 13.
The separation came through adjustments on both ends of the floor.
USC clung to a 42-41 halftime lead when Ausar pushed the pace at the 15:05 mark of the second half, finishing a fast-break hook shot through contact and converting the three-point play. That sequence flipped the energy. The Trojans didn’t look back.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
Jordan Marsh was the tone-setter. Subbed in early after halftime, Marsh applied downhill pressure, sped up the game and delivered shot-making when it mattered. He finished with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 4 of 9 from beyond the arc, while adding four assists and four rebounds in just over 24 minutes.
Maryland guard David Coit was electric early, scoring 19 of his game-high 30 points in the first half. USC coach Eric Musselman adjusted defensively, assigning Jerry Easter to Coit coming out of the locker room. The coverage tightened, forcing tougher looks and disrupting Maryland’s offensive rhythm.
The decisive moments came above the rim. Gabe Dynes finished an alley-oop dunk off a Marsh assist at the 11:38 mark of the second half, then followed with a tip jam at 16:46 — momentum plays that stretched the margin and lifted the building.
Musselman praised his depth, calling it “the most bench points we’ve had all year,” and said he was “super proud of this group.” USC logged 235 passes, its highest total of the season, a reflection of the ball movement that broke the game open.
USC (14-3) next hosts Purdue, while Maryland (7-10) returns home to face Penn State.
NFL Preseason Dallas Cowboys vs Los Angeles Rams 2nf Half action at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Ca on August 13 , 2016. (Photographer Jevone Moore)
CHARLOTTE, N.C.– The heavily favored Los Angeles Rams survived a major scare on the road, barely beating the Carolina Panthers 34–31 in a thrilling Wild Card showdown on January, 10th exceeded the hype. What many expected to be a comfortable Los Angeles win turned into a back-and-forth playoff classic, decided only in the final minute by Matthew Stafford’s late-game heroics.
Stafford threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, delivering his biggest strike with 38 seconds left, when he hit Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard go-ahead touchdown after Carolina had just taken the lead. It capped a calm, surgical two-minute drill that featured clutch completions to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and it sent the Rams to the Divisional Round.
Nacua once again proved to be Stafford’s most trusted target, finishing with 10 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a rushing score. Adams chipped in 72 yards, and Kyren Williams helped seal the win with 57 rushing yards and a critical 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Carolina refused to go quietly. Bryce Young shook off early mistakes to engineer a resilient performance, throwing for 264 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score.
The Panthers leaned on explosive plays, led by Jalen Coker, who had a breakout night with nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown, including a pivotal 52-yard grab that helped swing momentum late.
Chuba Hubbard powered the ground game with two rushing touchdowns, and Carolina briefly stunned the crowd by taking a 31–27 lead with just over two minutes remaining after a blocked punt set up a short-field score.
In the end, turnovers and experience told the story. Stafford was intercepted once, but the Rams capitalized on key opportunities and answered every Carolina punch down the stretch. Young’s final drive ended under heavy pressure, with the Rams’ defense forcing a turnover on downs to seal it.
This instant classic was a ratings bonanza. 28 million people were glued to this thrilling matchup, Carolina was a 10.5 point underdog for some unknown reason, despite defeating the Rams earlier in the season.
The 34-31 shootout, with four leads changes in the fourth quarter alone, and the biggest audience for the Saturday afternoon wild-card game since Saints-Seahawks in January 2011.
Los Angeles advances after escaping one of the weekend’s most dramatic games, while the Panthers’ season ends with a performance that showed how close they are to becoming a true postseason threat.
Awaiting the Rams is former USC Heisman winner, Quarterback Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. Da Bears have home field advantage in this Divisional Playoff matchup.
Its the Rams going to frigid Soldier Field in a classic NFL Playoff game filled with history and tradition. At stake: a trip to the NFC Championship.
Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams NFC Divisional game is slated for Sunday, January 18th at 3:30 PM. It will air on NBC, and streaming on Peacock.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal hoists the Championship trophy at the conclusion of the 2025 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium could feature a matchup years in the making — and one rooted in a coaching decision that reshaped two programs.
The Miami Hurricanes are one win away from playing for the national title in their home state after edging Ole Miss 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl, a gritty semifinal victory that underscored the program’s long-awaited return to the sport’s elite. Now the Hurricanes await the outcome of Friday night’s Peach Bowl, where Oregon faces Indiana. A Ducks victory would set up a championship game with layered history: Miami vs. Oregon, coached by Mario Cristobal against the program he once led.
Cristobal, who left Oregon after the 2021 season, has engineered Miami’s rise with a physical brand of football that mirrors the Hurricanes teams of old. He was named Miami’s head coach on Dec. 6, 2021, replacing Manny Diaz and signing a 10-year, $80 million contract that signaled the university’s commitment to reclaiming national relevance.
Sebastian the Ibis rallies the crowd after a score the second quarter of the 2025 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Jeff Dahlia / fi360 News)
“It’s about standards,” Cristobal said after the Fiesta Bowl. “This program has them, and our players believe in them.”
The Hurricanes (14-1) leaned on a punishing running game and timely defense to survive Ole Miss, stopping a late Rebels drive inside the red zone. Miami’s balance — controlling the line of scrimmage while limiting mistakes — has been a season-long theme under Cristobal, whose teams are known for discipline and toughness.
Hard Rock Stadium, just miles from Miami’s campus, would offer a de facto home-field advantage in the championship game. The Hurricanes have not played for a national title since the 2002 season and have not won one since 2001.
Photo by Ben Amon / fi360 News
If Oregon advances, the storyline writes itself. Cristobal led the Ducks from 2018 to 2021, winning two Pac-12 titles before departing for his alma mater. Oregon quickly turned to Dan Lanning, the former Georgia defensive coordinator, who has since kept the Ducks among the nation’s elite with an aggressive, fast-paced style.
Lanning has often acknowledged Cristobal’s role in building Oregon’s foundation, but a title game matchup would be less about sentiment and more about contrasting identities — Miami’s bruising efficiency versus Oregon’s speed and versatility.
Indiana, however, stands in the way. The Hoosiers have already shattered expectations this season and would bring their own underdog narrative to the championship if they upset Oregon.
Photo by Ben Ammon / fi360 News
For Miami, the focus remains narrow. The Hurricanes took the one step they needed to play in college football’s biggest game on familiar turf, with a chance to complete a resurgence years in the making — and perhaps do it against the coach’s former team, under the lights, with a national title at stake.
USC Trojan's Jazzy Davidson #9 with the left handed scoop shot. (Photo by Jason Purisima)
Los Angeles, CA- Kara Dunn came out Tuesday night returning home at the Galen Center with a vengeance or hunger after that disastrous 34-point loss to crosstown rival UCLA on Saturday, scoring a game high 21 points though not enough to fight off a late fourth quarter surge by Oregon to steal a critical league game on the road, 71–66.
“Credit to Oregon…I’m not surprised that they hung in there when they were down. I’ve seen them do it. Obviously, the Michigan game was an example that was fresh in my mind,” USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “From my standpoint it’s about as upsetting loss that we’ve had in this building. I told the players that’s on me, that’s on us. It was gross in every way.”
Oregon Ducks, Ehis Elute #35 bullies her way into the paint. (Photo by Jason Purisima)
Women of Troy led most of the way with Dunn and freshmen Jazzy Davidson both scoring in double digits, 12 and 10, respectively at intermission while leading 37-21.
Women of Troy had a stretch in the first half with their largest lead at 17 before the Ducks constructed a couple of runs in the second half to begin chipping away gradually in the third quarter that forced coach Gottlieb into calling a quick timeout.
“I had to use a couple timeouts that I didn’t have at the end,” coach Gottlieb said. “I thought that we were not disciplined enough on the offensive end, which allowed them to play in transition. They’re really good in transition.”
Oregon Ducks, #2 Katie Fiso with the ball calling for the play. (Photo by Jason Purisima)
Once the momentum seemed to shift towards Oregon, USC went cold turkey from the field. Davidson whom finished with a double-double, 14 points and 13 rebounds plus five assists, shot 1-of-9 in the second half.
“From the very beginning, we weren’t hitting as many shots as we wanted to and then we started to heat up, Dunn said. “But I think it was our energy with each other, like the more that we play with each other, the more we read the ball and the way we dictate the other team. I think that was what we needed to make sure that we were doing in the second half, just slow down and make sure that we were doing the right stuff and not just jacking up anything.”
Women of Troy were dominated by the Ducks in the fourth quarter despite entering up 13 points. Davidson wasn’t able to have a heroic nite for her team when they needed a basket as Oregon swarmed her and her teammates to force them into contested shots.
USC Trojan’s Jazzy Davidson #9 attacks the rim. (Photo by Jason Purisima)
“I think if that’s one thing that I’ve learned is there’s ups and downs of basketball and this is a part of basketball and you just kind of have to do whatever it takes to fix it, Londynn Jones said. “I mean it’s going to be game by game. This is an amazing conference. We have another good team coming up that we have to pay focus for. So you can only dwell on it so long. But the practices that we do have, we do have to really lock in to what it is that the coaches are we have to buy in to what the coaches need us to buy into. So from my perspective, it’s really just locking in to what’s being asked and doing anything that I possibly can to do what’s being asked, but this is a part of basketball, so we just kind of have to figure it out, feel it, go through every emotion of it, and come out stronger.”
USC Trojan’s Londynn Jones #3 looks to drive into the lane. (Photo by Jason Purisima)
Oregon tallied up 50 points in the second half and Ehis Etute led the Ducks with 17 points, while Katie Fiso added 14. Ari Long sank three consecutive 3-pointers, including the go-ahead dagger with 0:31 to play. Oregon finished the game, scoring the final 14 points to steal the victory.
USC (10-5,2-2) travels to take on Minnesota, Sunday while Oregon returns home to host another ranked league opponent, No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday.
INGLEWOOD, CA– To wrap up their exciting regular season campaign, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Arizona Cardinals 37-20 at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon. LA enters the NFC Playoffs as the NO. 5 Seed, a first-round matchup against the Carolina Panthers next Saturday.
It also marked head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead’s 100th win (across regular season and postseason) as a head coach-general manager duo, becoming the 15th such duo to reach the 100-win mark (third among active duos).
Matthew Stafford had another brilliant performance against the pitiful Cardinals. completing 25 of 40 pass attempts for 259 passing yards and four touchdowns in the win, passing Dan Marino for seventh on the NFL’s all-time career passing touchdowns list.
In his 17th season, Stafford had his best season as an NFL Quarterback. Its a neck and neck race between him and New England QB Drake Maye. It would surprise nobody if they were named co MVP’s.
Tyler Higbee returned to the lineup, posting five receptions for a team-high 91 receiving yards and one touchdown. His presence makes the Rams even more formidable on their quest to Super Bowl LX(60).
Puka Nacua added to his NFL-leading receptions with 10 catches for 76 yards and a TD.
Let’s preview this Playoff game; a Ram fighting a Panther would be quite a sight to see in nature, the game is an intriguing test for Los Angeles.
In Week 13, the Carolina Panthers beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-28 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Overall, it will mark just the second-ever postseason meeting between the two teams – the last was in January 2004 – and 25th overall across the postseason and regular season.
The Rams captured the No. 5 seed thanks to their win over the Cardinals on Sunday, plus the Seahawks’ win over the 49ers Saturday night. Despite losing to the Buccaneers on Saturday, the Panthers still won the NFC South and captured the No. 4 seed thanks to the Falcons’ win over the Saints on Sunday.
“Really good defense,” Stafford said of the Panthers. “Timely guys making big plays on offense for them, too, in the skill position area.’
Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, January 10 at 1:30 p.m. The game will air on FOX.
Westwood, CA – No. 17 USC’s Kara Dunn landed the first punch, hitting a deep triple to give USC their first short-lived lead before No. 4 UCLA warmed-up behind the hot post play of Lauren Betts’ double-double, dropping 18 points and 12 rebounds for the game to break the overall series tiebreaker with a 80-46 statement victory on Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion.
“Someone told me before the game our programs were 54-54 in the all-time matchup, so this was the rubber match,” said coach Cori Close, “One thing we share is that we want to grow the game together in L.A. I’m proud to partner with Lindsay [Gottlieb] in that.”
Pauley Pavillion
USC Coach Lindsay Gottleib embarrassed by her team’s 34-point loss mentioned about her team’s growth through intentional scheduling of gut-checking games in the start of the season.
“I’ve learned, from what we’ve seen right now in three games, that we’re not as competitive as we want to be with the top five teams in the country, coach Gottlieb said. “I’m not sorry we have them on our schedule. We’re not trying to be a top-25, top-15 team — we’re trying to be the national champions. We’re trying to be the best program in the country… I’m also not trying to kid ourselves or pad our stats and just play whoever and think we’re as good as we need to be.”
While Women of Troy had their three-game win streak ended, this was the Bruins’ eighth consecutive win and still undefeated in Big Ten action. Utah Transfer Gianna Kneepkens pitched in 15 points, six rebounds and five assists while KiKi Rice added 14 for the Bruins (14-1, 4-0 Big Ten), ranking first place now in their conference.
Dunn had the team high 11 points and standout freshman Jazzy Davidson added 10 points despite another challenging offensive nite, shooting 4-of-15 and slightly better from behind the arc, 2-of 6 plus three blocks for the Women of Troy (10-4, 2-1).
Pauley Pavillion
Former Bruin and USC transfer, Londynn Jones, started this game her third time for the season but was completely shutdown with a dismal shooting night, 1-of-9 from field and 1-of-5 from deep. Bruins fans did not make her return a comfortable one with constant booing even in her pregame announcement as well as her former team blowing out her current team.
“Londynn will always be a part of our journey here,” coach Close said. “The continued building process includes her, even though she’s wearing a different jersey now. She made a tough decision that her and her family felt was right for her.”
The crosstown rivals were head-to-head at 16-all to close the opening period.
UCLA broke the game open after a few defensive stops turned into easy scores, eventually outscoring USC 27-12. Women of Troy were outrebounded 15-3, leading to several extra possessions for the Bruins whom closed the first half on a 16-2 run, 43-28.
Pauley Pavillion
“This is the hardest-working team I’ve ever been around, I’ve got to kick them out of the gym,” coach Close said. “There’s a difference between hard work and competing. Now I want them all to transfer that hard work into competitive awareness.”
UCLA dominated on both ends, leading almost every stats with L. Betts breaking down Women of Troy post defenders like legos advantaging the Bruins, 42-10 in the paint. USC had no answers for UCLA which includes seven former McDonald High School All-Americans after that first period.
Women of Troy were outplayed and perhaps outmatched by Bruins big lineup and overall roster, pounding the boards, 46-26.
USC has not won against a top-5 teams this season without their star top scorer, JuJu Watkins nor much of solid post presence since KiKi Iriafen graduated to the WNBA, with early season losses to No. 1 UConn and prior No. 3 South Carolina. This time with a better start in the game, USC were held to six points in the fourth quarter.
Photo by Jason Purisima
“We decided we’re not going to let them shoot any more threes,” Betts said. “That was keeping them in the game. I was helping on ball screens but it was a team effort.”
UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez added 12 points and six rebounds to give Bruins four starters in double digits. Plenty of media attention including ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith and alumni celebrities like Reggie and Cheryl Miller whom celebrated a birthday came out in the rain to support both teams as well as women’s basketball following Coach Close’s outcry about previous limited media during a road game between UCLA vs Ohio State.
Pauley Pavillion
USC hosts Oregon on Tuesday, January 6th and UCLA travels to No. 20 Nebraska on January 11th.
Texas State defensive end Tymere Jackson (0) celebrates a fumble recovery during the third quarter of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Garter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas on Jan. 2, 2026. (fi360 News / Jeff Dahlia)
DFW, Tx- The Texas State-Rice intrastate matchup became a prominent part of the Bobcats’ history. A little over two years ago, Texas State knocked off Rice 45-21 in the First Responder Bowl, marking Texas State’s first bowl game and win in school history. Friday’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl brought back the same memories for Texas State and its fans, as the Bobcats dominated Rice on both offense and defense, 41-10.
“[Friday’s win] was important for us as a program,” Texas State head coach GJ Kinne said. “Chris [Dawn Jr.] has been here for three years now and has three bowl victories, three rings, with the opportunity to go make it four next year. In college football now, that’s hard.”
Friday’s game started as a defensive battle. Rice punted twice, and Texas State punted, along with turning the ball over on downs. Then Texas State picked up the big play of the first half, an interception thrown by Patrick Crayton Jr. to Bobcats Jaden Rios. Rice’s quarterback pool was already thin entering Friday’s bowl game. Both Chase Jenkins and Drew Devillier entered the transfer portal and opted out of Friday’s bowl game. Therefore, the Owls showcased their two quarterbacks, Crayton Jr. and Lucas Scheerhorn.
Texas State defensive end DonTerry Russell (15) tackles Rice running back Quinton Jackson (10) for a loss during the second quarter of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Garter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas on Jan. 2, 2026. (fi360 News / Jeff Dahlia)
“Pretty tough day for us,” Rice head coach Scott Abell said. “Our young quarterbacks struggled and never let us get into a rhythm. No matter what you are doing, [the] quarterback position still remains [a] very important position. As the game went on, [it] put our defense in a bad situation in our second half.”
After the Rios takeaway, Texas State moved down 38 yards on eight plays. Bobcats’ quarterback, Brad Jackson, took it himself to the left side of the end zone to put Texas State on the board first, 20 minutes into the game.
Texas State running back Lincoln Pare (7) runs for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Garter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas on Jan. 2, 2026. (fi360 News / Jeff Dahlia)
On Texas State’s ensuing possession, there was a third and 10 on their own 10-yard line. It appeared Rice stopped the Bobcats at the 5-yard line and forced fourth down. However, an unsportsmanlike penalty where one of the Rice coaches made contact with an official on the sideline kept the drive alive, followed by another penalty, a block below the waist, on Rice, which took Texas State into field goal range. Tyler Robles knocked a 30-yard field goal to extend the Bobcats’ lead to 10-0.
In the final minute of the half, Crayton found Payton Matthews for 54 yards. Before that completion, Rice had 49 yards of total offense and 29 yards of passing. After a couple of failed attempts from the 1-yard line, Crayton tossed it to Aaron Turner as Rice cut the Texas State lead to 10-7 at halftime.
Texas State tight end Blake Smith (16) tries to break free from Rice defensive backs Omari Porter (7) and Peyton Stevenson (9) of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Garter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas on Jan. 2, 2026. (fi360 News / Jeff Dahlia)
“We didn’t really change anything [or] make any adjustments,” Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson said on the offensive difference between the first and second half. “[It] came down to just play in our game.”
Texas State responded in the opening minute of the second half with Jackson finding Beau Sparks in the flat for 69 yards. Sparks sped down 65 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Sparks also completed his first college pass earlier in the day for 22 yards to Blake Smith. He had not attempted a pass in the 30 previous games Sparks played.
Rice running back Quinton Jackson (10) passes the ball to receiver Aaron Turner (1) during the third quarter of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Garter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas on Jan. 2, 2026. (fi360 News / Jeff Dahlia)
“We tried to run it earlier in the season, and it kind of blew up a little bit,” Beau Sparks said about the pass completion. I live with Blake, and we’re all the time in the backyard playing catch [and] practicing it. It came to tuition today, so we were super excited about it.” Beau added that there were no nerves, but he was more proud of the completion than the 69-yard catch and run.
Later in the quarter, Kalil Alexander forced a Crayton Jr. fumble recovered by Tymere Jackson, setting up Texas State inside the Rice 15-yard line. Two plays later, Jackson found Chris Dawn Jr. up the middle for another touchdown throw.
Lincoln Pare stamped his name on Friday’s win with a 63-yard sprint touchdown. On the next drive, Jackson found Dawn Jr. for 14 yards for another Bobcats touchdown. Texas State forced 3 Rice turnovers, scoring 17 points off turnovers, and accumulated 436 yards of total offense Friday.
Rice running back Quinton Jackson (10) runs past Texas State defensive end Kalil Alexander (2) during the third quarter of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Garter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas on Jan. 2, 2026. (fi360 News / Jeff Dahlia)
The Bobcats will make the move to the Pac-12 starting next season and finish with three straight winning seasons and three straight bowl victories.
“I’m not sure it was about the Pac-12, just more [with] this program [and] where we want to head,” Bobcats head coach Kinne said regarding carrying the momentum of a bowl win to the Pac-12 next season. “We’ve been able to do that three years in a row, and that creates so much momentum.”
While not the most ideal situation for Rice, Friday’s bowl loss was an experience that coach Abell wouldn’t give up.
“I take it again and say yes again. Three weeks of practice, I can’t replicate that [and] that moment out there on the field today.”
SAN DIEGO, CA - JANUARY 02: SMU Mustangs running back Chris Johnson Jr. (6) runs the ball for a gain during the 46th Annual Trust & Will Holiday Bowl between the Arizona Wildcats versus the SMU Mustangs on January 2, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
SAN DIEGO, CA — SMU spent the second half hanging on, and when the final seconds ticked away Friday night, that was more than enough to make history.
The Mustangs survived a late surge from No. 20 Arizona to claim a 24-19 victory in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl on Jan. 2 at Snapdragon Stadium, earning their first bowl win since the 2012 Hawaii Bowl and punctuating a season that reestablished the program on the national stage.
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 02: SMU Mustangs wide receiver Yamir Knight (8) catches the ball for a gain during the 46th Annual Trust & Will Holiday Bowl between the Arizona Wildcats versus the SMU Mustangs on January 2, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
SMU (9-4) built a 24-7 halftime lead behind a sharp offensive performance, then relied on its defense to withstand Arizona’s second-half push. The Wildcats (9-4) trimmed the margin to five points in the final minute but were unable to recover an onside kick, allowing the Mustangs to run out the clock.
“We’re just very thankful here to get a win and to win the Holiday Bowl,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “It’s the first bowl we’ve won in a while here at SMU, and to do it against a Top 20 team we have a lot of respect for makes it even more special.”
SMU’s offense dominated early, racking up 328 yards and all 24 of its points before halftime. Quarterback Kevin Jennings was efficient and poised in the opening half, spreading the ball around and capitalizing on short fields. Arizona struggled to slow the Mustangs, committing five penalties for 50 yards and allowing SMU to dictate tempo throughout the first two quarters.
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 02: Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Javin Whatley (6) catches the ball for a gain during the 46th Annual Trust & Will Holiday Bowl between the Arizona Wildcats versus the SMU Mustangs on January 2, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
The Wildcats’ defense regrouped after the break and flipped the momentum. Arizona shut out SMU in the second half, holding the Mustangs to just 64 total yards after halftime. Jennings finished 21-of-32 passing for 278 yards with three interceptions, two of which came on SMU’s first two possessions of the third quarter.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita kept the Wildcats within striking distance, completing 28 of 43 passes for 265 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His 15-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Barmore with 33 seconds remaining pulled Arizona within 24-19 and briefly ignited the crowd.
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 02: Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) looks to throw the ball during the 46th Annual Trust & Will Holiday Bowl between the Arizona Wildcats versus the SMU Mustangs on January 2, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
SMU’s defense answered with its most important play of the night moments later, recovering the onside kick attempt and preventing Arizona from getting the ball back.
“Our defense kept playing really well, forcing the turnovers and getting fourth-down stops,” Lashlee said. “You saw in the second half what they’ve done to most people defensively all year, so you’ve got to give Arizona credit.”
The win marked a significant milestone for an SMU program that had not celebrated a bowl victory in more than a decade. Lashlee credited the senior class with helping return the Mustangs to prominence, citing sustained success and postseason achievements.
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 02: SMU Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) looks to throw the ball during the 46th Annual Trust & Will Holiday Bowl between the Arizona Wildcats versus the SMU Mustangs on January 2, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
“These guys have put us back on the national stage,” Lashlee said. “With a Holiday Bowl win and finishing the season with a win, it gives our program a lot of momentum.”
For Jennings, the victory was about resilience and finishing what the team started in August.
“We talked about it a lot — finishing the season with a win,” Jennings said. “Through the ups and downs that we had this year, we found a way to bounce back each and every time.”
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 02: SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee holds the holiday bowl trophy after the 46th Annual Trust & Will Holiday Bowl between the Arizona Wildcats versus the SMU Mustangs on January 2, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
Both teams ended the season with identical 9-4 records, but SMU left San Diego with more than a trophy. The Mustangs departed having erased a long-standing drought and delivered a postseason win that reinforced the program’s renewed relevance.
Orange Bowl Texas Tech vs Oregon. (Photo by John Chapman / fi360 News)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Oregon capped a dominant 2025 season with a methodical, defense-driven performance, shutting out Texas Tech 23-0 in the Orange Bowl on Wednesday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Ducks (13-1) leaned on balance, discipline and a stifling defense to control the game from start to finish, holding the Red Raiders (8-5) scoreless while limiting them to 271 total yards. It marked Oregon’s first shutout in a New Year’s Six bowl game and its most complete defensive showing of the season.
Orange Bowl Texas Tech vs Oregon. (Photo by John Chapman / fi360 News)
“It was about finishing the right way,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “Our guys were locked in, played physical and did exactly what we asked them to do.”
Oregon opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a 50-yard field goal by Atticus Sappington, then added another from 39 yards late in the second quarter to take a 6-0 halftime lead. While the Ducks moved the ball consistently, they struggled early to turn red-zone trips into touchdowns.
That changed early in the third quarter when Jordon Davison powered in from 6 yards out on Oregon’s first offensive snap of the half, pushing the lead to 13-0. Davison added a 1-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Orange Bowl Texas Tech vs Oregon. (Photo by John Chapman / fi360 News)
“Once we got rolling, it was about wearing them down,” Davison said. “Our line did a great job, and I just trusted the gaps.”
Sappington was a perfect 3 for 3 on field goals, connecting again from 43 yards midway through the fourth quarter. Oregon finished with 468 total yards and averaged 7.2 yards per play, while Texas Tech managed just 4.4.
Quarterback Dante Moore completed 246 of 340 passes on the season and guided an offense that totaled 6,096 yards overall. While Oregon did not rely heavily on the passing game in the bowl, its efficiency and field position control proved decisive.
Orange Bowl Texas Tech vs Oregon. (Photo by John Chapman / fi360 News)
The Ducks’ defense forced Texas Tech into repeated third-and-long situations, holding the Red Raiders to 35% on third-down conversions and intercepting two passes. Oregon’s front seven limited Texas Tech to 113 rushing yards and just 3.4 yards per carry.
“We couldn’t get anything going,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “Credit Oregon — they won up front and never let us find a rhythm.”
Oregon dominated time of possession and field position throughout, punting just once in the first half and committing no turnovers. The shutout underscored a season in which the Ducks allowed just 16.3 points per game.
Orange Bowl Texas Tech vs Oregon. (Photo by John Chapman / fi360 News)
With the Orange Bowl victory, Oregon closed the year with momentum and reaffirmed its place among college football’s elite entering the 2026 season. Next up the Oregon Duck will face off against Rose Bowl Quarterfinal winner No.1 Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl Semifinal.
Orange Bowl Texas Tech vs Oregon. (Photo by John Chapman / fi360 News)
Rose Bowl 2026 Alabama vs. Indiana (Photo by William 'Jaye" Johnson)
Pasadena, CA- Heisman trophy winner Fernando Mendoza threw three touchdowns to lead No. 1 Indiana to a 38-3 win over Alabama in the College Football Playoffs quarterfinals on Thursday at the Rose Bowl.
This is Indiana’s first Rose Bowl victory and now they are headed to a matchup in the semifinals against No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl.
“Coach Cignetti did a fantastic job with the trickle down effect of really making sure there’s no complacency because we had 26 days off and that’s very tough,” Mendoza said. “In the first drive as an offense, myself included, we got into a slow start but we overcame that challenge.”
Rose Bowl 2026 Alabama vs. Indiana (Photo by William ‘Jaye” Johnson)
This is the first scoreless first quarter since the year 2000. Nico Radicic made a 31-yard field goal to get Indiana on the board. After Alabama turned the ball over on downs, Mendoza hit Charlie Becker down the middle for a 21-yard touchdown and a 10- lead in the second quarter.
Alabama was driving down the field when Ty Simpson scrambled for nine yards but was hit and fumbled. Indiana recovered the fumble and capitalized on the turnover with a Mendoza 1-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. The Hoosiers took a 17-0 lead into halftime.
Rose Bowl 2026 Alabama vs. Indiana (Photo by William ‘Jaye” Johnson)
Indiana extended their lead in the third quarter when Mendoza connected with Elijah Sarratt for a 24-yard touchdown. Alabama drove down the field on the ensuing drive with Austin Mack at the helm but managed to only get a field goal to cut the lead, 24-3. On defense, the Hoosiers dominated the Crimson Tide, holding them to 193 total yards.
The Hoosiers came right back with a 25-yard touchdown run by Kaelon Black in the third quarter. Roman Hemby scored on an 18-yard to give Indiana a 38-3 lead. Black finished with 99 rushing yards.
“It was a hard fought game early. Alabama made some plays,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said. “They had us off balance offensively. But we were able to make the plays when we needed to and take over in the second half. It’s a big win against a team that’s got a lot of tradition like that.”
Rose Bowl 2026 Alabama vs. Indiana (Photo by William ‘Jaye” Johnson)
Oregon gets the rematch with Indiana, who beat the Ducks during the regular season 30-20. Oregon defeated Texas Tech 23–0 to advance to the semifinals.
“It’s hard to beat a team twice,” Mendoza said. “Those guys are legit. This is going to be a great matchup. They are a tough opponent.”
Rose Bowl 2026 Alabama vs. Indiana (Photo by William ‘Jaye” Johnson)
