Tag: College Football

The Rose Bowl is changing with the 12-team College Football Playoff, even though it’s a historic game.

No. 1 Oregon and No. 6 Ohio State arrived in Southern California just three days before their game on Wednesday for the 111th Rose Bowl. Both teams see this as a business trip, with the game now being a CFP quarterfinal, leading to two more games.

The Ducks (13-0, CFP No. 1 seed) and the Buckeyes (11-2, CFP No. 8 seed) didn’t have time to enjoy traditional Rose Bowl activities like visiting Disneyland, so there won’t be pictures of coaches meeting Mickey Mouse.

They also skipped the Beef Bowl, where linemen traditionally eat massive amounts of prime rib. While pregame traditions were shortened, some things about the Rose Bowl remain unchanged: the Rose Parade still kicks off New Year’s Day, followed by the game set against a beautiful sunset.

“When you’re at the Rose Bowl, you’re on sensory overload,” said Ohio State coach Ryan Day on Tuesday.

“The grass is greener. The sky is bluer. The sun is more yellow. It’s just a beautiful setting. But once the foot hits the ball, it’s time to go play. Anybody who knows playoff football, the intensity just gets ratcheted up. The electricity in that stadium will be special.”

In a fortunate twist for Rose Bowl fans, the game matched the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions for many years and continues that tradition with this matchup.

This rematch, one of the best games of 2024, has the Ducks and the Buckeyes excited to begin 2025 with a potential classic in the CFP’s most anticipated quarterfinal.

Many believe Oregon and Ohio State are the two best teams in the country. Despite the challenge of facing each other so early in their bid for a national title, the unbeaten Ducks are energized by the opportunity.

“It’s certainly a different setup this year because of how bowl games are organized, but the Rose Bowl has been first-class in every way,” said Oregon coach Dan Lanning. “Growing up as a kid, you (hope to) be part of games like this. This is one we’re really thrilled to compete in.”

A year after winning the national championship, Michigan wrapped up its first season under Sherrone Moore with a win, setting the stage for a promising future.

Moore took over after Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers last winter. He described the 19-13 victory over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl as a team effort that points to a bright future for the Wolverines.

“We’ve got a great culture and great kids,” Moore said. “No one person wins a game … no two people. It’s always going to be a team sport.”

Michigan’s defense sacked Jalen Milroe five times and forced three turnovers from the Alabama quarterback. ReliaQuest Bowl MVP Jordan Marshall ran for 100 yards on 23 carries, helping Michigan control the ball for most of the game.

Dominic Zvada kicked four field goals, and Davis Warren threw a touchdown pass to Fredrick Moore in the first half. Michigan (8-5) finished the season with a three-game winning streak, including back-to-back wins over rivals Ohio State and Alabama.

“We were 5-5 and then we won some games, but it’s not the standard,” Marshall said. “We’re going to be better than this next year.”

Alabama’s season ended with a loss to Michigan for the second year in a row. The two teams met in a College Football Playoff semifinal at last year’s Rose Bowl, where Michigan won on their way to the national championship.

This loss marked the end of Alabama’s 16-season streak with double-digit wins. Kalen DeBoer, who took over as Alabama’s head coach after Nick Saban’s retirement, reflected on his first season with the team.

“Every time you’re in the locker room and you have something like this, it’s disappointing. But I think there’s a lot of things that you take from it,” DeBoer said. “So to me, it’s a success if we move forward and we take advantage of the lessons (learned this season), even though we don’t want to learn those lessons sometimes, because they’re hard.”

Milroe shook off a tough first quarter, where Alabama spent most of the time in their own territory due to heavy rain. Despite a late chance to win, Alabama’s drive stalled on a turnover on downs at Michigan’s 15-yard line.

Milroe lost two fumbles and threw an interception during Alabama’s first four drives. The fourth possession ended in an 11-yard sack on a fourth-and-4 play.

Michigan took advantage of these mistakes and scored 16 points, including a touchdown pass from Warren to Moore and field goals of 45, 30, and 21 yards, giving them a 16-0 lead.

Milroe later connected with Robbie Ouzts for a 25-yard TD, then ran for 41 yards and threw a 40-yard pass to Germie Bernard, setting up a 24-yard field goal by Graham Nicholson right before halftime.

Michigan’s defense kept their slim lead intact until Zvada’s 37-yard field goal made it 19-10 in the fourth quarter. Alabama responded with a 51-yard field goal from Nicholson, narrowing the gap to 19-13 with 4:38 left.

Milroe finished 16 of 32 passing for 192 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. Warren was 9 of 12 for 73 yards before limping off the field after being sacked early in the third quarter. Alex Orji took over at quarterback for Michigan.

The matchup between Georgia and Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl has a classic feel, and for good reason.

Linebacker Jack Kiser from Notre Dame and tight end Oscar Delp from Georgia both know about the first meeting of their famous teams in the Superdome at the end of the 1980 season — long before they were born. A national title was on the line, and a freshman named Herschel Walker (who ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns) helped Georgia win 17-10.

This time, the stakes aren’t as high, but it’s still an important game. On Wednesday night, No. 2 Georgia (11-2, CFP No. 2 seed) and No. 3 Notre Dame (11-1, CFP No. 5 seed) will face off in the same historic bowl. This year, the Sugar Bowl is part of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, with the winner advancing to the semifinal at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

Kiser, a 24-year-old defensive captain who has spent six years at Notre Dame, shared his excitement: “When you get two big brands together in a stage like the Sugar Bowl, and to know it’s happened before, with some big names that played in the game, and to understand it has so much on the line this time, too, it’s exciting.”

“As a player who gets to live it, and as a guy who’s obsessed with the history of the game and the tradition of the game, it’s certainly just amazing to be a part of,” Kiser said.

Delp mentioned how Georgia players have spent part of the past week watching old footage of the 1980 Bulldogs’ title-winning game in the Superdome on January 1, 1981.

“To have a guy like (Walker) who got to play in this game and now we’re getting to do it, and to get to play in a stadium that all the greats have played in, it’s super special,” Delp said. “It’s stuff you dream about.”

Notre Dame’s head coach Marcus Freeman joked that he was “thankful that we don’t have to play Herschel Walker.” However, he also noted that the team will need to focus on defending other challenging running backs like Nate Frasier and Louisiana native Trevor Etienne.

College sports fans who want a specific athlete to join or stay at their favorite school can now help influence the athlete’s choice by contributing money.

What was once considered taboo has become common with the launch of a new crowdfunding platform called Fanstake.

“We want to create a free market,” said Fanstake CEO Greg Glass. “What’s missing in NIL is making it fair, where athletes can see their value based on demand, and it makes it easier for fans to participate with no risk.”

Fanstake’s idea is a twist on fans contributing to booster-supported groups that pool money for name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, which let athletes earn money from their popularity since 2021. NIL money has become a key tool in college sports recruiting and keeping players, and it will complement payments from schools starting next year.

Fanstake allows fans to help recruit and keep athletes by giving money to specific players. Fans can “stake an athlete” by choosing whether to contribute money to a recruit, potential transfer, or current player.

For example, a Nebraska fan might pledge $5, $10, or more for an athlete. If the athlete picks Nebraska and wants the pledged money, they would need to sign an NIL deal with Fanstake to follow NCAA rules. The NIL deals vary in amount, but all require athletes to promote Fanstake in some way.

If the athlete chooses another school, like Notre Dame instead of Nebraska, the Nebraska fans would get their money back, and the Notre Dame fans would fund the deal. No NIL agreement is made until the athlete is on the school’s roster.

Glass mentioned that athletes keep at least 90% of the money, and 3% is shared with teammates who also promote Fanstake. The rest goes to Fanstake.

Fanstake has mostly advertised on social media, and Glass said that since launching in November, over 5,000 fans have pledged more than $20,000.

Initially, only Division I football and basketball players, as well as top high school prospects, are up for bidding. Glass said they plan to expand to more sports and lower divisions soon.

Fanstake also announced Colorado’s five-star quarterback recruit Julian Lewis as its first brand ambassador. Lewis received an ownership stake in the company as part of his NIL deal.

A federal court ruling in Tennessee last February allowed Fanstake to start competitive bidding for athletes. The court ruled that the NCAA’s rule limiting NIL deals for recruits prevented athletes from negotiating and understanding their true NIL value.

“We’ve reached a point, especially with the federal injunction, where athletes need to negotiate before choosing a school, so they know the opportunity at schools like Nebraska or Notre Dame,” Glass said.

“Fanstake helps with that. We don’t make an NIL deal until they are at the school, but we let the fanbases show the athlete the demand and how much money might be available.”

Garrett Nussmeier passed for 304 yards and three touchdowns as LSU defeated Baylor 44-31 in the Texas Bowl on Tuesday.

Nussmeier, who completed 24 of 34 passes, threw two touchdown passes to Trey’Dez Green (10 yards and 1 yard) and one to Chris Hilton Jr. (41 yards) in the first half. This helped LSU (9-4) build a 34-17 lead by halftime.

Nussmeier said the win gives LSU a “confidence boost” heading into next year.

“It’s definitely a good feeling to end the season with a win,” said Nussmeier, who was named the game’s MVP. “It’s definitely something that we were looking forward to doing. It was one of our goals. Coach (Brian) Kelly said before the game that this is the start of 2025, so we wanted to make a statement. We talked about having that killer instinct.”

Hilton caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Anderson had eight receptions for 91 yards for the Tigers, who ended the season on a three-game winning streak. LSU has now won three straight bowl games.

Kelly was happy with how the Tigers finished 2024.

“I know cynics would say it’s disappointing,” he said. “It wasn’t disappointing. It was a team that was less than perfect because of inexperience. A team that gained experience. … To win nine games and win three in a row at the end, I’m just happy for our football team.”

Sawyer Robertson threw for a career-high 445 yards and two touchdowns for Baylor (8-5), who saw their six-game winning streak come to an end.

“I thought he battled,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “I thought he was able to put balls where they needed to be. … I thought he was patient under pressure, he stepped up in the pocket. He took some hits, got back up and rallied the troops. I think the best for him is yet to come.”

Dawson Pendergrass rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns, and Josh Cameron caught eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.

“I think with this game it’s just way too many mistakes,” Aranda said. “Just so unfortunate. Hasn’t been a game like this in a while. We’ve played complementary football and this is not that. I think you take away just one of the mistakes that we had, and then we’re going to go win the game at the end of the game.”

Baylor cut the lead to 34-24 on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Robertson to Ashtyn Hawkins with six minutes left in the third quarter. After Garmon Randolph intercepted Nussmeier, the Bears got the ball on LSU’s 26-yard line, giving them a chance to close the gap further.

However, on 4th-and-1 from the LSU 17, the snap went over Robertson’s head, resulting in a 36-yard loss. LSU capitalized on the mistake with Josh Williams scoring a 4-yard touchdown run to begin the fourth quarter.

Penn State’s defenders blocked every opening, stretched out every run to the outside, and closed in aggressively.

Every time Ashton Jeanty tried to move, he ran into Penn State players. Despite being the Heisman Trophy runner-up, Jeanty still managed to rush for over 100 yards, but it was a hard-earned effort.

Drew Allar threw three touchdown passes, and No. 5 Penn State shut down Jeanty, winning 31-14 against No. 8 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday. This victory earned them a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

“We knew who we were going against. We knew we had to have hats to the ball every single play because every play he could break one,” said Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley, who had an interception and recovered a fumble. “We did that the whole game.”

The Nittany Lions (13-2, CFP No. 6 seed) began their first CFP appearance with a dominant win over SMU and seemed on track for another big win by taking a 14-0 lead against Boise State.

However, Boise State (12-2, CFP No. 3 seed), known for its underdog spirit since the famous 2007 Fiesta Bowl, quickly bounced back.

Boise State closed the gap, bringing the score to 17-14 early in the third quarter, gaining momentum. But Penn State responded decisively.

Allar threw his second touchdown pass of the night to Tyler Warren, and Nick Singleton ran for a 58-yard touchdown, sealing the win for Penn State, who will play in the Orange Bowl against No. 2 Georgia or No. 3 Notre Dame.

“We played a complete game,” said Penn State coach James Franklin. “Our offense, defense, and special teams, we played complementary football, did some special things.”

Penn State dominated both the offense and defense throughout the night, especially when it came to controlling the line of scrimmage and shutting down Jeanty.

Jeanty, an AP first-team All-American, finished with just 104 yards on 30 carries, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry, which was half of his season average. He fell 27 yards short of breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record set in 1988 at Oklahoma State.

“They have a great D-line, front seven,” Jeanty said. “It wasn’t really extraordinary. They executed, they tackled, and we didn’t play our best.”

While Penn State’s defense was strong, their offense was just as effective, particularly in the run game.

The Nittany Lions ran for 216 yards, with Kaytron Allen rushing for 134 yards and Nick Singleton adding 87 yards. Allar, who had faced criticism during the season, was steady, completing 13 of 25 passes for 171 yards.

He was especially accurate early on, throwing a touchdown to Warren and another to Omari Evans, giving Penn State a two-touchdown lead.

“Being 14-0, that isn’t something anybody really wants to be in,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said.

As they often do, Boise State fought back. They pressured Allar, slowing down Penn State’s drives, and got a big break when Allar fumbled right after Jeanty lost his third fumble of the season.

With Jeanty tightly guarded, Boise State turned to fullback Tyler Crowe, who carried several Penn State defenders into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown, cutting the lead in half. The Broncos seemed to be back in the game after Matt Lauter’s 53-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, but they couldn’t keep up.

Maddux Madsen threw three interceptions, and Jonah Dalmas missed his second field goal attempt, leaving Boise State short of the CFP semifinals.

“A lot of people counted us out, and we came up a couple plays short,” Danielson said.

Ashton Jeanty took the ball on Boise State’s first play and made a few steps before being stopped by a group of Penn State players in dark blue jerseys. They pushed him backward, and he didn’t gain any yards.

It was the beginning of a tough night for Jeanty, who had an incredible season.

Jeanty, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, rushed for a season-low 104 yards on 30 carries as No. 6 seed Penn State defeated No. 3 seed Boise State 31-14 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Broncos were never ahead in the game, struggling to get their running game going after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter.

“Ashton Jeanty’s the best football player in the country, period. Point blank,” said Boise State coach Spencer Danielson. “You’re always ready for those explosive plays. We believe in wearing a defense out.”

“But it’s hard when you’re digging yourself out of a two-score (hole).”

Jeanty finished the season with 2,601 rushing yards, just shy of the Football Bowl Subdivision record. Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders set the record with 2,628 yards for Oklahoma State in 1988. Sanders did this in only 11 games, while Jeanty played 14.

Penn State coach James Franklin said his team was very motivated to prevent Jeanty from breaking the single-season record.

“He’s an impressive guy, but we’re pretty good on defense,” Franklin said. “I thought our D-line did a really good job of being disruptive and getting in the backfield. Then I thought we did a good job gang tackling. There were a few times we didn’t wrap like we should, but for the most part our defense played lights out.”

Jeanty moved up from fourth to second on the single-season chart after his Fiesta Bowl performance, passing UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,567 yards in 2007) and Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (2,587 yards in 2014).

At 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds, Jeanty rushed for just 39 yards on 13 carries in the first half as the Broncos trailed 17-7. Penn State’s defense, one of the best in the nation this season, kept Jeanty from finding much space, with many players tackling him on most plays.

“It wasn’t really that they did anything extraordinary,” Jeanty said. “They executed and tackled.”

Jeanty managed to break free for a 26-yard gain early in the fourth quarter with the Broncos down 24-14. It helped set up a potential scoring drive, but Jonah Dalmas missed a 38-yard field goal attempt that would have brought Boise State within one possession.

Jeanty struggled because Boise State was always trying to catch up. They were behind throughout the game and had to depend more on quarterback Maddux Madsen and the passing game.

It didn’t work out. Madsen threw for 304 yards and a touchdown but also had three interceptions.

Jeanty also lost a fumble in the first quarter, his third fumble of the season.

“We didn’t play our best. I didn’t take care of the ball,” Jeanty said. “That’s why we weren’t able to get the job done.”

Even though the season ended on a disappointing note, Jeanty’s performance was one of the best ever for a college running back. He ran for over 100 yards in all 14 games and went over 200 yards six times, leading his team to 12 wins and a second straight Mountain West title.

“They re-established the standard of Boise to be a light on the hill to the country that had been lost for a little bit,” coach Danielson said. “I’m so proud of them for doing that. That’s a legacy that can never be taken from them.”

Texas Tech junior quarterback Behren Morton will miss the Liberty Bowl after having elective shoulder surgery, the school announced on Saturday.

Morton had the surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles for a joint sprain in his right shoulder that he had been playing with for most of two seasons. He first injured the shoulder in the fourth game of the 2023 season but didn’t miss any regular-season games this year after ending his spring practice early.

“After hearing from several leading NFL medical experts, my family and I felt it was best to get this procedure done now so that I can fully rehab this spring and be ready for the start of summer workouts,” Morton said.

“As I’ve said all year, this injury did not impact me at all this past season. I elected to undergo this surgery now for my long-term success.”

The Red Raiders (8-4) are set to play Arkansas (6-6) from the SEC in the Liberty Bowl on December 27, a game between former Southwest Conference rivals.

Morton ranks third in the Big 12 and 10th nationally with 3,335 passing yards (277.9 yards per game) and is second in the league with 27 touchdown passes. The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 with 38.6 points and 459.8 total yards per game.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a well-known orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder injuries with experience treating NFL and MLB players, performed the surgery.

“I know he wants to be with his teammates against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl, but this decision is best for his long-term future as a quarterback as well as following his playing career,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said about Morton.

Freshman Will Hammond, a highly rated true freshman, will make his first career start in place of Morton for the Liberty Bowl.

This Army-Navy game was unlike any before it. Both teams had a combined total of 19 wins going into their annual matchup, setting a record for the rivalry.

However, only one team could earn the 20th victory—the biggest win of them all.

“I think they’re like us. We want to be significant,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said. “I think we both were this year, and I think because of that maybe there was a little more significance, a little more interest maybe in this game.”

Blake Horvath outperformed Bryson Daily at quarterback, gaining 311 yards and scoring four touchdowns to help Navy defeat No. 19 Army 31-13 on Saturday. Horvath passed for 107 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Navy (9-3) ended a two-game losing streak in the series.

Daily, who finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting this year, threw a touchdown pass, but he was intercepted three times. Army (11-2) fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter and could never fully recover.

The Black Knights had just come off a victory over Tulane in the American Athletic Conference title game, marking the first league championship in the program’s history.

Navy, which had won its first six games of the season and also spent time in the Top 25, completed a sweep of Air Force and Army to win the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 2019.

“As excited and proud we were eight days ago, we’re as disappointed as we’ve ever been,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “It’s hard to lose that game. That one hurts a lot, especially when the trophy’s on the line and we’ve got a chance to keep that trophy at West Point. We didn’t do it.”

In front of a crowd that included President-elect Donald Trump at the Washington Commanders’ home stadium in Landover, Navy took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards, finishing with a 1-yard run by Horvath.

Daily, who had only been intercepted once all season, had a pass picked off by Dashaun Peele in the second quarter. Navy took advantage of the short field and went ahead 14-0 on an 18-yard pass from Horvath to Brandon Chatman. Daily responded with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Reed.

Both teams ran the ball heavily, as expected, but they also combined for 25 pass attempts. The biggest play of the game likely came in the third quarter.

After a field goal made the score 14-10, Horvath connected with Eli Heidenreich, who ran down the left sideline for a 52-yard touchdown.

That was Horvath’s 13th touchdown pass of the season and Heidenreich’s sixth touchdown reception, both tying school records.

Daily missed an open Casey Reynolds in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, and Army had to settle for a field goal.

Navy faced a fourth down near midfield but ran a fake punt. Landon Robinson, usually a nose guard, ran 29 yards before fumbling the ball. However, the Midshipmen recovered the fumble.

Horvath’s 1-yard scoring run made it 28-13, and Daily was intercepted twice more before the game ended.

This was the first of two straight Army-Navy games in Navy’s home state of Maryland. Next year’s game will be in Baltimore.