Nick Patti leads Pitt to epic comeback win over UCLA in Solar Bowl
With faculty soccer’s bowl season in full swing, the week between Christmas and New 12 months’s felt like the appropriate time to reward those that have performed nicely this postseason and word the disappointing performances of others. Listed here are the winners and losers of the 2022-23 bowl season — thus far.
This submit might be up to date as bowl season continues by way of Jan. 2.
Winners
Oregon State: Oregon State destroyed Florida 30-3 within the Las Vegas Bowl to get to 10 wins for the primary time since 2006. Moreover, it was the primary bowl win for the Beavers since 2013. Within the win, Oregon State restricted Florida to solely 219 yards of offense. The one factors UF managed to attain got here on a subject purpose with 37 seconds left in regulation. Earlier than going 7-6 in 2021, Oregon State had seven consecutive dropping seasons. Now the Beavers are 17-9 over the previous two seasons. And with Clemson switch quarterback DJ Uiagalelei becoming a member of this system subsequent season, the Beavers might be a stylish preseason decide to contend for the Pac-12 title.
Florida State: The Seminoles have 10 wins in a season for the primary time since 2016 after a 35-32 win over Oklahoma within the Cheez-It Bowl. Jordan Travis threw for 418 yards on 38 makes an attempt whereas Johnny Wilson had eight catches for 202 yards. The Seminoles had 587 yards on 72 performs and received the sport regardless of going 0-of-3 on fourth down makes an attempt. It’s the primary bowl win for Florida State since 2017 and an enormous enhance for a program that can enter 2023 as the highest challenger to Clemson within the ACC.
Pitt QB Nick Patti: Nick Patti has been a backup at Pitt for the previous 5 seasons however bought an opportunity to start out within the Solar Bowl vs. UCLA. He made it depend. In simply his third profession begin, Patti led the Panthers to an epic comeback win. He threw for 224 yards and ran for 73 extra, together with a gutsy 11-yard scramble that arrange the game-winning subject purpose. UCLA took a 35-34 lead with 34 seconds remaining, however Patti shortly led the Panthers into subject purpose vary, permitting Ben Sauls besides his fourth subject purpose of the sport. This one, a 47-yarder, was the game-winner. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi has already indicated that Patti will not be again subsequent season. So if that was Patti’s closing faculty sport, he went out with a bang.
Fresno State: After a 1-4 begin, Fresno State closed out the season with 9 consecutive wins. After beating Boise State within the Mountain West title sport, the Bulldogs cruised previous Washington State 29-6 within the LA Bowl to get to 10 wins for the fourth time within the final six seasons. Within the course of, Fresno State grew to become the primary group in FBS historical past to get to 10 wins after dropping 4 of 5 to start out the season. The LA Bowl was the ultimate faculty sport for Jake Haener and he went out in model. Haener threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns whereas Jordan Mims rushed out for 209 yards and had two scores of his personal.
Duke: Duke went from winless in ACC play in 2021 to 9 wins in 2022. Duke capped off a exceptional season by beating UCF 30-13 on Wednesday within the Navy Bowl — this system’s first bowl win since 2018. With the win, Duke bought to 9 wins for the primary time since 2014. Mike Elko has accomplished among the finest teaching jobs within the nation in his first season with the Blue Devils. This system was barely aggressive in David Cutcliffe’s closing seasons on the job, going a mixed 5-18 (1-17 ACC) in his closing two years. With Wednesday’s win, Duke completed the season 9-4 total with a 5-3 mark in ACC play. It was just the third season in school history that the Blue Devils had completed with a profitable convention file and received a bowl sport.
Washington: After going 4-8 in 2021, Washington capped off an amazing turnaround by beating Texas 27-20 within the Alamo Bowl. With the win, Washington completed the season with 11 wins — probably the most it has had in a season since 2016. That is the 12 months the Huskies reached the School Soccer Playoff. After coming over from Fresno State, head coach Kalen DeBoer was capable of revitalize this system in only one season. The addition of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. performed an enormous function. Penix, who will return subsequent season, threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns within the bowl win.
Western Kentucky: WKU might have had probably the most spectacular efficiency of bowl season. The Hilltoppers trounced South Alabama 44-23 within the New Orleans Bowl in a sport that was not as shut as the ultimate rating might point out. South Alabama was searching for its first-ever bowl win, however WKU jumped out to a 31-3 halftime lead and by no means seemed again, placing up a complete of 677 yards by the point the ultimate seconds ticked off. Austin Reed threw for 497 yards and 4 touchdowns within the win.
Air Power: Air Power seemed proper at house on an extremely chilly evening in Fort Price. The Falcons ran throughout Baylor in a 30-15 victory within the Armed Forces Bowl. Air Power rushed for 276 yards and restricted Baylor to simply 42 speeding yards. With the win, Air Power bought to double-digit victories for the third time in 4 seasons. AFA went 11-2 in 2019 and 10-3 previously two seasons. Within the shortened 2020 season, the Falcons completed 3-3. As a program, Air Power has received 4 consecutive bowl video games.
New Mexico State: 12 months 1 of the Jerry Kill period at New Mexico State ended with a bowl victory. NMSU knocked off Bowling Inexperienced 24-19 within the Fast Lane Bowl on Monday to seize this system’s second bowl victory since 1960. The Aggies opened the season 1-5 earlier than closing out the 12 months by profitable six of seven to complete 7-6. NMSU received a mixed eight video games in its earlier 4 seasons, so Kill has executed an unimaginable turnaround in his first 12 months on the job. Diego Pavia was the star of the bowl win. Pavia threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns and added 65 speeding yards within the win. He picked up a number of key third-down conversions along with his legs within the second half to assist his group safe the win.
Southern Miss RB Frank Gore Jr.: Frank Gore Jr. ran wild in Southern Miss’ win over Rice within the LendingTree Bowl. Gore set an all-time bowl record with 329 yards on simply 21 carries within the 38-24 win. Gore rushed for 2 touchdowns and likewise had an 18-yard landing move. The earlier single-game bowl speeding file was 317 yards, however Gore surged previous that with a 55-yard landing within the closing minutes. Southern Miss received a mixed six video games in 2020 and 2021, however the bowl win over Rice gave the Golden Eagles seven wins for the 2022 season. And with Gore and a major chunk of this group’s core anticipated to return, Southern Miss might be a group on the rise within the Solar Belt subsequent season.
Jap Michigan: With a win over San Jose State within the Potato Bowl, EMU notched its first bowl victory since 1987. It’s been a very long time coming. Earlier than Chris Creighton arrived as head coach in 2014, the 1987 California Bowl was this system’s final bowl journey. Since then Creighton introduced the Eagles to 5 bowl video games, however this 12 months was the primary time EMU pulled out the victory. With the win, EMU completed 9-4 for the season. That’s the second-most wins in a season in program historical past.
Losers
UCLA: UCLA had a meltdown within the Solar Bowl, blowing a 14-point lead in a loss to Pitt. The Bruins led 28-14 halfway by way of the third quarter however allowed Pitt to come back again and win 37-35 with a subject purpose within the closing seconds. In his closing faculty sport, Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw three expensive interceptions. Two got here deep in Pitt territory and the third got here deep in his personal territory, giving the Panthers a brief subject to tie the sport at 28-28 early within the fourth. To make issues worse, UCLA fumbled the following kickoff to permit Pitt to take the lead. Later within the fourth, UCLA scored with 34 seconds to go to take a 35-34 lead. It seemed like it might be the game-winner, however the protection allowed Pitt to go 46 yards in 30 seconds and kick the game-winning subject purpose. Brutal. UCLA has not received a bowl sport for the reason that 2014 season.
Ole Miss: The Rebels had 11 drives that didn’t finish in factors in a 42-25 loss to Texas Tech within the Texas Bowl. Ole Miss turned the ball over 5 occasions, turned the ball over 5 occasions on downs and punted as soon as. Whereas the Rebels have been simply 2-of-7 on fourth downs, Texas Tech was 5-of-6. The sport was a punt hater’s dream. And it was a nightmare for Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart. He threw three interceptions and fumbled as soon as. Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough rushed for 2 TDs and threw for one more because the Crimson Raiders simply held on to a 19-point halftime lead all through the second half. The loss additionally meant that Ole Miss ends the season at 8-5 after beginning the season 7-0.
Oklahoma: The Sooners entered the Cheez-It Bowl shorthanded and as important underdogs to Florida State. Dropping 35-32 was nonetheless a canopy for Oklahoma. However the loss additionally implies that Oklahoma finishes the season at 6-7. That’s the primary dropping season for OU since 1998. The primary 12 months of the Brent Venables period was a bit rocky — particularly when you think about the success that Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley had at USC. However there’s no cause to panic in Norman. But.
SMU: The Mustangs entered the New Mexico Bowl as 4.5-point favorites over a BYU group that began freshman third-string QB Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters for the primary time. But BYU did simply sufficient on the bottom to eke out a 24-23 win after stopping an SMU two-point conversion with eight seconds left. The freshman Maiava-Peters threw for simply 47 yards and an interception however rushed 14 occasions for 96 yards whereas Christopher Brooks rushed 19 occasions for 88 yards. SMU didn’t have receiver Rashee Rice however nonetheless had simply 218 yards passing on 37 move makes an attempt.
UTSA: The Roadrunners are nonetheless trying to find their first bowl win after dropping 18-12 to Troy within the Treatment Bowl. It was a completely ugly efficiency from UTSA too. With out offensive coordinator Will Stein (now the OC at Oregon), the proficient UTSA offense dedicated 5 turnovers. The Roadrunners additionally had 9 penalties for 104 yards and plenty of of these penalties got here at crucial occasions. A win over the Trojans would have been an enormous enhance to a UTSA group making a step as much as the AAC in 2023.
NC State: Dave Doeren’s risk-averse decision-making might have price his group a bowl win. NC State misplaced the Duke’s Mayo Bowl 16-12. Within the loss, Doeren determined to kick subject objectives twice contained in the Maryland 10-yard line. Within the first half, Doeren kicked on fourth-and-goal from the two. And when his group trailed 13-9 halfway by way of the fourth, Doeren despatched his kicker out as an alternative of going for it on fourth-and-3 from the 9. The NC State offense struggled mightily all day, and that ended up being the ultimate scoring alternative of the sport for NC State.
San Diego State: The Aztecs turned the ball over 5 occasions in a 25-23 loss to Center Tennessee within the Hawaii Bowl. The Blue Raiders had simply 170 yards within the win and threw for 236 yards. Sure, you learn that appropriately. Due to sacks, MTSU had a exceptional -66 speeding yards on 30 makes an attempt. And nonetheless received the sport. SDSU QB Jalen Mayden threw three interceptions and likewise had a fumble. The Aztecs’ closing turnover got here with 55 seconds to go on a 4th and 24 when Tyrell Shavers fumbled the ball after a 12-yard achieve.
Cincinnati: It was a listless efficiency for the Bearcats in a 24-7 loss to Louisville within the Fenway Bowl. Cincinnati had simply 127 yards of complete offense and allowed 419 yards to the Cardinals. Cincy bought simply 10 first downs and rushed for 44 yards on 38 makes an attempt after sacks have been factored in. Louisville even turned the ball over 4 occasions to Cincinnati’s two and the sport nonetheless wasn’t shut. If you happen to didn’t know any higher, you’ll have assumed that Scott Satterfield had gone to a far worse group when he left Louisville for Cincy earlier than the bowl sport.
Georgia Southern: The Camellia Bowl was a painful watch when you have been an Eagles fan. Buffalo beat Georgia Southern 23-21 after going 12-of-19 on third down whereas averaging lower than three yards a carry. Along with being unable to persistently cease Buffalo on third down, Georgia Southern gamers dropped a number of catchable passes. Kyle Vantrease threw for 352 yards on 45 makes an attempt and hit Joshua Thompson on a 79-yard TD. However Georgia Southern by no means bought the ball again after pulling inside two with 3:38 to go due to two essential third down conversions by the Bulls to expire the clock.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys entered the Assured Price Bowl as underdogs to Wisconsin, so OSU’s 24-17 loss to the Badgers wasn’t terribly stunning. However it’s nonetheless value noting simply how poorly OSU completed the season. The Cowboys began the season 6-1 and completed 7-6 after ending the season on a 1-5 run. Yeah, Oklahoma State performed the ultimate two video games of the season with out QB Spencer Sanders, however the greatest wrongdoer for the collapse was the regression of the protection in 2022. A testy Mike Gundy didn’t want to talk about any potential staff changes after the sport and we’re not going to be stunned if there are some employees bulletins forthcoming from OSU within the close to future.
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