In the preview of the Bahamas Bowl, it was noted that Buffalo had an advantage over Liberty in this contest. That was evident with a 26-7 win over the Flames. Buffalo entered this contest with a much more intact offense, and overall roster, than Liberty. The Bulls ran away with a Bahamas Bowl victory.

Buffalo Wins the Bahamas Bowl 26-7

The first half of this contest was less than thrilling on the scoreboard. The Bulls’ offense was kept out of the endzone by the Flames and resorted to three field goals to go up 9-0 entering halftime. Buffalo didn’t score its first touchdown until the third quarter and Liberty didn’t get on the board until seven minutes left in the fourth. When it looked like the Bulls’ offense would only get into the endzone once in this contest, the offense scored again with 26 seconds left. However, that touchdown was taken off the board. Giving a final score of 26-7.

Who Stepped in For Liberty on Offense?

The topic of conversation before this game was which players were going to step in for Liberty on offense. The Flames were at a disadvantage in this contest with six starters on offense unavailable due to opt-out or transfer. Things did not fare well for Liberty. Ryan Burger and Nate Hampton shared quarterback duties and neither blew away the audience with their performance. Burger ended the day going four-for-12 with 40 passing yards. He added 57 additional yards on the ground. Hampton also ended the contest with 40 passing yards, but that was on only two completions. He threw the lone touchdown pass but also threw a pick-six. Both occurred in the fourth quarter.

That interception wasn’t the only problem that the Liberty offense faced. It fumbled the football three times in the Bahamas Bowl. Luckily, depending on how it’s looked at, the Flames only lost two of the three fumbles. However, both of those lost fumbles were by Burger. In the preview to this contest, it was noted that the Flames would need to try to rely on running back Billy Lucas. He was the second-leading rusher for Liberty this season.

Unfortunately, the loss of three offensive linemen ahead of the Bahamas Bowl didn’t help Lucas. The Flames couldn’t get the rushing attack going and Lucas finished the day tied with Burger for 57 rushing yards. In the preview, we stated that using Lucas in the passing game could assist the Flames in this one. However, the quarterbacks couldn’t get much moving through the air either. Lucas finished the day with one reception for 11 yards.

This stat line will tell you all you need to know about Liberty’s offense. No receiver had more than two receptions and only one receiver, Treon Sibley, tallied two receptions. The team had a combined six receptions. No defense can work a miracle when the offense can’t move the ball. Further, this Liberty defense worked a miracle by only allowing one touchdown.

The Bulls Fared Much Better

A lot can be said about what the Liberty offense didn’t do in this contest. However, Buffalo as a whole had a solid showing. Despite only scoring one touchdown, the offense moved the ball down the field often. The Bulls ended the Bahamas Bowl with 222 yards rushing, 137 yards through the air, and zero turnovers. Starting running back, Al-Jay Henderson scored the lone touchdown for the Bulls and ended the day with 119 rushing yards. The Bulls were able to utilize nine different ball carriers in this game. In addition, quarterback CJ Ogbonna spread the ball to five different receivers. His favorite target, Victor Snow, led the team with four receptions.

All of those positive accolades and Snow only had four receptions? Yes. Ogbonna struggled through the air in the Bahamas Bowl. He only completed nine passes. He went nine-for-19 on the day. So while the Bulls won this contest, it was due to the rushing attack and field goal kicker Upton Bellenfant. Bellenfant completed four of five attempts in the Bahamas Bowl. He had a long of 52 yards.

In addition to the special teams and the run game, the Buffalo defense had a field day. There was a pick-six, two fumble recoveries, three sacks, and a whopping 10 tackles for loss. Overall, the Bulls fared much better than Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl.

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The Buffalo Bulls (8-4) will take on the Liberty Flames (8-3) in the Bahamas Bowl on January 4, 2025. The match-up will air on ESPN at 11:00 AM ET. As fans have seen all bowl season, opt-outs, transfer portal implications, and injuries will limit both squads from being at full strength in this contest. Buffalo fares better than Liberty with only two key players leaving the team for the transfer portal and one questionable from a regular season injury. Liberty, however, has lost its starting quarterback, several members of the offensive line, its leading rusher, and a few key players on the defense. Which team will overcome and come out on top?

Buffalo Bulls vs Liberty Flames in the Bahamas Bowl

It is a tale of two offenses for this iteration of the Bahamas Bowl. Buffalo enters the contest almost fully intact, whereas Liberty will have several unproven players who need to step into a major role. The Bulls will have starting quarterback, CJ Ogbonna, for the Bahamas Bowl. That is already a step above Liberty, who lost its starter, Kaidon Salter, to Colorado. Ogbonna enters the Bahamas Bowl tallying 2,244 passing yards this season. In addition, he has thrown 19 touchdowns and five interceptions to go along with eight rushing touchdowns. Ogbonna led the Bulls to four straight victories to end the season and get to eight wins on the year.

He will have his favorite receiver to throw to as well. Victor Snow averages 12 receiving yards per reception with a team-leading 51 receptions, 610 receiving yards, and six touchdowns through the air. Buffalo can also turn to its run game with starting running back Al-Jay Henderson expected to play as well. Henderson and Ogbonna are tied with a team-leading eight rushing touchdowns. The star back is just 41 yards away from reaching a 1,000-yard rushing season. Against a depleted Liberty defense, he should get there.

Who Will Step Up for Liberty on Offense?

The Flames are going to be without a lot of starters on the offense for the Bahamas Bowl. As already stated, Salter has left for Colorado, meaning Head Coach Jamey Chadwell will look to Ryan Burger to step up and captain this offense. After transferring to Liberty from Appalachian State ahead of the 2024 season, he only played in four games. In his first two seasons at Appalachian State, he only played in two games. In those four games this season, he only attempted seven passes and completed four. He did not throw a touchdown pass but did score a rushing touchdown in 2024. The redshirt sophomore might not have that many meaningful snaps, but he will be tasked with moving his team downfield against the Bulls in the Bahamas Bowl.

Not only is Liberty without its starting quarterback, but is also missing three starting offensive linemen and its leading rusher, Quinton Cooley. Burger will likely have to utilize his legs a little bit in this contest. He may be without his leading rusher, but he will have Billy Lucas. Lucas transferred to Liberty from Duquesne ahead of the 2023 season. In his second season with the Flames, Lucas became the team’s second-leading rusher in 2024. He played in 10 games this season and tallied 663 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Further, he is averaging five-and-a-half yards per carry. He only has four receptions this season but in his final season at Duquesne, he had 103 receiving yards and one touchdown through the air. Lucas can be utilized in the passing game as well. Burger will need to lean on him in this contest.

Final Thoughts

As has been shown throughout this bowl season, the team with the most consistency likely comes out on top. Unfortunately for the Liberty Flames, they are not the team with the most consistency entering the Bahamas Bowl. Buffalo will likely be with more starters in this contest, which should fare well for the Bulls. However, don’t count out the Flames.

The post Buffalo Takes on Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

The Arizona Bowl created a great environment for the fans in attendance. With Snoop Dogg on the mic and so many events, this was one big party. However, once the game started, the party was clearly over for the Colorado State Rams. Things went south after scoring a field goal on their first drive. Despite having plenty of starters playing, they were thoroughly outclassed by the RedHawks. With a final score of 43-17, the route was on in the second half. Getting as bad as 29-3, the Rams were their own worst enemy. With countless turnovers and failed fourth downs, the Rams looked unprepared for this bowl game. However, despite the blowout, the atmosphere of the game was a huge success. In brief, this was a great time for all the fans, Snoop Dogg should be proud of his Arizona Bowl and his impact.

Miami (OH) Downs Colorado State 43-17

Miscues for the Rams

After their first drive, the Rams looked shell-shocked. The next three drives resulted in a turnover. Unfortunately, their fifth drive of the game was a turnover on downs. Luckily for them, the defense was standing tall, and the halftime score was only 9-3. Coming out of the half, things didn’t improve for this offense. The first two drives out of the gate were a fumble and a turnover on downs. A potent offense all season, this was an embarrassingly bad performance. Head Coach Jay Norvell did not appear to have his squad ready to go in their first bowl game of his tenure. Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi did throw for 321 yards, but he had two costly interceptions. Spacing the ball out, no single receiver had a big impact on the outcome.

Ending on a High Note

For the Miami (OH) RedHawks, the Arizona Bowl was a great way to end a successful season in the MAC Conference. After recovering from a 1-4 start, Miami (OH) went on a run. The RedHawks finished the regular season with an 8-4 record. Unfortunately, they came up short in the MAC championship. So, this was a much-needed morale boost to end the year.

Quarterback Brett Gabbert finished with 184 yards through the air. In addition, he scored a rushing touchdown in his farewell game. After an up-and-down career, he will forever be remembered by RedHawks fans for his grit and longevity. Senior running back Kevin Davis had quite the game on the ground. Entering this matchup, he only had 183 yards on the season. However, he burst onto the scene with 148 yards rushing and two touchdowns. A real statement win for Chuck Martin, the RedHawks proved that they are in the top class of Group of Five teams.

Unprepared?

Unfortunately, the Colorado State Rams seemed unprepared early on. That is a reflection of the coaching staff.  They limped to the finish line and lost two of the last three. This was expected to be a close game, but there were too many miscues. Colorado State was able to move the ball early. However, they kept shooting themselves in the foot. Despite the stingy first half, the Rams’ defense was blown apart in the second half. The Rams have plenty of returning production, all hope is not lost. This was a harsh ending to an otherwise impressive season for Norvell and his group. They should be ready to go next season, as they make another push towards the Mountain West Championship.

Making a Statement

As discussed above, the RedHawks made a real statement in the Arizona Bowl. Written off after getting dismantled in the MAC Championship, they could have easily packed up shop. A real testament to the culture of this program, they came to play in the final game of their season. Even after the loss of receiver Reggie Virgil to the transfer portal, the passing game was working all day long. With Gabbert spreading the ball out, eight different players caught a pass. This was a RedHawks team with high expectations for this season, and they were punched in the mouth early. After their 1-4 record they finished 8-1 down the stretch. With Gabbert moving on after a prolific career, the next season will look much different. However, RedHawks fans have learned to trust Martin, and they know they will be competitive again next year.

Final Thoughts

Boy, was this prediction wrong. Two solid eight-win teams, of course, it was expected for this one to be much closer. Despite scoring first, the Rams were embarrassed off the field by the RedHawks. This was a game of two programs looking to end on a high note. Each with a disappointing loss at the end of the year, the cultures of both programs were tested.

It is safe to say that Miami (OH) showed no signs of quitting. Putting up nearly 50 points, this was an impressive bounce back after their MAC Championship loss. In a competitive first half, the Rams made too many mistakes to compete in the game. This unique environment was a nice atmosphere for everyone involved. Certainly, a success for Snoop Dogg, look for him to continue to be the partner for this bowl game. Above all, congratulations to the Miami (OH) RedHawks for an impressive 9-4 season.

The post Arizona Bowl Analysis: One-Sided Affair appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

Taking place on Saturday, the Arizona Bowl provides college football fans with a unique matchup. The Miami Ohio RedHawks find themselves taking on the Colorado State Rams. Starting at 4:30 pm Eastern, this bowl game is flying a bit under the radar. However, to the die-hard football fans, this game is worth watching. Pitting two eight-win teams against each other, this should be a hard-fought football game. Both teams suffered disappointment at the end of their seasons and will be eager to end on a high note. The RedHawks are currently sitting at 2.5-point favorites, proving that oddsmakers view this as a close game. With so many games on Saturday, many are unfortunately not paying attention to this one. If fans want a close game between two tough Group of Five teams, they should tune in.

Arizona Bowl Preview: Underrated Matchup

Unique Venue

Everything about the Arizona Bowl showcases an atmosphere like no other game. Taking place in sunny Tucson, fans should be greeted by beautiful weather. Considering the Winter weather in much of the country, this could be a welcomed sight. Not only is the venue unique but many fans will be surprised by the game’s new, full name. This isn’t just the Arizona Bowl; it is the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl. Hosting a pep rally the day before, this is an all-weekend event. With a festival tailgate taking place on the day of the game, fans will be hard-pressed to find a venue quite like this. Partnering with Snoop Dogg’s drink, this will be the first time that an alcohol brand is sponsoring a bowl game. This whole weekend should be a fun time for the fans, as they gear up for an underrated game.

Veteran Quarterbacks

Moving on to the actual game, this bowl features two high-end quarterbacks. For the RedHawks, they will be led by senior Brett Gabbert. Having quite a career at Miami (OH), he will be hoping to finish on top. In his senior campaign, Gabbert threw for 21 touchdowns and over 2700 yards. Despite the eight wins, this season was not smooth sailing. Starting 1-4, the team rallied behind Gabbert and rattled off seven straight wins. Making the MAC Championship, the RedHawks eventually fell short to the Ohio Bobcats. For the Colorado State Rams, they are led by sophomore Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. Throwing for over 2400 yards and 13 touchdowns, the numbers are not eye-popping. However, he is incredibly efficient and helps run the offense smoothly. Starting the season 2-3, they also got hot late, finishing the year with an 8-4 record.

Respected Coaches

Both squads are led by well-known and respected coaches. The RedHawks are led by head coach Chuck Martin, who has been in charge since 2014. A long tenure, Martin has now led the RedHawks to four straight bowl games. Highlighted by an 11-win season in 2023, he has been keeping this program relevant in the MAC conference. Under his helm, Miami has won 6 or more games every season since 2017 (excluding the shortened COVID year). Looking for his ninth win, Martin has led his team to an impressive turnaround after the slow start. For the Rams, they are led by the upstart Jay Norvell. Formerly the head coach at Nevada, Norvell transitioned to Colorado State in 2022. Finding success with the Wolf Pack, he struggled early on with the Rams. This is the first season under his tenure that they have been bowl-eligible.

Weapons on Weapons

Starting with the Rams, they have plenty of talented players surrounding Fowler-Nicolosi. Running back Avery Morrow finds himself 44 yards away from a thousand yards on the ground. Rushing for 10 touchdowns, he should be in line to have a big day. Unfortunately for the Rams, their best receiver suffered a season-ending injury earlier in the season. With no true number-one target, plenty of players have stepped up. Fowler-Nicolosi will have the chance to spread the ball out evenly, making this offense even harder to defend. For the RedHawks, they have their 1,000-yard rusher in running back Keyon Mozee. A well-balanced offense, they have had success throughout the season. They will, however, be without top receiver Reggie Virgil, as he entered the transfer portal, committing to Texas Tech. Both offenses have their fair share of skill players, but the loss of Virgil will be pivotal.

Final Thoughts

The Arizona Bowl pits two teams that have had successful seasons with disappointing endings. Colorado State fans were certainly underwhelmed when the Rams blew their chances at the Mountain West Championship. Needing to win their last two, the Rams fell short against the 6-6 Fresno State Bulldogs. The late comeback was not enough, and due to the loss, the Rams were jumped in the standings by UNLV. With Colorado State and Miami (OH) both coming up short, each team should come in motivated. Both squads have shown flashes of great football but have also proven to be vulnerable. This should be a hard-fought close game, as both teams are littered with veterans. With Jay Norvell building something special, despite being slight underdogs, I’m leaning on the side of the Rams. Look for Fowler-Nicolosi to have a big day, with the Rams winning by a late field goal.

Prediction: Colorado State 27 Miami (OH) 24

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Bowl season has treated us to incredible game after incredible game. Earlier in the day, Pitt and Toledo needed six overtimes. Then, Kansas State mounted an incredible comeback to beat Rutgers. The 68 Ventures Bowl had to keep the fun going and did so with a 38-31 Arkansas State win over Bowling Green.

This is the Red Wolves’ third bowl win in Mobile, Alabama (two wins when it was the GoDaddy.com Bowl) out of five tries. With the loss, Bowling Green has dropped four bowls in a row and eight of its last nine dating back to 2008.

Arkansas State Wins Exciting 68 Ventures Bowl Over Bowling Green

One for the History Books

Heading into the game, Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin, Jr. was easily the most prolific tight end in college football and was a hair behind Nick Nash for receptions and yards. In terms of all-time, Fannin was closing in on the greatest season ever put together by a tight end. He needed only 10 yards and 12 receptions away from setting both the single-season mark for yards and receptions from a tight end.

On the night, he not only overtook Nash and set the all-time single-season marks by a tight end, he obliterated them.

In what has become commonplace, Fannin was the Bowling Green offense. Connor Bazelak threw for 390 yards and three touchdowns. Fannin accounted for 213 of those yards and one touchdown on a circus catch off a tipped pass. He was the leading receiver on the day. If “Harold Fannin after the catch” was a player, he would have been the second-leading player in the game with 115 yards.

If he manages to hold onto the top receiving yards spot with 1,555 yards, Fannin will become the first tight end to ever end the year leading the nation in yards. The Falcons’ first-ever consensus All-American was one list away from being a unanimous First-Team All-American and this performance showed why he belongs.

Fannin likely ends his Bowling Green career with 2,396 yards and 17 touchdowns off 180 receptions.

Not So Special Teams

This game will be teaching tape for both sides of special teams units. For every eye-popping play, there was a crucial meltdown for both teams.

For Arkansas State, there were some great moments. The first touchdown of the game came off a 60-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter off the first Bowling Green drive. Courtney Jackson fielded the punt, found a seam, broke contain down the left side of the field, and was gone. Then, on the next Bowling Green drive, the pendulum swung the other way.

The Red Wolves forced a punt but the Falcons had a trick up their sleeve. Baron May, a third-string junior quarterback, changed his number before the game to 18. He took the snap and found Malcom Johnson, Jr. wide open for the score. The genius of the play was the fact that May essentially disguised himself as the punter, John Henderson, who wears 19. The Falcons caught the Red Wolves unaware and it paid off.

Arkansas State did get the upper hand in the field goal stat line. While it did miss once, Bowling Green was worse. Zach Long’s first field goal attempt was blocked. His second attempt missed wide right. Long converted from 38 on his third attempt but on his fourth kick, down seven, he missed wide left.

Big Players Making Big Plays

The stars were out in the 68 Ventures Bowl. While Bowling Green had Fannin, Arkansas State had Zak Wallace and Corey Rucker.

The biggest non-special teams play on the day was on second and seven on Arkansas State’s own 21-yard-line. Rucker blew by the Bowling Green secondary on what looked to be a blown coverage and scored a 79-yard touchdown with ease. He was a threat all day and broke through to put the Red Wolves up by 10. Rucker finished the day with 107 yards and two touchdowns off just four receptions.

On the ground, Wallace was hitting the Falcons with body blow after body blow. He was easily the best running back on the field and showed it with his 99 yards off 15 carries. After getting the ball back after the teams traded three-and-outs, Wallace paid off an eight-play, 68-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown to put Arkansas State up by 14.

The 68 Ventures Bowl was closer than the score suggests. Now, the MAC has dropped each of the last eight 68 Ventures Bowls (and various other names) dating back to 2015. The Sun Belt is 9-0.

The post Arkansas State Wins Exciting 68 Ventures Bowl Over Bowling Green appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

A football game during the work week in Detroit, Michigan was only destined for chaos. In a game that was about as MACtion as MACtion can be, the GameAbove Sports Bowl was everything and more between Toledo and Pitt. The bowl changed its name this offseason and ended up having the game of the bowl season. The back-and-forth game featured eight lead changes and seven game-tying scores.

With the win, Toledo head coach Jason Candle tied Gary Pinkel for the most wins in program history with 73. Candle attained the honor in one less season despite the fact both coached 113 games. Candle moves to 3-5 in bowl games while Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi moves to 2-5 in bowls.

Toledo Wins Instant Classic Over Pitt in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, 48-46

Scoring in Three Phases

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the GameAbove Sports Bowl aside from the 94 combined points and nearly five hours of real-time passing was how the scoring was done. Toledo kicked off the game with a methodical eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by an Anthony Torres touchdown catch. However, on the ensuing point after, Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis broke through, blocked the kick, recovered the bounce, and returned it for a two-point defensive PAT conversion.

The Panthers and Rockets traded punts before Pitt found its way into the endzone. Desmond Reid paid off an 11-play, 79-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Reid was Pitt’s do-everything player in this one. When it was all said and done, despite battling nagging hamstring issues and camps, Reid finished with 180 scrimmage yards (165 rushing) off 37 touches (32 rushing attempts) and one touchdown.

After that initial touchdown, the Rockets’ offense misfired on the next three drives with two ending in three-and-outs. Then, the tide turned. While down 12-6, Toledo punched it in to take the lead off an incredible 67-yard touchdown by Junior Vandeross III. Vandeross had a career day, hauling in 12 passes for 194 yards and a score. In the very next play, Braden Awls jumped in front of a pass and returned it 42 yards for a pick-six.

That wasn’t the only defensive score on the day. Later, after a turnover on downs, a lost fumble, interception, and punt on the first four Toledo drives of the second half allowed Pitt to build a 10-point lead, defensive lineman Darius Alexander snagged a pass and returned it 58 yards for a score. The momentum swing was enough to get the Rockets back in it as they kicked the game-tying field goal and prevented Pitt from getting into field goal range.

A Star is Born?

All kinds of narratives will come out of this game but the one that should prevail is that Julian Dugger can play. The true freshman made his first career appearance and made the most of it. To start off his game, he completed four of his first five passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Narduzzi and his offensive staff did not fully trust him to throw the ball as he finished with just 13 attempts. That duty was passed off to the starter and former walk-on, David Lynch. Even then, Dugger completed seven of those passes for 72 yards and two scores.

Where he was most dangerous was on the ground. The freshman quarterback pulled it down 21 times for 88 yards and a score. He was elusive in the pocket and was a constant running threat that kept the Toledo defense on its heels. He had three rushes for at least 10 yards and was trusted in crucial situations to get the Panthers on top in overtime.

Eli Holstein will be the starter for the Panthers in 2025 but having a backup like Dugger both puts the pressure on Holstein to perform and gives fans and coaches peace of mind that the next-man-up is capable.

Six Overtimes!

Just like with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and the Hawai’i Bowl, the GameAbove Sports Bowl could not be decided in 60 minutes.

Toledo won the toss to kick off overtime and chose to play defense first. Pitt’s drive started off rocky before Dugger put the team on his back with a nine-yard run on third and eight. On the next play, he found Reid for 11 yards for another first down. After going back to Reid on the ground, Dugger punched it in to put the Panthers back on top.

Toledo had to fight for its score as well. The first down resulted in a sack. The second down was an impressive scramble to get a third-and-short. After an incomplete pass, the Rockets had to convert on fourth down to stay alive. Tucker Gleason found star receiver Jerjuan Newton wide-open for the first. The Rockets then paid it off after another first down to Vandeross with a one-yard Gleason run.

In the second overtime, Toledo’s offense sputtered and had to settle for a field goal. Here’s where the fun begins. Pitt dug itself into a first-and-long only to get the yardage back for a third-and-one. A 13-yard run later, the Panthers were sitting pretty with first and goal from the three. Toledo stuffed the run on first down. Pitt gets two yards on second down. The Panthers get cute and try a trick play that nearly worked but the ball sailed just high of a wide-open receiver. Much to the chagrin of those watching (and Dustin Fox in the pressbox), Narduzzi kicked the field goal.

In the third overtime, both teams scored relatively easily.

In the fourth overtime, it got squirrely. Toledo scored with an easy pass to Torres. On Pitt’s try, Dugger was sacked but was bailed out by a defensive holding. Then, Dugger appeared to be short of the goal line from the one, and the Toledo sideline erupted in celebration. After review, the freshman extended the ball before going down, prolonging the game.

In the fifth overtime, Pitt converted easily. Toledo had to have a little magic from Gleason to find Newton for the conversion.

It was the sixth overtime. Vandeross fought for the ball on Toledo’s conversion. Then, Toledo sent the house for Pitt’s attempt, and Dugger’s pass to the endzone fell short, ending the game.

The game of the bowl season was about as chaotic as your run-of-the-mill #MACtion matchup.

The post Toledo Wins Instant Classic Over Pitt in the GameAbove Sports Bowl appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

The GameAbove Sports Bowl, formerly the Little Caesars Bowl, Motor City, or QuickLane Bowl, often pits one of the best of the MAC against a Power 4 foe. To date, this marks the fourth time Toledo has played in a Detroit-based bowl and this will be the third time Pitt has faced off against a MAC team in Ford Field. The Panthers have yet to lose at Ford Field while Toledo is winless.

The GameAbove Sports Bowl is the fourth time Toledo and Pitt will have faced off with the Panthers winning the first and third meetings. It has been 18 years since the last matchup, of course.

Toledo and Pitt Face Off in Detroit in the GameAbove Sports Bowl

How We Got Here

In 2022, Toledo won the MAC. Last year, it came up just short in the MAC Championship game in a close loss to Miami (OH). This year, with the MAC eliminating divisions, the Rockets finished 7-5 and missed out on making the title game. After dispatching Duquesne (FCS) and former and future MAC rival UMass, Toledo took a trip south to Mississippi State and came away with a win on SEC soil. Then, Toledo dropped three of its next five including a 15-point loss in the Battle of I-75 to Bowling Green. Toledo seemingly righted the ship against two of the three directional Michigan teams before dropping the final two games to Ohio and Akron.

Pitt is also coming into this one with seven wins but it has been quite an up-and-down season. Out of the gate, the Panthers won all seven scheduled games. They tore through the non-conference slate with wins over a pair of Big 12 foes. Then, Pitt won its first three ACC games, capped off by the infamous Kyle McCord five-interception (three pick-six) game. Then, the wheels didn’t just come off, the entire wagon imploded. Pitt comes into this bowl game on a five-game losing streak and has one last chance to end the season on a high note.

When Toledo Has the Ball

Losing Dequan Finn was even more detrimental than initially thought. Year over year, Toledo’s offense was about 50 yards worse off this year compared to last. Despite that, this offense does have a few playmakers. Jerjuan Newton led the MAC with 11 touchdown catches and tallied 14.8 yards per reception on the year. Normally a strength for Toledo, the rushing attack has taken a step back this year. Local product Connor Walendzac took over duties and ran for 457 yards and a score off 122 carries.

The leading tackler for the Panthers is safety, Donovan McMillon. For the second year in a row, McMillon finished with over 100 tackles. However, the strength of this defense lies in the front seven. Four defenders finished the year with double-digit tackles for loss. As a unit, it held opponents under 100 yards rushing five times.

When Pitt Has the Ball

The primary architect of that strong start was Alabama transfer quarterback Eli Holstein. The redshirt freshman was lost in the Louisville game due to injury and is a game-time decision. In his nine complete games, Holstein threw for 2,228 yards and 17 touchdowns while completing 61.9 percent of his passes. If he can’t go, it won’t be Nate Yarnell to take over as he did at the tail end of the season since he transferred to Texas State. Head coach Pat Narduzzi said that walk-on David Lynch would be the backup, so either freshman Julian Dugger or redshirt junior Jake Frandl will lead the way.

As with Pitt, someone from the safety position led Toledo in tackles. Maxen Hook tallied 107 take-downs and led a unit that had six different players with at least seven tackles for loss. Overall, the defense was the strength of this team. It has a bend-don’t-break defense. While the Rockets are 51st in total defense, it is 29th in scoring defense. With so much uncertainty at quarterback for Pitt, Toledo’s defense could be the difference-maker.

The post Toledo and Pitt Face Off in Detroit in the GameAbove Sports Bowl appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl was generally boring until the end. Northern Illinois played catch-up all game but came out on top at the end of the second overtime. The Huskies beat the Bulldogs 28-20 to secure the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory. Head coach Thomas Hammock was showered in french fries to symbolize the mascot of the bowl. The potato. Despite playing from behind all game and needing two overtime segments to win, Northern Illinois ended the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl leading in almost all categories. Let’s take a look at what happened.

The Huskies Survived the Bulldogs 28-20

When previewing this contest we outlined that the team that overcame transfers would win. Well, Northern Illinois had to overcome more than transfers to win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. A very slow start, scoring lulls, and two overtime segments headlined this win for the Huskies. By just the stats a first look would think this was a riveting affair, but that is far from the case. However, it is still important to look at. The Huskies totaled 368 yards and 24 first downs, controlled the ball for 39 minutes and 14 seconds, and had one turnover. Despite leading for most of the game, Fresno State totaled 328 yards and 17 first downs, only had the ball for 20 minutes and 46 seconds, and also had one turnover.

All Eyes on the Quarterbacks

Coming into this game it was a tale of two quarterbacks and most didn’t know who would start for the Bulldogs. Northern Illinois lost its starter before the game to the transfer portal but had a backup who played this season. Josh Holst finished the day going 18 for 30 and throwing 182 yards. He also had two touchdowns and one interception. His interception in the first quarter led to Fresno State’s first touchdown of the day three plays later. It took until the third quarter for Holst to throw the first touchdown and the second came to tie the game during the first overtime. He didn’t throw the winning touchdown in the second overtime, but he did catch the two-point conversion to seal the deal. Wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw the touchdown pass to put Northern Illinois on top in the second overtime. He then threw another pass to his quarterback, Holst, for the two-point conversion. The freshman came into the bowl game with just six receptions. In addition, this is only the fifth game he appeared in this season. Dimopoulos didn’t have a reception in this contest, but he was integral in this win.

Fresno State’s quarterback was generally unknown entering this contest. The Bulldogs had two available options, both barely playing throughout the season. Joshua Wood and Jayden Mandal played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Wood took the majority of the snaps, finishing the day with 180 passing yards and two touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground. He averaged just under eight yards per pass and kept his stat sheet clean of turnovers. Mandal wasn’t as lucky. He only attempted six passes and threw the team’s interception. This interception resulted in a tying field goal for the Huskies in the third quarter.

Kicking Woes

Both teams struggled in the kicking game during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, but Fresno State didn’t make a single attempt. The Bulldogs’ kicker, Dylan Lynch went zero-for-three on field goal attempts during this contest. Points that would have likely put this game out of the Huskies’ reach. However, he did make both extra-point attempts. The first two misses in the first quarter were both above 40 yards. The final miss in the fourth quarter was from 35 yards. Against the loss to UCLA in November, Lynch made both attempts over 40 yards so these attempts weren’t wishful thinking.

Toward the end of the fourth quarter, Norther Illinois had the ball and was driving downfield. The drive stalled and Coach Hammock decided to try a field goal to go up 17-13. Kanon Woodill had made both field goal attempts so far. The first from 29 yards and the second from 34. This final try would have been a 35-yard field goal. Woodill missed and gave the ball back to the Bulldogs. He also went two-for-two on extra points. Both kickers could have completed the game for their respective teams. Instead, the bowl game went into two overtimes and needed a sack from Huskies’ safety, Jordan Hansen to end the game.

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The Northern Illinois Huskies (7-5) take on the Fresno State Bulldogs (6-6) on Monday, December 23rd at 3:30 PM ET in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Both teams have lost key players to the transfer portal, mainly on the offensive side of the ball. In addition, the Huskies and the Bulldogs have had two very different seasons to get to this bowl game. This is a rematch of the 2010 bowl game in Boise that saw the Huskies win 40-17.

Transfers Out Highlight the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Key Offensive Player Departed

Like many other teams that made bowl games this season, key players have left for the transfer portal to find new homes for the 2025 season. Northern Illinois finished the season 7-5 after a huge upset win over Notre Dame early in the season. The quarterback play of Ethan Hampton kept the Huskies within reach during each of their five losses this season. Northern Illinois’ largest loss margin was 11 points to Miami (OH) in mid-November. Hampton entered the transfer portal at the end of the season and will suit up for Illinois in 2025.

On Monday, Josh Holst will take over for Hampton in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The redshirt freshman played in six games this season and threw for 411 yards. He has zero touchdown passes and one interception. While he doesn’t have a touchdown through the air yet this season, he did rush for one score and a total of 165 yards. That is more rushing yards than Hampton on 20 fewer carries. Holst is going to be a player to watch in this contest.

Stability is Key for Northern Illinois

Holst will have to lean on his legs and his running backs against Fresno State. Northern Illinois’ leading receiver also entered the transfer portal and won’t be available for this contest. Trayvon Rudolph tallied a team-leading 392 receiving yards this season. Holst will still have the second-leading receiver, Cam Thompson. The sophomore led the receivers this season with three receiving touchdowns and in yards per catch with 14. Finally, Holst will have his rushers for this one. Gavin Williams and Antario Brown are expected to suit up. The two combined for 1,308 rushing yards this season and 10 total touchdowns. Overall, Holst has the bulk of his offense at his disposal.

Lucky for Northern Illinois, all but one player that is expected to suit up for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl has at least one start this season.

Fresno State Offense at a Great Disadvantage

The Bulldogs have their head coach for the 2025 season. Matt Entz was named the leader of this squad for next year. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be the final game for interim head coach Tim Skipper. Like Northern Illinois, Fresno State is without its starting quarterback for this game. Mikey Keene entered the transfer portal after the regular season along with two of the top three receivers. Unlike the Huskies, the Bulldogs’ next two quarterbacks haven’t seen much playing time in 2024. Joshua Wood and Jayden Mandal combined for eight pass attempts this season and only three completions.

Whoever gets the start in this contest will have their work cut out for them. Especially without Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe to throw to. Interestingly enough, leading receiver Mac Dalena is expected to suit up. Even though he is leaving for the NFL after this season, all signs point to Dalena playing at least some of this contest. If he plays, Dalena will help these inexperienced quarterbacks face a tough, and mostly intact, Huskies defense. The running backs for the Bulldogs are playing, however, they haven’t been overly effective this season. That shows in Keene’s passing numbers for 2024. Elijah Gilliam may not have much production on the ground by way of yards and yards per carry, however, he does come into this contest with eight touchdowns. If either Wood or Mandal can get the Bulldogs down the field, look for Gilliam near the end zone.

Both Teams Depleted for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Northern Illinois and Fresno State are depleted by the transfer portal, like many other teams this bowl season. This game is going to come down to whichever team can adapt and overcome. The Huskies have a roster that has played and started several games this season, whereas the Bulldogs will be leaning on some unproven talent. Both defenses lost top production, but also have some playmakers staying for this game. The pressure will be on the offenses to get the ball moving. Northern Illinois looks to have the edge in this category, even by just a small margin. This will be a game of pieces, and which team can put those pieces together to get a win.

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Northern Illinois (2-0) sprung the biggest upset in its program history on Saturday, defeating the No. 5 Fighting Irish 16-14 at Notre Dame Stadium. The Huskies spoiled Notre Dame’s home opener, pushing around the hosts on both sides of the ball. The win marked Northern Illinois’ first-ever victory over a Top 10 opponent in the program’s 57-season history. The massive upset—Northern Illinois was a 28.5 underdog—was Notre Dame’s first-ever loss to a Mid-American Conference school.

“I’m so proud of our kids, the coaches, just everybody,” said a tearful Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock on NBC immediately following the emotional win. “They believed, and we came here and got it done. They listened to what I said. I told them all week that we don’t need luck. We’ve just got to be our best. And that was their best today. All these guys have been with the program, lived through the ups and downs, and have continued to fight. It’s like they are my kids. I just couldn’t be more proud.”

Huskies Outplay the Irish to Make History

Led by quarterback Ethan Hampton and running back Antario Brown, the Huskies outplayed the Irish from start to finish. NIU’s offensive was explosive. It extended drives all day. And the Huskies controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The outcome: their first nonconference victory against a ranked opponent since a 19-16 upset of No. 21 Alabama in 2003.

The standout player of the game was Brown. The Irish did not have an answer for the dynamic running back. Brown rushed for 99 yards on 20 carries (5.0 average). He caught two passes for 126 yards, accounting for 225 yards of total offense for the Huskies. Brown was injured late in the game and was helped off the field.

On the game-winning drive, Northern Illinois drove down the field to get in field goal position with time running out. Kicker Kanon Woodill nailed a 35-yard field goal with just over 30 seconds remaining in the game to put the Huskies up 16-14.

Love in the Air

The lone bright spot for Notre Dame on Saturday came courtesy of running back Jeremiyah Love. After scoring a touchdown in last week’s win over Texas A&M, Love broke loose for a 34-yard score against Northern Illinois in the third quarter. It was a thing of beauty. The offensive line created a gaping hole for Love. He darted through the right side, hurdled a defender, and scampered to the end zone for an epic score. A Mitch Jeter extra point gave Notre Dame a 14-13 lead with a little over eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Irish, however, failed to capitalize. All told, Love carried 11 times for 79 yards on Saturday (7.2 average). He added a pair of receptions for 10 yards.

The Irish attempted a potential game-winning 62-yard field goal by Jeter with time expiring but Cade Haberman of the Huskies blocked the attempt. It was the Huskies’ second blocked field goal of the game.

Irish Must Regroup After Stunning Loss to Northern Illinois

Saturday afternoon started splendidly for the Irish in front of an energetic crowd. Notre Dame marched down the field for a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive following the opening kickoff. Quarterback Riley Leonard capped off the successful and time-eating drive with a short touchdown run to take an early 7-0 lead. After that drive, the Irish offense was stagnant, and Leonard struggled. For the game, he connected on 20 of 32 pass attempts for 163 yards. Additionally, he rushed for an additional 16 yards on 11 carries. Even worse than the poor decision-making and a couple of missed throws, Leonard threw a pair of costly interceptions.

“It’s disappointing,” Irish head coach Marcus Freeman said in his post-game press conference “It’s our job as coaches to make sure these guys are ready to go. And we’ve got to go back and evaluate the way we prepare and figure out exactly where the mishaps occurred in preparation.

“I’ve always said that performance is a reflection of preparation,” Freeman continued. “We have to figure out where we failed in preparation. It’s disappointing when you go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in two weeks. We have to own this thing as players and coaches. We’ve got to fix it. We’ve been here before. Now it’s time to get it fixed.”

Instant Reaction

Following the dramatic Week 1 victory over Texas A&M in College Station, Notre Dame came back to earth on Saturday. After looking like a College Football Playoff contender in a tough win a week ago, the team did not resemble a post-season contender against Northern Illinois. It was a dismal effort on all fronts—the offense, defense, and special teams struggled. In the end, it’s on Freeman, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, and running backs coach Deland McCullough to figure out the offense if the Irish are going to be competitive the rest of the way.

Notre Dame’s stunning upset at the hands of Northern Illinois is a humbling reminder to stay grounded, even after a significant victory. By all accounts, Notre Dame should have been able to take care of business and put the Huskies away. Instead, it was the Huskies taking care of business and making history at Notre Dame’s expense. And it was expensive in more ways than one. According to Front Office Sports, Notre Dame paid Northern Illinois $1.4 million to play the game in South Bend. Despite the unexpected loss, the Irish now face a crucial juncture in their season. They must regroup and return next week against Purdue with a renewed determination to salvage their 2024 campaign.

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