The Texas State Bobcats set out to defend their First Responder Bowl title against the North Texas Mean Green Eagles on Friday. One team was walking in with a roster torn asunder by the transfer portal. The other held all the cards for victory. So how did this game end up being the first thriller of the year?

Texas State Escapes With The Win In the First Responder Bowl

Mestemaker’s Big Impact

The biggest story going into this game was the departure of Chandler Morris. North Texas’ best quarterback in years moving to Virginia just before the bowl game was one of many factors spelling woe for the Mean Green. With nobody else to turn to, North Texas was going to have to put their faith in the walk-on freshman Drew Mestemaker.

Turns out, he’s actually a hidden gem.

The last time Mestemaker started a football game was in his freshman year of high school. Yet, from the moment he took the field, Mestemaker was making plays as if he’d been the starter for North Texas all along. Two big back-to-back touchdowns put the Mean Green ahead early and, despite some stumbles, Mestemaker was playing his heart out all night. If he reminds you of anyone, it’s probably Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold.

McCloud Stays For Texas State

One of the question marks heading into this game was Texas State quarterback Jordan McCloud. With an NFL career on the horizon, it was doubtful if McCloud would actually opt in for the First Responder Bowl. Instead, he chose to opt in.

Despite being shut down time and time again early on, McCloud powered through. With just minutes to go before the half, McCloud got the Bobcats on the board to overtake North Texas. McCloud would follow that up by draining most of the third-quarter clock to extend the lead.

The Bobcat Crawl

Texas State chose to play it safe for the First Responder Bowl. Each time they got their hands on the ball, the Bobcats had to drive the length of the field. They also chose to do so very slowly. Deliberately and subtly, Texas State was cornering the Mean Green.

This playstyle is often seen as one of desperation. Here, though, it was a brilliant long-term design. By draining so much time off the clock, North Texas’ momentum was curtailed, and the pressure to bounce back increased each time they failed to score. Sure, the Mean Green might be driving half the field in ninety seconds- but if they’re not scoring, their backs are just being pushed closer and closer to the wall.

Down to the Wire

Back-to-back mistakes suddenly heightened the stakes in the closing minutes of the game. At 23-14, Texas State was minutes away from defending their First Responder Bowl title. Then, McCloud threw an interception to Evan Jackson.

Mestemaker and the Mean Green would take it forty yards in the opposite direction. Then, Mestemaker would fumble to Kalil Alexander. Twenty yards later, Texas State fumbled it back to North Texas. Wasting no time, Mestemaker launched a missile to Landon Sides for a forty-two-yard gain to the one-yard line. Makenzie McGill II punched it in to make this a two-point game at 23-21.

Lincoln Pare would escape a blitz for a 73-yard touchdown run. Mestemaker then bolted down the field for his own 7o yard touchdown run. Suddenly, there were just twelve seconds left and North Texas had used its last timeout. On 4th and 11, stuck in their own red zone and with nowhere to go, Mestemaker sent up an unanswered prayer that ended in an interception.

North Texas and Texas State: By The Numbers

The First Responder Bowl ends with a narrow Texas State victory at 30-28. North Texas comes away with 491 yards of offense. This means they’re ending their season with 6,355 yards of offense. Mestemaker completed 26 of 41 passes for 393 yards. This means the walk-on has out thrown both quarterbacks of the Sugar Bowl and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. He was also this game’s leading rusher. North Texas held the ball for 22 minutes.

Texas State finishes the game with 508 yards of offense. This puts the Bobcats’ season total at 6,200 yards of offense. McCloud heads to the NFL with 26 of 35 passes completed. Texas State held the ball for 38 minutes.

What’s Next after the First Responder Bowl?

This year’s bowl game ends with Texas State ultimately defending its First Responder Bowl title. The Bobcats are losing a good number of talents and staff after this. It will be difficult to recapture the magic of the 2024 season.

North Texas fought its heart out, but it just wasn’t enough. However, they can look to the future with hope. If he can stay out of the transfer portal, North Texas has a ready-made star to build their program around in Mestemaker.

Whatever happens in 2025, Last Word On Sports will be here to provide you with the best coverage of college football and much, much more.

The post Texas State Escapes With The Win In the First Responder Bowl appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

North Texas and Texas State are kicking off the new year in the First Responder Bowl. College football always means more in the Lone Star State, and its time for the best of the best to prove it. However, will this game be an offensive shootout or shutout?

First Responder Bowl Preview: North Texas and Texas State

The Mean Green Are In- But is Chandler Morris?

It wasn’t a pretty win that earned North Texas bowl eligibility but, as this year’s Oklahoma Sooners know all too well, a win is a win. However, the Mean Green Eagles are heading into their bowl game without a key player.

Quarterback Chandler Morris, who passed for nearly 4,000 yards this year, is transferring to Virginia. This means he’s likely opting out of the First Responder Bowl. Perhaps this is a calculated move. After all, if Morris stays for the game he’d be playing against his father, Chad Morris, the current receivers coach for Texas State. North Texas will turn to walk-on freshman Drew Mestemaker without the younger Morris onboard.

Faith of the Heart

There’s still some hope, however, that things will work out. “For a freshman, Drew is pretty good,” Ridge Texada, a veteran cornerback, said in a press conference leading into this game. He continued further, saying, “He has an arm on him. He doesn’t have much experience, but going against him in practice, he’s not a freshman who doesn’t know what he’s doing out there. The coaches have done a good job of developing him throughout the year.”

This faith is a good thing because Mestemaker isn’t the only untested player starting the First Responder’s Bowl. The transfer portal, as it is bound to do, is wreaking havoc in Denton. Plenty of starters and veterans are in the transfer portal and opting out of the bowl game.

Brandon Young, another true freshman, is starting at tight end. D.T. Sheffield is also being replaced as he’s heading to Rutgers. Even the receiving core will be seeing plenty of freshmen starting. Like Oklahoma, North Texas is suffering from both injuries and transfer portal shuffles.

Texas State is Cashing in

Despite joining the Sun Belt over a decade ago, Texas State only made its first bowl game in 2023. Now, just one year later, the Bobcats are back in, coincidentally, the same bowl game. Can the Bobcats hold on to their title as reigning First Responder Bowl champions?

There’s a good chance that they can. The trend for this year has been two wins and two losses. They won their last game against South Alabama- which means they’re due for another one. Additionally, their offensive coordinator, Mack Leftwich, was one of the final candidates in Oklahoma’s high-stakes search for a replacement coordinator this year.

The Bobcat Backups

If that’s not enough, Texas State is currently ranking fifth nationally in yards per game, with 474 yards, and seventh in points per game, averaging about 37 points. Senior quarterback Jordan McCloud, running back Ismail Mahdi, and a veteran receiving group all share responsibility for this success. Unfortunately, these team leaders aren’t likely to play much, if at all, in the First Responder Bowl.

McCloud is seeking a top spot in the NFL Draft. While he isn’t fully de-committed from playing, there’s a chance that he will only take a limited amount of snaps to preserve his draft stock. Mahdi, meanwhile, is entering the transfer portal with his eyes on a spot with Arizona. Unlike North Texas, however, Texas State is capable of absorbing these blows through a strong depth chart.

Just one example is R.J. Martinez, who is the backup quarterback for the Bobcats. Martinez may not have seen much action since the 2022 season, but he’s a solid option to rely on. There’s also running back Torrance Burgess Jr., who rushed for nearly 400 yards this season and is more than ready to step up.

Tale of the Tape: First Responder Bowl 2024

If everyone, transfers, and seniors alike, opt-ins, this is going to be one of the greatest games of the bowl season. An offense shootout doesn’t even begin to describe it. The Rose Bowl wouldn’t hold a candle to this one. With everyone onboard, North Texas and Texas State could bring the house down.

That probably won’t happen.

North Texas is looking for a miracle win that’s just not in the cards. Unlike Sam Houston, the opt-outs are probably staying out, and it’s likely going to bring the Mean Green’s season to a rough end. For a school that once had “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on its roster, the days of North Texas dominance seem to be long gone right now. Meanwhile, the Texas State Bobcats have the team and the momentum to win big in Dallas.

No matter what happens on Friday, be sure to check back in with Last Word On Sports as we bring you the best breakdown of this year’s First Responder Bowl and much, much, more.

The post First Responder Bowl Preview: North Texas and Texas State appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

Today’s era of bowl games provides the intrigue of upsets and unpredictability as teams often look vastly different than the regular season versions of themselves. Neither intrigue nor upsets are constants as TCU dominates Louisiana 34-3 to win the New Mexico Bowl. The Horned Frogs were sharp on both sides of the ball throughout the game. UL lacked rhythm offensively but was simply outmanned on this day.

TCU Dominates Louisiana

Hoover Can Handle It

Josh Hoover broke TCU’s school record for passing yardage in a single season in today’s game. It didn’t take long to see the tools that put him in a position to do so. Hoover was sharp and decisive, taking advantage of Louisiana’s soft coverage intended to prevent big plays. The talented sophomore completed 17-25 passes for 218 yards by halftime.

Wide Receiver Eric McAlister was the main beneficiary of Hoover’s dominance. McAlister stepped up in the absence of Jack Bech and Savion Williams. The local product had eight catches for 87 yards, nearly a third of his 2024 catches coming into the game. Drake Dabney was an explosive threat at tight end while averaging 24 yards per catch.

TCU easily drove down the field for a touchdown on its first possession and set the tone for the game. UL struggled in pass coverage and could not generate pressure. Worst of all, the Cajuns missed several tackles after the catch. The defensive game plan was to keep everything in front of them and prevent explosives. They obviously struggled in that regard.

Tenacious TCU Defense

Not to be outshined by the offense, the TCU defense was every bit as dominant. We think UL has one of the more underrated running back tandems in the country, and it never stood a chance. The Horned Frogs overpowered the Cajuns’ offensive line, leaving nowhere to go for the backs. Louisiana rushed for 3.5 yards per carry as a team, but a few late runs by freshman Tylon Citizen inflated the average.

UL was fortunate to get starting quarterback Ben Wooldridge back from injury. Unfortunately, he didn’t get much help from his receivers. The Ragin’ Cajun pass catchers could not separate from the sticky coverage of the TCU secondary. In the few instances in which they managed to gain separation, they made a habit of dropping balls in critical situations. UL’s failure to win one-on-ones combined with poor blocking up front combined to produce a completely inept offense. The Cajuns never threatened the TCU defense in any way.

Everything’s Sonny in Fort Worth

Sonny Dykes’ Horned Frogs have now bounced back from a disappointing, sub .500 record in 2023 to finish 9-4 in 2024. TCU has added instant impact talent from the transfer portal but hasn’t lost many players compared to most programs at this point. The New Mexico Bowl win adds to the positive momentum as the Horned Frogs look ahead to spring practice.

Hoover repeatedly made plays most quarterbacks wouldn’t even attempt. He’s elusive in the pocket, accurate, and strong-armed. His natural ability leads to a few ill-advised throws, but he’s shown the potential to be among the elite at the position. Freshman running back Nate Palmer was lightly used coming into this game but was impressive on the day. TCU has other talented running backs, but Palmer has a burst that’s different. Considering Dykes’ track record and the weapons returning, TCU is a team to watch in the chaotic Big 12 2025.

Solid Year in Lafayette

UL simply had a tough draw in its bowl game. The Cajuns would’ve been underdogs regardless, but they lost major weapons that could’ve changed how TCU defended them. However, the result of this game shouldn’t dampen the spirits of the Ragin’ Cajun faithful.

Mike Desormeaux’s squad finished 10-4 with the Sun Belt’s Offensive Player of the Year in Wooldridge and Coach of the Year. Desormeaux has proven himself as a head coach since taking over for Billy Napier, and the Cajuns continue to be a force in the Sun Belt. UL has to replace its best players on both sides of the ball in Wooldridge and KC Ossai on defense, but we wouldn’t bet against the Cajuns to pick up where they left off in 2025.

The post TCU Dominates Louisiana to Win Isleta New Mexico Bowl appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

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.

‘Tis the season for intriguing bowl matchups, and the Isleta New Mexico Bowl will bring one of the more interesting games. TCU (8-4) will meet the University of Louisiana (10-3) for the first time in history on Saturday, December 28^th. ESPN is televising the game at 1:15 PM CST.

The Ragin’ Cajuns of Lafayette are coming off an impressive regular season in which they won six consecutive games at one point. Head coach Michael Desormeaux was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year, and ULL recently rewarded him with a five-year extension. Desormeaux has now brought the Cajuns to a bowl game in each of his three seasons at the helm.

Sonny Dykes is also finishing his third year as the head coach in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs bounced back from a 5-7 season in 2023 to finish in the top half of the realigned Big 12. Dykes made an impressive run with TCU to win a playoff game in 2022 and looks to have the program trending in the right direction again.

High Flying Frogs

As one should expect from a Dykes-led team, TCU has displayed an explosive passing offense. Quarterback Josh Hoover averages over 300 passing yards per game, and he has no shortage of weapons. Wide receiver and Lafayette native Jack Bech leads the team in receptions. The former LSU transfer developed into a go-to guy for the Horned Frogs and has over 1,000 receiving yards for the year.

6’5”, 225-pound receiver Savion Williams is a big part of the TCU offense, both literally and figuratively. Williams is second on the team in receptions but also second in rushing attempts. The athletic receiver doubles as a wildcat quarterback and even has a touchdown pass on the year. His role will grow (I know, hard to believe) in the bowl game due to the loss of running back Cam Cook to the transfer portal.

The UL defense could easily hold up physically against the Frogs better than expected. Linebacker KC Ossai plays a hard-nosed brand of football and is good enough to play at any level. Justin Agu is as aggressive as it gets in run support from the cornerback position. The Cajuns excel against the run, but the run game is not the strength of the TCU offense.

Stepping Up to the Plate

The Cajuns are hoping to get starting quarterback Ben Wooldridge back from injury for the bowl game, but we haven’t confirmed his return. Reserve Chandler Fields has gotten the majority of the snaps in Wooldridge’s absence. Fields has completed over 70% of his passes with only one interception in 87 attempts. He’s been more than serviceable, but the offense does not rely on Fields alone.

Freshman running back Bill Davis is a 5’9”, 240-pound bowling ball in the backfield. His low center of gravity helps his leverage and balance, but he also has a surprising ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Sophomore Zylan Perry provides the lightning to Davis’s thunder, averaging over six yards per carry.

Louisiana uses a significant amount of jet sweep action in its offensive play calling, but the receivers rarely run the ball. Not to worry; they get plenty of action in the passing game. Even with productive players like Harvey Broussard and Terence Carter in the portal, the Cajuns will play three receivers with over 20 catches.

Calling Our Shot

Bowl games often come down to who wants to be there the most. Fortunately, we don’t expect the New Mexico Bowl to have a disinterested team on either sideline. The Cajuns are hungry, coming off a 31-3 loss to Marshall. They also have a chance to win 11 games for the third time in school history. Conversely, TCU must maintain its positive momentum going into the off-season. The Horned Frogs only have six players in the portal currently, and that speaks to the buy-in within the program. There’s more parity than ever in the Big 12, and the Frogs could easily be a playoff team in 2025.

In the end, the Cajuns don’t generate enough pressure with their front four to slow down Hoover. Given time, he’ll have success through the air. The matchups on the perimeter are not in the Cajuns’ favor if they send extra rushers. UL presents a challenge with its run game. Those who haven’t seen Davis run are in for a treat, but the uncertainty at quarterback is concerning. We’re giving TCU the nod to come out on top in an evenly matched New Mexico Bowl.

The post TCU Meets Louisiana in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

There was hope playing in front of the home crowd could lift Tim Beck’s team to a postseason win. But with an 11 am local kickoff time, Brooks Stadium (which only has a seating capacity of 21,000) looked to not even be half full. So with little juice in the stadium for the home team, it became clear early that this game would never be in the Chanticleer’s control. UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor battled some early rust. But as the game progressed, the Roadrunners sprinted to a deceive 44-15 victory in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

Roadrunners Sprinted From Chanticleers

Chants Couldn’t Overcome Roster Attrition

The mounting roster issues facing Coastal Carolina on both sides of the ball were not a surprise during their bowl preparations. But starting a third-string quarterback who has never taken a collegiate snap was going to be a lot to overcome. Even if the rest of the starters on both sides of the ball played in this game, a brand-new quarterback puts a team behind the eight-ball. Chanticleer quarterback Tad Hudson and what was left of his wide receiving corps tried to rally around one another, with the wide receivers dubbing themselves “The Tadpoles” during practice. But the opening drive of the game revealed how the rest of the game would play out for Coastal Carolina.

Offensive Dud From Play One

After the opening kickoff, the Chants took a delay of game penalty on the very first play. This was especially head-scratching considering the first 10ish plays of a game are pre-scripted. This means Hudson and the offense had known what the first play was going to be for weeks now. After running the opening play for zero yards, Coastal Carolina suffered a false start penalty. However, even with the poor start, they overcame 2nd and 20 to pick up a first down.

But it proved to be the same fool’s gold anyone can win at an arcade on the Myrtle Beach boardwalk. The next three plays went backward, with two of them being sacks by the UTSA offense. Coastal Carolina finished with only 271 total yards of offense, while also accumulating 10 penalties for 96 yards. Hudson’s passing numbers reflect someone who had never thrown a college pass before today. He finished the day 17-for-26 for 173 yards and two touchdowns.

Roadrunners Sprinted To Victory In Second Quarter

For as bad as the Coastal Carolina offense was looking, the defense held up well in the first quarter. UTSA’s offense, led by quarterback Owen McCown, had been one of the hottest offenses in all of college football in the second half of the season. So for the first quarter to end 0-0 was a promising sign for the Chants. However, the Roadrunners sprinted to 21 points in the second quarter. They finally started looking like the offense they had been the previous six weeks. McCown wasn’t perfect as he did throw one interception.

But otherwise, it was a very productive day as he finished 23-for-30 passing for 254 yards and one touchdown. He also added 37 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Meanwhile, the UTSA defense also feasted on the diminished Coastal Carolina offense. One of the biggest reasons why Coastal’s offense mustered as few offensive yards as it did was the amount of times the Roadrunners were making plays in their backfield. UTSA finished the game with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. With this Myrtle Beach Bowl win, it marks the first time in program history (which is only 13 years old) that the Roadrunners have won bowl games in consecutive seasons. The 44 team points also marked a program-high in points scored in a bowl game for UTSA.

Main Image courtesy: Myrtle Beach Bowl

The post Roadrunners Sprinted From Chanticleers For Myrtle Beach Bowl Victory appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

The unstoppable Sam Houston Bearkats met the immovable Georgia Southern Eagles in this year’s New Orleans Bowl. The Big Easy was anything but as these two teams threw haymakers back and forth at each other. This slug-it-out type of college football game, however, should come as no surprise to those familiar with the FCS style of play.

Sam Houston Georgia Southern

Kats Have Claws

The best way to describe the first quarter is total Sam Houston domination. As Last Word On Sports discussed earlier this week, the transfers remaining made a world of difference. Even with this being their last game under the Bearkats banner, these players were giving it their all.

Whether it was penalties or a tenacious Sam Houston defense, the Eagles couldn’t get anything going in the first fifteen minutes. JC French’s very first play of the game was snatched out of the air by Jaylon Jimmerson and ran back for an amazing pick-six.

Anyone who was doubting that Sam Houston could persevere without their head coach was, very quickly, forgotten.

Eagles Have Talons

Ryan Aplin’s team wasn’t ready to fly home just yet, though. After being pushed down, Georgia Southern got back up, dusted itself off, and knocked Sam Houston straight in the teeth. French, despite his early interceptions, showed why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the Sun Belt. Working in tandem with running back Jalen White, he led the Eagles on an eighty-yard drive down the field.

Indeed, the Bearkats defense was clearly caught off guard as the mobile quarterback kept bouncing back and forth between the lines. The opening minutes of the second quarter were everything the first quarter wasn’t. Despite some good effort, the Sam Houston defenders couldn’t keep up. A final pass to Josh Dallas put the Eagles on the board.

While the Georgia Southern offense was stumbling to success, the Eagles defense was putting the fear of God into the Sam Houston offense. Defenders and linebackers alike kept blasting through the Bearkats’ line. Hunter Watson stuck in the backfield, was their target each and every time. Each time Watson got back up, it was clear he never wanted to get hit like that again.

Clawing Back the New Orleans Bowl

A late Georgia Southern drive in the first half couldn’t close the gap fast enough, and the third quarter would open with a 21-10 lead for Sam Houston. That’s when the Eagles began clawing their way back into this bowl game.

A touchdown and field goal would bring that big lead down to just three points. Big hits began closing the walls on Watson and the Bearkats. Somehow, some way, their lead was disappearing. In the fourth quarter, Georgia Southern took as much time off the clock as they could. Yet, just as it had been all game, they couldn’t maintain the momentum.

French would throw his fifth interception of the night, Dallas fumbled a punt recovery, and then the Eagles followed this up with a personal foul and a targeting penalty. Despite a last-minute push, these mistakes held a Georgia Southern victory well out of reach.

The 2024 New Orleans Bowl: By The Numbers

At 31-26, the Bearkats walk out with the victory. Watson completed 23 out of 28 passes for 213 yards of offense. The leading rusher for the Bearkats is Jay Ducker with 26 total yards on the ground. Overall, Sam Houston comes away with 265 total yards of offense and 28 minutes of possession time.

Georgia Southern leaves the New Orleans Bowl with 393 total yards of offense and 31 minutes of possession time.

The Future of Sam Houston and Georgia Southern Football

Both teams have some big decisions to make in the future. The New Orleans Bowl may have been the end of Sam Houston’s football dominance- at least for now. With so many outgoing transfers, the Bearkats are in an uncomfortably similar position to the SEC’s Oklahoma Sooners right now. It’s not rebuild time just yet, but the success of 2024 will be difficult to recreate in 2025.

Georgia Southern, on the other hand, is looking to next year with hope. Unlike so many teams in college football, the Eagles are a cohesive unit. Perhaps it’s the FCS legacy, but this team is one that’s sticking together. As college football competition heats up, Georgia Southern and the Sun Belt’s 2025 season is looking to be the hottest yet.

Speaking of, the Sun Belt still has other college football teams going bowling. When Texas State collides against North Texas in a few weeks, be sure to check back in with Last Word On Sports. We’ll be there to provide you with the most in-depth breakdown of this year’s First Responders Bowl between the Sun Belt and the American conferences. Until then, it’s time for Sam Houston to ride into the New Orleans sunset with a very well-earned victory.

The post Sam Houston Gets a Program First in New Orleans appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

At Last Word, we hope all Christmas planning has been executed and it’s time just to enjoy the week. Might we offer a reason not even to bother logging into work on Monday, December 23rd? How about a Myrtle Beach Bowl featuring two 6–6 teams that gave up 30 points per game with an 11 a.m. EST kickoff? Last Word correctly identified that Coastal would not travel far for their bowl game before the official announcement dropped. In addition, this will be the first-ever meeting between the Chanticleers and the Road Runners. Mix in some portal madness for the “home” team, and this game is bound to be a party that would make Conway/Myrtle Beach proud.

Myrtle Beach Bowl: Coastal Carolina and UTSA Ball at the Beach

Depleted Chanticleers Look To Defend Their Teal Turf

Any Coastal Carolina season ticket holders are going to see a very different team when the Myrtle Beach Bowl kicks off. Starting on offense, starting quarterback Ethan Vasko and QB2 Noah Kim have entered the transfer portal. The Chanticleer offense was a boom-or-bust unit all season. Tim Beck’s team has scored 40 or more points five times and fewer than 20 three times in 2024. With a depleted quarterback room, Beck will likely turn the offense over to Tad Hudson with Alex Walker serving as the backup. Hudson, a four-star recruit out of high school, redshirted his freshman year at North Carolina before transferring to Coastal Carolina. Hudson will get his first-ever collegiate snaps in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Expect the Chants to lean heavily on running back Braydon Bennett.

The senior from Greenville, SC was one of the most explosive running backs in the Sun Belt this season. The two-sport start for Coastal (who also runs the hurdles for the track team) averages 6.5 yards per carry and among his 112 rushes are gains of 67, 49, 37, and 25 yards (plus receptions of 37 and 25 yards). If Coastal is going to win the game, the offense must be clicking. The Coastal defense was not one of the best in the Sun Belt this season. They allowed an average of 419 yards of offense and 30 points per game, both were fourth worst in the conference. That was with both Matthew McDoom and Clev Lubin, both who earned All-Sun Belt First team selections. McDoom recently committed to Cincinnati while Lubin is still in the transfer portal.

Roadrunners Speeding To Bowl Game With Offense

The defensive challenge for the Chanticleers only becomes more daunting with a surging UTSA offense coming to Conway. Jeff Traylor’s team got off to a disappointing 2-4 start. But in the second half of the season, they finished with a 4-2 clip thanks to the offense rounding into form. They scored at least 38 points in five of its past six games. The catalyst for the offense explosion has been quarterback Owen McCown. In his last six games, he is averaging 310 passing yards per game. He was also has been spreading the ball around as five players caught between 13-24 passes in those games. In addition to throwing the ball well, McCown also has been averaging over 50 rushing yards per game (not including sacks).

However, the defense has struggled for much of the year. The Roadrunner defense allowed an average of 31.4 points and 383 yards of offense per game. But unlike the Chanticleers, it appears their two best defensive players will be suiting up for the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Senior linebacker Jimmori Robinson was selected as the 2024 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He totaled 43 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a blocked kick this season. He was also joined by defensive back Zah Frazier on the AAC first-team defense.

Myrtle Beach Bowl Predictions

Here is an interesting factoid: UTSA was undefeated at home this season and flat-out defeated (0–6) on the road. So while Coastal Carolina is officially listed as the road team, let’s make no mistake about this: this is a true road game for the Road Runners. Both teams are sketchy defensively with one of the units being void of a few starters. However, UTSA is the more turnover-prone of the two as they ranked tied for 97th in turnovers lost this season coughing up the football 20 times. As leaky as the Coastal defense has been, they do a great job of creating turnovers. They finished tied 26th nationally in turnovers gained with 21. Expect the playbook to be emptied on both sides with a ton of scoring in this one. But a late turnover by the Roadrunners sets up the Chanticleers to kick a game-winning field goal as the “road team” gives the home fans an early Christmas gift.

Coastal Carolina 45, UTSA 42

The post Myrtle Beach Bowl: Coastal Carolina and UTSA Ball at the Beach appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

The Big Easy is hosting a clash of conferences this year, as Sam Houston and Georgia Southern collide in the New Orleans Bowl. Conference USA and the Sun Belt, the ‘undercard’ members of the FBS conferences, are sending some of their best to the Superdome. One enters without a head coach, and the other is the runner-up in their conference. Only one can walk away the winner.

New Orleans Bowl 2024 Preview: Sam Houston and Georgia Southern

Bearkats Scratched Up

In its second year in the FBS, Sam Houston is standing tall. After dominating former WAC powerhouse Rice in the season opener, the Big 12’s UCF completely cut up the Sam Houston defense. This year, however, one loss was not enough to deter the Bearkats.

While Oklahoma schools have struggled, Sam Houston has been stepping up big time. At 9-3, the Bearkats just barely lost out on competing for the Conference USA championship. Unfortunately, the offseason hasn’t been as kind.

On December 1st, FCS legend and Bearkat head coach K.C. Keeler announced he was immediately stepping down from the program. While Keeler heads to rebuild Temple, Sam Houston will look for someone to keep the ship straight. Offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen will coach the team for the New Orleans Bowl.

Eagles Soaring Above and Beyond

Pre-season polls predicted that Georgia Southern would finish fourth or lower in the Sun Belt’s East Division. Instead, the Eagles came in just behind the conference champion Marshall. They beat Marshall in Week Six. Indeed, the Georgia Southern Eagles are flying higher than some Big 12 or SEC teams at an 8-4 record on the season. In contrast to other teams, they’ve also seen very little outgoing movement in the transfer portal.

New offensive coordinator Ryan Aplin is credited with this success. Most will probably remember Aplin as the record-setting Arkansas State quarterback from just over 10 years ago. Every team that has Aplin onboard inevitably finds success with an agile offense, and that’s just what he’s done at Georgia Southern. With few outgoing players and a team of solid coordinators, the Sun Belt’s Georgia Southern is coming into the New Orleans Bowl with massive momentum.

Who’s On First For Sam Houston?

After its best season since winning the WAC in 2021, Sam Houston faces an uphill battle to end the season. The top three running backs, DJ McKinney, Jay Ducker, and John Gentry, are entering the transfer portal. Additionally, starting safety Caleb Weaver and defensive end Chris Murray are also leaving. Quite a few Bearkats are opting to head to the transfer portal.

Hunter Watson, the starting quarterback, is still in. At running back, they’re down to Adrian Murdaugh, a redshirt junior. Murdaugh has the speed and build to slip through the line, but he hasn’t seen much action over three years. Simeon Evans, at the top of the wide receiver depth chart, is entering the portal but has committed to playing in the game. Unlike the Oklahoma Sooners, the wide receiver group at Sam Houston is staying out of the transfer portal.

Defensively, the Bearkats are down quite a few of their best. Plenty of them are entering the portal, but not all. Issiah Nixon and Jevon Leon, both seniors, are staying in. The defensive backfield, however, is not so lucky. Unless more players come forward to play in the bowl game, the Bearkats face a seriously depleted backfield.

Georgia Southern’s Starting Roster

JC French may only be a sophomore, but he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the Sun Belt. After throwing for over 2,000 yards this season, French is somewhere in the top 100 quarterbacks nationally. He’s backed up by senior running back Jalen White.

At wide receiver, Georgia Southern has three 500+ yard receivers. Derwin Burgess Jr., Dalen Cobb, and Josh Dallas are all serious threats on any normal day- but against a depleted Sam Houston, they may be unstoppable.

Defensively there are solid, veteran talents up and down the line. There will be problems replacing this amount of talent next year but for the New Orleans Bowl this year? Georgia Southern is completely prepared.

Last Thoughts on the New Orleans Bowl 2024

There are plenty of great bowl games on tap this year. The New Orleans Bowl showdown is looking to be yet another one. For those who call the Lone Star State home, the obvious favorite is Sam Houston. The odds, however, are looking pretty dicey for the Bearkats.

If the veterans choose to play one last game in the orange and white, there’s a real competitive match-up here. If not, then this game will end up looking like the Army-Navy game. Georgia Southern is riding momentum and stability, and the Eagles will likely ride it all the way to a win. Whatever happens, Last Word On Sports will be there with the most comprehensive breakdown of the 2024 New Orleans Bowl.

The post New Orleans Bowl Preview: Sam Houston and Georgia Southern appeared first on Last Word on College Football.

Michigan football is halfway there. Six games in, six to go. Maybe seven to go, depending on these next six. You know what? For everyone’s sanity, let’s just shoot for six and go from there.

How have the Wolverines’ past opponents done thus far? Let’s take a gander.

Fresno State (3-3, 1-1 in Mountain West)

When they played Michigan: A 30-10 Wolverine victory that foretold the arrival of Kalel Mullings…and the eventual departure of Davis Warren.

What’s happened since: The Bulldogs walloped on FCS Sacramento State and two teams from The Land of Enchantment – New Mexico and New Mexico State. They averaged 44 points per game in those contests. Hajj-Malik Williams and a surging UNLV put a stop to all that, 59-14. The Bulldogs then lost to Washington State, 25-17.

Still to come: Washington State was their toughest remaining opponent. The rest of the season is fairly light, including a season finale against last-in-the-Big Ten UCLA. The Bulldogs look like a good bet to finish above .500, as long as the Bulldogs aren’t too traumatized from their one night in Vegas.

Key Component: Quarterback Mikey Keene. Keene is a smaller quarterback, but also a spark plug with a quick release and toughness to spare. On one hand, he currently sports an 8:8 touchdown: interception ratio on the season. On the other, their remaining schedule doesn’t feature many intimidating defenses. If Keene can improve ball security while continuing to Grit It Up, it bodes well for head coach Tim Skipper’s interim tenure.

Texas (6-0, 2-0 in SEC)

When they played Michigan: It was not great.

What’s happened since: A week after dismantling Michigan, Quinn Ewers sustained an oblique injury against UTSA. Arch Manning entered in his stead and the Longhorns missed zero beats. Must be nice. Ewers came back for the Red River Rivalry and, after shaking off the rust, led Texas to an exceedingly comfortable 34-3 win.

Still to come: Next up is a Georgia team that looks tough but mortal this year. If they can survive that, they’ll be in the driver’s seat the rest of the way and almost certainly bound for a top seed in the Playoff. That is, of course, unless the Diego Pavia Experience in Nashville has anything to say about it.

Key Component: Health and injury avoidance, at this point. Steve Sarkisian looks like he’s having a blast calling this offense, and the defense hasn’t allowed more than 13 points in any game this season. If they get past Georgia, the #1 seed beckons.

Arkansas State (3-3, 1-1 in Sun Belt)

When they played Michigan: A 28-18 Wolverine victory that wasn’t as close as the final score would have you believe.

What’s happened since: Incredibly lopsided losses to Iowa State and Texas State. In the middle, they nail-bit their way to a last-second win over South Alabama. The Red Wolves do not look like a great team this year. Despite the previous bullet point’s assertion that Michigan’s win was better than it looked…it also feels worse knowing that ASU is currently 115th in FPI.

Still to come: Butch Jones will have a good shot to end up on the right side of the box score against a reeling Southern Miss team up next. The rest of the Sun Belt is generally bunched toward the bottom of FBS rankings. As such, the remaining schedule is full of tossups.

Key Components: Linebacker Marvin Ham and wide receiver Corey Rucker. Both are in the top five at their positions in the conference. In this conference, sometimes a few star players are the difference between a Good Season and a Bad Season.

USC (3-3, 1-3 in Big Ten)

When they played Michigan: 27-24, Michigan. It’s not often you can pass for 32 yards and win, but that’s what the box score says happened, and so we are honor-bound to believe it.

What’s happened since: A resounding win over Wisconsin (good!). Subsequently, the Trojans choked away near-wins against Minnesota and Penn State (not as good!). For Lincoln Riley and anyone with a vested interest in Lincoln Riley, it might be dangerously close to Panic Mode time in University Park. That being said…

Still to come: The season is salvageable. There are tough but beatable opponents left on the schedule: Maryland, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Washington. There’s a probable win at UCLA and a toss-up finale hosting Notre Dame. Win out and it’s a 9-3 season. Any more slip-ups and Riley’s seat could get hot, fast.

Key Component: Shutting the door. In all seriousness, USC is statistically a top-25 team. They’ve unfortunately dropped some brutal one-score games in Scott Frost-ian fashion. Nonetheless, D’Anton Lynn’s defense still looks massively improved over last year’s tackle-averse outfit. Plus, it’s still a Riley offense with Woody Marks, Miller Moss, and a million wide receivers. They just need to show up and close out the fourth quarter.

Minnesota (4-3, 2-2 in Big Ten)

When they played Michigan: 27-24, Michigan. Not trying to be repetitive, it’s just what happened.

What’s happened since: A gutsy 24-17 win over USC, then a late rally to beat lowly UCLA, 21-17.

Still to come: Maryland, Illinois, Rutgers, Penn State, and Wisconsin. Nothing is guaranteed in either direction, except probably a loss to the Nittany Lions. Otherwise, the Gophers are probably going bowling at the very least.

Key Component: Offensive identity. P.J. Fleck continues to lean on quarterback Max Brosmer for 30+ passes per game. If they’re going to survive the rest of the schedule, they’ll need a strong running game to help keep Brosmer clean. It’s been a staple of Fleck’s past offenses, and if it can’t resurface they might be in trouble down the stretch.

Washington (4-3, 2-2 in Big Ten)

When they played Michigan: 27-24, Michigan. Kidding, of course. 27-17, Huskies. They stormed the field, it was a whole thing.

What’s happened since:  A 40-16 defenestration by Iowa, which is considered a rite of passage in the Big Ten. Washington was hoping for some Midwestern kindness and got two hefty scoops of Kaleb Johnson (188 total yards, three TDs) instead.

Still to come: It’s only getting harder for the Huskies, who still have to play top-3 teams Penn State and Oregon, plus currently 16th-ranked Indiana and a ticked-off USC.

Key Component: Crossing the finish line. Washington continues to move the ball, but not with any regularity to the most crucial part of the field (the end zone). There’s hope for the future in Seattle with what Jedd Fisch is building, but the present is a disappointing number of stalled drives and points left on the field.

Next up, we’ll review Michigan’s remaining opponents. Spoiler alert: they’re going to be difficult.

The post Checking In On Michigan’s 2024 Opponents: Part 1 appeared first on Last Word on College Football.