Behren Morton threw two interceptions and managed just 137 passing yards, as Texas Tech had no answers against Oregon in a 23-0 loss in the Orange Bowl. The Red Raiders’ season ended in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, the second straight such ending for the Big 12. Read more: Around the Big 12: Ducks turn over Red Raiders in CFP Quarterfinal.
The conference is the only one of the Power 4 that does not have a win in the 12-team playoff era. The playoff has never treated the Big 12 well; TCU’s win over Michigan in 2022 marks the league’s only win in the playoff. Overall, the Big 12 is 1-8 in the playoff.
The Red Raiders (12-2) never came close to ending the league’s playoff futility. Texas Tech committed four turnovers and couldn’t figure out anything against the Oregon defense.
The Ducks (13-1) earned their second win of the year against Big 12 competition. Earlier this year, Oregon hammered Oklahoma State 69-3, which proved the penultimate game of Mike Gundy’s tenure in Stillwater.
Read more: Around the Big 12: Ducks turn over Red Raiders in CFP Quarterfinal.
Texas Tech’s defense more than did its job. Oregon’s first drive for a field goal was the Ducks’ only scoring possession that wasn’t set up by the Red Raiders’ offensive miscues. The Ducks converted three turnovers into 13 points and scored their final touchdown after a failed 4th down attempt.
Sun Devils can’t close out Blue Devils
Arizona State turned the ball over on its final two possessions of the Sun Bowl, allowing Duke to steal a 42-39 win over the Sun Devils in El Paso.
The Sun Devils (8-5) had the ACC champion Blue Devils (9-5) on the ropes after the defense stopped Duke on 4th and goal from the ASU 8. That stop preserved a 39-35 lead for Arizona State with less than three minutes left. However, Demarius Robinson fumbled on the Sun Devils’ first offensive play, giving the Blue Devils one more chance.
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Arizona State got the ball back with 2:10 left down 3, but Jeff Sims’ interception allowed Duke to run out the clock. Sims threw for three touchdowns and 375 yards, but the Sun Devils could not overcome the late mistake. Arizona State committed three turnovers to Duke’s one. The Sun Devils have now lost six of seven bowl games.
Cougars rally past Yellow Jackets to win Pop-Tarts Bowl
Bear Bachmeier threw for 325 yards and a score, and BYU came up with 15 fourth-quarter points to beat Georgia Tech 25-21 at the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando.
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While BYU (12-2) clearly missed injured running back LJ Martin, Jovesa Damuni came up big on the final drive. Damuni scored the game-winning touchdown on a four-yard run, capping off a comeback after BYU trailed 21-10 at halftime.
Georgia Tech (9-4) reached the BYU 18 on its final drive, but the Cougars intercepted Haynes King in the end zone, preserving the lead and ending the game.
BYU has won three straight bowl games.
Houston Holds Off LSU in Texas Bowl
Connor Weigman threw for four touchdowns, and Houston scored on three of its final four possessions to edge LSU, 38-35.
The Cougars (10-3) played in their home city’s bowl game for the first time since 2007. Weigman didn’t throw for a lot of yards (230), but did exactly what his team needed. Houston kept LSU (7-6) off the field with long drives, strengthened by Dean Connors’ running. Connors scored Houston’s final touchdown and finished with 126 yards.
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The Cougars finished with 32 first downs and controlled the football for 38:32 of the game. The win marked Houston’s third straight bowl victory.
Seals lifts Frogs to Alamo victory
Ken Seals made his first and final start at TCU, throwing for 258 yards and a touchdown as the Frogs defeated USC 30-27 in overtime at the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.
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Seals, a sixth-year senior, sat on the Frogs’ bench for the past two seasons. But when starter Josh Hoover opted to transfer and missed the bowl, Seals got his chance. He ended his college career with a perfect finish, hitting Jeremy Payne for a 35-yard touchdown to win the game in overtime.
Payne added 73 rushing yards and a touchdown for TCU (9-4). By beating the Trojans (9-4), the Frogs have now won five straight true bowl games. Their only postseason loss in their past six was the 2022 national championship to Georgia, and TCU hasn’t lost a postseason game to anyone but Georgia since 2012.
Utes Hammer Cornhuskers in Scalley’s Debut
Devon Dampier threw for 310 yards and two scores, and Utah outscored Nebraska 31-0 in the second and third quarters, winning the Las Vegas Bowl 44-22.
The win marked Morgan Scalley’s first game as the head man in Salt Lake City. Scalley was expected to take over after this game, but when former coach Kyle Whittingham jumped to Michigan, Scalley instead took the reins for this game.
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The Utes (11-2) didn’t miss a beat. After allowing the Cornhuskers (7-6) two touchdowns on their first two possessions, Utah held Nebraska to five total yards on its next six possessions. During that stretch, Utah scored on five consecutive possessions to put the game well out of reach.
The Utes snapped a five-game losing streak in bowl games.
Bearcats, Wildcats still to come
Cincinnati and Arizona have yet to play their bowls. The Bearcats play Navy on Friday in the Liberty Bowl, while the Wildcats face SMU on Friday in the Holiday Bowl.
