College Football Bowl Schedule 2010-11: The Top 10 Performances Thus Far
The 2010-11 college football bowl season is nearing an end, and there's been no shortage of memorable moments and incredible performances.
From Ohio State's narrow escape against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl to Iowa's thrilling victory over Missouri in the Insight Bowl, there have been plenty of exciting and memorable moments to satiate the thirst of just about every college football fan over the past month.
But let's not forget about the bevy of amazing individual performances thus far, the incredible runs and pinpoint passes that have made this year's bowl games fun to watch...or not, depending on your rooting interests.
With that in mind, here's a look at the top 10 bowl game performances thus far.
10. Greg Salas, Hawaii
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We begin in the tropical isles of Hawaii, where one wide receiver had a game for the ages, albeit in a losing effort.
Warriors wideout Greg Salas did everything he could to keep Hawaii's turnover-prone football team in the game against Tulsa in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
With different quarterbacks rotating in and out and the team's second-best receiver, Kealoha Pilares, knocked out of the game, Salas came up huge, snagging 13 balls for two touchdowns and a career high 214 yards.
Unfortunately, Salas' efforts couldn't compensate for Hawaii's six first-half turnovers and shoddy defense, as the Warriors fell to the Golden Hurricane 62-35.
9. Da'Rel Scott, Maryland
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The Maryland Terrapins put on a show against East Carolina in the Military Bowl.
Chief among the Terps' showmen in that game was running back Da'Rel Scott.
In head coach Ralph Friedgen's swan song, Scott scampered for a whopping 200 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries in a 51-20 romp over the Pirates.
That's an average of 15.4 yards per carry.
Not a bad way to send "The Fridge" out.
8. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
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Frankly, it just might be easier to describe what Justin Blackmon didn't do in Oklahoma State's 36-10 de-clawing of the Arizona Wildcats in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
Blackmon's performance—nine catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns—was rather impressive in and of itself.
More impressive, however, is the fact that with those numbers, Blackmon broke the NCAA record for most consecutive 100-yard receiving games, having caught for triple-digit yardage in every game in which he played this season.
Blackmon will have plenty of opportunity to keep his streak going next year, assuming he doesn't jump to the NFL.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Doug Martin, Boise State
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Any talk about players at Boise State tends to be about quarterback Kellen Moore, and deservedly so.
However, after pounding Utah in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas 26-3, it looks like people will be talking a bit more about running back Doug Martin.
The junior from Stockton, California, had one of his finest games of the season, dashing for 147 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against the Utes defense.
And though he and the Broncos would've preferred that performance to come in a bigger bowl game (BCS much?), it was a pretty good way for Martin to end his season nonetheless.
6. Cody Hoffman, BYU
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Boise State will essentially be taking Utah's place atop the Mountain West Conference next year, which will also be without longtime member BYU.
The Cougars closed out their tenure in the MWC with a convincing 52-24 shellacking of UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl, thanks in large part to the efforts of Cody Hoffman.
The freshman tight end had a magnificent game, catching three of fellow freshman Jake Heaps' four touchdown tosses as part of an eight-catch, 137-yard evening.
With more performances like that in the future, Hoffman will undoubtedly find himself playing on Sundays.
5. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
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Speaking of the NFL, no one would be surprised if Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles decided to leave early for the NFL Draft.
Especially after the night he had in the Fiesta Bowl.
Broyles was all over the field in the Sooners' 48-20 stomping of UConn, catching 13 balls for 170 yards and a touchdown along with returning five kicks for 92 yards, one of which went for 57 yards.
That performance only added to Broyles' legacy as the most prolific receiver in school history.
4. Taylor Potts, Texas Tech
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Mike Leach or no, it looks like the Texas Tech offense is still a force to be reckoned with.
The Red Raiders put up a solid 45 points against Northwestern, with senior quarterback Taylor Potts closing out his career in Lubbock by throwing for 369 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for another score.
What is perhaps even more impressive is how Potts put up his numbers, completing 43 of 56 pass attempts in Texas Tech's win in the Ticket City Bowl.
3. Chris Relf, Mississippi State
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With Cameron Newton hogging all of the publicity in the SEC this year, few words were ever written about the play of Chris Relf.
The 6'4", 240-pounder had himself quite a game on New Year's Day, torching lowly Michigan for 281 yards and three touchdowns through the air, along with another score on the ground in the Bulldogs' 52-14 steamrolling in the Gator Bowl.
Perhaps now Relf will get a more respect from the folks in the college football world.
2. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois
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Bowl season is also an excellent time for young men to boost their stock for the upcoming draft.
Case in point: Mikel Leshoure.
The junior from Champaign made an absolute mockery of Baylor's defense in the Texas Bowl, scampering for a jaw-dropping 184 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries.
Leshoure's efforts helped Illinois score a convincing 38-14 win over the Bears of the Big 12, accounting for one of three Big Ten bowl wins in the conference's eight tries.
1. Andrew Luck, Stanford
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The likely No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft can also claim the No. 1 performance of anyone in the 2010-11 bowl season thus far.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck looked like the next John Elway in the Cardinal's 40-12 trouncing of Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, tossing for 287 yards and four touchdowns against just one pick.
Good luck to 'Furd fans replicating any semblance of success close to the 12-win season they put together this year without Luck under center.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
