B/R's College Football Weekly Awards: Bowl Season, Part 3
Although the national championship is right around the corner, this is a wistful day for college football fans.
Bowl season is...it's over.
However, we're choosing to celebrate the end of the 2022 postseason with Part 3 of our Weekly Awards wrapping up the final six-day section of action.
This latest portion included two College Football Playoff semifinals, four other New Year's Six games and plenty of the more prestigious bowl matchups, such as the Gator Bowl, Citrus Bowl and, obviously, the Mayo Bowl. We're reviewing some of the best moments in the clashes from Dec. 28 through Jan. 2.
Team of the Week: TCU Horned Frogs
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What a game.
I mean, seriously, what a game.
TCU jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on second-ranked Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl and held on a for a thrilling 51-45 victory. And it was a complete team effort from the Horned Frogs.
Heisman Trophy finalist Max Duggan accounted for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Emari Demercado, stepping in for an injured Kendre Miller, scampered for 150 yards and a score. Quentin Johnston caught six passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. Dylan Horton generared four sacks, while the defense provided two pick-sixes and a clutch fumble recovery at the goal line.
Sure, there was controversy on a poorly overturned U-M touchdown. However, the Horned Frogs didn't force Michigan to gift TCU fumble on the next snap—part of the Wolverines' horrendous day of red-zone play-calling.
TCU, instead, pulled off an upset and earned a trip to Los Angeles for a shot at a stunning national title.
Timeout of the Week: Kirby Smart, Georgia
2 of 6Georgia's comeback win over Ohio State in the Peach Bowl likely does not happen without one particular Kirby Smart moment.
In the fourth quarter, the upset-minded Buckeyes held a 38-27 advantage on top-ranked Georgia. Lining up for 4th-and-1, Ohio State would have successfully converted a fake-punt run were it not for Smart frantically calling a timeout as the coaching staff noticed an unfamiliar alignment.
The stoppage saved a minute-plus of time for Georgia, and Ohio State punted. Stetson Bennett then hit Arian Smith for a 76-yard touchdown on the first snap of UGA's ensuing possession.
After an OSU field goal, Bennett found Adonai Mitchell for a 10-yard score with 54 seconds left in regulation. Noah Ruggles' missed 50-yard field goal in the final seconds sealed Georgia's dramatic 42-41 win.
We'll never know if Georgia would've put together a comeback with Smart's timeout. Nine minutes is still a lot of time. But it's undeniable that Smart's timeout played a huge role in saving the Dawgs' season.
Tribute of the Week: The Pirate
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Mississippi State coach Mike Leach died on Dec. 12 because of complications from a heart condition.
In the following days, bowl teams featured a tribute to "The Pirate" and his legacy. Many teams—from his alma mater BYU and Miami (Ohio) to Alabama, Georgia and TCU—included a sticker on their helmets, many of them reading "Mike" with a cowbell and pirate flag.
But his Bulldogs returned to the field on Jan. 2.
In this initial game without Leach, Mississippi State replaced its logo in his memory. The players sported a full pirate flag on the side of their helmets as they squared off with Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
And they won.
Mississippi State took a 13-10 lead as Massimo Biscardi kicked a short field goal in the closing seconds. Marcus Banks then wrapped up the victory (and backdoor cover) with a 60-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Defense of the Week: Iowa Hawkeyes
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South Carolina and TCU also snatched a pair of pick-sixes, sure. But both also surrendered 45 points.
Iowa, on the other hand, pulled off a shutout.
During a battle of third-string quarterbacks in the Music City Bowl, the Hawkeyes blanked Kentucky 21-0.
After quarterback Joe Labas tossed a touchdown early in the second quarter, Iowa pulled away thanks to its defense. On the first snap of UK's ensuing series, Xavier Nwankpa returned a pick 52 yards to the house. Shortly before halftime, Cooper DeJean returned one 14 yards for a touchdown that sealed the deal.
Not only did Iowa and Kentucky fail to score in the second half, but the offenses combined for 159 yards on 11 possessions. It was a lovely, disgusting game—and an absolutely fitting end to the Hawkeyes' season. Iowa scored six defensive touchdowns in 2022.
Track Meet of the Week: Liberty Bowl
5 of 6Consider the Liberty Bowl the under-the-radar choice given how exciting both CFP semifinals ended.
Arkansas and Kansas put on a show.
The highest-scoring game in the bowl's history, the contest included 108 combined points and a massive comeback. Kansas trailed by 25 points in the late stages of the third quarter, falling behind 38-13.
However, the Jayhawks' surge started with a touchdown with 3:15 to play in the frame. They then forced a three-and-out and kicked a field goal at the 14-minute mark of the fourth quarter. Kansas didn't score again until the 1:05 mark, but it recovered an onside kick and came up with the game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion with 41 seconds left.
Kansas opened overtime with a touchdown, but Arkansas answered. The Hogs scored and added a two-pointer in the second overtime, but the Jayhawks matched it. Only Arkansas' two-point play worked in the third OT, giving the Razorback a 55-53 win.
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels accounted for 565 yards and six touchdowns. Arkansas counterpart KJ Jefferson totaled 417 yards and four scores, while the Razorbacks rushed for 394 yards as a team.
That was a wild night in Memphis.
Best of the Rest
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Comeback of the Week: Tulane Edges USC
How about that? Given that the Green Wave entered as only a slight underdog, the result isn't a huge surprise. Besides, USC has struggled immensely on defense all season. For much of the game, though, it seemed the Trojans' powerful offense would be enough to atone for that weakness. Until it wasn't. In the last 4:07 of the Cotton Bowl, Tulane recovered from a 15-point deficit and scored the go-ahead touchdown and extra point with nine seconds left in a 46-45 upset.
Smackdown of the Week: LSU Boatraces Purdue
I know Purdue was without quarterback Aidan O'Connell. I know Purdue coach Jeff Brohm left for Louisville. I also know LSU unleashed an absolute beatdown on the Boilermakers. The surprise SEC West champions outgained Purdue 594-263 in a 63-7 laugher during the Citrus Bowl. Brian Kelly finished his LSU debut season with 10 wins.
Golf Clap of the Week: Mohamed Ibrahim's Record Day
Already Minnesota's all-time leading rusher, Mo Ibrahim capped his career by adding two single-season marks. He rushed for 71 yards in a Pinstripe Bowl win over Syracuse, surpassing David Cobb's 1,629-yard program record and ending the year at 1,665. Ibrahim also added a touchdown to become the first Gophers player to rush for 20 scores in a season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
