B/R's College Football Weekly Awards: Bowl Season Part 2
Although two much-anticipated national semifinals are nearly set for kickoff, college football has just wrapped up the most hectic stage of the 2023 bowl season.
Michigan and Alabama, Washington and Texas? You can wait.
The action-packed five-day stretch included several of the most interesting matchups outside of the New Year's Six lineup.
And we're recapping the best of the bunch.
The first postseason edition of B/R's Weekly Awards covered 17 games played from Dec. 16-23. The second part includes 17 matchups from Dec. 26-30, only excluding three NY6 games. (More on them later.)
If you're new here, hi! B/R's Weekly Awards is an often-lighthearted review of what happened in college football over the weekend.
Team of the Week: Arizona Wildcats
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To appreciate where Arizona is now, you must understand the depths from which the Wildcats emerged.
Back in 2014, the Rich Rodriguez-coached squad notched 10 wins and made the Pac-12 Championship Game. After that peak, the Cats steadily dipped into mediocrity—and a fair bit worse.
Rodriguez's last three seasons included no better than seven victories. Kevin Sumlin oversaw a 9-20 stretch from 2018-20, ingloriously capped by a winless year in the abbreviated five-game 2020 season. Arizona took a risk on Jedd Fisch, a bright offensive mind whose head-coaching history consisted of two games as UCLA's interim boss in 2017.
Safe to say Arizona's gamble has paid off.
In his three seasons, the Cats climbed from 1-11 to 5-7 and officially ended the 2023 campaign at 10-3. They pulled off a late comeback to knock out Oklahoma 38-24 in the Alamo Bowl.
Look out, Big 12, here comes Arizona.
Statement of the Week: Miller Moss Wants QB1
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So long, Caleb Williams. It's time for Miller Moss.
The departure of USC's ultra-talented quarterback is not that simple, of course, but an exasperating season ended on a fascinating note. Making his first career start for the Trojans, Moss threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in a head-turning 42-28 victory.
Louisville, which had surrendered five passing scores in the last six games, couldn't find an answer for Moss in the Holiday Bowl.
That performance naturally shifts the attention to 2024.
USC is very likely to pluck a quarterback out of the porta,l because Malachi Nelson, a 5-star in the 2023 class, decided to transfer. The position needs more depth, regardless of who ultimately starts next season.
Considering how well Moss played in his debut, however, there's a clear chance that any new arrival is simply his backup.
Un-Hot Seat of the Week: Neal Brown, West Virginia
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West Virginia boss Neal Brown entered 2023 among the coaches with the least long-term job security. That's no longer the case.
Following a 30-10 win over North Carolina, his seat is now Gatorade-soaked—and a little mayo-ey.
But certainly not hot.
The triumph in the Mayo Bowl provided an exclamation point to a 9-4 year for WVU, which hadn't topped six wins in Brown's previous four seasons. For good measure, the program last hit nine victories in 2016.
One year ago, it seemed we'd be discussing his $12.7 million buyout in a negative light. Brown, though, will definitely be back in 2024.
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First-Timer of the Week: Texas State!
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First bowl appearance? Check.
First bowl win. You got it.
Upon the arrival of head coach GJ Kinne, the program embraced a roster reconstruction. It wasn't quite to the level of Deion Sanders' teardown at Colorado, but Texas State quietly added 51 new scholarship players—including 37 transfers—during the offseason.
The result, officially, is that Texas State finished 8-5 and celebrated its first-ever bowl victory. Brian Holloway's two pick-sixes propelled the Bobcats to a 45-21 win over Rice in the First Responder Bowl.
Look, it's hard to overstate the takeaway: Texas State managed no better than a 4-8 record during the previous eight seasons.
Kinne worked a minor miracle in his debut year.
Backups of the Week: Notre Dame Rolls in Sun Bowl
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Few rosters took a harder hit in the postseason than Notre Dame and Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.
But, hey, no worries for the Fighting Irish.
Down its quarterback, running back, two leading receivers and two starting tackles—plus an injured top tight end—they steamrolled Oregon State 40-8 thanks to a few standout reserves thriving in the spotlight.
Steve Angeli had a stellar performance in his first career start, completing 15-of-19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Jadarian Price rushed for 106 yards and a score, and Jordan Faison paced the receiving corps with five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Keeping the proper perspective, Oregon State didn't have more than a handful of key contributors, either. But the backups from Notre Dame enjoyed a terrific end to the season.
Best of the Rest
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Upset of the Week: Boston College Downs SMU
SMU lost quarterback Preston Stone to an ankle injury in November but still snatched an AAC title because of a stingy defense. As a result, the Mustangs headed into the Fenway Bowl—a clash with future ACC opponent Boston College—as a 13.5-point favorite. But the underdogs claimed a 23-14 win behind dual-threat Thomas Castellanos, who rushed for 156 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
QB Duel of the Week: Seth Henigan vs. Rocco Becht
You want offense? Memphis and Iowa State gave you plenty. Seth Henigan threw for 364 yards and totaled five touchdowns, carrying Memphis to an impressive 36-26 upset. Rocco Becht put together a valiant effort on the opposite side, passing for 446 yards and three scores.
Golf Clap of the Week: Rutgers Snaps the Miami Skid
Miami had a habit of beating up Rutgers when the programs shared the Big East. Over an 11-year stretch from 1993-2003, Miami went 11-0 with no margin of victory within 14 points. In total, the 'Canes outscored Rutgers by a staggering 504-114. To close the season, however, Rutgers beat Miami 31-24 in the Pinstripe Bowl. Sure, it was a short-handed Miami squad, but every win counts the same!
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.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
