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College football takeaways – what we learned from every game

Tess Quinn
College football takeaways – what we learned from every game

  • ESPN staffDecember 17, 2023 at 12:52 AM ET

Bowl season has begun, and our reporters are breaking it all down.

Below you’ll find excerpts from each game as well as the game’s best players and top moments from social media.

At the end of each day, we will be crowned the MVP of the championship season. The leader after Day 1 is Ohio freshman running back Ricky Hunt, who scored five touchdowns in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

Full schedule | results

December 16

Ohio State secured 10 consecutive winning seasons for the first time in program history, extending its bowl game winning streak to five, behind a stifling defensive effort in the first half against Georgia Southern. The Bobcats (10-3) intercepted Georgia Southern quarterback Davis Breen three times (twice in the first half) from the safety position — by sixth-year senior Jeremiah Wood, sophomore Adonis Williams Jr. and sixth-year senior Walter Reynolds. The Eagles (6-7) were held to 35 total yards in the first half, turning the ball over three times as the Bobcats jumped out to a 20-0 halftime advantage. Bobcats freshman running back Ricky Hunt went on to record 133 total yards (115 rushing) and five total touchdowns (four rushing), tying the NCAA record for touchdowns from scrimmage (12th in history) and establishing a new Ohio Bowl game record. Ohio fifth-year senior quarterback Parker Navarro, who took over the reins of the offense after Curtis Rourke entered the transfer portal, ran the game effectively, despite the team being outgained 383-352 in total yards. Navarro completed 11 of 16 passes for 120 yards and threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Hunt. –Blake Baumgartner

best player: Running back Ricky Hunt, Ohio. The freshman scored five touchdowns and had 133 all-purpose yards.

Florida A&M senior quarterback Jeremy Moses didn’t hang his head for long after he threw down a six-pointer in the fourth quarter that allowed Howard to regain the lead. Moses recovered quickly, using a flea flash to connect with sixth-year senior wide receiver Jah’Marae Sheread for a game-winning 38-yard score. In guiding the Rattlers (12-1) to their first HBCU/FCS national championship since 1998, Moses completed 19 of 32 passes to nine different receivers for 289 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Howard (6-6) scored a touchdown on its first possession and didn’t trail until Moses found senior running back Kelvin Dean (three receptions for 87 yards and two scores) for a 21-yard score early in the fourth quarter. Senior defensive back Carson Hinton recovered a fumble recovery and interception 27 yards for a Bison touchdown, which led to Howard’s upset attempt from the heavily favored Rattlers down to the wire. The Rattlers’ defense made life difficult for Bison quarterback Quinton Williams, intercepting him three times — leading to 14 points — and holding the Bison to 187 total yards (106 passing). Howard was up and running in the first half despite being outscored 107-98 and passing for just 41 yards. — Baumgartner

best player: Wide receiver Kelvin Dean, Florida A&M. He scored twice in the fourth quarter, including a 53-yarder.

All Jacksonville State wanted was a chance. Coach Rich Rodriguez and his Gamecocks got the opportunity to play in a bowl game during the transition from the FCS to the FBS because there were not enough teams eligible to play a bowl game. Freshman Garrison Rippa’s 27-yard field goal — his second career attempt — completed the win over Louisiana in overtime. Jacksonville State (9-4) ran 109 plays, the second-most in a bowl game since major classification began in 1937. The Gamecocks held a 526-247 advantage in total yardage but nearly lost because they couldn’t take care of the ball. Three of the team’s four turnovers were returned for touchdowns, including redshirt freshman safety Tyree Skipper’s 43-yard pick-and-roll with 5:32 remaining in regulation, giving Louisiana its final lead of the game at 31-24. The Ragin’ Cajuns (6-7) became the first team in the last 20 years to score three defensive points in a bowl game. With Jacksonville State quarterbacks Zion Webb (leg) and Logan Smothers (arm) suffering injuries during the game and rotating in and out, junior running back Ron Wiggins dished out 126 yards and a touchdown to carry the Gamecocks — Baumgartner

best player: Cornerback Jalen Clark, Louisiana. Even in loss, it’s worth recognizing Clark, who returned a fumble 46 yards for a touchdown and an interception 16 yards for another score.

Little has gone Appalachian State’s way during the first half of 2023. The Mountaineers lost in overtime at North Carolina, blew a 19-7 lead at Wyoming, lost to Coastal Carolina on a field goal as time expired and to Old Dominion on downs with 48 seconds to go To play. The Mountaineers were 3-4 through seven games, and the season looked lost. And then, something clicked. App State won its final five games of the regular season, earned a shot at the Sun Belt title game thanks to a disqualification of James Madison, and finished things off on a high note in the Avocados of the Mexico Cure Bowl. Anderson Castle carried 20 times for 119 yards, and Kayden Robinson caught eight balls for 118 yards despite difficult rainy conditions. The Mountaineers have now reached the nine-win mark in eight of their 10 seasons since rising from the FCS level, and they are 7-1 in bowl games as a member of the FBS. For Miami, this was a brutal way to end an amazing season. The Redhawks finished 11-3 — the most wins the program has had since 2003, when Ben Roethlisberger was the team’s starting quarterback. Their only regular season losses came to Miami (Fla.) and Toledo, a defeat that the Redhawks avenged on Dec. 2 to claim the MAC championship. –David Hale

best player: Mother Nature. The match was played in heavy rain from start to finish, causing non-stop mishaps. But if we’re picking a player, it’s Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar, who somehow managed to pass for 211 yards and rush for his team’s only touchdown.

Fresno State was without head coach Jeff Tedford for the Isleta New Mexico Bowl, but the Bulldogs didn’t miss a beat in a win over New Mexico State. Tedford stepped down from bowl prep and coaching due to health concerns, though he is expected to return for the 2024 season. In his absence, the Bulldogs snapped a three-game skid and displayed their share of Tedford’s old-fashioned offensive fireworks. Quarterback Mickey Kane completed 31 of 39 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns, adding a fourth score on the ground, while seven different Fresno State receivers caught at least three passes each. In all, the Bulldogs racked up an impressive 491 yards of offense. For New Mexico State, it was a disappointing end to a magical season. The Aggies opened the 2023 season with an embarrassing loss at home to UMass, then turned things around and finished the season with 10 wins — including a win on the road at Auburn — and a spot in the Conference USA title game. The 10-win season was only the second in program history, and in two years at the helm, coach Jerry Keel had just one more win (17) than the Aggies had in the six seasons before his arrival. — cardamom

best player: Quarterback Mickey Kane, Fresno State. He completed 31 of 39 passes for 380 yards and had four total scores.

He plays

1:37

Gronk sings a special rendition of the national anthem for the LA Bowl

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NFL legend Rob Gronkowski shows off his vocals as he sings the national anthem before the Starco Brands LA Bowl game.

After ending their regular season with a disappointing 33-7 loss to Cal that had many Bruins fans anticipating the firing of Chip Kelly, UCLA made a comeback in the LA Bowl, beating Boise State not far from the Bruins’ home stadium. With Kelly still at the helm after UCLA announced it would retain him, the Bruins compiled 510 yards of offense and ran the ball for 280 yards thanks to quarterback Collin Schley’s 128 yards on the ground. After transferring from Kent State last offseason, Schley saw limited time behind Ethan Garbers and Dante Moore (who is now in the transfer portal), but against the Broncos, Schley showed exactly what he does best, leading the Bruins’ rushing attack while also throwing for two touchdowns. There are still many questions for Kelly’s team as they head to the Big Ten, but Saturday night’s bowl win served as a solid final note after an up-and-down season. – Paolo Ugetti

best player: Quarterback Ethan Garbers, UCLA. The Bruins turned to Garbers down 16-7 to start the second half, and he completed his first eight passes, leading to three straight turnovers.

In the wake of his announcement that he will return to Cal next season, Cal star running back Jayden Ott struggled against Texas Tech’s defense. Ott, who totaled 1,260 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, could only account for 45 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown in the bowl game. Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s offense scored four touchdowns thanks to three touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Bahren Morton. Morton distributed the ball to seven different receivers — three of whom averaged more than 12 yards per catch. Texas Tech’s defense stepped up in its own way, picking off Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza three times and forcing two fumbles that proved to be too much to overcome. — Ogetti

best player: Quarterback Bahren Morton, Texas Tech. The sophomore threw three touchdowns in the first half.

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