Buckeyes’ ‘ D’ gets it done against USC

Damon Webb returned an interception for a touchdown after recovering a fumble to set up an early score, and Ohio State ( 12- 2) beat USC 24- 7 in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night in Arlington, Texas.

Ohio State quarterback J. T. Barrett ( 11- for- 17, 114 yards) broke Drew Brees’ Big Ten career record for total offense with 12,697 yards.

Buckeyes All- America junior cornerback Denzel Ward had already decided to enter the NFL Draft and didn’t play.

N. C. State 52, Arizona State 31

Nyheim Hines ( 72 yards) had three five- yard touchdown runs to lift the Wolfpack ( 9- 4) in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Reggie Gallaspy added 79 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, Ryan Finley completed 24 of 29 passes for 318 yards and a score and Stephen Louis had three catches for 115 yards for the Wolfpack.

Wake Forest 55, Texas A & M52

John Wolford threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns, and Matt Colburn ran for 150 yards and the go- ahead score to lead the Demon Deacons ( 8- 5) in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina. The teams combined for 1,260 yards and 107 points, making it one of the highestscoring games in bowl history.

This and that

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was at practice Friday after missing Rose Bowl media availability for the second time this week. The Heisman Trophy winner also did not make the Sooners’ trip to Disneyland on Wednesday.

◆ The buyout for fired Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema’s contract has been set at $ 15.4 million.

◆ Tennessee junior running back John Kelly announced that he is entering the NFL Draft.