Purdue outlasts Tennessee in OT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mitchell Fineran kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime and Purdue finished off its best season since 2003 by overcoming a 14-point deficit and beating Tennessee 48-45 on Thursday in a record-setting Music City Bowl.
Purdue (9-4) tied for the second-most wins in program history as only the 12th team in the Boilermakers’ 134-year history to win nine games. They also won their fifth game away from home, something they hadn’t done since 1943.
Tennessee snapped a four-game bowl win streak with a loss that sent the SEC to 1-5 this bowl season.
This high-scoring game featured a flurry of big plays and points in the final five minutes only to see Purdue’s defense make the deciding play.
On the first possession of overtime, Jamar Brown and Kieren Douglas stopped Vols running back Jaylen Wright short on fourth-and-goal at the 1. After three Purdue plays, Fineran sealed the win with his fourth field goal.
Tennessee (7-6) finished with 639 yards total offense and Purdue had 623 in regulation — both bowl records before overtime. Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell — who threw five touchdown passes and three interceptions — set a mark with 534 yards passing, and Broc Thompson had seven catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker also had five touchdown passes and 378 yards.
SOUTH CAROLINA 38 NORTH CAROLINA 21
Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer had a bucket of mayonnaise dumped over his head, putting a memorable, messy finish on the team’s victory in the
Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
Jaheim Bell had five catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns for South Carolina (7-6). Kevin Harris added 169 yards rushing and a score.
Converted wide receiver Dakereon Joyner, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, finished 9-of-9 passing for 160 yards and also ran for 64 yards.
Sam Howell threw for 205 yards and a touchdown for the Tar Heels (6-7).
NO. 10 MICHIGAN STATE 31 NO. 12 PITTSBURGH 21
Payton Thorne’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed gave No. 11 Michigan State the lead with less than three minutes remaining and the Spartans overcame an 11-point deficit to beat No. 13 Pittsburgh 31-21 in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Linebacker Cal Haladay’s 78-yard interception return for a touchdown with 22 seconds left ended Pitt fill-in quarterback Davis Beville’s bid for a last-minute comeback in the game the Panthers (11-3) played without quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Thorne completed 29of-50 passes for 354 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for Michigan State (11-2).
WISCONSIN 20 ARIZONA STATE 13
Braelon Allen had 159 yards on 29 carries, and the Badgers jumped out to a 20-6 halftime lead before holding on to win the Las Vegas Bowl.
John Chenal scored on an 8-yard run and Graham Mertz hit Jake Ferguson for a 7-yard score in the first quarter as the Badgers took control early. Wisconsin (9-4) never trailed, keeping the Sun Devils (8-5) out of the end zone except for Daniyel Ngata’s 3-yard third-quarter run.