NO. 25 S. FLORIDA BEATS SOUTH CAROLINA

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Quinton Flowers ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more to lead No. 25 South Florida past South Carolina, 46-39 in overtime Thursday in the Birmingham Bowl.

South Florida (11-2) squandered a 39-21 lead in the second half, but recovered for its schoolrecord 11th victory. Flowers threw a 25-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime, finding Elkanah Dillon in the end zone.

South Carolina’s overtime drive ended after Jake Bentley was sacked by Mike Love on fourth down. Bentley fumbled and Khalid McGee recovered to end the game.

• Belk Bowl: No. 18 Virginia

Tech 35, Arkansas 24 — At Charlotte, N.C.: Jerod Evans threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores and No. 18 Virginia Tech pulled off the largest comeback in its 124-year history, erasing a 24-point halftime deficit to beat Arkansas 35-24 on Thursday night in the Belk Bowl.

After being limited to 180 yards in the first half, Hokies (104) took advantage of three of Austin Allen’s interceptions and scored touchdowns on five of their first seven possessions of the second half.

• Alamo Bowl: No. 13 Oklahoma St. 38, No. 11 Colorado 8

— At San Antonio: Mason Rudolph passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns and No. 13 Oklahoma State’s defense smothered No. 11 Colorado in a 38-8 Alamo Bowl victory Thursday night that gave the Cowboys their fifth 10-win season in seven years.

James Washington caught nine passes for 171 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the third quarter with an apparent hand injury. Rudolph and Washington have already announced they will return for their senior seasons, putting the Cowboys (10-3) among the favorites to win the Big 12.