COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was a no-show at both the Peach Bowl media day and the team’s practice on Thursday, more signs that LSU’s leading rusher could miss the playoff semifinal against Oklahoma because of his hamstring injury.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron still holds out hope Edwards-Helaire could play against No. 4 Oklahoma. However, Edwards-Helaire’s absence from the media day event, normally attended by all players expected to be available for the game, may suggest the junior is a long shot at best to play.
Orgeron said Edwards-Helaire missed Thursday’s event because he was receiving treatment.
Independence Bowl: J’Mar Smith threw a touchdown pass and had a late scoring run to help Louisiana Tech beat Miami, 14-0, on Thursday night in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the only shutout in the bowl’s 44-game history.
Louisiana Tech (10-3) hit double-digit victories for the first time since 1984 and ran its postseason winning streak to six. Miami (6-7) completed its second losing season in 12 years.
Eason to NFL: Washington quarterback Jacob Eason announced Thursday he will skip his final year of college and enter the NFL draft.
Eason started 13 games for Washington this season after beginning his college career at Georgia and transferring following his sophomore season. He threw for 3,132 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Huskies in a season where at times he looked like a sure first-round pick and at other times it appeared that another season of college would help.