N.C. State RB sets season TD record
Wolfpack running back Reggie Gallaspy Jr. rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns Saturday to set a program single-season touchdown record and help N.C. State beat East Carolina, 58-3.
The Wolfpack (9-3) finished with 655 total yards. Gallaspy hit 19 total scores this season while QB Ryan Finley threw for 409 yards and three TDs on the day.
The Pirates (3-9) avoided their first shutout since October 1997 with a timeout, called with three seconds remaining, that allowed Jake Verity’s 46-yard field goal.
UCF
McKenzie Milton was settled at home to watch UCF beat Memphis in the American Athletic Conference championship, but his presence was felt at Spectrum Stadium. UCF fans gave tributes to the injured star, who suffered nerve damage and a dislocated knee in a Knights win against rival South Florida last week. Milton was released from Tampa General Hospital after three surgeries and planned to watch the game with his father, according to Maria Taylor of ESPN. Milton is slated to have another surgery in four to six weeks.
Wasington
The Huskies earned a trip to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2000 Friday night, plus the Pacific-12 Conference title. The game hardly resembled college football in the 2010s: Neither offense scored a touchdown. The only player to reach the end zone was Washington’s Byron Murphy, who returned an interception 66 yards for a score. Said Washington coach Chris Peterson: “A Pac-12 championship, is not going to be easy. It’s not reality. If it happens, go buy lottery tickets because it’s not going to be like that. That’s just luck.”
Texas Tech
As the Red Raiders introduced coach Matt Wells, athletic director Kirby Hocutt stressed that the Raiders can make a quick jump from this year’s 5-7 finish. Wells was made head coach at his alma mater, Utah State, in 2013, earning a 44-34 record in six seasons. The Aggies are 10-2 this year, headed to a fifth bowl in six years. Wells was voted Mountain West coach of the year for a second time.
Houston
Defensive tackle Ed Oliver said on Twitter that he would not play in the Cougars bowl game, ending his college career. The junior announced in March that he would enter the 2019 NFL draft; he is expected to be a first-round pick. Oliver ends the season with 54 tackles for a loss and 13.5 sacks.