Oklahoma roughs up Florida in Cotton Bowl
ARLINGTON — Spencer Rattler threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 186 yards and No. 8 Oklahoma beat 10thranked SEC runner-up Florida 55-20 on Wednesday night in the Cotton Bowl.
Back in the same NFL stadium where 11 days earlier they won their sixth consecutive Big 12 title, the Sooners (9-2, No. 6 CFP) jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first seven minutes. The 55 points were their most ever in a bowl game, while piling up a Cotton Bowl-record 684 total yards.
Rattler threw a 27-yard TD pass to fellow freshman Marvin Mims on the game’s opening drive, and Florida’s first possession ended with Tre Norwood’s 45-yard interception return for a touchdown. That was the first of three picks thrown by Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Kyle Trask in the first quarter, after only five all season.
Oklahoma played in its sixth consecutive New Year’s Six bowl game, but the last three seasons had lost College Football Playoffs semifinals while giving up an average of 54 points to different SEC teams.
The Sooners finished this season with an eightgame winning streak. They had started 0-2 in Big 12 play for the first time since 1998, effectively knocking them out of playoff contention by mid-october.
These Gators (8-4, No. 7 CFP) were much different than the team that just 11 days earlier fell 52-46 to No. 1 Alabama in the SEC title game.
Trask played presumably his final college game, but didn’t have his top four pass-catchers, and didn’t play after the opening drive of the second half when the Gators were already down 31-13.
AP All-america tight end Kyle Pitts and two others receivers opted out to start preparing for their pro futures, and sophomore receiver Jacob Copeland tested positive for COVID-19. They were among 17 players Florida said were unavailable.
Wisconsin’s picks stop Wake Forest
Graham Mertz accounted for three touchdowns and Wisconsin turned four second-half interceptions into 21 points to beat Wake Forest 42-28 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Charlotte, N.C.
Mertz threw for 130 yards and ran for two short touchdowns as Wisconsin (4-3) finished a rocky season on a high note.
With the game tied at 21 late in the third quarter, Noah Burks intercepted Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman. Burks returned the ball 41 yards to set up a 14-yard scoring strike from Mertz to Mason Stokke.
Hartman, who had thrown only one interception all season, was picked off on the next three possessions as well.
Jack Sanborn had 11 tackles and an interception and was named MVP of the game.
Wake Forest (4-5) outgained Wisconsin 518-266, but the Badgers had 176 return yards off interceptions.
Chadwell wins coach of year
Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell is the Associated Press college football coach of the year after leading the Chanticleers to a surprising, near-perfect season.
Chadwell received 16 first-place votes and 88 points from the AP Top 25 panel to finish ahead of Indiana’s Tom Allen, who was second with 14 firstplace votes and 66 points. Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell was third (5, 44) and Alabama’s Nick Saban was fourth (8, 42).
Chadwell directed a breakout season for No. 9 Coastal Carolina (11-1) in his third year leading the program. The Chanticleers were picked last in the Sun Belt’s East Division after going 5-7 last year.
Odds and ends
Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott will miss Friday’s Sugar Bowl against Ohio State due to COVID-19 protocol. Passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter will likely take over play-calling duties. … Southern California safety Talanoa Hufanga is entering the NFL draft after a standout junior season.