San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
CYCLONES BLOW BY DUCKS
Iowa State had a year of highs in the dark days of a pandemic. The Cyclones capped it with a dominating performance under one of college football’s brightest spotlights.
Breece Hall ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns, QB Brock Purdy accounted for two scores and No. 12 Iowa State grinded out a 34-17 victory over No. 25 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz.
“Life has been really hard for our society, really since March,” coach Matt Campbell said. “Through dark and trying times, this team has been a beacon of hope for a lot.”
The No. 10 Cyclones (9-3) used their ball-control offense to dominate the time of possession and keep Oregon’s offense off the field for long stretches to win their first New Year’s Six bowl.
Iowa State 34, Oregon 17
Hall, an AP All-american, had 34 carries and his ninth 100-yard game this season.
Iowa State had a time of possession advantage of more than 25 minutes to cap the best season in school history.
No. 25 Oregon (4-3) alternated between Tyler Shough and Anthony Brown at quarterback, but couldn’t sustain anything on offense and was plagued by numerous mistakes.
The Ducks lost three fumbles, an interception and a pooch kick. They also turned it over when a punt hit a blocker’s helmet and had a touchdown wiped out by a penalty.
Orange Bowl
No. 5 Texas A&M 41, No. 13 North Carolina 27: Devon Achane had two late touchdown runs, including a 76yarder with 3:44 left that put Texas A&M ahead to stay, and the Aggies (9-1) beat North Carolina (8-4) in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Kellen Mond passed for 232 yards and ran for a score for the Aggies in their first Orange Bowl since 1944.
Outback Bowl
Mississippi 26, No. 11 Indiana 20: Matt Corral threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns to help Mississippi (5-5) beat Indiana (6-2) in Tampa, Fla.
Corral’s 3-yard pass to Dontario Drummond put the Rebels ahead for good with 4:12 remaining. Ole Miss came through with one more stop for its first non-losing record since going 6-6 in 2017. First-year coach Lane Kiffin was rewarded before the game with a new contract.
Gator Bowl
Kentucky 23, No. 23 N.C. State 21: A.J. Rose ran for a career-high 148 yards, Chris Rodriguez added 84 yards and two scores and Kentucky (5-6) held off North Carolina State (8-4) in Jacksonville, Fla.
Christopher Dunn missed two field goals for the Wolfpack, who trailed 16-14 late when Bailey Hockman threw his third interception of the game. Rodriguez scored on the ensuing play, going 26 yards.
Notable
Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said he is no longer pursuing the Boise State job, and the Cowboys signed their playcaller to a multiyear contract extension.
Receiver Amon-ra St. Brown is headed to the NFL Draft after three seasons at USC.
Auburn receiver Anthony Schwartz plans to skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.