LSU rallies for bowl triumph
Garrett Nussmeier threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns, helping 13th-ranked LSU launch its post-Jayden Daniels era with a come-from-behind 35-31 victory over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday in Tampa.
Stepping in to make his first college start after the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner opted out to begin preparing for the NFL Draft, Nussmeier completed 31 of 45 passes.
Nussmeier rallied the Tigers (10-3) from a 14-point second-half deficit to overshadow a stellar performance by Wisconsin’s Tanner Mordecai, who threw for a season-high 378 yards and three TDs for the Badgers (7-6), who played without star back Braelon Allen.
Oregon nixes Liberty
Bo Nix threw for 363 yards and five touchdowns to cap a recording-breaking career, and No. 8 Oregon finished 12-2 by rolling over No. 18 Liberty, 45-6, in the Fiesta Bowl at Glendale, Ariz.
Nix finished 28 of 35 in just over three quarters and completed 77.44 percent of his passes this season, breaking the NCAA record of 77.36, set by Alabama’s Mac Jones in 2020. Liberty finished 13-1.
Tennessee shuts out Iowa
Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava ran for three touchdowns and threw for one in his first career start, and No. 25 Tennessee (9-4) shut down No. 20 Iowa’s Division 1-worst offense to beat the 10-4 Hawkeyes, 35-0, in the Citrus Bowl at Orlando.
Going to the NFL Draft
Former Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward has declared for the NFL Draft rather than playing one more college season . . . Georgia running backs Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton say they are entering the draft . . . Former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is transferring to Florida State . . . Clemson RB Will Shipley won’t need surgery after a scary injury in the Gator Bowl win Friday.