SDSU’s Penny clashes with Army’s option in Armed Forces Bowl

FORT WORTH, Texas — Two of college football’s most dominant rushing attacks will clash when San Diego State faces Army in today’s Armed Forces Bowl, even though the offenses are dramatically different.

The pro-style offense used by San Diego State ( 10-2) is led by the top rusher in the Bowl Subdivision, senior Rashaad Penny. The consensus All-American finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, ran for 2,027 yards and needs 107 more to break the school’s single- season mark set last year by Donnel Pumphrey.

Army (9-3) leads the nation in averaging 368.1 yards rushing per game and is last with 29.6 yards passing using an option formation that chugs methodically downfield. It’s led by senior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw, whose 1,566 yards rushing rank fifth nationally.

In winning the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 1996, the Black Knights attempted no passes against Air Force, one against Navy (complete for 20 yards) and 19 all season. San Diego State offensive coordinator Jeff Horton said his unit was “like an Air Raid team” compared to Army’s grind-it-out, keep-the-ball approach.

“It’s a very difficult scheme to stop with any consistency,” Aztecs coach Rocky Long said of the Black Knights’ option. “We are only going to get the ball five or six times for the entire football game. It’s very unusual, but for a true football fan, it’s going to be very interesting to watch.”

San Diego State is the first FBS program with consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons from different players. Penny could become the fourth player to compile five straight games of 200 yards, and Army coach Jeff Monken knows his defense will need to slow him down.

“He’s proven he’s one of the best players in the nation, if not the best,” Monken said.

No-slouch defenses

For all the attention on the offenses, both teams have respectable defenses: San Diego State is 11th in the FBS in total defense and Army ranks 35th.

Bowl pride

San Diego State’s 6-0 start included wins over Stanford and Arizona State. Then the Aztecs lost at home to Boise State and Fresno State, realistically ending their chances of winning a third consecutive Mountain West championship, and have since won four straight. SDSU is playing in its eighth consecutive bowl, the last seven under Long.

The program appeared in eight total bowls prior to this streak. Army ties a school record with a second straight bowl appearance, equaling the 1984-85 teams that were the first in West Point history to accept invitations.

Lineman hurt

Aztecs senior right guard Antonio Rosales injured his left ankle early this season and hasn’t played since mid-October. Long said he plans to start Rosales in his final college game and see how long he can play in trying to open holes for Penny.

Army’s field general

Bradshaw needs just 22 yards to have the best rushing season at a service academy. Navy’s Napoleon McCallum ran for 1,587 yards in 1983.

Streaks

San Diego State is seeking 11 wins for the third consecutive season. The only other FBS schools to achieve that during the 2015-17 seasons are Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma. … Monken, in his fourth season at West Point, has led the Black Knights to three straight winning seasons for the first time since 1988-90. A victory would equal the West Point record for wins in a season, owned by the 1996 team that went 10-2.

“It’s a challenge for us, playing a great team like San Diego State, but exciting to have that opportunity,” Monken said. “It’s something that we’re certainly conscious of.”

BIRMINGHAM BOWL

No. 23 South Florida (9-2) will face Texas Tech (6-6) in the Birmingham Bowl at 11 a.m. on ESPN (Resort Channel 30). South Florida is favored in the first matchup between the two programs.

What’s at stake?

South Florida is gunning for a second straight season with double-digit victories and back-to-back Birmingham Bowl victories over teams from Power 5 conferences. Texas Tech can avoid the third losing record of Kliff Kingsbury’s five seasons after closing the regular season with a comeback win over Texas that might have saved his job.

Key matchup

South Florida’s offense against a Texas Tech team that ranks 99th in total defense and 123rd in passing yards allowed. The Red Raiders have made strides this season defensively but face an offense that ranks ninth in total and rushing yards per game and 16th in scoring average.

Players to watch

South Florida: QB Quinton Flowers has passed for 2,600 yards and

21 touchdowns but also leads the team with 972 rushing yards. With

11,385 yards of total offense, he needs just 47 to break the American Athletic Conference career record held by Temple’s Phillip Walker.

Texas Tech: WR Keke Coutee’s 1,242 receiving yards ranks fourth among receivers from Power 5 conferences. He’s coming off a 168-yard performance against Texas, the fourth time Coutee topped 150 yards this season.

Facts & figures

Both teams have won four of their last five bowl games. … Flowers can join Louisville’s Lamar Jackson as the only FBS players with 2,500 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards this season. … Texas Tech QB Nic Shimonek came off the bench to throw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-23 win over Texas. The Red Raiders were trailing 23-13 when Shimonek came into the game. He and Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield are the only FBS passers with at least 30 touchdown passes and eight or fewer interceptions. … South Florida won last year’s Birmingham Bowl 46-39 over South Carolina on Flowers’ 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime.

DOLLAR GENERAL BOWL

Appalachian State (8-4, 7-1 Sun Belt) will face Toledo (11-2, 7-1 MAC) in the Dollar General Bowl today at 6 p.m. on ESPN (Resort Channel 30). Toledo is favored by seven points. Appalachian State leads the series record 1-0.

What’s at stake

Appalachian State and Toledo meet for the second straight season after the Mountaineers beat the Rockets 31-28 in the Camellia Bowl in 2016. The rematch will also be in Alabama, though it’ll take place a few hours south in Mobile. Appalachian State will try to win its third bowl game in three seasons after making the full transition from FCS to FBS. Toledo is trying to tie a school record with 12 wins.

Key matchup

Toledo QB Logan Woodside vs. Appalachian State’s defense: Woodside has thrown for 3,758 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. His top target WR Diontae Johnson has 1,257 yards receiving and 13 TDs. The Rockets will match up with a Mountaineers defense that gave up just 10 points per game during its three-game winning streak to end the season.

Players to watch

Appalachian State: QB Taylor Lamb. The senior has thrown for 2,606 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s also run for 539 yards and five touchdowns and is averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

Toledo: RB Terry Swanson. The Rockets can run just as well as they can throw. Swanson leads the way 1,319 yards rushing and 14 TDs. He’s averaging 5.7 yards per carry.