USA TODAY International Edition
Va. Tech’s Frank Beamer ends season on high note
Hokies bound for bowl game after 23- 20 win
Frank Beamer’s career will fittingly end in a bowl game.
Virginia Tech was in the precarious position of needing to win on the road against rival Virginia after several close losses, including two at home in overtime against Duke and North Carolina.
But in a microcosm of Beamer’s tenure in Blacksburg, the Hokies showed a lot of fight to rally in the fourth quarter and take the lead on a Joey Slye field goal.
The defense then delivered with an interception to secure a 23- 20 win and the program’s 23rd consecutive appearance in the postseason. It also means Beamer will end his distinguished career with 12 wins in a row against the Cavaliers.
Some off- field news could have major positive implications for Virginia Tech, too. Multiple news outlets were reporting Memphis coach Justin Fuente had agreed to be Beamer’s successor.
That coup along with the expected retention of defensive coordinator Bud Foster would have things pointing up next year.
WINNERS
Southern California: A midseason firing of Steve Sarkisian could have given the Trojans an excuse to give up on their goal of winning the Pac- 12. In stepped interim coach Clay Helton to keep them on task. Saturday’s 4021 defeat of UCLA gave the Trojans five wins in their six conference games and they claimed the South title. The victory sets up a showdown with Stanford next week and might encourage the school to keep Helton on the job after this season.
Texas Tech: There were rumblings of dissatisfaction with Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury entering the season. Not anymore after Tech capped a 7- 5 season with its first defeat of Texas in Austin since 1997. Kingsbury even added a little fuel to the rivalry when appearing to run out the clock, he called a trick play to wide receiver Jakeem Grant for a touchdown.
Indiana: There aren’t many better ways for the Hoosiers to end their eight- year bowl drought than by winning convincingly at rival Purdue. In addition to securing a trip to the postseason, this is a major sign of progress for Kevin Wilson in his fifth season as coach. He has the program pointed in the right direction as evidenced by narrow losses to Ohio State and Michigan earlier this season.
LOSERS
Ohio State: A lot went right Saturday for the Buckeyes. Urban Meyer convincingly won his first matchup with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. The seniors completed a four- game sweep of the Wolverines. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 214 yards. Yet, it now seems likely Ohio State will miss the playoff. Michigan State’s defeat of Penn State ended any chance of a Big Ten title, and that could be decisive when the field is set.
Kentucky: It looked promising for the Wildcats at halftime against Louisville. They led 24- 7 and needed to hold on to secure their first bowl berth since 2010. Then things fell apart, and the Cardinals scored 31 unanswered points. Mark Stoops has brought optimism and recruiting success since his arrival, but he missed an opportunity to breakthrough on the field with a bowl bid.
SMU: The first season for Chad Morris was always going to be difficult with a program that bottomed out last year. The lasting impression of this 2- 10 campaign will be a 63- 0 loss to Memphis in which the Mustangs trailed by 56 points at the half. It shows how much work there is left for Morris, who left a cushy job as offensive coordinator at Clemson to start from scratch.