San Diego’s Holiday Bowl not held for first time since 1978

The Holiday Bowl became the fourth bowl game to be canceled because of the COVID-19 crisis, joining the Redbox, Hawaii and Bahamas bowls. The Holiday Bowl had been played every year in San Diego since 1978, and this season’s would have been the first in a sixyear deal to match teams from the Pac-12 and Atlantic Coast Conference.

■ Wisconsin: At Madison, Wis., Graham Mertz threw a program record-tying five TD passes in his first start as the No. 14 Badgers buried Illinois 45-7 in both teams’ opener.

The redshirt freshman set a school record for completion percentage on 20-for-21 passing for 248 yards. His lone incompletion was dropped by running back Garret Groshek.

■ Jacksonville State: At Miami, Josh

Samuel ran for 163 yards and a TD, and Alen Karajic kicked his fourth field goal with 2:40 left as the Gamecocks beat Florida International 19-10 for the first FCS win over an FBS team this season. Jacksonville State (3-1) held the Panthers (0-3) to 156 yards of offense.

■ Purdue: Wide receiver Rondale Moore won’t play Saturday for an undisclosed reason but is expected to play Oct. 31. The junior won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player in 2018, when he became the third Big Ten player to surpass 100 catches in a season.

■ Army: The team’s Dec. 12 game against Navy was moved from Philadelphia to

West Point because of attendance limits on Pennsylvania outdoor events. This will be the teams’ first meeting at a home site since the Black Knights hosted the game in 1943.

■ Georgia State: Coach Shawn Elliott agreed to a three-year extension through

2025 worth $750,000 annually, plus incentives. The 47-year-old is 17-23 in his fourth season, with two bowl berths.

■ Louisiana State: Freshman T.J. Finley will start at quarterback Saturday in place of junior Myles Brennan (lower-body injury), coach Ed Orgeron said.