Penn State rolls past Memphis
All-America linebacker Micah Parsons led the big blitz for Penn State and had Brady White wrapped up when the Memphis quarterback suddenly flipped away the ball — into the hands of Garrett Taylor.
Taylor turned the gift into a 15-yard touchdown in a 53-39 victory by the Nittany Lions on Saturday at Arlington, Texas, in the highestscoring Cotton Bowl.
“A huge momentum shift,” Taylor said.
Journey Brown ran for 202 yards with two long touchdowns for No. 10 Penn State (11-2), but the Parsonscreated pick-six came three plays after Brown was stopped short on a fourth and one. Taylor put Penn State ahead 45-36 going into the fourth quarter.
“For our defense to come back and what you probably consider a sudden-change situation, and be able to get that play, I think it was a huge momentum play,“coach James Franklin said.
Brown was the most valuable player on offense and Parsons, who had 14 tackles and two sacks, was the top player on defense.
The No. 17 Tigers (12-2), the American Athletic Conference champions, played their first game under coach Ryan Silverfield. The offensive line coach was promoted when Mike Norvell left this month to become Florida State’s coach.
White had 454 yards passing with two interceptions. He had a rushing touchdown, as did Patrick Taylor Jr. and Kenneth Gainwell. The rest of the Tigers points came on a Cotton Bowl-record six field goals by Riley Patterson, including one from 51 yards, also a record.
The Tigers had 542 yards but White was sacked a season-high six times and didn’t throw a touchdown pass for the first time since the season opener.
The Nittany Lions had 529 yards. Brown scored on runs of 32 and 56 yards.
Camping World
No. 15 Notre Dame 33, Iowa State 9: Ian Book threw for 247 yards and one touchdown, and Tony Jones Jr. scored on an 84-yard run to help the Fighting Irish dominate at Orlando, Fla.
Book completed 20 of 28 passes without an interception, including a 27-yard touchdown throw to Chase Claypool, who had seven receptions for 146 yards and was selected the most valuable player of the game. Jones finished with 135 yards rushing.
The Fighting Irish (11-2) wrapped up the season on a six-game winning streak.
Brock Purdy was 17 of 30 for 222 yards and no interceptions for the Cyclones (7-6). But the sophomore, who threw for a programrecord 27 touchdowns in the regular season, was unable to get Iowa State into the end zone.
Notre Dame forced two first-quarter fumbles and built a 20-6 lead by halftime.