Air Force handles James Madison
Falcons overwhelm top rushing defense
Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-best 203 yards and two 1-yard touchdowns and Zac Larrier passed for one TD and ran for another score, leading Air Force to a 31-21 win against No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday.
Air Force (9-4) posted its fifth consecutive bowl win after losing its past four games of the season.
James Madison (11-2) lost in regulation for the first time this season while playing in the program’s first bowl game. The Dukes, who are completing their transition to the FBS level from FCS after being a two-time national champion in the lower division, earned the bowl berth after there weren’t enough bowl-eligible teams to fill all the spots.
Other games
Duke 17, Troy 10: Freshman quarterback Grayson Loftis threw for 183 yards and Duke’s defense came up with a final stop as the Blue Devils secured a winning season with a Birmingham Bowl victory against Troy. Sun Belt Conference champion Troy (11-3) tried to finish the season on an 11-game winning streak for the second consecutive year. But against a Blue Devils (8-5) lineup decimated by transfer portal departures, the Trojans couldn’t prevail.
Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19:
Rocky Lombardi passed and ran for a touchdown and Northern Illinois held on against Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl when the Red Wolves (6-7) couldn’t convert a late twopoint pass. Antario Brown ran for 132 yards for the Huskies (7-6), who won six of their final eight games.
Georgia State 45, Utah State 22: Darren Grainger threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more, Freddie Brock rushed for 276 yards and a score, and Georgia State (7-6) rolled past Utah State (6-7) in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Georgia State, which had lost five of six entering the game, scored 31 unanswered points to break it open.
SouthAlabama 59, Eastern Michigan 10: Freshman Gio Lopez threw for three TDs and ran for another, and South Alabama trounced Eastern Michigan in the 68 Ventures Bowl. Playing on their home field at Hancock Whitney Stadium, the Jaguars ( 7- 6) scored on their first three possessions, led 38-3 at halftime and outgained Eastern Michigan (6-7) 627 yards to 150.
Northwestern 14, Utah 7: Ben Bryant passed for 222 yards and found Bryce Kirtz in the corner of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, helping Northwestern beat Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. Bryant went 22 for 34 with two touchdowns as Northwestern (8-5) ended its season with a fourth consecutive win.