San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
ORANGE FIZZ: GEORGIA BEATS ’NOLES BY 60
Carson Beck passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns, backup QB Gunnar Stockton passed for two more scores and No. 6 Georgia routed previously undefeated and fifth-ranked Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl on Saturday night in a matchup of teams missing out on the College Football Playoff.
No. 6 Georgia 63 ,No.5 Florida State 3
Georgia scored on nine of 12 drives and gained 673 total yards against the shorthanded Seminoles, who were without more than two dozen players because of opt-outs and transfers, including five starters in their defensive front seven, their top two running backs and top three receivers.
The Bulldogs (13-1) were used to competing for championships this time of year, having won the last two national titles. But Georgia lost to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game — the Bulldogs’ first loss since the 2021 season — and missed out on one of the four spots in the CFP rankings. Instead, they settled for the seventh New Year’s Six bowl appearance in program history.
Florida State (13-1) failed to make the CFP cut despite winning the Atlantic Coast Conference title, and because of transfers, opt-outs and injuries, the Seminoles were without players who were responsible for 97 percent of their passing yards, 88 percent of their rushing yards and 84 percent of their receptions this season.
The Orange Bowl provided Georgia a chance to make a statement. The Bulldogs charged out to a 39-point halftime lead.
Peach Bowl No. 11 Mississippi 38, No. 10 Penn State 25:
At Atlanta, Jaxson Dart passed for 379 yards and three touchdowns, including two to tight end Caden Prieskorn, and ran for a score as Mississippi bullied Penn State’s proud defense.
Ole Miss (11-2) gained 540 yards against Penn State (10-3), which led the nation with its average of 223 yards allowed. It was the most yards and points allowed by the Nittany Lions this season.
The win gave coach Lane Kiffin’s Rebels their first 11-win season.
Music City Bowl
Maryland 31, Auburn 13: At Nashville, Tenn., Billy Edwards Jr. ran for a touchdown and threw for a score as Maryland routed Auburn (6-7) and won a programrecord third straight bowl.
Maryland (8-5) hadn’t even played three consecutive bowls since 2006-08, and the Terrapins added this victory to their win over Virginia Tech at the Pinstripe Bowl and last year’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina State.
Arizona Bowl
Wyoming 16, Toledo 15: At Tucson, Ariz., John Hoyland kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired and Wyoming (9-4) sent coach Craig Bohl into retirement a winner.
Bohl is retiring after 42 years of coaching — the last 10 in Laramie — and defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel will take over next season.