With eight video games, Saturday was the most important day of the 2024 bowl season, headlined by two top-25 showdowns, BYU-Colorado and Iowa State-Miami.
Listed here are our winners and losers from probably the most great day of the school soccer bowl yr.
Winner: Pop-Tarts Bowl
CFP No. 18 Iowa State (11-3) and No. 15 Miami (10-3) gave school soccer’s greatest bowl recreation trophy the sport it deserved within the Cyclones’ 42-41 win.
The groups mixed for 625 yards and 59 factors within the first half, ending the sport with 939 yards. Iowa State and Miami had 16 performs of at the very least 20 yards within the explosive, back-and-forth duel.
Who wants good playoff video games when the Pop-Tarts Bowl is protecting us fed?
Loser: Miami’s QB technique
Miami quarterback Cam Ward broke former Houston quarterback Case Keenum’s NCAA Division I file for many profession passing touchdowns within the loss when he accomplished a four-yard landing to large receiver Jacolby George for his 156th landing.
Ward was on his approach to an enormous recreation, going 12-of-19 for 190 yards and three touchdowns earlier than sitting within the second half.
Head coach Mario Cristobal mentioned conversations about participant availability have been “made … in non-public.” Ward’s choice is a poor search for each him and the Hurricanes. By sitting after securing a private file, he put himself above his group. His choice additionally seemingly value backup Emory Williams worthwhile reps with the first-team offense in observe main as much as the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and it confirmed.
Williams was 5-of-14 for 26 yards and an interception within the second half. Final yr, we noticed then-backup quarterbacks at USC (Miller Moss) and LSU (Garrett Nussmeier) have enormous bowl video games after Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels elected to take a seat.
It is honest to surprise how higher Williams would have seemed if he had the identical alternative.
Winner: Nebraska
The Cornhuskers jumped out to a 20-2 lead over Boston Faculty earlier than holding on for a 20-15 win within the Dangerous Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl to clinch their first successful season since 2016.
Head coach Matt Rhule beforehand succeeded in turning Temple and Baylor round, and he is laid the groundwork for his subsequent nice reclamation venture in Lincoln.
Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola was 23-of-31 for 228 yards, one landing and one interception. The 2024 five-star recruit not too long ago shut down hypothesis he meant to enter the switch portal, and primarily based on his promising begin underneath Rhule, it is simple to see why he’d keep.
Loser: Colorado particular groups
The Buffaloes arguably had Saturday’s most disappointing efficiency, dropping 36-14 to No. 17 BYU (11-2) within the Valero Alamo Bowl.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/large receiver Travis Hunter — enjoying on reported file insurance coverage insurance policies — weren’t the issue.
Sanders was 16-of-23 for 208 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, one in every of which got here on a deflected cross, whereas Hunter had 4 receptions, 106 yards and a landing, including 4 tackles on protection. (h/t StatBroadcast)
However Colorado’s particular groups let the Buffaloes down. Within the first half, they fell for a Cougars onside kick and allowed a 66-yard punt return landing. Kicker Alejandro Mata additionally missed a 48-yard area purpose.
Coach Deion Sanders has achieved a implausible job resurrecting Colorado in his first two seasons. He made huge strides in shoring up the Buffaloes’ protection this previous offseason, however after the Alamo Bowl loss, Deion Sanders should use this offseason to show his particular groups unit right into a constructive.
Winner: TCU
TCU dominated Louisiana (10-4), 34-3, to win the Isleta New Mexico Bowl and probably the most lovely school soccer bowl trophy.
