PHOENIX (AP) — Ky Thomas ran for 144 yards and a touchdown, Mar’Kiese Irving added 129 yards rushing and Minnesota shut down West Virginia to win the Guaranteed Rate Bowl 18-6. Thomas and Irving became the Gophers’ 1-2 punch after Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts sustained season-ending injuries. The two running backs carried most of the load offensively against West Virginia, accounting for 273 of Minnesota’s 358 total yards. The Gophers overwhelmed the Mountaineers defensively, holding them to 206 total yards to win their fifth straight bowl game, third under coach P.J. Fleck.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jim Harbaugh has been the most scrutinized coach in college football for seven seasons, defined by his failures despite a resume loaded with success. Now he has delivered on the promise he brought to his alma mater, leading the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff and a semifinal showdown against Georgia. In 17 seasons as a head coach in college and the NFL, Harbaugh is 156-65. The traits that make Harbaugh seem a little weird his supporters will tell you are ingenious.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Jim Harbaugh leaned on advice from his brother nearly a year ago when he was looking for a new defensive coordinator at Michigan and ended up hiring Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Mike Macdonald. Harbaugh also brought back former Wolverines players Mike Hart and Ron Bellamy as assistants, part of a coaching-staff shakeup after going 2-4 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Harbaugh seemed to make all the right moves and it helped the No. 2 Wolverines earn a spot in the College Football Playoff and a semifinal matchup with No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl on Friday night.
UNDATED (AP) — Stetson Bennett has the full support of No. 3 Georgia’s coaching staff even as he continues to hear the same doubts from observers that have followed him since he first joined the Bulldogs as a walk-on. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Todd Monken put to rest any remaining questions about Bennett’s status as the starting quarterback in Georgia’s College Football Playoff semifinal against No. 2 Michigan in the Orange Bowl. JT Daniels, who opened the season as Georgia’s starter, has rejoined the team after missing time last week. Even so, Bennett’s lock on the position appears to be as strong as ever.
UNDATED (AP) — Arizona State and Wisconsin will be turning to inexperienced players in the Las Vegas Bowl because of opt-outs and injuries. The Sun Devils are missing their top two running backs, top two cornerbacks and top linebacker, while the Badgers could have to shake up their offensive line. This will be the first Las Vegas Bowl played in Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.
UNDATED (AP) — Virginia Tech and Maryland are set to play Wednesday in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Virginia Tech is trying to send off interim coach J.C. Price with a victory before he yields to former Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry. Maryland is trying for a winning record for the first time since it went 7-6 in 2014. The Terps haven’t won a bowl game since 2010. Virginia Tech hasn’t won a bowl game since 2016. Virginia Tech was decimated by the transfer portal and has to turn to junior Texas A&M transfer quarterback Connor Blumrick for the start,
UNDATED (AP) — This basketball season is starting to feel a lot like the last one. Games are being postponed or canceled seemingly by the minute. Schedulers are scrambling to find replacements. Dozens of teams have gone on COVID-19 pause. But the week in the AP Top 25 still has some marquee matchups, if they do indeed get played. The SEC has two Wednesday, with No. 14 Tennessee at No. 19 Alabama, and No. 11 Auburn at No. 16 LSU. Top-ranked Baylor also faces what could be its biggest test of the season, playing at No. 8 Iowa State in a matchup of undefeated teams.
