DETROIT (AP) — Freshman Darius Taylor returned from a leg injury to rush for a career-high 208 yards, and Minnesota beat Bowling Green 30-24 in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Gophers were 5-7 coming into the game but earned the bowl bid because they had the best Academic Progress Rate among five-win teams. Minnesota won its won its seventh consecutive bowl game overall and fifth in a row under coach P.J. Fleck. Taylor had 35 carries, including a 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Senior Cole Kramer made his first career start at quarterback for the Gophers. He threw for just 26 yards but had two touchdown passes and ran for a score.
ATLANTA (AP) — Penn State has new offensive and defensive coordinators as the No. 10 Nittany Lions prepare for Saturday’s Peach Bowl against No. 11 Mississippi. Even though neither new hire is officially in charge of his unit yet, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is worried about the unknown. Kiffin says he doesn’t have “any idea” if the Nittany Lions will debut new looks in the bowl game. He says the unknown is a “really big challenge.” Penn State’s new hires are defensive coordinator Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Assistants are still in charge for the bowl game.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Mike Sainristil played receiver in his first three years at Michigan. Coach Jim Harbaugh had another idea entering spring football last year, suggesting Sainristil switch to defensive back. The AP All-Big Ten cornerback is about to face a tough test in his third straight College Football Playoff appearance. Michigan plays Alabama on New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl to compete for a shot at the national championship. The Wolverines’ season included a sign-stealing scandal that led to the Big Ten suspending Harbaugh for three games.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown will get an early audition to be the No. 1 quarterback in 2024 when he starts for the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl. Brown was named starter for Friday night’s game as the No. 7 Buckeyes play No. 9 Missouri. The backup quarterback all season, Brown will get his chance because Kyle McCord decided to transfer to Syracuse. Brown last played Oct. 21 when he injured an ankle in the win over Penn State.
