The college bowl season continues even after the CFP semifinals were played, with just two top-10 teams on Saturday’s schedule.
Devon Achane had two late touchdown runs, including a 76-yarder with 3:44 left that put Texas A&M ahead to stay in a 41-27 victory over No. 14 North Carolina in the Orange Bowl. Kellen Mond passed for 232 yards and ran for a score for the 9-1 Aggies, who were in the Orange Bowl for the first time since 1944. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher improved to 3-0 in Orange Bowls, winning two previous ones at Florida State.
Matt Corral threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns in leading Mississippi to a 26-20 upset of seventh-ranked Indiana in the Outback Bowl. Corral’s 3-yard pass to Dontario Drummond put the 5-5 Rebels ahead for good with 4:12 remaining.
Corral completed 30 of 44 passes without an interception, hours after first-year head coach Lane Kiffin received a new contract.
Breece Hall ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns as 12th-ranked Iowa State closed its season with a 34-17 rout of No. 25 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. Brock Purdy accounted for two scores and was 20 of 29 for 156 yards to help the Cyclones end up 9-3. Iowa State used its ball-control offense to dominate the time of possession and keep Oregon’s offense off the field for long stretches to win its first New Year’s Six bowl.
A.J. Rose ran for a career-high 148 yards and Kentucky took advantage of a pair of missed field goals to beat No. 24 North Carolina State, 23-21 in the Gator Bowl. Chris Rodriguez added 84 yards and two scores to help the Wildcats finish with 281 yards on the ground.
Kentucky led just 16-14 when Rodriguez scored on a 26-yard burst late in the game.
