Kentucky edges Florida State
Andre Woodson threw four touchdown passes against a depleted Florida State defense and Kentucky won its second consecutive Music City Bowl, beating the Seminoles, 35-28, Monday night in Nashville for Bobby Bowden’s first bowl loss in December.
Kentucky hadn’t ended consecutive seasons with bowl wins since 1951-52 under Bear Bryant, but the Wildcats pulled off the feat one year after surprising Clemson, coached by Bowden’s son, Tommy.
As for the elder Bowden, who has led the Seminoles to 26 consecutive bowls and two national titles, his December bowl record finally has its first blemish at 7-1-1. Bowden is major college football’s winningest coach with 373 victories -- one ahead of Penn State’s Joe Paterno.
Florida State was playing three dozen players short because of injuries and suspensions stemming from an academic cheating scandal.
Woodson capitalized on the missing depth and finished the season with 40 touchdown passes, breaking Tim Couch’s school-record 37 set in 1998. For Woodson, it was the 19th consecutive game with at least 200 yards passing and a scoring pass.
No. 18 Auburn 23, No. 15 Clemson 20 (OT) -- Freshman quarterback Kodi Burns threw for a touchdown and scored on a seven-yard run in overtime to lead the Tigers to victory in the Chick-fil-A Bowl at Atlanta.
After Mark Buchholz kicked a 25-yard field goal on Clemson’s opening possession of overtime, Burns scored on a spinning run on third and three.
Auburn’s starting quarterback, Brandon Cox, ran for a first down on a fourth-and-one play from the 16-yard line to keep its overtime possession alive.
Auburn (9-4) denied Clemson (9-4) its first 10-win season since 1990.
Fresno State 40, Georgia Tech 28 -- Clifton Smith rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns, Tom Brandstater threw for a score and ran for another and the Bulldogs won the Humanitarian Bowl at Boise, Idaho.
Fresno State’s offense was surprisingly strong against a Yellow Jackets defense that was among the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference and led the country in sacks during the regular season with 47.
But Fresno State’s offensive line protected Brandstater, and even when Georgia Tech (7-6) put some pressure on the junior, he was able to escape the pocket and keep plays alive.
After punting on its opening possession, the Bulldogs (9-4) scored 27 consecutive points, taking a 34-14 lead midway through the third quarter when Brandstater scored on a 24-yard run.
Oklahoma State 49, Indiana 33 -- Zac Robinson threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more scores, leading the Cowboys (7-6) in the Insight Bowl at Tempe, Ariz.
A sophomore making his 11th college start, Robinson completed 24 of 34 passes for 302 yards.
The loss ended an emotional year for the Hoosiers (7-6), whose coach, Terry Hoeppner, died of complications from a brain tumor in June.
Kellen Lewis passed for 204 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 83 yards and another touchdown for the Hoosiers in their first postseason appearance since 1993.
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