BOWL ROUNDUP Kansas State survives Arizona scare

Mississippi edged Nebraska in the Independence Bowl.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN DIEGO -- The Kansas State Wildcats were saved by the Ell.
On the verge of what would have been a shocking loss, quarterback Ell Roberson rallied the sixth-ranked Wildcats with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a 10-yard pass to Derrick Evans with 1:15 to play for a 34-27 Holiday Bowl win over Arizona State on Friday night.
Kansas State (11-2), the highest-ranked team to be snubbed by the BCS, was favored by 18 points.
Roberson also scored on sneaks of 2 and 1 yards in the fourth quarter to add to the Holiday Bowl's history of wild finishes. He also scored on a 32-yard run just before halftime.
Arizona State had one last shot at the upset, but Andrew Walter's desperation pass on fourth-and-15 from his 49 was knocked down inside the 5-yard line.
Kansas State trailed 20-14 entering the fourth quarter. By then, Roberson was well on his way to leading a 16-play, 65-yard drive that took 7 minutes, 13 seconds. His 2-yard plunge pulled the Wildcats into a 20-20 tie with 12:36 left in the fourth quarter, but they blew the extra point because of a low snap.
ASU needed just 1:46 to go ahead 27-20 on Walter's 10-yard misdirection screen pass to Mike Williams, when the quarterback rolled right and threw left. Walter was 6-of-8 for 78 yards on the drive.
But Roberson came back and led an 80-yard drive that he finished with 1-yard sneak for a 27-27 tie with 6:41 left.
All-American cornerback Terence Newman, used as a wide receiver, set up the winning score with a 34-yard punt return. Once a 10-yard holding penalty against K-State was marched off, it started the winning drive on its 41.
Kansas State won its sixth straight game. It was the fifth time in six seasons the Wildcats finished with 11 wins. Arizona State (8-6) lost for the fourth time in five games.
Roberson completed 11 of 28 passes for 215 yards and one TD, and rushed 18 times for 63 yards and three scores.
Mississippi 27, Nebraska 23
SHREVEPORT, La. -- Eli Manning threw for 313 yards and a touchdown as Mississippi ended Nebraska's 40-year streak of winning seasons with a victory in the Independence Bowl.
Nebraska managed just one offensive touchdown on Jammal Lord's pass to Matt Herian in the second quarter. Josh Brown kicked three field goals and DeJuan Groce had a punt return for a score.
The Cornhuskers (7-7) had finished above .500 every year since 1961, when they went 3-6-1. Their seven losses this year were their most since going 3-7 in 1958.
Manning was 25-for-44 for Ole Miss (7-6) and became the school's career passing leader in what could be his final college game. The highly touted junior has said he will take some time after the season to decide if he will enter the NFL draft.
Nebraska was No. 8 in the country after a 3-0 start this season. But the Cornhuskers startling demise prompted coach Frank Solich to make sweeping changes to his coaching staff after the regular season.
Solich fired his defensive coordinator and two other defensive assistants and said he will hire an offensive coordinator next season. Solich has acted as his own offensive coordinator since taking over for Tom Osborne in 1998.
Nebraska had its option working in the first half with 262 total yards, 207 on the ground.
But Ole Miss adjusted in the second half and held Nebraska to 97 yards and no touchdowns. Dahrann Diedrick had 92 yards rushing and Lord had 176 total yards.
The win enabled the Rebels to avoid their first losing season since 1996.
Ole Miss took its first lead of the game four plays after a curious play call by Nebraska.
On a fourth-and-12 from their own 35, the Cornhuskers faked a punt, letting upback Judd Davies throw a pass that fell incomplete.
Toward Sanford went over the top for his second 1-yard touchdown run of the game moments later to give Ole Miss a 24-20 lead with 3:24 left in the third.
Brown's third field goal of the game, a 29-yarder made it 24-23 with just under eight minutes left.
But Jonathan Nicholls made a 43-yarder with 4:30 left and Nebraska never threatened after that.
Oklahoma St. 33, Southern Miss. 23
HOUSTON -- Rashaun Woods caught nine passes for 164 yards and a touchdown, and Tatum Bell's 22-yard score with 8:07 to play gave Oklahoma State the lead for good in a Houston Bowl.
Bell had 160 yards on 13 carries, and Luke Phillips kicked two of his four field goals in the decisive fourth quarter for the Cowboys (8-5).
Trailing 20-13 at the half, Southern Miss (7-6) took its only lead of the game on a 2-yard touchdown run by James Walley and a 30-yard field goal by Curt Jones, his third of the game, in the third quarter.
The Cowboys pulled even on the first play of the four quarter on Phillips' 28-yard field goal. Josh Fields threw for 310 yards, and his 33-yard pass to Billy Bajema set up Bell's go-ahead touchdown, which put Oklahoma State back in front 30-23.