Michigan State survives in 3OT; Cornhuskers fall

Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla.

Down a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining and a long way to go, Kirk Cousins found a way to give Michigan State a parting gift.

A cornerstone of Coach Mark Dantonio’s rebuilding project, Cousins led a late rally in the fourth quarter and Dan Conroy kicked a 28-yard field goal in the third overtime to lift the 12th-ranked Spartans over the No. 18 Bulldogs 33-30 Monday in the Outback Bowl.

Michigan State (11-3) ended a five-game bowl losing streak with its first postseason win since beating Fresno State in the 2001 Silicon Valley Bowl.

To do it, the Spartans — who had been 0-4 in bowl games under Dantonio — overcame a 16-0 halftime deficit and scored the tying touchdown with 14 seconds left in regulation.

“All week, all month, really, there was a sense of urgency in our preparation because the fact that for me as a senior, this was the last shot. Certainly all game long we felt that same way,” said Cousins, who completed 27 of 50 passes for 300 yards and was intercepted three times.

He was at his best during the tying 85-play, 10-yard drive in the closing minutes.

Georgia’s Blair Walsh became the Southeastern Conference’s career scoring leader with a field goal in the second extra period. But he missed a 42-yarder in the first overtime after conservative play-calling and had a 47-yard attempt blocked on the final play of the game.

The Spartans handed the Big Ten its lone win in three bowl matchups Monday against SEC opponents — Florida beat Ohio State and South Carolina stopped Nebraska.

CAPITAL ONE Bowl

SOUTH CAROLINA 30,

NEBRASKA 13

ORLANDO, Fla.

South Carolina’s season was marred by the dismissal of its starting quarterback, the loss of its star running back to injury and an NCAA investigation for improper benefits.

Still, despite it all, the 10th-ranked Gamecocks won more games than any team in South Carolina history.

Alshon Jeffery caught four passes for 148 yards and a touchdown before getting ejected for fighting, and the Gamecocks set a school-record for victories.

The Gamecocks (11-2) also snapped a string of three straight bowl losses. Connor Shaw, who took over at quarterback when senior Stephen Garcia was kicked off the team, came up big, passing for two scores and rushing for another in one of his best games. He finished 11 for 17 for 230 yards and ran for 42 yards.

Nebraska (9-4) lost its second consecutive bowl game and drops to 12-6 all-time in bowl matchups against SEC foes.

“I’m proud of the season we had,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said of a year that also included the Cornhuskers moving to the Big Ten. “Obviously we didn’t finish the way we wanted. It doesn’t take away from where we are, where we’re going or what we accomplished.

Pelini’s team came into the game having been plagued by turnovers in its previous three losses. Pelini pointed to missed opportunities — which included going 1 for 3 in the red zone — as the culprit Monday.

“Our football team, even after the game felt we were a better football team than them,” Pelini said. “But you’ve got to get out and earn it.”