Baylor runs for record 645 yards in Russell Athletic Bowl win
Despite missing two quarterbacks, an award-winning receiver and a 1,000-yard running back, the Bears’ top-ranked scoring offense stayed creative, pounding out 645 yards rushing — the most ever in a bowl game — and 756 total yards.
The biggest question heading into Tuesday’s game was how Baylor’s offense would adapt with quarterbacks Seth Russell (neck injury) and Jarrett Stidham (broken ankle), Biletnikoff Award winner Corey Coleman (hernia surgery), and running back Shock Linwood (broken foot) all sidelined.
Though sophomore Chris Johnson started at quarterback, five players — Johnson, backup Lynx Hawthorne and running backs Jefferson, Chafin and Williams — all took snaps from center for the Bears within the first two series.
Leonard Fournette scored five touchdowns and ran for 212 yards as No. 22 LSU used a big third quarter to take control for a 56-27 win over Texas Tech in Houston.
The Red Raiders (7-6) cut the lead to one early in the third quarter before the Tigers (9-3) scored 21 straight points, with two touchdowns by Fournette, to make it 42-20 entering the fourth.
James Butler put Nevada ahead with a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:06 left and the Wolf Pack prevailed with the help of a late gaffe by Colorado State to beat the Rams 28-23 in Tucson.
Colorado State then drove downfield with no timeouts in the final minute, but receiver Jordon Vaden failed to get out of bounds after a catch and time expired on the Rams at Nevada’s 12-yard line.
UCLA tailback Paul Perkins will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft, he said on his Twitter account.