Stanford seeks sixth 10-win season in past 10 years without star running back Christian McCaffrey, who made a decision to skip Cardinal’s school-record eighth straight bowl to focus on National Football League career.
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You’d think that fans would be in a celebratory mood, with the Vols recording their third bowl win in a row, making them three-for-three in the Butch Jones era. As Tennessee got into Nebraska territory, running back John Kelly took it upon himself to get his team on the board.
No, Tennessee didn’t accomplish its goal of winning the East Division or even earning a berth in the Sugar Bowl.
In his final game as a Tennessee Volunteer, Josh Dobbs threw for 291 yards and rushed for 118 more en route to a 38-24 victory against Nebraska. The Vols lost 30-27 in double overtime to North Carolina in 2010 Music City Bowl. The unit squashed any hopes of a Huskers comeback by coming up with a crucial stop as Nebraska tried to drive down to make it a one-score game late.
Up to that point, it was Dobb’s night. Dobbs led the SEC with 26 TD passes as he completed 202-of-319 passes for 2,655 yards with 12 interceptions. The Vols allowed 350 or more rushing yards in four games this season (Texas A&M, Alabama, Kentucky and Missouri) and held just one opponent (Ohio) under 100 yards.
Another highlight was the play of receiver Josh Malone, who caught five passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. Dobbs pillaged the Nebraska defense for two first-half rushing touchdowns, from 10 yards and two yards, respectively. “Players were into it, they executed well in all phases, and it just didn’t seem like we did that at all tonight”. Dobbs finishes his career with 87 total touchdowns (53 passing, 32 rushing and two receiving) and a lengthy highlight reel of him turning nothing into something.
Early in the third quarter, defensive back Malik Foreman caused and recovered a fumble at Nebraska’s 44, but the Vols wasted that opportunity. He escaped serious pressure in the pocket after being unable to find an open receiver on 3rd-and-goal.
He’s been remarkably consistent over a three-year college career, notching 10, 10 and 13 sacks in his three years at UT for a total of 33. His 10,690 yards of total offense are the most in Nebraska history and seventh on the Big Ten’s all-time list.
That was Dobb’s 12 rushing touchdown this season, a school record he had been sharing with Heath Shuler (1992).
Fyfe, who got the start in place of the injured Tommy Armstrong, Jr., connected on 17 of 36 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns.
WOMEN: Maria Jespersen scored a career-best 26 and had 15 rebounds as No. 23 USF pulled away in the third quarter and cruised to a 74-60 victory over visiting Stetson. Following his 11-yard run that converted a third-and-3, Dobbs hit Josh Malone in stride down the middle of the field for the game-clinching 59-yard scoring strike with 8:45 left.
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It ended with Barnett finally getting the sack he needed to push a legend out of the record books.
