Jalen Smith scored two touchdowns, including a game-winning overtime plunge, to lead Minnesota to a 20-17 victory over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday in Phoenix.
Smith finished with six catches for 64 yards and both scores for Minnesota (8-5). Drake Lindsey completed 18 of 28 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and Darius Taylor had 24 carries for 116 yards and a score.
Minnesota won its ninth straight bowl game and improved to 7–0 in bowl games under coach PJ Fleck.
Jack Layne completed 14 of 25 passes for 88 yards and an interception for New Mexico (9-4). Damon Bankston had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Northwest 34, Central Michigan 7
Preston Stone completed 19 of 31 passes for 226 yards and three scores and the Wildcats turned four takeaways into touchdowns in a blowout of the Chippewas at the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit.
Braden Turner had an interception before returning a fumble for a touchdown, while Aidan Hubbard had three sacks and a forced fumble as Northwestern shut down Central Michigan’s offense for more than three quarters.
Griffin Wilde had 10 catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns for Northwestern (7-6), which won its sixth straight bowl appearance. Joe Labas completed 21 of 25 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown while fumbling twice for Central Michigan (7-6).
UTSA 57, Florida International 20
Owen McCown passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns, Will Henderson III scored three times and the Roadrunners rallied from an early 14-point deficit to beat the Panthers in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas.
McCown, who finished the season with 2,995 passing yards, finished 18 of 28 for the Roadrunners (7-6), who put up 38 unanswered points during one stretch and outscored the Panthers 57-6 over the final 54 minutes. Henderson totaled 59 yards on 14 carries with two rushing scores, and he caught a touchdown pass. Devin McCuin (six catches, 73 yards) and Patrick Overmyer added TD receptions as the Roadrunners won a bowl game for the third straight year.
Joe Pesansky was 11-for-31 for 102 yards with two scores and an interception for the Panthers (7-6), who were playing in their first bowl game since the 2019 Camellia Bowl. Florida International’s Keyone Jenkins completed 7 of 14 passes for 49 yards and an interception.
–Field level media
