College football highlights: Washington tops Texas in Alamo Bowl

Updated Dec 30, 2022 12:55 am EST

The college football bowl season continued on Thursday with three outstanding games, highlighted by Washington's 27-20 victory over Texas in the Alamo Bowl.

Earlier in the day, Minnesota took down Syracuse at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl, while Florida State beat Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl. 

Here are the highlights from Thursday's bowl slate.

Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Washington 27, No. 20 Texas 20

Washington punches it in!

After trading field goals to start the game, Washington's Wayne Taulapapa broke off a huge 42-yard touchdown run with 3:17 remaining in the first quarter to give the Huskies a 10-3 lead.

The Huskies put together a 16-play, 74-yard drive, which ended with 24-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving Washington a 13-3 lead at the break.

Turning on the jets

Texas kicked off the second half with a bang as Quinn Ewers found Jonathon Brooks, who took it 34 yards to the house, cutting the deficit to 13-10.

Huskies answer right back

Washington put together a masterful 13-play, 75-yard drive, which concluded with a 6-yard TD pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Taj Davis, which gave the Huskies a 20-10 lead.

What a grab

After a slow start to the game, Washington's offense looked unstoppable in the second half. The Huskies put together another methodical drive, capped off by an incredible 8-yard TD catch by Jalen McMillan. The score gave Washington a 27-10 lead.

Not so fast!

Texas answered right back as Brooks scored his second touchdown of the night, this one coming on a 3-yard run with 9:50 remaining in the contest.

The Longhorns added a field goal with 1:40 remaining in the game to make it 27-20. After forcing a three-and-out, Texas got the ball back with 31 seconds remaining and a chance to tie the game. However, Washington's defense answered the call and stopped the Longhorns' last-chance effort, securing a 27-20 win.

Cheez-It Bowl: No. 13 Florida State 35, Oklahoma 32

Oklahoma stunts early fireworks

Florida State began the game with fury. On the third play of its opening possession, quarterback Jordan Travis scrambled for 16 yards. The Florida State quarterback then hit wide receiver Johnny Wilson for a 26-yard completion, which was immediately followed by a 22-yard run from running back Treshaun Ward, putting the ball at the Oklahoma 5-yard line.

However, Oklahoma's defense made a stand, keeping Florida State out of the end zone and forcing a field goal.

Sooners answer

After forcing the field goal, Oklahoma came down the field and scored the game's first touchdown. A 13-play drive ended with quarterback Dillon Gabriel hitting wide receiver Jalil Farooq for a 22-yard touchdown, giving the Sooners a 7-3 lead.

I got this!

Oklahoma's Marvin Mims gained 23 yards on a Florida State punt, putting the ball at the Florida State 49-yard line. Nine plays later, Gabriel ran in an 8-yard touchdown. The score gave Oklahoma a 14-3 lead.

FSU gets 6 — and 2

After Oklahoma missed a 45-yard field goal, Florida State scored its first touchdown. Travis, running to his left, hit wide receiver Ontaria Wilson for a 16-yard score. The Seminoles then converted a two-point conversion on a trick play, as tight end Wyatt Rector hit fellow tight end Brian Courtney for the conversion.

Oklahoma got a field goal before halftime, taking a 17-11 lead into the break.

Let's get wild!

Florida State methodically moved the ball down the field in the middle of the third quarter, going on a 15-play, 94-yard drive to take the lead. The Seminoles capped off the drive with Ward working as the QB in the wildcat formation, running the ball in for a 1-yard score that helped put FSU in front, 18-17.

Go on, Gavin

Gavin Sawchuk scored his first college touchdown on a 15-yard run, helping the Sooners go up 23-18. A successful two-point conversion on a pass from Gabriel to Brayden Willis extended their lead to 25-18.

Way too fast, Ward

The FSU running back hit another gear on a 38-yard run that resulted in a touchdown, leaving Oklahoma defenders in the dust.

Don't forget about Douglas!

After forcing a fumble, FSU took over and took care of business. Travis finished off the six-play, 68-yard drive by connecting with Markeston Douglas on a 17-yard score that put the 'Noles up 32-25 halfway through the fourth. 

Just Jovantae

Jovantae Barnes had nothing but green in between him and the end zone on his touchdown run that evened the game up with less than four minutes left.

Willed the grab to happen

Wilson looked like he had one hand being held, but that didn't stop him from making a huge 58-yard grab that put FSU in field-goal territory. The Seminoles took a 35-32 lead with 55 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma got the ball back with hopes of tying the game or taking the lead. However, Florida State's defense stepped up, sacking Gabriel on the final play and securing a 35-32 victory.

Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota 28, Syracuse 20

Pregame excitement

The New York Yankees were excited to welcome college football to their converted baseball diamond.

Defensive struggle

Through one quarter, though, the game remained scoreless, as the Gophers and Orange slugged it out.

Gophers strike, Mo makes history

Minnesota scored the first points of the game early in the second quarter. A nine-play drive ended with running back Mohamed Ibrahim powering in a 4-yard touchdown. Ibrahim's touchdown run was his 20th of the season, setting a new Minnesota single-season record. Earlier in the game, he also set a new Minnesota single-season record for rushing yards.

Athan Kaliakmanis injured

The Gophers starting quarterback was helped off the field midway through the second quarter. Veteran Tanner Morgan entered the game at quarterback.

Just like the old days

Morgan, who has been Minnesota's primary quarterback since 2019, took over with the ball at the Syracuse 33-yard line. Five plays later, Morgan hit wide receiver Daniel Jackson for a 21-yard touchdown. Minnesota took a 14-0 lead.

Syracuse squeezes out TD

The Orange got the ball with 55 seconds remaining in the first half with no timeouts – and that's all they would need.

Garrett Shrader completed four passes for a combined 85 yards — including three that went for 21-plus yards — setting up a 1-yard touchdown run for the Syracuse quarterback. It trailed 14-7 at halftime.

Momentum halted

Syracuse opened the second half with a field goal and then forced a Minnesota three-and-out. After Shrader & Co. got into Minnesota territory, though, the Syracuse quarterback made a costly mistake.

Shrader threw to the right only for Minnesota defensive back Coleman Bryson to intercept the pass and run it back 70 yards for a touchdown. The Golden Gophers took a 21-10 lead.

Explosion!

Syracuse got a field goal after the pick-six, but then Minnesota quickly added to its lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Quentin Redding faked a lateral and flew down the field to the Syracuse 25-yard line. Two plays later, Morgan and Jackson hooked up for their second touchdown connection. This time around, Jackson ran through the Syracuse defense for a 25-yard score. Minnesota took a 28-13 lead.

What an effort!

In need of a touchdown to get the deficit back to one score, Syracuse faced a fourth-and-8 from the Minnesota 8-yard-line. Unable to find an open receiver, Shrader scrambled and ran in a touchdown. The Orange trailed 28-20.

With that said, Minnesota recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt and ran out the clock.

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