Jalen Smith made two touchdown catches, including a diving grab in overtime to win the game, 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 the two 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 consecutive bowl game and improved to 7-0 in bowl games under coach P.J. 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.
Northwestern 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 during a blowout of the Chippewas in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Detroit.
Braden Turner grabbed an interception before returning a fumble for a touchdown, while Aidan Hubbard had three sacks and a forced fumble as Northwestern stymied Central Michigan’s offense for three-plus quarters.
Griffin Wilde hauled in 10 catches for 97 yards and a pair of TDs for Northwestern (7-6), which won its sixth consecutive bowl appearance. Joe Labas connected on 21 of 25 passes for 178 yards and one 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 pound the Panthers in the First Responder Bowl at Dallas.
McCown, who finished the season with 2,995 passing yards, finished 18 of 28 for the Roadrunners (7-6), who tallied 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 year in a row.
Joe Pesansky went 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.
