Photos
All-SEC quarterback Tyler Wilson threw two touchdown passes, including a 9-yarder to Kobi Hamilton with 4 minutes left in the third quarter after Kansas State (10-3) scored 16 consecutive points.
Adams’ 51-yard return early in the second quarter gave the Razorbacks (11-2) a 10-0 lead before they even gained a first down. It was the first punt return for a touchdown in the Cotton Bowl in 51 years.
The only other 11-win seasons for the Razorbacks were by the Lou Holtz-coached team in 1977 and coach Frank Broyles’ only undefeated season at Arkansas in 1964.
Wildcats quarterback Collin Klein tied the Big 12 record held by Texas’ Ricky Williams with his 27th rushing touchdown this season and matched the FBS record for quarterbacks.
O’BRIEN GETS THE JOB
Penn State has hired New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien as its head coach, the first change in leadership for the storied football program in nearly a half-century.
The announcement in State College, Pa., caps a turbulent two-month period that began with the firing of Hall of Famer Joe Paterno on Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex-abuse charges against retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
O’Brien, 42, is set to be formally announced at a news conference this morning.
Not everyone was thrilled with the decision – especially because interim head coach Tom Bradley, a Penn State assistant for more than 30 years, wasn’t given more consideration.
“Alums I will always love you and the Penn State I knew,” LaVar Arrington, a former All-American linebacker at Penn State and three-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL, wrote on Twitter. “But until there’s a new board and new leadership they can have their corrupt/disgusting school that they’ve created.”
MITCHELL HONORED
Eastern Washington University quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell capped a sensational two-year career for the Eagles by being selected as the winner of the 2011 Walter Payton Award given to the top player in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Mitchell, who guided the Eagles to the FCS national title last season, edged Lehigh quarterback Chris Lum and Indiana State running back Shakir Bell for the award, which was presented at the annual FCS Awards Banquet on Friday in Frisco, Texas – site of this year’s national championship game.
Mitchell received 57 first-place votes and 453 total to win by a comfortable margin. Lum and Bell each finished with 219 votes, with Lum receiving 16 first-place votes and Bell getting 10.
In 2011, Mitchell led the FCS in four categories, including passing yards (4,009) and touchdown passes (33).
DEPARTING THE PAC-12
Oregon’s record-setting running back LaMichael James is skipping his senior year and declaring himself eligible for the NFL draft. So, too, is Arizona State junior quarterback Brock Osweiler
James, a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2010, said he has not hired an agent.
A 5-foot-9, 195-pound All-American, James rushed for a school-record 1,805 yards this season, and led the nation with an average of 150.4 yards rushing a game.
He’s the Ducks’ career leader in yards rushing with 5,082, and the first Pac-12 player to have three straight 1,500-yard seasons.
James said he’s been told he’s likely a third-round pick.
In Osweiler’s first full season as a starter, he became the first ASU quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards (4,036) and set school records for completions (326), attempts (516) and completion percentage (63.2).
EXTRA POINTS
Clemson All-America tight end Dwayne Allen, winner of the John Mackey Award this year as the nation’s top tight end, said he’s giving up his senior season to enter the NFL draft. … Auburn’s All-Southeastern Conference tailback Mike Dyer, who was suspended indefinitely before the Chick-fil-A Bowl for violating unspecified team rules, was released from his scholarship. … Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, a two-time All-American and winner of the Butkus, Bronko Nagurski and Lombardi awards after leading the nation in tackles in 2011, has decided to enter the NFL draft. … Florida has targeted Boise State’s Brent Pease to replace Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator. Pease also is reportedly scheduled to interview with Alabama coach Nick Saban for the Crimson Tide’s open coordinator job. … The contract for new Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze reveals he gets a $100,000 bonus for each Southeastern Conference win. … Virginia Tech running back David Wilson, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
today’s bowl game
BBVA COMPASS BOWL
pittsburgh (6-6) vs. southern methodist (7-5), 1 p.m.
birmingham, ala., espn
Bowl bits: Compass was a finance company that merged with Spain’s Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, thus BBVA Compass. … This is the second consecutive visit to this bowl by Pitt and the second time the Panthers will be led by an interim coach. Todd Graham bolted for the Arizona State job, leaving defensive coordinator Keith Patterson holding the bag. … Interestingly, Arizona State also flirted with Mustangs coach June Jones before giving the job to Graham. … Jones is looking for his 100th win as a college coach. He is 99-69 overall, including 23-28 in his fourth season at SMU.
McClatchy news services
