Tag: Pinstripe Bowl

Dec 28, 2024; Bronx, NY, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Rahmir Johnson (14) carries the ball as Boston College Eagles linebacker Joe Marinaro (45) pursues during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Nebraska builds big lead, holds off Boston College in Pinstripe Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A trio of running backs recorded touchdowns to help Nebraska hold off Boston College’s late rally for a 20-15 win in the Pinstripe Bowl on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Bronx, N.Y.

New York native Rahmir Johnson scored the Cornhuskers’ opening touchdown to highlight his 60-yard performance on 10 carries. His 11-yard run on fourth-and-1 before the two-minute timeout iced the game, lifting Nebraska (7-6) to its first winning season since 2016.

Kwinten Ives also ran for a score and Emmett Johnson (team-high 68 rushing yards on 14 carries) caught one from freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was 23 of 31 for 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception on the day.

Nebraska had a 20-2 lead before allowing its first touchdown with 6:11 left in regulation.

Boston College (7-6) forced two first-half turnovers and finished five of its first seven drives inside the opposing 35-yard line, but the Eagles went 0-for-4 on fourth downs until Turbo Richard’s 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska’s first two punts turned into touchdowns for the Eagles, with the second being blocked and returned to the 2-yard line ahead of a Jordan McDonald score with 4:18 remaining.

Grayson James quarterbacked the Eagles, going 25 of 40 for a season-high 296 yards. He also rushed for 22. Lewis Bond made six catches for 94 yards.

Jahmal Banks was Raiola’s leading target, making four catches for 79 yards.

After big plays went by the boards for both teams on their opening series, Raiola sent Nebraska on a 15-play, 75-yard drive to the opening touchdown four seconds into the second quarter. Following a third-down conversion in the red zone, Rahmir Johnson scored on a 4-yard run before John Hohl’s PAT made it 7-0.

After Boston College was unable to convert on Josiah Griffin’s recovery of an Emmett Johnson fumble, an ensuing fourth-down penalty gave Nebraska new life and the Cornhuskers turned it into Ives’ 2-yard score with 3:39 before halftime.

Ashton McShane’s 88-yard blocked PAT return got the Eagles on the board at 13-2, though.

Nebraska’s first drive out of halftime included two fakes from punter/holder Brian Buschini, including a successful fake field goal. On the following series, Raiola’s 13-yard pass to Emmett Johnson out of the backfield resulted in a 20-2 lead with 3:02 left in the third.

Richard punched in the first Boston College touchdown. James’ two-point conversion pass attempt failed.

Buschini’s second punt was blocked by Victor Nelson Jr. and returned to the 2-yard line by Omar Thornton, setting up McDonald’s run and a Liam Connor PAT.

–Field Level Media

Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) passes as Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins (34) defends Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Nebraska, BC excited about visit to New York for Pinstripe Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The opportunity in front of Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday is not lost on first-year coach Bill O’Brien.

When the Massachusetts native leads the Eagles (7-5) onto the hallowed New York ground, Boston College will be shooting for its first eight-win season since 2009. Facing an opponent as prestigious in the world of college football as Nebraska (6-6) makes it even more special.

“I think that was the big thing for us,” O’Brien said. “Can we play a great, legendary program? (We’re) all very excited about the opportunity to go up against a program like Nebraska in Yankee Stadium around Christmastime. It’s a very, very cool opportunity.”

The Eagles not only look to send seniors such as ACC Defensive Player of the Year Donovan Ezeiruaku (FBS-leading 16 1/2 sacks in the regular season), running back Kye Robichaux (452 yards, six touchdowns in the past four games) and former walk-on linebacker Joe Marinaro out on a high note, but also keep an eye on the future with many expected 2025 returnees already contributing on the depth chart.

Florida International junior transfer Grayson James has emerged as Boston College’s top quarterback, throwing for five touchdowns in four starts since Florida State-bound Thomas Castellanos departed the program midseason. The Eagles won three of those games, all in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

This season has also seen the likes of running back Turbo Richard, wide receiver Reed Harris and safety Carter Davis receive significant time as true or redshirt freshmen for O’Brien’s team.

“There’s a lot of guys that will be playing in this game that will hopefully be playing for us next year,” O’Brien said. “If you can’t get up to playing in a game like this, I think for our guys, you might want to check yourself out a little bit.”

While Boston College seeks back-to-back bowl victories after toppling now-ACC rival SMU in the Fenway Bowl last December, Nebraska is headed to its first postseason appearance since 2016.

The Cornhuskers clinched the bowl berth with a Nov. 23 win over Wisconsin, ending a four-game losing streak that followed a 5-1 start. Five of Nebraska’s six losses were by eight or fewer points, including setbacks against ranked Big Ten foes Illinois and Ohio State.

“We’re unbelievably excited and grateful,” second-year Nebraska coach and native New Yorker Matt Rhule said. “We’ve worked really hard to get to this point. A tough schedule this year, had a chance to play against a lot of great teams.”

Nebraska has one of the nation’s top young quarterbacks at the helm. Dylan Raiola has thrown for 12 touchdowns and ranks second among FBS freshmen with 2,595 passing yards and a 66.6 percent completion rate.

Raiola shot down transfer portal rumors and affirmed his commitment to the Huskers since the regular season concluded.

“I never officially entered and never really was shopping around,” Raiola said. “I’m playing quarterback at Nebraska.”

The game has added significance to Rhule due to his New York City roots. This month, he added Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator and promoted John Butler to defensive coordinator.

Eight Nebraska players hail from New York or New Jersey, including sophomore starting defensive end Cameron Lenhardt and sixth-year senior running back Rahmir Johnson.

“It’s been home for a long time,” Rhule said. “This is a special, special kind of full-circle moment for us.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2023; Bronx, NY, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) celebrates his touchdown against Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter with Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Isaiah Washington (14) at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers takes down Miami to capture Pinstripe Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kyle Monangai rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown, Gavin Wimsatt added two short scoring runs and Rutgers rallied in the second half to top Miami 31-24 Thursday in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

Monangai ripped off a 40-yard run to the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter that set up Wimsatt’s second 1-yard touchdown sneak with 11:51 remaining in the game, increasing the Scarlet Knights’ advantage to 28-17.

Wimsatt completed 7 of 15 passes for 84 yards for Rutgers (7-6), which beat the Hurricanes for the first time in 12 meetings, dating back to the schools’ time in the Big East Conference. It marked Rutgers’ first bowl victory since 2014.

Miami (7-6) took its only lead with 10:33 left in the third quarter on Jacurri Brown’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Restrepo. But the Scarlet Knights regained the lead with 5:06 left in the period when Timmy Ward recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.

Brown was 20-of-31 for 181 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first start. He also ran for two touchdowns, including a 1-yard run with 27 seconds left that got the Hurricanes within seven points.

Miami recovered an onside kick but was stopped on downs at the Rutgers’ 47-yard line with seven seconds remaining.

Rutgers dominated the first quarter and a half behind a physical ground game coupled with a stifling defense. The Scarlet Knights chewed up the game’s first 8:06 with a 75-yard drive that Wimsatt capped with a 1-yard sneak.

Rutgers made it 14-0 at the 7:37 mark of the second quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by Monangai. Rutgers cashed in a 42-yard field, set up after Abram Wright intercepted Brown.

At that point, Miami, which was outgained 115-5 in the first quarter, decided to join the game.

With the help of consecutive personal fouls on the Scarlet Knights’ Aaron Lewis, the Hurricanes got on the board with Brown’s 7-yard scoring jaunt. Then they drove 73 yards inside the final minute to set up a 35-yard field goal by Andres Borregales as time expired, drawing within 14-10 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Jalen Rivers (64) sets up to block in the second half against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lewis-USA TODAY Sports

Pinstripe Bowl: Miami looking to end bowl-win drought at Rutgers’ expense

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For Miami offensive lineman Jalen Rivers, a win in Thursday’s Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers at Yankee Stadium in New York would be important.

“We haven’t won a bowl game in a minute,” he said. “I don’t know when that was, but it’s been a minute. It’s important to just change that trajectory of us not winning bowl games. This will be an important step in the right direction, and it’s a step in the right direction heading into next year as well.

“So we can showcase what we have and what we put on film right now so we can have a better opportunity, a better confidence going into next year.”

The Hurricanes’ last bowl victory was Dec. 28, 2016, against West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

This season’s squad got off to a great start by winning all four of its nonconference games and earning a spot in the AP poll, but it stumbled early and often in Atlantic Coast Conference action. The lowlight was an October loss to Georgia Tech where Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal’s strategic play-calling error gave the Yellow Jackets the ball back and a last chance to win. Georgia Tech completed the game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds.

Miami (7-5) wasn’t far from 10 wins in the regular season. It lost three conference games by a single score, including a 27-20 decision on Nov. 11 at unbeaten Florida State. But the Hurricanes’ underwhelming 3-4 conference record means all the headlines in South Florida are about Miami’s top-rated recruiting class in the ACC.

However, Cristobal said the opportunity to play in New York and at a historic venue should provide the necessary motivation for a good performance.

“For our players, it’s such a different and new experience,” he said. “They obviously know the legendary status of where we’ll be playing at and the caliber of the great opponent we have in Rutgers. … For them, a great experience, another opportunity to play game number 13.”

That opportunity won’t be shared by quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who hit the transfer portal for Wisconsin after throwing for 2,703 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this year.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is excited about the idea of playing in New York as well.

“There’s no place like New York around the Christmas holiday,” Schiano said. “Then throw in the great part of playing in such a great bowl game. It doesn’t get a lot better than that.”

Much like the Hurricanes, the Scarlet Knights (6-6) have a chance to end an up-and-down season on a high note. They opened up 6-2 but then crumbled in November, losing four straight Big Ten games by an average of 20 points.

But Rutgers is still playing just its second bowl game in nine years, and Schiano doesn’t plan on changing his approach now or any time soon. His Scarlet Knights teams are known for being physical, a mentality that starts with intense practices.

“I don’t want guys that think they are coming to one thing and all of a sudden they show up and it’s something totally different,” Schiano said. “We are transparent with it.”

Miami has won all 11 meetings between the teams. They have not met since 2003, when the Hurricanes beat Rutgers 34-10.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) warms up before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota, Syracuse looking to run in Pinstripe Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Minnesota and Syracuse feature standout running backs in Mohamed Ibrahim and Sean Tucker but only one star will actually play in Yankee Stadium.

Ibrahim will attempt to complete his remarkable comeback from a ruptured Achilles on Thursday when his Golden Gophers make their first appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl against the Orange, who hope another running back can compensate for Tucker’s absence.

Last season, Ibrahim was injured in the opening game against Ohio State after rushing for 1,076 yards in seven games during the 2020 season. This year, he was the nation’s fourth-leading rusher with 1,594 yards and a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. His 19 rushing touchdowns were tied for second in the nation.

“I know what he’s going to bring,” Syracuse linebacker Marlowe Wax said. “He’s tough. … He has a different type of vision. He sees different holes, cutbacks. I know everybody is going to get to the ball, all 11, because we know he can break one any time. It’s going to be a great challenge.”

Minnesota (8-4) has won four of its past five games since an October lull. Ibrahim posted 10 100-yard games this season, including a 263-yard performance against Iowa, 178 against Northwestern and 202 against Colorado.

“He’s meant everything to the program, everything to me,” Minnesota offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca said. “He’s the best back I’ve ever coached and been around. I feel lucky to have been around him.

While Minnesota was ranked 11th nationally in rushing yards per game (218.2), its 185.9 passing yards per game were 114th as the Golden Gophers used three quarterbacks — Tanner Morgan, Athan Kaliakmanis and Cole Kramer. Morgan has not played since Nov. 5 against Nebraska when he sustained an upper-body injury.

As for Syracuse (7-5), Tucker will watch his teammates from the sidelines after declaring for the draft on Dec. 17. His 3,182 rushing yards were the third most in school history behind Walter Reyes (3,424) and Joe Morris (4,299).

This season Tucker’s 1,060 rushing yards were third in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and he had 11 of his 27 career rushing TDs to help Syracuse reach its first bowl game since 2018.

Without Tucker, Syracuse’s top rushers were quarterback Garrett Shrader (406 yards) and LeQuint Allen, who gained 112 of his 180 yards against Wagner on Oct. 1.

The Orange face a Minnesota defense that allowed the second-fewest points (13.3) in the Big Ten and ranked 15th nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (105.8).

“They’re a really good defense,” Syracuse offensive coordinator Jason Beck said. “Their 4-2-5 structure, really aggressive, really physical. They have really good players. It’s going to be a great matchup for us to be able to put our guys in successful situations, to be able to move the ball and score points.

The Orange won their first six games and were ranked No. 14 before a five-game losing streak but cemented their bowl appearance by scoring 26 straight points in a 32-23 win at Boston College on Nov. 26.

Minnesota has won three of five all-time meetings with Syracuse, who won the most recent tilt 21-17 in the 2013 Texas Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Maryland Terrapins punt returner Tarheeb Still (12) returns a punt for a touchdown during the first half during the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland wallops Virginia Tech in Pinstripe Bowl

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Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns as Maryland handily routed Virginia Tech 54-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Tagovailoa completed 20 of 24 passes for a season-best 83.3 completion percentage. Tagovailoa also rushed four times for 42 yards, as the Terrapins (7-6) won their first bowl game since 2010.

For Virginia Tech (6-7), the loss brought an end to J.C. Price’s short tenure as interim head coach. Former Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry is set to take the reins after the Hokies dismissed Justin Fuente last month.

The Terrapins outgained Virginia Tech 481 to 259. Daryl Jones caught four passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns for Maryland.

The Terps began the scoring with a bang in the first quarter, as Tarheeb Still ran a punt back 92 yards for the game’s first touchdown. It was the first career touchdown for the sophomore defensive back.
Virginia Tech punted five more times in the contest, but avoided kicking to Still, as he returned just one more punt for 2 yards.

Virginia Tech got on the board near the start of the second quarter with a 36-yard field goal from John Parker Romo, but Maryland struck back quickly on its next possession, as Tagovailoa found Jones for a 70-yard touchdown strike with 9:13 left in the half.

Maryland’s Antwaine Littleton and Virginia Tech’s Connor Blumrick then exchanged short rushing touchdowns, and the Terps went ahead 24-10 at halftime on a 44-yard field goal from Joseph Petrino.

Virginia Tech never scored again as Maryland pulled away with 30 second-half points.

Blumrick finished with 110 yards passing and 11 yards rushing.

Maryland piled up 207 rushing yards on 28 carries. In addition to Littleton, Colby McDonald and Roman Hemby also scored rushing touchdowns.

The Terps’ defense was led by Ruben Hyppolite II, who racked up 12 tackles. Nick Cross and Demeioun Robinson each tallied sacks on the Hokies’ Blumrick and Tahj Bullock.

–Field Level Media

Nov 27, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Maryland Terrapins tight end Corey Dyches (84) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland, Virginia Tech rekindle rivalry at Pinstripe Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Two former Atlantic Coast Conference foes will face off for the first time since 2013 in the Pinstripe Bowl on Wednesday, as Maryland takes on Virginia Tech at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Maryland (6-6) left the ACC for the Big Ten after the 2013 season and hasn’t seen the Hokies (6-6) since. The Terps are 16-15 all-time against Virginia Tech.

This is the first time Maryland has gone to a bowl game since 2016. The Terps beat Rutgers 40-16 in their regular-season finale to reach .500 and become bowl-eligible. Maryland hasn’t won a bowl game since the 2010 Military Bowl.

As he has done all season, quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa led Maryland’s offense in that win over the Scarlet Knights, completing 21 of 30 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Tagovailoa finished the season with 24 scores through the air and led the Big Ten in pass completions with 308. He also set three program passing records at Maryland.

“It is definitely going to be a challenge to defend the pass against them,” Virginia Tech’s Chamarri Conner said. “But, as a defensive back, that’s what we look forward to. It will be exciting to see if we can stop them.”

For third-year Maryland coach Mike Locksley, he’s putting extra value on the bonus practices the Terps are getting. He’ll aim to use those to prepare for next season.

“The teams that typically go to bowls have a better chance next year to go because of how they’re able to develop with these extra practices,” Locksley said. “We cannot put a price tag on how valuable these are for us.”

The bowl game marks a period of transition for Virginia Tech. Former coach Justin Fuente was fired in November after a 5-5 start in his sixth season. Two weeks later, the Hokies announced the hiring of Brent Pry, Penn State’s former defensive coordinator who was an assistant at Virginia Tech early in his career.

But leading the Hokies in this game will be interim coach J.C. Price, a Virginia Tech graduate who coached the Hokies’ defensive line this past season. He finished the regular season 1-1, getting Virginia Tech bowl-eligible for the 34th time by beating rival Virginia in the regular season finale.

Price will be retained as the coaching staff transitions to Pry’s new regime, and he has focused on development in his practices leading up to the game.

“We wanted to make sure these guys enjoy the bowl experience. It is (a) reward,” Price said. “So, we basically cut things down. We had limited individual time. But I also expressed to them that there’s a certain amount of work you need to put in to win the game. And we have done that.”

The Hokies will be a bit shorthanded in the bowl game. Quarterback Braxton Burmeister has entered the transfer portal after starting in all 12 games for Virginia Tech this season. Also opting out of playing in the bowl for Virginia Tech is defensive end Amare Barno and wide receiver Tre Turner.

Fellow pass-catcher Tayvion Robinson has also entered the transfer portal, leaving the Hokies a bit thin in offensive weapons against Maryland, which put up 437.4 yards of total offense per-game this season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2018; Bronx, NY, USA; General view of the 2018 Pinstripe Bowl logo prior to the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Wisconsin Badgers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Pinstripe Bowl returns to Yankee Stadium in December

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New Era Pinstripe Bowl returns to Yankee Stadium this December after being canceled last season due to COVID-19 considerations.

The Dec. 29 contest at the Bronx ballpark will be the 11th edition of the bowl and the seventh straight time it will feature teams from the Big Ten and ACC conferences.

“We are excited to welcome back college football and the pageantry of Bowl Season to Yankee Stadium in 2021,” said Pinstripe Bowl executive director Mark Holtzman in a news release on Thursday. “In a little more than a decade, the New Era Pinstripe Bowl has become a fixture on the New York sports landscape and a premier destination bowl for Big Ten and ACC Conference schools.

“We are proud to have had a special atmosphere every year, which is a direct result of the participating schools and their alumni, the competitiveness of the matchups, and the one-of-a-kind backdrop provided by New York City during the holiday season. For both fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium and the national audience tuning in, we look forward to continuing this rousing tradition on December 29.”

The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

“We are excited to welcome college football back to Yankee Stadium this December,” said New Era vice president Josh Feine. “The New Era Pinstripe Bowl is a New York City holiday tradition, and we are thrilled to once again to partner with the New York Yankees on the 11th annual edition of the game.”

Michigan State defeated Wake Forest, 27-21, in the most recent Pinstripe Bowl in 2019.

–Field Level Media