Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock gets doused after the Huskies defeated Arkansas State.

Amid constant change, NIU, Fresno State enjoy tradition at Potato Bowl

For roughly three hours Monday afternoon, the dizzying college football carousel will slow long enough for Northern Illinois (7-5) and Fresno State (6-6) to battle for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

Neither school will have its starting quarterback (and other quality players) due to the transfer portal. Neither school is expected to belong to its current conference by July 2026 as Fresno State already has committed to the Pac-12 while NIU is rumored to be weighing a move to the Mountain West.

And, in Fresno State’s case, the program’s official head coach isn’t the guy who’s steering the ship in Boise. Interim boss Tim Skipper, who took over in July when Jeff Tedford had to step down for health reasons, hands over the reins after the bowl game to Southern California associate head coach Matt Entz, who was hired Dec. 4 to take over the program.

Nonetheless, Monday’s game allows for a bit of college tradition to shine through. Specifically, a bunch of seniors getting to end their careers on a bowl trip with their teammates. The Huskies, for example, have a school-record 30 seniors playing on Boise’s unique blue turf for their final game.

“You have to adjust and adapt to the new landscape of college football and do the best you can,” Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock told Field Level Media. “But I’m glad we didn’t have to cancel a game like Marshall — that we can go out there and experience this game with our seniors and let them go out there and have one last hurrah.”

The Huskies, of course, already have secured one lifetime memory this season: their 16-14 victory on Sept. 7 at fifth-ranked Notre Dame. But Ethan Hampton, the quarterback who guided that upset with 198 passing yards and one touchdown, no longer runs the show for NIU. He entered the transfer portal and committed to Wake Forest — only to decommit Monday when head coach Dave Clawson retired. He’s now headed to Illinois.

In Hampton’s stead, redshirt freshman Josh Holst will get his second start. In his first start, Holst completed 22 of 46 passes for 210 yards and rushed 14 times for 48 yards in a 13-6 loss vs. MAC rival Toledo.

“He’s really made a tremendous jump over the last three weeks from a preparation standout to a mentality standpoint and with his approach,” Hammock said. “I’m excited to watch him go out and play. You can do a little bit more (with Holst) because he does have the ability to hurt you with his legs.”

Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene led the Mountain West with 2,892 passing yards as he clicked on 70.5 percent of his passes. Alas, Keene is one of 14 Bulldogs who hit the transfer portal and won’t play Monday.

Through it all, Fresno State will embrace its spot in a bowl game.

“We’ve been through a lot of adversity, but we just kept on swinging,” Skipper said, according to the Fresno State student-run newspaper The Collegian, after the Bulldogs became bowl eligible.

Fresno State has chosen to keep Northern Illinois guessing by listing sophomore Joshua Wood and freshman Jayden Mandal as co-starters on the depth chart. Wood seems more likely because, while he attempted just five passes, he rushed 26 times for 86 yards and five scores as the Bulldogs’ change-of-pace quarterback in the Wildcat formation.

“It’s a challenge, right?” Hammock said. “It’s almost like a first-game-of-the-year mentality. You have an idea of what they want to do schematically — and then you’ll figure out the personnel once you get out there.”

–Field Level Media

Utah State Aggies quarterback Levi Williams knows his way around the Potato Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Weekend bowl games: Preview, picks and predictions

There are few experiences that approach the anxious energy of eagerly awaiting the final leg to hit on a plus-money, three-team parlay, especially when the final leg is a double-digit favorite teased to the moneyline.

The only hurdles to clear before enjoying the view of that final leg are the first two legs.

College bowl season is loaded with value opportunities. Given the impact of the transfer portal, many of those develop just days before kickoff.

We are focused on three bowl games this week, playing them together for a nice potential holiday bonus.

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL

Utah State Aggies vs. Georgia State Panthers

Date, time: Saturday, Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m. ET
Site: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
The line: Utah State -2.5, total 59.5

Utah State is a middling college football team as its 6-6 record (4-4 in the Mountain West Conference) would indicate. But the Aggies aren’t going to be adversely affected by the transfer portal.

Georgia State (6-6, 3-5 in the Sun Belt Conference) is less than a middling team – as its five-game losing streak would indicate. And the Panthers can’t get a break.

The transfer portal consumed a good chunk of the offense, which relied heavily on its ground-game success. Top rusher Marcus Carroll, right tackle Montavious Cunningham and top receiver Robert Lewis won’t play. And the defense lost starting cornerback Bryquice Brown.

Utah State has the familiarity card to play, as well. Coach Blake Anderson is 5-1 when facing Georgia State, and starting quarterback Levi Williams was a standout in the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl when playing for Wyoming.

Williams ran for more than 200 yards and four TDs and passed for another in that 52-38 win against Kent State.

Top target Jalen Royals led the FBS with seven touchdown receptions of 50+ yards.

The Aggies defense is anchored by graduate senior linebacker MJ Tafisi Jr., whose 131 tackles (10.9 per game) rank No. 8 in the country.

LAS VEGAS BOWL

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Utah Utes

Date, time: Saturday, Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m. ET
Site: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
The line: Utah -6.5, total 41.5

These teams appear headed in opposite directions, with Northwestern rallying in the wake of a coaching change and Utah cursing the football gods.

The Utes (5-4, 8-4 Pac-12) dropped three of their final five games and are the more affected of the teams with regard to the transfer portal.

The Wildcats (5-4, 7-5 Big Ten) capped their season with victories at Wisconsin, at home against Purdue and at Illinois.

This matchup has all the potential to be messy – and likely within two touchdowns.

Bryson Barnes, who threw for 1,517 yards on 134 completions, 12 touchdown passes and nine interceptions, would need to play a virtually flawless game to ignite a blowout. His ESPN QB rating was 123.6.

Northwestern’s Ben Bryant completed 150 throws for 1,585 yards and had 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions with a rating (per ESPN) of 126.5.

With comparable QBs and modest offenses, look for a relatively tight game.

HAWAI’I BOWL

San Jose State Spartans vs. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Date, time: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET
Site: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu
The line: San Jose -10.5, total 52.5

Both teams finished the regular season 7-5, but the Spartans closed with a rush following a 1-5 start and tied for first in the Mountain West Conference.

The Chanticleers and long-time (40 starts) quarterback Grayson McCall were 7-3 before McCall was hurt and they dropped their final two games.

McCall won’t play Saturday, either, having entered the transfer portal.

Coastal Carolina must fly 5,000 miles for this “neutral site” matchup against San Jose State, which has played – and won – in Hawai’i three times in the past four years.

San Jose State opened as a 7.5-point favorite and has seen plenty of public support in the days since.

Spartans quarterback Chevan Cordeiro probably feels this is somewhat of a home game, having played there in high school and at the University of Hawai’i.

Running back Kairee Robinson should be able to find plenty of room to run against the Chanticleers’ shaky rush defense.

Cordeiro threw 19 touchdown passes and only four interceptions while Robinson scored 18 TDs to anchor a ground game that exceeded 200 yards in five of San Jose State’s final six games this season.

Robinson rolled up 200 yards by himself in a Nov. 11 victory over Fresno State.

Barring a big turnover disparity, this one falls into the late-night comfort zone – just win the game outright, Spartans!

The bet, with a +150 payout (DraftKings): Three-team teaser parlay Utah State +3.5, Northwestern +12, San Jose State moneyline of -380.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2022; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Utah State Aggies quarterback Levi Williams (16) can't escape the grasp of a Colorado State Rams defender at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Levi Williams, Utah State back to Boise, geared up for Georgia State

Levi Williams gets a second chance to shine at the Potato Bowl.

Utah State’s backup quarterback draws the start Saturday in Boise, Idaho, where the Aggies meet slumping Georgia State with Williams returning to the same game where he was awarded Most Valuable Player honors in 2021.

Williams piloted Wyoming to a 52-38 win over Kent State, running for 200 yards and scoring four touchdowns in that game. This year, he has the chance to lead Utah State (6-6) to a winning season and perhaps enjoy another big game while doing it.

“Bring me back to the Potato Bowl, I guess,” Williams said. “But I’m super blessed and super humbled. I love this team and we’re going to try to go up there and get a nice win to end the season.”

Williams is a big reason Utah State is here, running for three scores and throwing for two more on Nov. 26 in a 44-41 double overtime win at New Mexico. He accounted for 351 total yards, rushing for 153 on 25 carries and completing 16 of 27 attempts for 198 yards.

His 13-yard touchdown run was the decisive score that made the Aggies bowl-eligible.

“Levi did a great job at New Mexico,” said Utah State coach Blake Anderson. “I thought he did a phenomenal job coming in that last week, preparing the right way and going out playing with some poise and leadership.”

Williams is actually the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart but moved up the ladder with Cooper Legas (1,815 yards, 19 TD passes) and McCae Hillstead (1,005 yards, 10 TDs) shelved by injuries. The Aggies were 3-5 after a 42-21 loss at San Jose State Oct. 21 but won three of their four games in November, losing only to Mountain West Conference champion Boise State.

Georgia State (6-6) enters with little positive traction from the end of the regular season. The Panthers limp into bowl season with a five-game losing streak, blowing a 21-0 halftime lead in their regular-season finale on Nov. 26 in a bitter 25-24 loss at Old Dominion.

After that loss came two others when leading rusher Marcus Carroll and top receiver Robert Lewis hit the transfer portal and surfaced quickly at Southeastern Conference programs; Carroll chose Missouri and Lewis went to Auburn.

Carroll rushed for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and more than 100 yards per game. Lewis caught 70 passes for 881 yards and seven scores. That will be a lot of production to make up for Georgia State.

They are two of a whopping 13 players to hit the portal. Included are right tackle Montavious Cunningham (Virginia Tech) and cornerback Bryquice Brown (Boston College). One who stuck around is quarterback Darren Grainger, who threw for 2,368 yards with 17 touchdowns while adding 625 yards and eight scores on the ground.

“This is an opportunity for our football team to finish the season the right way,” said Panthers coach Shawn Elliott.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2020; Boise, Idaho, USA; Nevada Wolf Pack wide receiver Justin Lockhart (17) catches a touchdown pass during the first half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl versus the Tulane Green Wave  at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

Strong’s 5 TDs tosses lead Nevada over Tulane in Potato Bowl

Carson Strong threw five touchdown passes and Nevada compiled eight sacks and three interceptions in a 38-27 win over Tulane on Tuesday in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, Idaho.

Strong, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, completed 22 of 28 passes for 271 yards with no interceptions.

The Wolf Pack were led on the ground by Devonte Lee, who gained 105 yards on 18 carries. Toa Taua produced 102 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Taua also caught six passes for 77 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown.

Nevada (7-2) finished with 209 rushing yards.

The Wolf Pack achieved their seventh bowl win in program history, including three in their past four attempts.

Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt, who entered the game with only five interceptions on the year, was picked off three times, leading to two Nevada touchdowns. Pratt completed 12 of 25 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

Tulane (6-6) was unsuccessful in its attempt to achieve three bowl victories in the past three seasons.

Trevor Price, Lawson Hall and Tristan Nichols each had two sacks for Nevada.

Nevada led 26-7 at halftime with a time-of-possession edge of 20:16 to 9:44 after tallying 334 yards in total offense with 14 first downs.

Tulane had the first possession of the second half and drove 75 yards for a touchdown to pull within 13 points. The 12-play drive, which culminated on a 6-yard touchdown by Pratt, took 4:57.

At the end of Nevada’s ensuing possession, Tulane’s Jha’Quan Jackson returned a punt 27 yards to the Wolf Pack’s 45. Four plays later, Pratt connected with Jackson for 28 yards with 6:30 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 26-20.

Senior E.J. Muhammad recorded his first career interception, Pratt’s third of the game, to end the Green Wave’s next possession. Muhammad returned the ball 32 yards to the Green Wave 20.

Strong then completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Cole Turner, and the Wolf Pack led 32-20 with 13:22 left in the fourth quarter after the two-point conversion pass failed.

The lead grew to 38-20 on Strong’s 21-yard pass to Jamaal Bell with 4:19 left.

Nevada’s halftime lead was built behind three touchdown passes by Strong and 76 rushing yards by Taua, who scored on a run and also a pass from Strong.

–Field Level Media

Jan 3, 2020; Boise, Idaho, USA; Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Carson Strong (12) throws a pass during the first half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against the Ohio Bobcats  at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

Nevada takes another slice at Potato Bowl, Tulane

Nevada is back in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, but the Wolf Pack’s opponent offers something unfamiliar.

Tulane and Nevada meet for just the second time in 28 years when they face off Tuesday in Boise, Idaho.

No fans will be in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The only meeting between the schools was in 1992 at the Superdome in New Orleans with Tulane winning 34-17.

Nevada (6-2) fell to San Jose State 30-20 on Dec. 11 with the chance to play in the Mountain West championship game on the line. The Wolf Pack started the year 5-0 before losing two of their last three games.

The Wolf Pack lost to Ohio in last year’s Potato Bowl. Nevada is 0-3 in the game all-time including losses to Miami (2006) and Maryland (2008).

Tulane (6-5) finished 3-5 in the American Athletic Conference but won four of its last five games in the regular season. The Green Wave feature a strong running game (217.7 yards per game) and an offense that averages 35 points per game.

“I am so proud of everyone in our program that have dedicated themselves all season to allow our team the opportunity to compete in a bowl game,” Tulane coach Willie Fritz said. “Everyone from the players to the coaches to the staff have played a key role in getting our team to this point.”

Nevada features quarterback Carson Strong, a sophomore who was selected the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year.

He completed 227 of 327 passes for 2,587 yards, 22 touchdowns with only four interceptions during a regular season shortened by the pandemic. He led the Mountain West in completions, completion percentage, TDs, passing yards and points responsible for. He was second in yards per game, passing efficiency and total offense.

“I just think he’s got a unique work ethic,” Nevada coach Jay Norvell said. “And we’ve really poured a lot of preparation and development into that kid, and he’s accepted it. One of the things you have to have to be a good quarterback in our system is you have to have a real appetite to want to learn. Carson has that.”

Joining Strong on the All-Mountain West first team were wide receiver Romeo Doubs, tight end Cole Turner and placekicker Brandon Talton.

Tulane’s efficient running game was bolstered by a pair of All-AAC second-team offensive linemen in guard Corey Dublin and tackle Sincere Haynesworth.

–Field Level Media