Stars Clip Blackhawks In OT Shootout
(Dallas, TX) — Alexander Radulov and Tyler Seguin converted attempts in the overtime shootout to lift the Stars past the Blackhawks 3-2 in Dallas. Radulov and Radek Faksa found the back of the net in regulation for the Stars. Ben Bishop made 32 saves and denied both Chicago shootout attempts in the winning effort. Dallas has won four straight and six-of-seven overall. Cody Franson and Brandon Saad lit the lamp for the Hawks. Anton Forsberg made 33 saves in the tough luck loss. Chicago is on a three-game slide.
UCF Holds Off Memphis In Double-OT, Wins AAC Title
(Orlando, FL) — Tre Neal intercepted Riley Ferguson’s pass in double-overtime to give UCF a 62-55 win over Memphis in the AAC Championship Game in Orlando. McKenzie Milton threw for 494 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions for the Knights, and added 64 yards and a score on the ground. Adrian Killins Junior and Otis Anderson rushed for touchdowns in overtime as UCF finished the season a perfect 12-and-0. Riley Ferguson tossed four touchdowns for the Tigers, including three to Anthony Miller. Memphis failed to avenge its only loss of the season and dropped to 10-and-2.
Oklahoma Bakes TCU, Wins Big 12 Title
(Arlington, TX) — Baker Mayfield fired four touchdowns for third-ranked Oklahoma in a 41-17 win over number-11 TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Caleb Kelly returned a fumble 18 yards for a score for the game’s first touchdown and the Sooners led 17-0 after the first quarter. TCU trimmed the lead to seven by halftime, but Mayfield threw touchdown passes of 55 and 52 yards in the first five minutes of the second half to put the game out of reach. The Sooners improved to 12-and-1 and likely clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff. Kenny Hill threw for 234 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Horned Frogs, who fell to 10-and-3.
Georgia Fights Off Auburn, Wins SEC Championship
(Atlanta, GA) — D’Andre Swift’s 64-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach as sixth-ranked Georgia knocked off number-two Auburn, 28-7, to win the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. True freshman quarterback Jake Fromm threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns for the ‘Dawgs, who improved to 12-and-1 and likely locked up a spot in the College Football Playoff. Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson finished with 44 yards and lost a fumble. Jarrett Stidham threw a touchdown and but took a strip-sack as the Tigers fell to 10-and-3.
Ohio State Holds Off Wisconsin For Big Ten Title
(Indianapolis, IN) — J.T. Barrett threw two touchdowns and ran for a third as eighth-ranked Ohio State held off number-four Wisconsin 27-21 in the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Terry McLaurin caught an 84-yard touchdown from Barrett to start the scoring in the first quarter. J.K. Dobbins carried the ball 17 times for 174 yards in the winning effort. Damon Webb’s interception late in the fourth quarter sealed the game as the Buckeyes took home the conference title and improved to 11-and-2. Badgers signal-caller Alex Hornibrook completed less than 50-percent of his passes and tossed two picks. Wisconsin fell to 12-and-1 and will likely drop out of the College Football Playoff.
Clemson Crushes Miami, Wins ACC Title
(Charlotte, NC) — Top-ranked Clemson won its third consecutive ACC Championship by crushing Miami 38-3 in Charlotte. The Tigers deserve a turnover chain after intercepting two passes and forcing a fumble. Kelly Bryant threw for 252 yards and a score for the Tigers, and also punched in one of their four rushing touchdowns. Clemson improved to 12-and-1 and will advance to the College Football Playoff for the third straight season. The Hurricanes fell to 10-and-2.
Boise State Rallies To Beat Fresno
(Boise, ID) — Brett Rypien directed a 90-yard fourth quarter touchdown drive to lead Boise State to a 17-14 victory over Fresno State in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game in Boise. Rypien’s 59-yard pass to Cedrick Wilson and a pass interference call in the end zone set up Ryan Wolpin’s winning touchdown run from two yards out. Boise improved to 10-and-3. The Bulldogs failed to get a first down in its final two possessions. Fresno State, which beat the Broncos 28-17 the previous week, dropped to 9-and-4. The Bulldogs are going to a bowl game a year after going 1-and-11.
Xavier Outlasts Cincinnati In Crosstown Shootout
(Cincinnati, OH) — Trevor Bluiett poured in 28 points as number-20 Xavier knocked off ninth-ranked Cincinnati, 89-76, in the Crosstown Classic at the Cintas Center. Bluiett shot five-of-ten from beyond the arc to lead the Musketeers, who have won four of the past five games in the rivalry. Kerem Kanter added 17 points off the bench for 7-and-1 Xavier, which took a 13-point halftime lead and never looked back. Jacob Evans scored a team-high 23 points for the Bearcats, which fell to 7-and-1 after their first loss.
Wichita State Knocks Off Baylor
(Waco, TX) — Number-eight Wichita State ended the game on a 7-0 run as they knocked off 16th-ranked Baylor, 69-62, in Waco. Conor Frankamp started the run with a three-pointer and finished with 17 points. Shaquille Morris added 15 for the Shockers, who improved to 6-and-1. Manu Lecomte led the Bears with 15 points. Baylor shot just 37-percent from the field in its second straight loss.
Tiger Stumbles In Third Round Of Hero World Challenge
(New Providence, Bahamas) — Tiger Woods stumbled to a three-over 75 in the third round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Woods bogeyed five of the first 10 holes and now sits 10-strokes off the lead at four-under par. Charley Hoffman is the leader heading into the final-round at 14-under par. Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth are in a tie for second at minus-nine and Francesco Molinari is in fourth at eight-under. Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama is in a tie for fifth at seven-under with four others. Sunday’s final round tees off at 10:37 a.m. Eastern Time.