College football bowl game roundup: Penn State ends season with win over Clemson

Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for a career-high 262 yards and two TDs, including a 73-yard strike to Trebor Pena early in the fourth quarter, and Penn State beat Clemson 22-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl. In his seventh start since Penn State lost Drew Allar to an injury, Grunkemeyer completed 23 of 34 passes, setting career bests for completions and attempts. His best throw was to Pena, who caught the ball at the Penn State 44, ran by Clemson safety Ricardo Jones and rumbled untouched down the left side for a 15-3 lead with 12:51 left in the fourth.

East Carolina 23, Pittsburgh 17:

Chaston Ditta threw two second-half touchdown passes, and East Carolina overcame an inadvertent whistle that negated a long touchdown in a 23-17 victory over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl. Marlon Gunn Jr.’s touchdown was called back because of the whistle, and two plays later, Ditta fumbled on a sack by Pitt’s Rasheem Biles, who recovered the ball and returned it 23 yards to the end zone to give the Panthers a 14-10 lead. The Pirates rebounded quickly when Ditta threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Smith, and ECU led the rest of the way.

Army 41, UConn 16:

Cade Hellums accounted for three touchdowns, and Godspower Nwawuihe rushed for two in a 41-16 Army win over UConn in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. Nwawuihe gave the Black Knights (7-6) their first lead of the day with 3:04 left in the second quarter, scampering for a 43-yard touchdown run. It’s the second bowl win in as many years for Army under head coach Jeff Monken, and the sixth out of seven appearances in his 12-year tenure.

No. 12 BYU 25, No. 24 Georgia Tech 21:

Jovesa Damuni scored on a 4-yard run with two minutes remaining and No. 12 BYU rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half for a 25-21 win over No. 24 Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Damuni’s scoring run capped a nine-play, 70 drive by the Cougars (12-2), who were led by freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Bachmeier passed for 57 yards in the drive. Bachmeier was 27 for 38 passing for 325 yards with a touchdown and an interception as the Cougars piled up 426 total yards. It was the freshman’s third 300-yard passing game of the season. Georgia Tech’s Haynes King was 23 for 41 passing for 254 yards, two touchdowns and the game-ending interception.

Fresno State 18, Miami (Ohio) 3:

E.J. Warner threw for 214 yards and a touchdown, Dylan Lynch kicked four field goals and Fresno State defeated Miami of Ohio 18-3 in the Arizona Bowl. On defense Fresno State kept Miami out of the red zone the whole game, except for the RedHawks’ opening possession when they reached the 15-yard line before kicking a field goal. The Bulldogs, one of 15 teams in FBS to keep their opponents under an average of 300 yards per game, allowed 192 yards. Fresno State, playing in its fifth consecutive bowl game, got the win for first-year coach Matt Entz. Miami, which also played in its fifth straight bowl game, lost in a repeat appearance in the Arizona Bowl. The RedHawks defeated Colorado State 43-17 last year.

No. 23 North Texas 49, San Diego State 47:

Caleb Hawkins ran for two touchdowns and caught a scoring pass, Ashton Gray added a pair of rushing touchdowns and Cameron Dormer had two scoring catches as No. 23 North Texas beat San Diego State 49-47 in the New Mexico Bowl. Hawkins carried 30 times and gained 197 yards, scoring on runs of 9 and and 3 yards, along with a 23-yard TD reception. Gray ran for 152 yards on 16 rushes. Dormer had six receptions for 66 yards, including TD catches of 1 and 31 yards. North Texas (12-2) quarterback Drew Mestemaker was 27 of 47 passing for 250 yards and three TDs.

No. 20 Virginia 13, No. 25 Missouri 7:

Harrison Waylee ran for a touchdown, Chandler Morris threw for 198 yards and No. 20 Virginia edged 25th-ranked Missouri 13-7 in the Gator Bowl. The Cavaliers bounced back from a crushing loss to Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game — an overtime stunner that cost them a spot in the College Football Playoff — and reached 11 wins for the first time in the program’s 122 years. Missouri All-American Ahmad Hardy ran 15 times for 89 yards. He broke Missouri’s single-season school record set by Cody Schrader (1,627 yards) in 2023 but didn’t do enough to spark Missouri’s offense.