NEW YORK — The first Pinstripe Bowl turned into a home run derby, with Syracuse and Kansas State trading big plays and touchdowns in one of the most exciting games of this postseason.
A little too much enthusiasm, though, cost the Wildcats. Delone Carter ran for career-high 198 yards and two touchdowns, Marcus Sales caught three long TD passes and Syracuse got some help from a celebration penalty on Kansas State to beat the Wildcats 36-34 on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
Adrian Hilburn slipped a tackle and raced to a 30-yard touchdown catch with 1:13 remaining to pull Kansas State within two. Hilburn saluted the crowd behind the visitor’s dugout and was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, which pushed the two-point conversion attempt back to the 17-yard line.
“I didn’t see it. I heard he just did a salute, which is kind of bogus,” Kansas State quarterback Carson Coffman said. “It’s something you can’t do, we know that. Adrian is our guy, we’re not mad at him for it.”
Coffman overthrew Aubrey Quarles in the end zone and when KSU (7-6) couldn’t convert the onside kick, Syracuse (8-5) only had to take a knee to win a bowl game for the first time since 2001.
N. Carolina 30, Tennessee 27
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Casey Barth kicked a 23-yard field goal in the second overtime to send North Carolina past Tennessee in a Music City Bowl that will be remembered much more for the crazy finish of regulation that even gave the Tar Heels a chance to keep playing.
Barth kicked a 39-yard field goal after officials reviewed what had been the final play of the game and decided to penalize the Tar Heels (8-5) for having “more than 11 men” on the field. The Big Ten officiating crew also announced T.J. Yates had spiked the ball with 1 second left.
That allowed Barth to run out for the field goal that tied it at 20.
Tennessee (6-7) was stunned at the sudden switch that cost the Vols an apparent bowl victory to cap Derek Dooley’s first season. Tyler Bray threw a 25-yard TD in the first overtime, but Quan Sturdivant picked off a pass to end the Vols’ last chance in the second OT.
Army 16, SMU 14
DALLAS — Josh McNary scooped up a fumble and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and Army held on to beat SMU in the Armed Forces Bowl, giving the Black Knights their first winning season since 1996.
Army (7-6) had a 16-0 halftime lead on SMU’s home field, then ran out the final four minutes after Matt Szymanski missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt that would have put the Mustangs ahead.
SMU (7-7) hasn’t had consecutive winning seasons since resuming play in 1989 after receiving the NCAA’s so-called death penalty.
Today’s bowl games
MEINEKE BOWL
Clemson (6-6) vs. South Florida (7-5), 10 a.m. (ESPN)
Line: Clemson by 5 1/2.
Series record: First meeting.
What’s at stake: Clemson QB Kyle Parker tries to leave a winner after a disappointing season. Parker, who sacrificed $800,000 from the Rockies to play one more season of football, has thrown 10 interceptions and was benched in the regular-season finale against South Carolina. Parker will get the start.
Facts and figures: USF first-year coach Skip Holtz returns to the Carolinas, where he guided East Carolina and was also an assistant at South Carolina, Clemson’s top rival.
SUN BOWL
Notre Dame (7-5) vs. Miami (7-5), noon (CBS)
Line: Miami by 2 1/2
Series record: Notre Dame leads 15-7-1.
What’s at stake: Bragging rights in one of college football’s storied but dormant rivalries. The series was huge in the 1980s, with at least one team ranked in the Top 10 in the five most recent meetings.
Facts and figures: Al Golden, hired Dec. 12 as Miami’s new coach, will attend the Sun Bowl but won’t be on the sidelines. Interim coach Jeff Stoutland, who took over after Randy Shannon was fired, will continue to direct the Hurricanes. The Irish are making their 30th bowl appearance. The Sun Bowl marks their 12th different game.
LIBERTY BOWL
Georgia (6-6) vs. UCF (10-3), 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Georgia by 6 1/2
Series record: Georgia 1-0.
What’s at stake: Georgia is trying to win its fourth straight bowl game and finish with a winning record. Central Florida is in its fourth bowl game ever, and the Knights want their first bowl victory to go with their Conference USA title for a program that didn’t start playing football until 1979.
Facts and figures: Georgia is in its 46th bowl all-time and is 26-16-3. The Bulldogs’ 23 seniors are trying to become the second consecutive senior class and third overall to go 4-0 in bowls, joining the 1997-2000 group and 2006-09.
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
South Carolina (9-4) vs. Florida State (9-4), 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: South Carolina by 3.
Series record: Florida State leads 15-3.
What’s at stake: South Carolina is looking for only the second 10-win season in school history and the first since 1984. Florida State is playing for its first 10-win season since 2003 and is trying to give first-year coach Jimbo Fisher his first bowl victory.
Facts and figures: The Chick-fil-A Bowl always matches ACC and SEC teams, but this is the first time the bowl has had the loser of each conference’s championship game. This is the 14th consecutive sellout for the bowl. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is 5-8-1 all-time against Florida State, all as Florida’s coach.
