GLENDALE, Ariz. — No more BCS losing streak for the Oklahoma Sooners. They busted it up in a big way.
Landry Jones threw for a school bowl-record 429 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 9 Oklahoma ended a five-game BCS bowl losing streak with a 48-20 win over Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday night.
Oklahoma (12-2) carried plenty of BCS baggage after losing three straight title games and two Fiesta Bowls. The Sooners avoided the setback six-pack behind Jones and Ryan Broyles, who had team records of 13 catches and 170 yards to go with the sealing touchdown.
“Coming out here and winning a bowl game, especially a BCS bowl with our past and losing so many of them, to win one for the program, for Coach (Bob) Stoops and all those guys, it’s just a great feeling right now,” Jones said. “It motivated us. We came into the same situation a couple of times and came out with some losses, and to win a game after those, it’s just a great feeling.”
Connecticut (8-5) at least kept close for a while in its first BCS bowl.
The hopeful Huskies steadied themselves after an initial barrage from Oklahoma and avoided a complete New Year’s Day desert disaster with hard-nosed running by Jordan Todman and a handful of big plays.
Todman, who declared for the NFL draft after the game, had 121 yards on 32 carries, and Robbie Frey returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, helping UConn provide at least a glimmer of hope that it’s not just a basketball school anymore.
“Our kids did a great job and now know what to strive for so they can do it each and every year,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said.
Connecticut 0 10 10 0 — 20
Oklahoma 14 6 14 14 — 48
First quarter: Okl — Hanna 8 pass from L.Jones (Stevens kick), 10:09. Okl — Murray 3 run (Stevens kick), :24. Second quarter: Conn — Gratz 46 interception return (Teggart kick), 12:58. Okl — FG Stevens 41, 9:57. Okl — FG Stevens 24, 2:05. Conn — FG Teggart 37, :26. Third quarter: Okl — Kenney 59 pass from L.Jones (Stevens kick), 10:55. Okl — Fleming 55 interception return (Stevens kick), 9:44. Conn — Frey 95 kickoff return (Teggart kick), 9:30. Conn — FG Teggart 38, 5:04. Fourth quarter: Okl — Broyles 5 pass from L.Jones (Stevens kick), 7:49. Okl — Jefferson 22 interception return (Stevens kick), 2:40. A — 67,232. Conn Okl
First downs 19 27
Rushes-yards 41-112 30-95
Passing 223 429
Comp-att-int 19-39-2 34-50-1
Return yards 45 169
Punts-avg. 7-46.9 4-40.8
Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-1
Penalties-yards 3-25 1-3
Time of possession 31:49 28:11
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Connecticut, Todman 32-121, Frey 5-8, Frazer 4-(minus 17). Oklahoma, Murray 25-93, Franks 1-4, Madu 1-3, Team 2-(minus 2), L.Jones 1-(minus 3).
PASSING — Connecticut, Frazer 19-39-2-223. Oklahoma, L.Jones 34-49-1-429, Nimmo 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — Connecticut, K.Moore 4-62, Griffin 4-48, Smith 4-20, Sherman 3-63, I.Moore 2-27, Todman 1-3, Frey 1-0. Oklahoma, Broyles 13-170, Stills 8-73, Kenney 7-154, Franks 3-25, Murray 2-(minus 1), Hanna 1-8.
