Best of the 2006 Bowls

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 11, 2007

Best of the 2006 Bowls

Dec. 19, Poinsettia Bowl,

TCU completely shut down Garrett Wolfe, holding the nation's leading rusher to 28 yards.

Dec. 21, Las Vegas Bowl

Behind senior QB John Beck (375 yards, two TD passes), BYU rolled up 550 yards of offense.

Dec. 22, New Orleans Bowl

Sun Belt Player of the Year Omar Haugabook threw for 217 yards and four TDs and ran for 92 yards and an additional score.

Dec. 23, PapaJohn's.com Bowl

Behind RB Benjamin Williams, South Florida jumped to a 14-0 lead and nabbed its first bowl victory.

Dec. 23, New Mexico Bowl

In the game's biggest play, Matt Castelo caused a fumble at the goal line and Damaja Jones returned the ball to the New Mexico 37.

Dec. 23, Armed Forces Bowl

Eric Weddle ran for a touchdown with over a minute left and picked off a pass to end the game.

Dec. 24, Hawaii Bowl

Hawaii's Colt Brennan broke the NCAA single-season record for touchdowns, throwing five second-half TDs to finish with 58 on the season.

Dec. 26, Motor City Bowl

Just three weeks after losing head coach Brian Kelly to Cincinnati, Central Michigan earned its 10th win of the year.

Dec. 27, Emerald Bowl

FSU senior RB Lorenzo Booker finally lived up to lofty hype, running for 91 yards and two touchdowns while catching five balls for 117 yards.

Dec. 28, Independence Bowl

Sophomore Jason Ricks finished an up-and-down season on a high note, nailing a 27-yard kick with 8.9 seconds left.

Dec. 28, Holiday Bowl

Cal RBs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett combined for 235 yards and three touchdowns, while QB Nate Longshore threw for 235 yards and a score.

Dec. 28, Texas Bowl

Rutgers earned its 11th win (and notched its first bowl win ever) by once again riding RB Ray Rice.

Dec. 29, Music City Bowl

Andre Woodson finished a breakout junior season by throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns and earning the game's MVP award.

Dec. 29, Sun Bowl,

Oregon State trailed by 14 points with 12:08 left, but rallied for its eighth win in nine games. The Beavers scored with 22 seconds left, and then Yvenson Bernard converted a gutsy two-point conversion.

Dec. 29, Liberty Bowl

In his 50th (and last) start, Houston QB Kevin Kolb threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns. But it wasn't enough as Gamecocks QB Blake Mitchell threw for 323 yards and four scores.

Dec. 29, Insight Bowl

The Red Raiders made the greatest comeback in bowl history, overcoming a 31-point, third-quarter deficit. Two days later, Minnesota fired coach Ron Mason.

Dec. 29, Champs Sports Bowl

Maryland QB Sam Hollenbach threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

Dec. 30, Meineke Car Care Bowl

Walk-on kicker Steve Aponavicius made a career-best 37-yard field goal on the final play for the victory.

Dec. 30, Alamo Bowl

Freshman Colt McCoy finished a brilliant season by throwing for 308 yards and two touchdowns.

Dec. 30, Chick-fil-A Bowl

The Bulldogs rallied from an 18-point, deficit. Senior LB Tony Taylor had two key interceptions.

Dec. 31, MPC Computers Bowl

Larry Coker led the 'Canes to a tight win in his last game. QB Kirby Freeman threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns.

Jan. 1, Outback Bowl

With Joe Paterno watching from the press box while recovering from a broken leg, Penn State held Tennessee to a season-low in scoring.

Jan. 1, Cotton Bowl

Auburn's offense suffered, but its defense came to play. The Tigers held high-octane Nebraska to 230 total yards of offense.

Jan. 1, Capital One Bowl

Wisconsin claimed its 12th win of the season.

Jan. 1, Gator Bowl

Wideout Calvin Johnson put on a clinic, catching nine balls for 186 yards and two touchdowns, but West Virginia scored the final 21 points.

Jan. 1, Rose Bowl

After playing to a 3-3 tie in the first half, USC exploded for 29 second-half points. Dwayne Jarrett caught 11 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Jan. 1, Fiesta Bowl

In one of the greatest bowl games ever, first-year Boise State coach Chris Petersen unveiled a bevy of trick plays to outlast the Sooners in overtime (including a brilliant "Statue of Liberty" play on the winning two-point conversion).The Broncos finished as Division I-A's only undefeated team (13-0).

Jan. 2, Orange Bowl

In coach Bobby Petrino's last game, the Cardinals scored the game's final 14 points to earn their 12th win of the year. Brian Brohm threw for 311 yards.

Jan. 3, Sugar Bowl

As expected, Notre Dame just had no answer for LSU's speed. Tigers QB JaMarcus Russell easily outplayed Brady Quinn.

Jan. 6, International Bowl

In the first bowl game played outside the U.S. since 1937 -- the game was played in Toronto -- Brian Kelly earned his first win as head coach of Cincinnati just a month after taking the job.

Jan. 7, GMAC Bowl

The Golden Eagles scored 21 second-quarter points and never looked back.

Jan. 8, BCS National Championship Game

Heavy underdog Florida spanked undefeated Ohio State, holding the Buckeyes to 82 yards total offense.

Best of the 2006 Bowls