LSU Ends Central Florida’s Winning Streak; Ohio State’s Urban Meyers Goes Out a Winner

Despite all the hoopla surrounding the College Football Playoff, there are still some great games on New Year’s Day involving teams other than the four in the CFP.

Last season, Central Florida was the only Division I school that finished undefeated, capping it off with a win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. UCF, declared itself National Champion (Alabama won the CFP but had one loss–at Auburn). This year, the Knights again were undefeated and put their 25 game winning streak on the line in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, against LSU. UCF got off to a 14-3 lead before the Tigers roared back. LSU quarterback quarterback Joe Burrow completed 21 passes for 394 yards and four touchdowns as the Tigers ended the Knights’ winning streak with a 40-32 victory. LSU had 555 total yards of offense, while UCF had 250. LSU finishes at 10-3 while UCF ended at 12-1.

Further west in Pasadena, California, Ohio State took on Washington in the Rose Bowl. OSU coach Urban Meyer had already said this would be his last game before retiring, and although the Buckeyes missed out on the CFB, Meyer had never won the Rose Bowl.

Mission accomplished. Meyer and the Buckeyes closed out the season and the coach’s career (at least for now) with a 28-23 win over the Huskies. It wasn’t a stress free ending for Meyer; OSU led 28-3 in the third quarter before Washington stormed back with three fourth quarter touchdowns. OSU ended at 13-1, while Washington finished at 10-4.

Elsewhere, the Big Ten and SEC split a couple of games, with Kentucky beating Penn State 27-24 in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, and Iowa beating Mississippi State 27-22 in the Outback Bowl in Tampa. Finally, in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Texas upset Georgia 28-21.

Alabama and Clemson meet in the College Football Championship game on January 7th in Santa Clara, California.