Category: Mountain West Football

Week 13 College Football Rankings: Cincinnati Is Somehow Ranked Ahead Of Boise State

Boise

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Week 13 College Football Rankings: Cincinnati Is Somehow Ranked Ahead Of Boise State

The AP and coaches poll are out

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Clearly, the voters can’t watch every game.

The latest top 25 rankings are out and it seems that both the coaches poll and the Associated press pollsters are not paying all that close attention to who they rank and where.

Yes, there are a lot of games to monitor and coaches and voters have other team-specific responsibilities but how does one keep ranking Cincinnati above Boise State and in the case of the coaches poll ahead of Memphis.

The Bearcats have won three of their last four by just single digits and that includes wins over South Florida and East Carolina, both of which are not going to a bowl game.

Whereas Boise State just obliterated Utah State and New Mexico in its past two games which the Bearcats have not done. Memphis has been more impress over the past few weeks than Cincinnati as well.

Good things these polls are not overly important as neither decide a national champion, but when the College Football Playoff rankings come out and if the Bearcats are ahead of Memphis, Boise State, or even both, then there are problems.

The debate with where Cincinnati will be resolved next week when they take on Memphis in the regular-season finale.

USA TODAY

25. USC Trojans 8-4 75 (NR)

24. Navy Midshipmen 8-2 110 (NR)

23. Virginia Tech Hokies 9-2 123 (NR)

22. Appalachian State Mountaineers 10-1 232 (22)

21. Oklahoma State Cowboys 8-3 256 (23)

20. Iowa Hawkeyes 8-3 434 (20)

19 Boise State Broncos 10-1 493 (19)

18. Memphis Tigers 10-1 528 (18)

17. Cincinnati Bearcats 10-1 535 (17)

16. Auburn Tigers 8-3 652 (16)

15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-2 737 (15)

14. Wisconsin Badgers 9-2 799 (14)

13. Oregon Ducks 9-2 816 (6)

12. Penn State Nittany Lions 9-2 857 (9)

11. Michigan Wolverines 9-2 893 (12)

10. Baylor Bears 10-1 924 (13)

9. Minnesota Golden Gophers 10-1 1014 (11)

8. Florida Gators 9-2 1074 (10)

7. Oklahoma Sooners 10-1 1223 (7)

6. Utah Utes 10-1 1252 (8)

5. Alabama Crimson Tide 10-1 1325 (5)

4. Georgia Bulldogs 10-1 1351 (4)

3. Clemson Tigers 11-0 1464 (4 1st place) (3)

2. Ohio State Buckeyes 11-0 1510 (7 1st place) (2)

1. LSU Tigers 11-0 1561 (52 1st place) (1)

Also Receiving Votes: Air Force 74; Iowa State 55; Virginia 32; Texas A&M 26; UL Lafayette 18; Southern Methodist 18; Wake Forest 5; San Diego State 4; Indiana 2; Hawaii 2; Temple

AP Poll

25. USC Trojans 8-4 79 (NR)

24. Navy Midshipmen 8-2 99 (NR)

23. Virginia Tech Hokies 8-3 147 (25)

22. Appalachian State Mountaineers 10-1 206 (23)

21. Oklahoma State Cowboys 8-3 266 (22)

20. Boise State Broncos 10-1 410 (20)

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19. Iowa Hawkeyes 8-3 510 (19)

18. Cincinnati Bearcats 10-1 518 (17)

17. Memphis Tigers 10-1 535 (18)

16. Auburn Tigers 8-3 635 (16)

15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-2  701 (15)

14. Wisconsin Badgers 9-2 791 (14)

13. Penn State Nittany Lions 9-2 910 (9)

12. Oregon Ducks 9-2 (6)

11. Baylor Bears 10-1 (13)

10. Michigan Wolverines 10-2 913 (12)

9. Minnesota Golden Gophers 10-1 996 (11)

8. Florida Gators 9-2 1058 (10)

7. Oklahoma Sooners 10-1 1189 (8)

6. Utah Utes 10-1 1231 (7)

5. Alabama Crimson Tide 10-1 1283 (5)

4. Georgia Bulldogs 10-1 1347 (4)

3. Clemson Tigers 11-0 1440 (3)

2. Ohio State Buckeyes 11-0 1486 (2)

1. LSU Tigers 11-0 1537 (1)

Also Receiving Votes: Iowa State 74, Virginia 38, Texas A&M 27, Air Force 22, SMU 9, Arizona State 4, Louisiana-Lafayette 1

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PODCAST: 2019 Mountain West Week 13 Recap

PODCAST: 2019 Mountain West Week 13 Recap Division titles have been clinched. Contact/Follow @MWCwire The championship game is set, bowl dreams dashed. Jeremy and Matt are back to recap another week of Mountain West football and there was a lot on …

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PODCAST: 2019 Mountain West Week 13 Recap

Division titles have been clinched.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

The championship game is set, bowl dreams dashed.

Jeremy and Matt are back to recap another week of Mountain West football and there was a lot on the line this week. Boise State and Hawaii both clinched the division crowns and there will be a rematch for the league title vs. the two teams. Bowl dreams were dashed with Fresno State, Colorado State and San Jose State all going down this weekend.

Also, we go through and attempt to figure out who should be offensive player of the year through each game recap, and it looks like the vote could go to any number of players.

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You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via Anchor, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, iTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

Here is our list of complete sponsors.

Or just help us out directly through our Patreon page through this link.

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Boise State Clobbers Utah State, Ending Aggies’ Title Hopes

Aggies get embarrassed in home finale, lose division to Boise State

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Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

Dismal performance from entire Aggie team

Utah State didn’t bother showing up in their own stadium with the Mountain Division on the line. Boise State showed up and showed why they’re the class of the conference, though, by winning 56-21.

Boise State received the ball to start and promptly drove down the field in under two minutes, going up 7-0. On USU’s first possession, they promptly failed to gain offensive rhythm (again) and punted away to the Broncos. It would be the first of many failed drive attempts for this Utah State offense.

After the Aggie defense forced a punt from the Broncos on their next offensive series, Utah State put together a very nice drive using Jordan Love‘s arm. The Aggies capped off their first touchdown drive with a sick one-handed catch by TE Caleb Repp. It would be only one a few highlights for the Aggies.

Late in the first quarter, with the game tied 7-7, USU got the ball back with some critical momentum. Jordan Love then promptly threw the momentum away with a pass to the flat that was nabbed by Boise defender Jalen Walker for a costly pick six. Boise State never looked back after this (and USU needs to burn that play from its playbook).

Boise State went on to score on five straight offensive drives. Utah State’s defense could not tackle and could not get any stops on third down, a continuation of an alarming trend they have seen this season. There were numerous times on the night where the Broncos’ running backs would easily slip past USU’s defensive line and linebackers. Oftentimes, these gains would be for 7+ yards, ensuring Boise State would have manageable offensive situations all night long for their third-string QB Jaylon Henderson.

At halftime, USU was down 35-7. By the end of the third quarter, it was 56-14. Jordan Love had an average night, throwing for 229 yards on 21-of-36 passes with a touchdown and one interception. Gerold Bright performed well below expectations, rushing for 51 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Adding insult to injury, DJ Williams got two unsportsmanlike penalties in the game, getting disqualified from the game and weakening an already battered secondary.

On the opposing side, Boise RB George Holani had himself a terrific game, rushing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Backup QB Jaylon Henderson played like a season starter with 187 yards and three touchdown passes with no picks. The Broncos have superior team depth all around and it showed in this game. Utah State couldn’t contain or stop either of these players and the game was never close after the first quarter.

By the end of the night, USU had managed to score 21 points, but most of those came in garbage time with the game well out of reach. QB Henry Colombi ran in the final score of the night for USU and brought the game to a merciful close shortly after that.

Boise State won 56-21 and the remaining people in the stadium were mostly Bronco fans. It was a painful, but not terribly unsurprising end to the home slate of games for USU.

Few silver linings

The game was miserable, but the season has been about where I thought it would be. Assuming Utah State beats a terrible New Mexico team in the regular-season finale, USU will finish with back to back winning seasons. That’s a step in the right direction considering the Aggies had three losing seasons in a row from 2015-2017.

A win over New Mexico would also guarantee USU a bowl game. This will result in extra practices for the younger players on USU’s roster. Coupled with some rest, these bowl practices could prove to be rejuvenating for the team. Aggies will likely be matched up against a winnable opponent from the MAC or C-USA, a salve the Aggies could use after getting roughed up in November.

If nothing else, with all of their weaknesses exposed in this most recent loss, it will help shed additional light on the recruiting areas Gary Andersen needs to address. Focusing on this for next season along with getting as many reps as possible for the young players could pay off down the road. This team has talent, but they need to learn to put it all together.

Just a couple more wins will help ease the pain of some big missed opportunities this year. If Aggies can win out, we’ll all feel better for next year having taken our lumps in stride. And in this author’s case, because I foolishly bet against a fellow MWC beat writer on the outcome of this game, that means I’ll be taking a cream pie in the face.

You’ve earned the right to laugh, Raja (but watch out for basketball season)!

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Mountain West Football Bowl Projections After Week 13

Mountain West Football Bowl Projections After Week 13 Only seven teams will be bowl eligible. Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire No more bowl eligible teams. The Mountain West will have seven bowl-eligible teams this season since the teams in …

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Mountain West Football Bowl Projections After Week 13

Only seven teams will be bowl eligible.

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

No more bowl eligible teams.

The Mountain West will have seven bowl-eligible teams this season since the teams in contention to get to six wins all lost. The seven teams are Boise State, Air Force, Utah State, Nevada, Hawaii, San Diego State, and Wyoming.

All have seven more wins except for Utah State and with the Mountain West having just six official bowl tie-ins there is a chance a team could get left out. At this time that team would be Utah State if they end up with six wins. The NCAA has a rule that they must take all teams with seven or more wins before they can choose a six-win team. The Aggies finish the season at New Mexico and that should allow them to get to seven wins.

As where teams will be placed it is getting more clear each week but there will be some changes if the New Year’s Six spot goes to the Mountain West.

The Broncos are in line to win out and have a good chance to do so, but there are two AAC team ahead of them in the pecking order in Memphis and Cincinnati. The latter has struggled mightily against bad teams and just keeps escaping with wins. The new College Football Playoff rankings probably will have Boise State pass the Bearcats but not Memphis. Those two AAC team will play on the final week of the season and then most likely again the following week.

Things can change and as much as Boise State looks to be good enough to be ahead of any American team, that pick can not be justified currently since the Broncos are not the highest-rated team in the Group of Five.

A few notes about the bowl lineups. Starting with the Hawaii Bowl. The game has a vaguely worded tie-in which is a combination between BYU, Hawaii or an AAC team. The Warriors have a 13-game schedule and must have seven wins to secure a bowl berth. Technically, BYU takes the Mountain West spot but a Cougars vs. Warriors matchup would be a classic WAC rivalry renewal.

There is a new bowl this year and it’s a Power Five opponent from the Big Ten in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Overall, the league has six guaranteed bowl berths and is a backup for the Cheez-It Bowl if the Pac-12 or Big 12 does not have enough teams eligible. As always, there can be trades for the best matchups.

Finally, if the Mountain West is the highest-rated team in the College Football Playoff then a New Year’s Six Bowl game is an option at either the Cotton or Orange Bowl.

1. Las Vegas vs. Pac-12

– Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs. MAC
– Gildan New Mexico Bowl vs. Conference USA
– Hawai’i Bowl vs. BYU or American
– NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl vs. Sun Belt
– Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs. Big Ten
– Cheez-It Bowl Conditional for MW if bowl can’t fill a spot.

Previous projections: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11

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Mountain West Football: Week 13 Winners and Losers

Nick Rolovich, Jeff Tedford, Josh Love, and Donald Hammond III highlight the highs and lows from the weekend in Mountain West action.

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Mountain West Football: Week 13 Winners and Losers

Who came out ahead and who left something to be desired in Week 13 of Mountain West football?

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Some encouragement and some letdowns from the week that was.

With a full slate of Mountain West football action, this weekend was easily the one with the highest stakes for everyone involved: Bids in the conference championship, bowl eligibility, renewed rivalries, and a lot more were all on the line.

It made the way things unfolded all the more surprising. Here’s who stepped up and disappointed in Week 13.

Winners

1. Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich. The agents of chaos are the kings of the West division thanks to the steady and always pedal-to-the-metal guidance of its leader. It hasn’t been the easiest year both on and off the field for the Warriors — the team has played for Scheyenne Sanitoa since his unfortunate passing before fall camp, while the ongoing quarterback shuffle and uneven defensive performances have brought the occasional headache — so it’s a credit to Rolovich that they have won and will now take aim at their first outright conference title since 2007.

2. Boise State running back George Holani. Jaylon Henderson’s second start at quarterback got off to a slow start, but the true freshman Holani made sure the Broncos wouldn’t stumble with a berth in the title game on the line. He had four of his seven runs of ten-plus yards in the first quarter, including carries of 35 and 36 yards, en route to 178 yards and two touchdowns in what became a rout of Utah State.

3. Air Force quarterback Donald Hammond III. New Mexico was able to keep the game competitive for a half, but the Falcons senior came alive down the stretch to help break away from the Lobos. He completed 9-of-10 passes for 327 passing yards with four second-half touchdowns, the kind of performance Air Force fans hadn’t seen in over 40 years.

Losers

1. Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo. What’s a guy have to do to get a rivalry win around here? The Rams were frustrated yet again in a Border War loss to Wyoming and Bobo fell to 2-13 in games against the Cowboys, Air Force, and Colorado, so while injuries may explain in part why the team has faltered down the stretch and the buyout remains cumbersome, it wouldn’t be a shock if the powers-that-be in Fort Collins took a long look at his tenure with another likely loss on the horizon next weekend.

2. San Jose State quarterback Josh Love. It seems strange to suggest that a guy who threw for 465 yards belongs here, but Love was too mistake-prone in the Spartans’ loss to UNLV. He threw four interceptions, including one of the tip drill variety in the game’s last minute, that spoiled a chance to steal the win and keep the team’s bowl hopes alive.

3. Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford. The upside here is that at least the athletic department won’t have to pay out a ton of bonuses this year but, considering Tedford’s still-considerable $1.6 million base salary, falling entirely out of the bowl picture has to be considered a massive disappointment. Fresno State’s 1-4 record in games decided by eight or fewer points this fall can’t be forgiven entirely by their injury woes when the decision-making, most notably throwing three straight times inside their own five-yard line and going three-and-out on the team’s last drive, continues to raise eyebrows.

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2019 Mountain West Championship Game: Boise State To Host Hawaii

Hawaii will get a rematch against Boise State for the right to win the Mountain West.

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2019 Mountain West Championship Game: Boise State To Host Hawaii

BlueTurf is hosting the title game.

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Rematch between Warriors and Broncos

Even though there is still one week left in the regular season, the Mountain West already has its football championship game solidified. Boise State won the Mountain Division as they boat-raced Utah State, 56-21 and the game did was not even that close.

Boise State will take on Hawaii which squeaked past San Diego State, 14-11, to win the Western Division for the first time since joining the Mountain West eight years ago.

The Warriors won the low-scoring game by the Aztecs missing a game-tying field from 42 yards out.

The hosting duties go to Boise State because they will be the higher-ranked team in the College Football Playoff rankings.

This will be the second meeting this year between the two schools. They faced off in Boise back on Oct. 12 with the Broncos easily winning, 59-37.

When: Saturday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m. ET
Where: Albertson’s Stadium; Boise, Idaho
TV: ESPN2
Streaming: WatchESPN

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Boise State To Start QB Jaylon Henderson vs. Utah State

The secret is out and Boise State is going with Jaylon Henderson as its starting quarterback vs. Utah State.

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Boise State To Start QB Jaylon Henderson  vs. Utah State

Broncos are going with

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Last-second starter named for Broncos

Boise State has been bitten by the injury bug at the quarterback position with three playing this year with Hank Bachmeier, Chase Cord, and Jaylon Henderson.

The question all week has been who will start vs. Utah State. This game against the Aggies is a key divisional race. A win for the Broncos clinches the Mountain Division, but a loss could throw things into a messy tiebreaker.

It is no shock that head coach Bryan Harsin waited until the last second to name Henderson the starting quarterback.

This means that the redshirt senior Henderson is going to make his second career start. This will be quite the upgrade compared to facing the New Mexico Lobos.

The decision seemed to lean toward Henderson and Cord as the starter since during warmups as Bachmeier was not throwing lightly and with a student-manager instead of members of the football team.

Henderson got the nod vs. New Mexico with injuries to both Cord and Bachmeier; he stepped up with a big game by completing 15 of 28 for 292 yards and three touchdowns. However, this Aggies defense is much difficult compared to playing the Lobos.

Boise State’s easiest path to another Mountain Division title falls in the hands of Henderson.

While Henderson is getting the nod there very well could be a chance to see Bachmeiere, as the freshman has been throwing well during warmups.

Seems that Harsin and his staff are willing to do whatever it takes to get the win tonight and wrap up the Mountain Division.

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Utah State Football: Jordan Love WILL START vs. Boise State

The Mountain division is on the line and Aggies head coach Gary Andersen has decided his senior quarterback will start against the Broncos.

Utah State Football: Jordan Love WILL START at QB vs. Boise State

The Mountain division is on the line and the Aggies’ senior quarterback will be under center against the Broncos.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Love is back in action.

Mountain West football’s biggest regular season game of the year has had an air of mystery all week long since the Boise State Broncos and Utah State Aggies have taken their time sorting out who will start at quarterback.

Now, Utah State has given us an answer: After making an appearance on the blue turf in pre-game warmups, Jordan Love is good to go.

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The nature of the injury that Love suffered against Wyoming hasn’t been specified, but it apparently isn’t serious enough to keep him sidelined. He exited in the fourth quarter last Saturday and was relieved by backup quarterback Henry Colombi, who went 3-for-6 for 35 yards.

Colombi, who has seen time in nine games across the last two seasons, often in mop-up duty at the end of big Utah State victories, may still see time on the field depending on how things unfold, but it will be in Love’s hands, first and foremost, as the Aggies look to take a big step toward clinching its first division title since 2013.

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Air Force vs. New Mexico Recap

Falcons Extend their Win Streak to Six No Home Cooking for New Mexico Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire Prior to the Lobos game against Air Force, New Mexico head coach Bob Davie said that this Falcon’s team was the most talented he would face under …

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Falcons Extend their Win Streak to Six

No Home Cooking for New Mexico

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

Prior to the Lobos game against Air Force, New Mexico head coach Bob Davie said that this Falcon’s team was the most talented he would face under Troy Calhoun. If that is in fact true, he should be very proud of the way his injury ridden team played Air Force in the first half. New Mexico would begin the second half only down 10-14.

Probably validating coach’s remarks, the second half proved to be far too much Air Force, and the talent really separated itself. Into the second half, not only were the Lobos already way down the depth chart at running back, but starting quarterback Tevaka Tuioto was injured and replaced by freshman, Trae Hall.

Injuries tell one part of the story for New Mexico, but at the end of the day, blown coverage in the secondary really reared itself as a problem as Donald Hammond III absolutely disected the Lobo secondary to the tune of 9/10 for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Take a minute to let that stat line sink in.

Also enjoying career days were Ben Waters and Geraud Sanders who accounted for all of the Falcon receiving yardage and touchdowns. Both players eclipsed the 150 yard mark and reeled in two touchdowns.

By the time the dust settled, Air Force cruised to a 44- 22 victory over the Lobos. Now the Falcons and their fanbase will settle in as Utah State fans this evening in hopes that an Aggie win over Boise State can keep their slim division title hopes alive. And beyond that, an extremely stingy Wyoming defense awaits, just after Thanksgiving.

Some fun facts from the game, even though he was not on the press release, touted freshman recruit Kyle Patterson (88) was given a jersey for this game. Also joining him was fellow freshman Dane Kinamon, who saw some playing time, again.

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Wyoming uses strong defense and running game to beat Colorado State

Wyoming Takes Bronze Boot, Again

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Cowboys keep Bronze Boot for 4th straight year: Here’s three reasons why

Wyoming most likely secured a bowl game by notching its seventh win of the season against Colorado St., 17-7, after narrowly missing out last year with six wins. The annual Border War was the fourth win in four years for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys relied on their strengths to put the Rams away in the frigid temperatures at War Memorial Field. Here’s three quick reasons Wyoming ran away with the boot:

X Factor

Xazavian Valladay was questionable Friday night, as he was nursing a knee injury. That question mark turned into another 20+ carry night and carried him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

Valladay rushed for 154 yards with his most important run coming in the fourth quarter on a seldom-called run outside the left tackles for 22-yards. It set up a 48-yard field goal for senior Cooper Rothe, who ends his career as the all-time leading scorer, sealing the game for the Cowboys.

The sophomore workhorse past the century mark for the fifth straight game and six overall. The Cowboys roll as their running game goes.

The Cowboys also had true freshman Levi Williams in the mix, which was talked about all week if the passing game wasn’t working out with Tyler Vander Waal. The passing game didn’t work, but Williams still didn’t pass much as he and Vander Waal rotated. Wililams was 2-for-2 and ran the offense well and both quarterbacks had one touchdown run a piece.

Defense

As general a statement that is, defense was the key. The Cowboys put up another characteristically strong performance against a Rams offense that knows how to score.

Against a Colorado State squad that averages 30 points an outing and over 300 yards passing, the Wyoming defense held its opponent to its lowest output of the season. Pat O’Brien still had 200 yards passing, 95 of those going to the typical Rams NFL-bound receiver Warren Jackson. Jackson had the Rams only score.

Wyoming only recorded one sack, but allowed less than 50 yards in the rushing game. The defense had five tackles for loss.

Logan Wilson, a Reese’s Senior Bowl invite, had the stop of the game for the Cowboys picking off an O’Brien pass with just over three minutes left in the game.

Zero Degrees

At the time of kickoff, the temperature was hovering around 10 degrees. By the end of the game, it had dropped to around zero. While both teams are used to the winter temperatures, the north of the border crowd is definitely used to more extreme weather.

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