The first day of bowl games for the Pac-12 provided two games which were complete opposites. Washington State scored just six points in a loss to Fresno State in the L.A. Bowl. However, on the other side of the coin, the Oregon State Beavers marched into Sin City and handled the Florida Gators, who were without star QB Anthony Richardson, in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year Jonathan Smith finished a magnificent season with a 30-3 victory on Saturday.
The Gators’ only points came on a field goal with less than one minute left in the game as the Beavers dominated from start to finish.
Beaver QB Ben Gulbranson was named the MVP of the game after going 12-19 for 165 yards and a score and adding another touchdown on the ground. Gulbranson looked like a competent passer after struggling markedly as a downfield thrower for much of the Pac-12 season, including the regular season-ending 38-34 win over Oregon in which the Beavers’ last four touchdowns came without a single completed pass on any of those scoring drives. This day against Florida was different.
Oregon State QB Ben Gulbranson is the MVP of the Las Vegas Bowl. pic.twitter.com/wCbel2Vn6Y
— Carter Bahns (@carterbahns) December 17, 2022
Do-it-all player Jack Colletto also did his usual business in his best effort to replicate Tayson Hill for Oregon State.
Oregon State’s Jack “Jackhammer” Colletto was named Player of the Game in the Las Vegas Bowl after blocking a punt, making a few tackles at LB, and picking up this key first down.
The former QB turned LB/FB is an interesting 2023 NFL Draft prospect as a special teamer/FB. pic.twitter.com/yqjjPIjrb2
— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) December 17, 2022
The Beavers rushed for three touchdowns on the game in another superb effort and finished the year 10-3, including a four-game winning streak and a victory against Oregon in the Civil War game to put a giant exclamation point on the season.
Gators QB Jack Miller III went just 13-22 for 180 yards in his debut, and the loss of future NFL QB Anthony Richardson was more evident than ever before as Billy Napier’s team fell to 6-7 on the season.
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