Tag: Pinstripe Bowl

Wisconsin football handed Nebraska its best season in nine years

Without Wisconsin’s help, Nebraska wouldn’t have its best season in a decade

Wisconsin football fans have likely moved on from what was a disastrous 2024 campaign.

Wisconsin finished the season at 5-7, went 0-3 in trophy games and missed a bowl game for the first time since 2001. All things considered, it was the program’s worst season since that 2001 campaign.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s transfer portal class by projected 2025 impact

That final mark feels even worse considering the Badgers sat at 5-2 entering a late-October home matchup against Penn State. What followed: five consecutive losses, including to rivals Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota by a combined score of 110-42. The team’s form regressed significantly as the season concluded.

The result of one notable bowl game adds a bit of insult to that discussed injury.

Nebraska defeated Boston College 20-15 in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday. The victory closed a 7-6 season for the Cornhuskers. It is their first winning season since 2016 and first bowl win since 2015.

Without Wisconsin, that result would not have been possible.

Nebraska started the season 5-1 with strong wins over Colorado, Purdue and Rutgers. It then went on a substantial slide, losing to Indiana 56-7, Ohio State 21-17, UCLA 27-20 and USC 28-20. The team sat at 5-5 entering its Week 13 matchup against Wisconsin, facing yet another late-season collapse with bowl eligibility at stake.

Wisconsin was also 5-5 entering the matchup after consecutive losses to Penn State, Iowa and Oregon. The game was season-defining for both teams, regardless of the outcome.

Nebraska dominated Wisconsin that afternoon, winning 44-25. It was the Cornhuskers’ first win over the Badgers since 2012 and first with the Freedom Trophy at stake. There are further stats that emphasize the historic nature of the result. Most notably, it clinched Nebraska’s first bowl appearance in nine seasons — its fans celebrated as such.

Matt Rhule’s team went on to lose to Iowa the following week to finish the regular season at 6-6. Wisconsin became the team’s only win from Oct. 5 on. Now that the Cornhuskers have since clinched a winning record with a bowl victory, ending a near-decade-long drought, it’s hard to ignore Wisconsin’s role in allowing that to happen.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell and Rhule will inevitably be compared as each continues their respective tenures. Each were high-profile hires entering the 2023 season, brought in to reverse each program’s current course. Both coaches are now an identical 12-13 through two years — each with a 7-6 and a 5-7 season, in reversed order.

Rhule currently has the slight upper hand over Fickell given Nebraska’s bowl win and final record. If the two teams’ trajectories continue on divergent paths, as currently appears the case, it will be challenging to ignore that Week 13 result as a major turning point.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Nebraska defeats Boston College in Pinstripe Bowl

The Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Boston College Eagles 20-15 in the Pinstripe Bowl .

The Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Boston College Eagles 20-15 in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. The victory was Nebraska’s first bowl win since 2015 and the program’s first winning season since 2016.

The Huskers finished the season with a 7-6 record overall and 3-6 in Big Ten play. The Eagles ended 2024 with a 7-6 mark with a 4-4 record the ACC.

The game was Nebraska’s 54th bowl appearance. The victory also moves the Husker’s bowl record to 27-27 all-time. The last time the Cornhuskers played a bowl game in New York was the 1962 Gotham Bowl. Nebraska defeated Miami in that game 36-34.

Dylan Raiola finished 23-of-31 passing for 228 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Raiola now holds the school record for passing yards by a freshman with 2,823 yards.

New York native and sixth-year senior Rahmir Johnson was named the game MVP. He finished Saturday’s game with ten carries for 60 yards and one touchdown. Javin Wright led the Blackshirts with eight tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.

Find photos from Nebraska’s victory below.

Holgorsen has running back plan for Pinstripe Bowl

Kwinten Ives could have an important role next Saturday.

Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen indicated that there may be more of a role for running back Kwinten Ives as the program prepares for the Pinstripe Bowl next weekend. He made the declaration in his press conference on Thursday.

Ives played in eight games this season. He recorded five carries for five yards and three kickoff returns for 58 yards. To this point, the highlight of the season was a 40-yard kickoff return at Indiana.

The Huskers’ running back depth has thinned since the transfer portal opened. Dante Dowdell has transferred to the Kentucky Wildcats, and Gabe Ervin Jr. is still looking for a new home.

This leaves Emmett Johnson as the starting back and Rahmir Johnson as the backup, giving Ives the chance to make some noise on the field.

A good showing from Ives next Saturday could be important for the future of the Huskers running back room. At the very least, it will allow the coaching staff to take stock of their depth heading into 2025.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 12

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 12

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy released his bowl predictions ahead of Week 13 of the 2024 college football season on Monday.

For the fourth time in five weeks, McMurphy predicts Wisconsin to return to the Pinstripe Bowl. And, as he did after Week 10, the analyst has the Badgers facing Pittsburgh.

The Panthers, the No. 8 team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are on a three-game skid. At 7-3, Pittsburgh has fallen into the ‘receiving votes’ category in the latest installation of the AP top 25 poll.

Still, the Panthers have beaten Kent State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Youngstown State, North Carolina, California and Syracuse. Their recent losses have arrived against No. 13 SMU, No. 17 SMU and Virginia.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is 5-5 after Week 12 after losing its most recent game against Oregon by three points in the fourth quarter. The Badgers also dropped their previous two games to No. 4 Penn State and Iowa by a combined 57 points.

Luke Fickell’s program also elected to fire offensive coordinator Phil Longo on Saturday. At No. 11 in the Big Ten, the organization appears to be amid an identity crisis.

If McMurphy’s prediction rings true, this will be the first time UW will participate in the Pinstripe Bowl since 2018 when it defeated Miami 35-3.

Four Big Ten teams are currently projected to land in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff this winter. No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Indiana are included in the AP’s top 5 ahead of Week 12.

Wisconsin in still search of its 23rd consecutive bowl game appearance. It needs a win over its final two games against Nebraska and Minnesota.

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 10

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 10

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy released his bowl predictions ahead of Week 11 of the 2024 college football season on Monday.

For the third consecutive week, McMurphy predicts Wisconsin to return to the Pinstripe Bowl. Unlike what he predicted following Week 9, UW is now forecasted to play Pittsburgh instead of NC State.

The Panthers, another member of the American Athletic Conference, boast an impressive resume through eight games of the 2024 season. At 7-1, Pittsburgh holds the No. 23 ranking in the AP’s latest top 25 poll. The Panthers have vanquished Kent State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Youngstown State, North Carolina, California and Syracuse.

Only No.4 Miami, No. 13 SMU and No. 19 Clemson out of the ACC land ahead of Pittsburgh in the most recent AP poll.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is 5-4 after Week 10 after losing its most recent game against Iowa by 32 points. Luke Fickell’s program sits No. 9 in the Big Ten with a 3-3 conference record.

Still, Action Network currently considers Wisconsin a three-point favorite over Pittsburgh. If McMurphy’s prediction rings true, this will be the first time UW will participate in the Pinstripe Bowl since 2018 when it defeated Miami 35-3.

Four Big Ten teams are currently projected to land in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff this winter. No. 1 Oregon, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 8 Indiana and No. 10 Penn State are featured in the AP’s top 10 ahead of Week 11.

Wisconsin in search of its 23rd consecutive bowl game appearance.

Wisconsin returns to familiar stage in Action Network bowl projections ahead of Week 9

Wisconsin returns to familiar stage in Action Network bowl projections ahead of Week 9

Wisconsin returns to the Pinstripe Bowl for a matchup against Duke in Brett McMurphy’s latest bowl projections entering Week 9 of the 2024 college football season.

The Badgers are 5-2 after Week 8, in prime position to extend their record bowl streak to 23 seasons. Duke, meanwhile, is a strong 6-1 through the season’s midway point with wins over Northwestern, UConn, North Carolina and Florida State. Its only loss to this point was a 24-14 defeat at the hands of Georgia Tech.

Related: Ranking the biggest storylines entering Wisconsin’s premier matchup with Penn State

The Action Network projects Wisconsin as a double-digit favorite in the potential matchup with Duke — this projection made with a lot still left to change between now and bowl season.

If McMurphy’s prediction for the Badgers is to come true, the program will return to the Pinstripe Bowl for the first time since its trip to close the 2018 season — a 35-3 triumph over Miami.

https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1848384380281971176

Wisconsin first must reach bowl eligibility. Its remaining schedule includes vs. No. 3 Penn State, at Iowa, vs. No. 1 Oregon, at Nebraska and vs. Minnesota. One more win and its record-long bowl steak will extend another season.

Up first on that path for the Badgers is a primetime matchup with Penn State on Saturday.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Wisconsin pitted against ACC opponent in Action Network bowl prediction ahead of Week 8

Updated bowl projection for Wisconsin after Rutgers win

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy released his bowl predictions ahead of Week 8 of the 2024 college football season on Monday.

The outlet’s preseason prediction pitted Wisconsin against Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. Eight weeks later, Brett McMurphy currently predicts the Badgers to play in Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl against the Louisville Cardinals on Dec. 28 in Bronx, New York.

Ahead of Week 5, McMurphy also predicted the Badgers to play in the Pinstripe Bowl. Instead of Louisville being UW’s projected opponent, the analyst then believed Boston College would wind up in the bowl game against Wisconsin.

A member of the American Athletic Conference, Louisville boasts a 4-2 overall output through six games of its 2024 slate. The team’s sole losses arrived in one-score games against No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 21 SMU. The team also received six votes in the latest installation of the AP Top 25 on Sunday.

If McMurphy’s forecast comes to fruition, it would be the 23rd straight season that the Badgers appear in a bowl game after the regular season. While Luke Fickell’s main priority revolves around the 12-team playoff scenario, extending the bowl streak is still an achievement.

Wisconsin could bolster its case for a more prestigious bowl game after its Week 8 game against the Northwestern Wildcats. After producing over 500 yards of offense against both Purdue and Rutgers in its previous pair of games, UW is primed for another offensive explosion in Evanston on Oct. 19.

Wisconsin last appeared in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27, 2018, in a 35-3 victory over Miami (Florida). Former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst, accompanied by quarterback Jack Coan and all-world running back Jonathan Taylor, cruised to a victory before 37,821 fans at Yankee Stadium.

Rutgers (7-6) faced Miami (7-6) in the 2023 Pinstripe Bowl, which figures to be where Wisconsin will land at the end of the season. The Badgers will next face No. 3 Penn State at home in Week 9, Iowa on the road in Week 10 and No. 2 Oregon at Camp Randall in Week 11.

Wisconsin faces ACC opponent in Action Network bowl prediction ahead of Week 5

Wisconsin faces ACC opponent in Action Network bowl prediction ahead of Week 5

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy released his bowl predictions ahead of Week 5 of the 2024 college football season on Monday.

The outlet’s preseason prediction had Wisconsin facing Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. Now, Brett McMurphy forecasts the Badgers to land in the Bad Boy Mowers’ Pinstripe Bowl against the Boston College Eagles on Dec. 28 in Bronx, New York.

A member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Eagles are off to a blazing start in 2024. Boston College owns wins over Florida State, Duquesne and Michigan State through four weeks of play. The team’s sole loss was a 27-21 defeat against No. 11 Missouri.

Most notably, former Houston Texans’ head coach Bill O’Brien is in his first year manning Boston College’s sidelines. With 55 votes, the Eagles also landed just outside the Associated Press’ latest poll at No. 28 behind Washington State and Indiana.

If the prediction rings true, it would be the 23rd straight season that UW appears in a bowl game following the regular season.

The Badgers last appeared in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27, 2018, in a 35-3 victory over Miami (Florida). Former UW head coach Paul Chryst, accompanied by quarterback Jack Coan and all-world running back Jonathan Taylor, cruised to a victory before 37,821 fans at Yankee Stadium.

Rutgers (7-6) squared off against Miami (Florida) (7-6) in the 2023 Pinstripe Bowl, which figures to be where Wisconsin will land at the end of the season. The Badgers are scheduled to play No. 13 USC, No. 9 Penn State, No. 8 Oregon, Iowa and Nebraska this fall after starting the season 2-1.

ESPN analysts predict UNC football’s year-end bowl games

ESPN analysts had this to say about what bowl games UNC football would take part in this year.

Some top analysts had already projected their year-end bowls before ESPN released theirs and the consensus was that UNC football would play in the Military Bowl on December 28, 2024.

Now, ESPN analysts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach have released their predictions, and they disagree with where the Tar Heels will end up at the end of the 2024 college football season.

Bonagura has North Carolina playing in the Bronx, New York, at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl against the Big Ten representative Maryland.

Schlabach followed most of the other analyst predictions around the nation and has UNC player against South Florida in Annapolis, Maryland, in the Go Bowling Military Bowl.

North Carolina is set to begin their season next week with a true road opener against Minnesota in Minneapolis. They are projected to win by 2.5 points.

Max Johnson and Conner Harrell are projected to split time on the field in the opener, according to head coach Mack Brown, and Omarion Hampton will lead the team on the ground and the offensive presumably.

There is a long to wonder about how this team will end up, but the hopes are on being one of the top 12 selected to the first expanded College Football Playoff selections for the upcoming year.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Bo Mascoe knows patience and bowl experience will help him compete for playing time with Rutgers

Bo Mascoe is making strides this offseason for Rutgers football

Bo Mascoe made just one appearance last season for Rutgers football, but his performance in that game is a building block for his development this offseason.

A true freshman last season, Mascoe was ineligible for much of the year, but was finally cleared to play in time for Rutgers to take on Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. He had two tackles to help Rutgers to their first postseason win since 2014.

Mascoe is being projected for a bigger role this year in the defense. The experience in the bowl game against Miami certainly showed his potential and upside.

“It was very exciting to play with the guys,” Mascoe told Rutgers Wire last week.

“I’m just trying to come in this year, get better, work on my craft.

“It was amazing…playing with the guys I was here with, practicing with. I felt good but I’ve definitely got more to work on.”

One of the reasons why Mascoe is going to be able to compete for playing time is the loss of Max Melton from the defense.

A lockdown cornerback, Melton is heading to the NFL draft and is even getting some first-round buzz.

[lawrence-related id=37217,37212]

Last year, Mascoe was able to sit and watch Melton at work. It was a good mentorship opportunity for the freshman defensive back.

“Definitely watching him in a game and he also really taught me in the meetings – he was always on me like an older guy, you know?” Mascoe said.

“Just always teaching me.”

Mascoe was a three-star recruit out of high school with a strong offer list that included Boston College and Iowa State.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Mascoe is a strong, talented player with good discipline. After all, his father is a football coach in Florida.

[lawrence-related id=37242,37206,37203]

Chad Mascoe is an offensive coordinator with Osceola High School (Osceola, Florida).

“Me and my dad – he’s a high school coach. I mean, we don’t really talk too much about football outside of the field,” Bo Mascoe said..

“It’s great, though, that he used to be my coach. I played a little offense (and) he was OC it was kind of fun.”

Growing up in a football family (his brother Chad Mascoe Jr. is a quarterback at Campbell) means that Bo Mascoe knew what he was looking for in a college.

“I picked Rutgers – I loved what they were building here. And I do want to be a part of it,” Bo Mascoe said.

“I love the coaches, the coaches, the people around here. I feel like they are alike, I like culture and things and I feel like I have that here.”