Bowl season takeaways: UAB, Troy win on the first day

Bowl season is finally upon us! Our reporters are breaking down the best of the games from significant efficiencies, breakout players and so much more.Full schedule|Outcomes

Friday Dec. 16

Home Town Lenders Bahamas Bowl: UAB 24, Miami(Ohio )20 Junior running back Jermaine Brown Jr.’s big day led the way as UAB protected a 24-20 success over Miami (Ohio), giving inbound head coach Trent Dilfer some momentum to develop off heading into 2023. Brown ran 24 times for 116 lawns and 2 touchdowns to help the Sports jackets win without the services of FBS-leading rush DeWayne McBride, who pulled out of the game. Brown’s fourth-down touchdown run with 1:33 left in the game put UAB in front to stay– the game’s 4th lead change in the 2nd half. In spite of losing the turnover fight (3-0), UAB pulled out the victory with the help of six players combining for four sacks.

— Blake Baumgartner

Duluth Trading Treatment Bowl: No. 24 Troy 18, No. 25 UTSA 12 What a finish for Troy first-year head coach Jon Sumrall, liquidating a 12-2 season by scoring 18 unanswered indicate beat UTSA on Friday for the Trojans’ 11th straight win. Troy had simply 153 overall yards and did not cross midfield in the first half, but five takeaways, including 2 interceptions and a forced fumble on UTSA quarterback Frank Harris, who was 6th in the FBS in passing coming into the game, was too much to conquer for the Roadrunners. The Trojans became the first team to win a championship game with less than 175 yards of offense considering that UCLA in the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl against New Mexico.– Dave Wilson