Rocco Becht’s Late Heroics Lift Iowa State Over Miami in Pop-Tarts Bowl Thriller
Rocco Becht scored on a dramatic 1-yard quarterback sneak with 56 seconds remaining to lift No. 18 Iowa State to a thrilling 42-41 victory over No. 13 Miami on Saturday in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Becht, who threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns, capped off a historic season for the Cyclones (11-3), who secured their first 11-win campaign in school history.
The Hurricanes (10-3) dominated on the ground with a school bowl-record 308 rushing yards but faltered in the second half, especially through the air, after backup quarterback Emory Williams took over.
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Historic Milestone for Miami’s Cam Ward
Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward etched his name in the record books with his first-half touchdown pass, the 156th of his career, breaking the Division I record previously held by Houston’s Case Keenum. However, Ward’s college career ended prematurely, as he did not play in the second half of his final game.
With Ward sidelined, Miami’s offense sputtered. Williams struggled to find consistency, completing just 5 of 14 passes for 26 yards and throwing a costly interception on the game’s final play.
Cyclones Overcome 10-Point Deficit
Iowa State trailed by 10 in the third quarter but showed resilience behind Becht’s leadership. The sophomore quarterback connected on crucial scoring plays and led the decisive final drive, converting a high-pressure fourth down to secure the win.
Despite Miami’s potent rushing attack, which included multiple explosive plays, the Hurricanes could not muster enough in the air to capitalize. Iowa State’s defense, though gashed at times, made critical stops late, including the game-ending interception.
BYU Dominates Colorado in Alamo Bowl
No. 17 BYU’s defense took center stage in the Alamo Bowl, stifling No. 23 Colorado’s high-powered offense in a commanding 36-14 victory. The Cougars held the Buffaloes to just two rushing yards and 210 total yards, well below their season averages of 34.5 points and nearly 400 yards per game.
Parker Kingston provided a spark with a 64-yard punt return touchdown, and BYU’s ground game flourished behind LJ Martin, who rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns. The Cougars improved to 11-2 on the season and showcased their defensive prowess with four sacks and two interceptions.
For Colorado, Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter stood out with 106 receiving yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 208 yards and two scores but was also intercepted twice.
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Army’s Ground Game Shines in Independence Bowl Win
Bryson Daily’s record-setting performance propelled No. 22 Army to a decisive 27-6 victory over Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl. Daily rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds’ single-season FBS record for rushing scores by a quarterback with 32.
Army (12-2) rebounded from a disappointing loss to Navy two weeks earlier, dominating Louisiana Tech on the ground with 293 rushing yards. Hayden Reed added a career-high 114 rushing yards and a touchdown, as the Black Knights capped their season with a program-best 12 wins.
Louisiana Tech struggled to gain traction offensively and was unable to find the end zone against a swarming Army defense. The Bulldogs finished with just six points, a disappointing conclusion to their bowl appearance.
