ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — All-America running back Cody Schrader ran for 128 yards and bulled into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter with Missouri’s first score, and the ninth-ranked Tigers capped an 11-win season with a 14-3 win over No. 7 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Brady Cook threw a 7-yard touchdown to Luther Burden III with 5:12 left in the game. Ohio State played without two-time All-America receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who opted out of the game, though the junior hasn’t announced yet if he will enter the NFL draft. The 11-2 Buckeyes finished with only 203 total yards.
UNDATED (AP) — A software company that manages practice video footage for college football teams says the NCAA is looking into possible unauthorized access to its data. Players and coaches for Alabama and Michigan have indicated in the lead up to their Rose Bowl matchup on Monday that players had been instructed to avoid watching film using the Catapult Sports app on their mobile devices because of security concerns. Catapult said in a statement it was aware of the ongoing investigation of alleged unauthorized access to college football video footage, but has found no security breach.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — If Nick Saban cared about such things, he could count all the times Alabama has been a betting underdog since 2009 on one hand. Fourth-seeded Alabama is not the betting favorite against Michigan in its College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl. It’s only the fifth time over the past 14 seasons Alabama is an actual underdog. Perceived doubt or disrespect are high-octane fuel to almost every modern athlete, and a program that’s been a near-constant favorite every time it takes the field for an entire generation is feasting on its chance to play an underdog.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas meet in a College Football Playoff matchup at the Sugar Bowl of offenses known for aggressive and creative play calling. Determining who calls plays and how is far from an exact science. For the Huskies, head coach Kalen DeBoer entrusts offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb with the play calling. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian calls plays for the Longhorns, with support from OC Kyle Flood. What works for one program might not for another, but it’s never completely a one-man job.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Russell Wilson says he was caught off guard by the timing of his benching since the Denver Broncos have a slim chance to make the playoffs. A disappointed Wilson spoke to the media Friday for the first time since being sent to the sideline by coach Sean Payton. Wilson will back up Jarrett Stidham on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. For now, Wilson says his focus is on helping Stidham, not on his future with the team. Wilson says the Broncos approached him during the bye to adjust his contract or risk being benched. Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million contract extension last year that kicks in next season.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will miss the first game of his professional career because of a sprained throwing shoulder. Lawrence was a spectator at practice all week and was officially ruled out for the team’s home finale against Carolina. C.J. Beathard will make his first start in three years Sunday in what’s become a must-win game for the Jaguars. This will be the first game Lawrence has missed because of injury at any level. He never missed a start in high school and only missed two starts in college because of COVID-19 protocols.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tyrese Hunter had a season-high 23 points and added seven assists to help No. 21 Texas rout UNC Greensboro 72-37 on Friday night. Hunter has averaged 16.3 points in his last four games. On Friday, Hunter was 8 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 4 3-pointers. He committed just one turnover, grabbed six rebounds and spearheaded a defense that limited the Spartans to 29.8% from the field. Kadin Shedrick scored 11 points for Texas (10-2), which shot 47.2% and made 10 of 23 3-pointers. Mikeal Brown-Jones, the leading scorer and rebounder for UNC Greensboro (9-4) , missed his fourth straight game because of a lower-body injury Keyshaun Langley led the Spartans with 15 points. Jalen Breath had eight rebounds.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jaylin Sellers scored 19 points, Marchelus Avery added 11 points off the bench and UCF beat Bethune-Cookman 98-54. UCF (9-3) earned its 15th straight victory in the series — with the last matchup in the 2021-22 season resulting in the largest margin of victory over the Wildcats in the series’ history at 81-45. Sellers had 10 points and Antwann Jones scored all 10 of his in the first half. Bethune-Cookman was held to 21 first-half points and trailed by 23 at the break. UCF pulled away during a 20-2 run for a 28-13 lead, before closing the half on a 14-2 spurt to make it 44-21. Bethune-Cookman missed 11 straight shots in the second half to trail 87-45. Darius Johnson and C.J. Walker each scored 10 points for UCF.
CINCINNATI (AP) — John Newman III scored 16 points to lead a balanced scoring effort and Cincinnati rallied in the second half to defeat Evansville 76-58. Cincinnati, now 10-0 at home, outscored Evansville 44-18 in the second half, led by Simas Lukosius who scored 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range. In addition to Newman’s 16 points, Lukosius finished with 15, Viktor Lahkin 11, Dan Skillings Jr. 10 and Day Day Thomas 10 for the Bearcats. Yacine Toumi had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead Evansville, which led 40-32 at halftime.
CHICAGO (AP) — Joey Meyer, who played at DePaul and coached the Blue Demons to seven NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons, has died. He was 74. Meyer died Friday in the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale, surrounded by family, DePaul said in a release. The school did not provide any further information. Joey Meyer played for his father, Ray, for three seasons from 1968-1971, averaging 16.4 points in 75 games for DePaul. Meyer served as an assistant for his father for 11 seasons before taking over when Ray retired after coaching DePaul from 1942-1984. Joey Meyer got the Blue Demons into the NCAA tourney in each of his first five seasons. They reached the Sweet 16 in 1986 and 1987.
FRIDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Final (9)Missouri 14 (7)Ohio St. 3
Final (15)Notre Dame 40 (21)Oregon St. 8
Final Memphis 36, Iowa St. 26
Final Clemson 38, Kentucky 35
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Purdue 80 E. Kentucky 53
Final (4)Arizona 100 California 81
Final (8)Kentucky 96 Illinois St. 70
Final (9)North Carolina 105 Charleston Southern 60
Final (11)Illinois 104 Fairleigh Dickinson 71
Final San Diego St. 84 (13)Gonzaga 74
Final (15)Colorado St. 106 Adams St. 61
Final (18)Clemson 93 Radford 58
Final (21)Texas 72 UNC-Greensboro 37
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Washington 110 Brooklyn 104
Final Orlando 117 New York 108
Final Sacramento 117 Atlanta 110
Final Boston 120 Toronto 118
Final Milwaukee 119 Cleveland 111
Final Philadelphia 131 Houston 127
Final Oklahoma City 119 Denver 93
Final Phoenix 133 Charlotte 119
Final Portland 134 San Antonio 128
Final L.A. Clippers 117 Memphis 106
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final New Jersey 6 Ottawa 2
Final Florida 4 N-Y Rangers 3
Final OT Detroit 5 Nashville 4
Final OT Columbus 6 Toronto 5
Final N-Y Islanders 5 Washington 1
Final Colorado 2 St. Louis 1
Final OT Dallas 5 Chicago 4
Final OT Seattle 2 Philadelphia 1
Final Arizona 2 Anaheim 0
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