TAMPA — Garrett Nussmeier's four-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr to cap off a 98-yard drive and give the 13th-ranked LSU Tigers a 35-31 comeback win over the Wisconsin Badgers in the Reliaquest Bowl on Monday afternoon.
Nussmeier got the start as Heisman Trophy winner Jadyen Daneils opted out for the NFL Draft. The back up quarterback finished 31 of 45 for 395 yards and three touchdown throws.
The Badgers (7-6) stormed out to an early 14-0 lead behind quarterback Tanner Mordecai's two touchdown passes in the first quarter. Mordecai, playing in his final game, finished 27 of 40 for 378 passing yards and finished with three touchdown passes.
Jackson Acker had the other touchdown score, with a 33-yard dash on the Badgers opening drive of the second half and give Wisconsin a 28-14 lead with 12:14 in the first quarter.
But LSU would respond in quick fashion, as Nussmeier connected with Thomas for a 38-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 7. The Tigers (10-3) tied the game up on their next possession, as Nussmeier threw his second touchdown pass to Harold Perkins Jr.
A 21-yard field goal from Nathaniel Vakos gave Wisconsin a 31-28 into the fourth quarter.
Both offense ran into a stalemate in the fourth quarter with each team exchanging two punts a piece.
LSU got the ball back on their own 2 with 6:10 remaining and began their march down the field. Nussmeier found Kyren Lacy for 37 yards to move the ball to midfield and then found Hilton on the next play for 43 more yards to get the Tigers to the Wisconsin 7.
Two plays later, Nussmeier found Thomas for the go-ahead score with 3:08 remaining.
Mordecai and Wisconsin managed to work their way up the field, getting to the LSU 19 with 1:36 remaining. But the Tigers sacked Mordecai on three straight plats to preserve the comeback win.
No. 21 Tennessee 14, No. 17 Iowa 0
ORLANDO — Nico Iamaleava accounted for 4 touchdowns and the No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers blanked the 17th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes 35-0 in the Citrus Bowl on Monday.
Iamaleava got the start after Joe Milton III decided to opt out and prepare for the NFL Draft. Prior to Monday, Iamaleava had played in four games this season and thrown for 163 total yards.
The dual threat quarterback finished with 151 yards and three touchdown the air. On the ground, he had 27 rush yards and three scores.
Offensively, Iowa (10-4) sputtered much like they had all season with just 173 total yards.
The Hawkeyes had a chance to take an early lead, driving to the Vols 4. But Deacon Hill was intercepted by A Turrentine on third-and-goal to end the scoring threat.
The game remained scoreless until the opening play of the second quarter when Iamaleava ran in from 19 yards out to make it 7-0 in favor of the Volunteers. He later added a three-yard run on Tennessee's ensuing drive to make it 14-0 with 8:12 remaining in the first half.
Things remained that way until the late stages of the third quarter when Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill fumbled while being hit, giving the ball to Tennessee at the Iowa 2.
Two plays later, Iamaleava scored to blow the game wide open and give Tennessee a 21-0 lead after three quarters.
Volunteers runnings back Dylan Sampson had 20 carries for 133 yards as Tennessee's ground attack racked up 232 yards on the afternoon.
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