Mac Harris put on a show for the Bulls in the Hawaii Bowl. (USF Athletics)
This week, Colorado stars Shedeur Sanders (the future Raider?) and Travis Hunter received the biggest insurance coverage in college football history; the 12-team playoff format is off to a shaky start as the two Saturday NFL games drew bigger audiences; and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck will miss the playoffs in the wake of elbow surgery. Some other college football stories we’re following…
Mac Harris Shines in Hawaii Bowl
After bottoming out in 2022 at 1-11, the South Florida Bulls finished 7-6 last year, earning their first Bowl victory since 2017. Naturally, expectations were a bit higher heading into 2024 as the team was picked to finish fourth in the AAC with a projected 7.5-win total, yet they underperformed at 6-6 heading into the Hawaii Bowl.
Well, South Florida managed to salvage its season on Christmas Eve with another bowl win — even if it took forever. Needing a record five overtimes, the Bulls squeaked past San Jose State, 41-39. (Ironically, this mark was broken just two days later when Pittsburgh and Toledo required six overtimes to decide the GameAbove Sports Bowl.)
In such a high-scoring affair, you’d expect the offensive stars to reign supreme, but you can argue that Bulls linebacker Mac Harris was the key to the win. In the final game of his collegiate career, the senior excelled with eight tackles — two of which were for a loss — one quarterback hurry and a pass breakup (which essentially clinched the win as it came in the fifth overtime in the end zone).
In the final regular season game, Harris also came up big with nine tackles and one pass defended to cap a superb season in which he shattered his career highs nearly across the board, including recording 54 solo tackles — three times what he managed in 2023.
The Florida native started all 12 regular season games for the Bulls, but is not expected to be drafted despite his breakout campaign. Perhaps Harris’ Bowl heroics will put him on the radar as a potential UDFA.
ND State Headed Back to FCS Championship
Since going 14-1 in 2021, the North Dakota State Bison of the FCS had dipped to 12 wins and then “just” 11 last year. This season, ND State has gone 13-1 and will play in the FCS championship game for the third time in four years.
Seeking its first title since 2021, the Bison will have a tough time against Montana State on January 6 (currently 3.5-point underdogs as per FanDuel).
The hero in the semifinal win over South Dakota State was junior wide receiver Bryce Lance, who caught six passes — including three touchdowns — for 125 yards. Talk about a magical playoff run; over three games, he’s already pulled in 16 passes for 268 yards and six TDs.
Lance only had one career reception coming into this season, but exploded for 66 catches and 946 yards with a whopping 16 scores in 2024. But his piece de resistance came in the semifinal when he made a spectacular one-handed grab for the game-winning TD.
Trey‘s younger brother is projected to go in the top four rounds of the NFL draft thanks to his strong ball skills and hands.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Los Angeles rock band Toto likes to have its name stylized as TOTO. In 1978, they released their debut, eponymous album which included the top five hit “Hold the Line.”