U.S. college football fans are enjoying six games on the schedule for New Year's Day. Sixth-ranked Missouri kicked off the day with a 38-7 victory over Arkansas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.
Running back Tony Temple, who is often overlooked in Missouri's pass-heavy offense, broke longstanding Cotton Bowl records Tuesday with 281 yards and four touchdowns. Both records fell on his last run, a spinning, tackle-breaking, 40-yarder into the end zone.
In Tampa, Florida, Erik Ainge threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns to lead 16th-ranked Tennessee to a 21-17 victory over number 18 Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl. Ainge completed 25 of 43 passes and was not intercepted on the way to being named the game's MVP - most valuable player.
In other games, Michigan beat 12th-ranked Florida, 41-35, in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Receiver Adrian Arrington had nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the final game for Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. Texas Tech upended number 20 Virginia, 31-28, at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. Mikell Simpson set a record for the longest touchdown run by a running back in U.S. bowl history with a 96-yard score.
Seventh-ranked USC, University of Southern California, rolled past number 13 Illinois, 49-17, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. USC rolled to a record setting 663 yards of offense and tied a Rose Bowl record for points. The final game of the day is the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, featuring fifth-ranked Georgia and 10th ranked Hawaii
College football's post-season ends January 7 when Ohio State plays Louisiana State for the national championship in New Orleans.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
