Tennessee routs Northwestern in Outback Bowl

(AP Photo/Chris O’Meara). Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara (6) eludes Northwestern linebacker Drew Smith (55) during the first quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Tampa, Fla.

Both teams ended the season on five-game winning streaks that came on the heels of disappointing losses that ruined any hopes the Wildcats and Volunteers had of winding up playing for conference championships. He’d some ill-advised throws, still escaped with out an interception & completed 14 of 25 passes for 166 yards. On the ground, the Volunteers average 223.5 yards per game in which Jalen Hurd tops with 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Vols, which also missed an early field goal, then added one from Aaron Medley, but then conceded what turned out to be the lone touchdown of the day for Northwestern, allowing the Wildcats to cut the lead to 10-6 in the second quarter.

The 45-6 Outback Bowl win over Northwestern doesn’t mean a lot, because the Wildcats aren’t very good, but the win will once again have people drinking the Orange Kool-Aid after closing their year with seven wins in the last eight games. The Buckeyes like to move Bosa around, so he won’t be going head to head with Stanley on every play, but pay attention when they do. “The natty is in Tampa and I believe in them one-hundred percent that they could do it”.

“We knew he could run, ” said Northwestern senior defensive end Deonte Gibson said, “but his ability to scramble and the way he did it today was impressive”. Although this is his third Rose Bowl, he is eager to go out with a game to remember after making just one tackle in his first two appearances….

The Wildcats missed the extra point, and it was pretty much downhill from there.

Facts & figures • MI won each of the two previous meetings, taking the 2003 Outback Bowl and 2008 Citrus Bowl…. – Northwestern RB Justin Jackson ran 14 times for 74 yards and a score.

Details for Friday’s game are below.

On the next possession Northwestern was able to march down the field thanks to some solid running by Justin Jackson, and a long scramble on 3rd down by QB Clayton Thorson. He is also one of four players nationally to return three kickoffs for touchdowns, tying Willie Gault’s 1980 mark for the most in program and SEC history. Jalen Reeves-Maybin has 99 tackles, Derek Barnett has 9 sacks, and Todd Kelly Jr. has 3 interceptions for Tennessee. 21 Stanford. The Wildcats started 5-0 before getting outscored by a combined score of 78-10 in back-to-back weeks versus MI and Iowa.

Two more garbage time touchdowns followed, including a 99-yard Evan Berry interception return in the final minute, to seal the blowout win.

The Tennessee Volunteers were 8-4 and finished 3rd in the SEC East Division standings.

Don’t give up on the run: This one won’t be easy, given it pits strength against strength, but Tennessee’s 223.5 yards per game rushing is the nation’s 20best and Northwestern will have to stop more than one guy.

When Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald begins his preparations for a game week, the first tape he pops in is an opponent’s special teams.

After Friday’s win, which clinched Tennessee’s first nine-win season since 2007 and gave the Vols wins in back-to-back bowls for the first time since 1996-97, Jones said his program is what? Notre Dame WR Will Fuller averaged 20.5 yards a catch, finishing with 1,145 yards and 13 touchdowns.