Bowl Capsules

Jan 1, 2016 - 5:02 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Jake Coker played the game of his career, hooking up with Calvin Ridley for two touchdowns, and second-ranked Alabama aired it out to beat No. 3 Michigan State 38-0 on Thursday night and advance to the national championship game.

Alabama (13-1) will face No. 1 Clemson on Jan. 11 in Arizona looking for its fourth national title in nine seasons under coach Nick Saban.

The Tide looked like a team with no weaknesses against overmatched Michigan State (12-2). Coker, the promising Florida State transfer who sat the bench most of last season, was nearly perfect. The senior completed 25 for 30 passes for 286 yards. The freshman Ridley was brilliant, streaking by defenders on deep throws and outfighting them on jump balls. He caught eight passes for 138 yards.

Jonathan Allen and the ferocious Tide defensive front sacked Connor Cook four times and allowed the Spartans only one trip into the red zone - which ended with Cyrus Jones interception at the goal line.

Jones added a high-stepping 57-yard punt return touchdown for the Tide, and Alabama hardly even had to use Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. The big tailback who has carried the offense most of the season was mostly just a role player against a defense stacked to stop him. He ran for 75 yards and scored two touchdowns. The last made it 38-0 halfway through the fourth quarter.

ORANGE BOWL

NO. 1 CLEMSON 37, NO. 4 OKLAHOMA 17

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - Deshaun Watson turned in another stellar two-way performance, running for one touchdown, passing for another and accounting for 332 yards to lead Clemson past Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl semifinal game.

Clemson (14-0) dominated the second half and shut down Oklahoma's high-scoring offense that had averaged 52 points over its last seven games. The Sooners (11-2) actually came into the game as favorites, but the Tigers showed their perfect record was no fluke.

Watson got off to a slow start passing, but came back to complete 16 of 31 for 187 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow that gave Clemson some breathing room late in the third quarter.

Watson carried the running load in the early going, finishing with 145 yards on 24 carries and scoring the Tigers' first touchdown on a 5-yard run.

Clemson sacked Baker Mayfield five times and held the Sooners to 121 yards over the final two quarters. Clemson piled up 550 yards in the game.

PEACH BOWL

NO. 14 HOUSTON 38, NO. 9 FLORIDA STATE 24

ATLANTA (AP) - Greg Ward Jr. ran for two touchdowns and threw for another score, leading Houston past turnover-plagued Florida State in the Peach Bowl.

Ward threw for 238 yards and ran for 67 yards as No. 14 Houston (13-1) scored the most points allowed by Florida State this season.

The Seminoles (10-3), who trailed 21-3 at halftime, tried to rally with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes by Sean Maguire. It wasn't enough to overcome five turnovers.

Maguire, who was carted off the field with a lower left leg injury late in the first quarter, returned but threw four interceptions. Houston safety Trevon Stewart and cornerback William Jackson III each had two interceptions.

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AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org






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