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Fresno State grinds down Miami (Ohio) to win Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

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1 week ago

December 28, 2025

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Fresno State grinds down Miami (Ohio) to win Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

Justin Spears
| Arizona Daily Star

The next episode of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was a low-scoring game, but it was a closer contest than the previous year.

Fresno State outlasted Miami (Ohio), 18-3, in a low-scoring game and dethroned the Redhawks as the Arizona Bowl champion on Saturday at Casino Del Sol Stadium.

FSU ended the season winning four of its last five games and the Bulldogs finished their first season under head coach Matt Entz with a 9-4 record.

Miami, which has appeared in the last three MAC championships, finished the season with a 7-7 record.

Fresno State’s postgame celebration included Snoop Dogg delivering the Arizona Bowl trophy in a 1963 Chevy Impala and handing out “Death Row Records” chains to FSU players and coaches.

“A guy from Northeast Ohio probably looks unique with a Death Row necklace on,” Entz joked.

“When you finish with a win in December, that’s a good year,” Entz said. “Period. … When you’re winning a game after Christmas, with these type of young men, that’s a win for the administration, that’s a win for the program, that’s a win for Fresno State, that’s a win for our administration and all of our coaches and support people.”

Added Entz: “For them to walk out being a winner, being a champion of the Arizona Bowl, that’s exciting. I’m excited for them. That’s what it should be about.”

Fresno State, which ranks 14th in college football in total defense, is the first team in Arizona Bowl history to not allow a touchdown. The 21 total points on Saturday marked the lowest-scoring Arizona Bowl in the bowl game’s history.

After Miami kicker Dom Dzioban kicked a 33-yard field goal to grab a 3-0 lead, Fresno State outscored the Redhawks 18-0 to finish the game. Following Miami’s field goal on its opening drive, the Redhawks had drives result in two turnovers, two turnover on downs and five punts.

“Their defense outplayed our offense by a large margin,” said Miami head coach Chuck Martin.

Turning point

Miami was without long snapper Hudson Powell, who is expected to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 2. The Redhawks turned to backup long snapper Gray Maultsby, who sailed a snap over the head of punter Pierse Stainton in the second quarter.

Instead of giving up a potential safety or touchdown, Stainton picked up the dribbled snap in the end zone and attempted a punt that was blocked by Fresno State’s Ethan Thierney and recovered by FSU’s Jonathan Arceneaux at the Fresno State 10-yard line. A stuffed run, an incomplete pass and a short run by Fresno State quarterback and Phoenix native E.J. Warner forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 23-yard field goal to tie the game, 3-3.

Miami’s longest drive of the game, a seven-play, 53-yard possession, was cut short after Fresno State linebacker forced Miami running back Jordan Brunson to fumble, which was recovered by cornerback Jakari Embry at the FSU 22-yard line. Miami only had one trip to the red zone the entire game.

“That definitely shifted momentum and gave them some life,” Martin said of the fumble. “We just weren’t going to get in the plus territory many times against that defense, so we knew we had to cash in. … Big shift right there.”

Fresno State kicker Dylan Lynch made a 25-yard field at the end of the first half and the Bulldogs led 9-3 at halftime. Fresno State out-gained Miami 156-40 in the second quarter.

Even though former Arizona Wildcat and Fresno State running back Rayshon “Speedy” Luke suffered an injury in the first half and was limited throughout the game, FSU out-gained in total offense, 391-192 yards, and controlled time of possession, 38:40-21:20.

Fresno State’s only touchdown of the game was a 2-yard pass from Warner to sophomore tight end Richie Anderson III.

“Maybe we didn’t score touchdowns, but we leaned on people and we imposed on our will,” Entz said. “We got our run game going at different times. The gap-scheme stuff was really good.”

Offensive MVP

Warner, who’s the son of Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, was named MVP for the Arizona Bowl after completing 16 of 23 passes for 214 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

Warner’s top target was senior wide receiver Josiah Freeman. Fresno State’s leading receiver had seven catches for 143 yards — 109 yards after catch (YAC). Freeman had receptions of 51, 47 and 21 yards.

“Definitely the most (YAC) I’ve had,” Freeman said.

Defensive MVP

Embry entered Saturday with one career interception and he doubled it with an interception on a deep ball near the left sideline in the first quarter.

Embry, who recorded two tackles, had the momentum-shifting fumble recovery.

“The energy from that point went up,” Embry said of the fumble. “Ain’t nothing better on defense than getting a takeaway. That’s the best thing.”

Unsung hero

Lynch was 4-for-5 on field goals on Saturday. Lynch was a combined 8-for-9 in Fresno State’s final two games of the season.

Fresno State was 5-for-7 scoring in the red zone.

Extra points

— Announced attendance for the Arizona Bowl was 37,232. The attendance for the Arizona Bowl last season was 40,076.

— Miami had three players finish with double-digit tackles on Saturday: Safety Eli Blakey and linebacker Malcolm McCain each had 13 tackles and defensive back Silas Walters had 12 tackles.

— Luke, who had four carries for 14 yards, on his return to Tucson: “It felt great, seeing things I haven’t seen in almost a year. It’s a little shocking, because I never thought I’d be back here. It’s amazing.”

— Martin, on the experience at the Arizona Bowl over the last two years: “Amazing. It’s a great bowl. All the bowls are great, I’ve been around all of them, but this is as good as it gets for me, personally. Everybody treats you great, but it is above and beyond here. Everywhere you turn, someone wants to help you if you need something. … The interaction with Snoop, it’s a big deal to a lot of people, not just the players. There’s a lot of adults that are starry-eyed to be close to Snoop. … It’s the funnest football game you’ve ever been a part of.”

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Ohio State has added a tight end as its first 2026 transfer portal addition

Published

12 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Ohio State has added a tight end as its first 2026 transfer portal addition

COLUMBUS, Ohio –Ohio State had added the first player to its 2026 transfer portal class.

Mason Williams is a former member of the 2023 recruiting class who spent his first three seasons as an Ohio Bobcat. After redshirting his freshman season, he’s spent the last two as a vital member of the Bobcats’ offense as both a blocker and a receiver.

In 1,133 snaps, Williams caught 48 passes for 565 yards and six touchdowns. As a blocker, he can be a reliable end-line tight end who can replace the loss of Will Kacmarek, who is out of eligibility. Kacmarek also came from Ohio in 2024 and spent the last two years as a major contributor, developing into one of the nation’s best blocking tight ends.

Williams will have two years of eligibility remaining in Columbus. His addition helps offset the loss of Kacmarek to graduation and Jelani Thurman to the transfer portal. He’ll join a room expected to feature Bennett Christian, Nate Roberts, Brody Lemon and Maxence LeBlanc. Nick Lautar will also join the room as an incoming freshman.

OSU is also waiting for the decision of Purdue transfer Max Klare, who has the option of declaring for the NFL Draft or returning in 2026.

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Ohio State Transfer QB Lincoln Kienholz Commits to Louisville

Published

24 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Ohio State Transfer QB Lincoln Kienholz Commits to Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville football program, presumably, has their QB1 for the 2026 season.

Former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz announced Saturday that he has committed to the Cardinals. He will join Louisville will two years of eligilbility.

Keinholz is Louisville’s second portal commitment of the cycle, joining Kentucky cornerback D.J. Waller. The duo are the first to offset 21 portal defections that UofL has seen so far. The 14-day transfer window officially opened up this past Friday, and is the only opportunity for players to enter following the removal of the spring window.

The 6-foot-2, 214-pound quarterback was involved in a highly competitive battle for the Buckeyes’ starting gig in the preseason, before ultimately losing out to eventual Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin. He saw action in seven games this past season, going 11-of-14 through the air for 139 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 66 yards and two scores on 11 attempts.

“Just a tremendous athlete,” OSU head coach Ryan Day said of Kienholz at Big Ten Media Days this past summer. “You pick a sport, he can do it. He’s like a four handicap [in golf]. He can hit the [baseball] out of the park. He was a major league baseball prospect. He can windmill dunk. He can do a lot of things.”

The Pierre, S.D. native spent three seasons in Columbus. As a true freshman in 2023, he played in three games, going 10-of-22 for 111 yards, while also rushing for two yards on six attempts. He did not log any stats during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season.

Kienholz was a highly-regarded recruit coming out of high school, ranking as No. 194 prospect in the Class of 2023. He chose Ohio State over Illinois, Kansas State, Pitt, Washington, Wisconsin and others.

He has the inside track to be Louisville’s starter next season given recent roster movement. Previously, incoming true freshman Briggs Cherry was the lone scholarship quarterback on the roster after Deuce Adams, Brady Allen and Mason Mims all hit the transfer portal.

In their third season under head coach Jeff Brohm, Louisville went 9-4 overall, including a 4-4 mark in ACC play and a 27-22 win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Cardinals have won at least nine games in all three seasons under Brohm, doing so for the first time since 2012-14.

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Ohio Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for Dec. 28, 2025

Published

1 week ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:

Pick 3

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 9-0-9

Evening: 2-4-1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 6-4-5-8

Evening: 4-6-2-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 6-8-6-2-0

Evening: 2-4-5-7-9

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Rolling Cash 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

10-11-15-19-34

Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Lucky For Life

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.

12-17-25-34-42, Lucky Ball: 09

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.

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