FRISCO, Texas – Only a few days in the past, Gonzaga popped into the Far North Dallas suburb of Frisco.
Whereas they could have pushed previous The Star, took a peak into the FC Dallas stadium, handed a couple of hours away on the Nationwide Video Recreation Museum and presumably chomped down a couple of brisket quesadillas at Blue Goose, the Bulldogs had been on the town for a similar cause so many from the West Coast drop by – to discover a new residence.
Large 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Gonzaga athletics director Chris Standiford took time to cozy up on the native Hyatt whereas the Zags had been within the space for a scrimmage in opposition to Tennessee.
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Since that assembly, social media has determined to shockingly [please note the sarcasm] turn into offended after which reply with insults towards Gonzaga about how they might by no means be Gonzaga once more in the event that they had been smug sufficient to dare the darkish waters of Large 12 basketball.
In fact Arkansas followers have seen up shut the legitimacy of the Bulldogs’ program. The Razorbacks accomplished the close to unimaginable job of conserving Gonzaga out of the NCAA championship sport – which the Bulldogs have been in two of the previous 5 – with a 74-68 win in final yr’s Candy 16.
Gonzaga’s Drew Timme reveals respect to Arkansas ahead Jaylin Williams after the Razorbacks upset the Bulldogs within the Candy 16.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports activities
That is in all probability why West Virginia coach Bob Huggins was doing his greatest to dissuade Gonzaga from becoming a member of the Large 12 Thursday. The very last thing he wants is a 4,600 mile spherical journey and one other nationwide energy on his schedule.
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“To get on this league and play who we play day-after-day, I might assume it could be an incredible awakening,” West Virginia coach Bob Huggins advised reporters Thursday. “You do not get to make your personal schedule within the Large 12.”
Whereas it could make for enjoyable video games to observe when the SEC elite aren’t enjoying each other, this is not a very good factor for Arkansas.
First off is the plain unfavourable. Everybody is aware of when the Large 12-SEC Problem rolls round, the choice makers will ship Gonzaga to Kentucky when it is time for the Bulldogs to go on the street due to the aesthetic of Gonzaga rolling into Rupp.
Nonetheless, when it is time for Gonzaga to host an SEC crew, it is a straightforward guess that Arkansas will probably be shipped to Spokane for a possible revenge sport.
The opposite, much less apparent concern is recruiting. That is about to get harder.
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Whereas the transfer to the SEC may really harm Texas in recruiting from a basketball standpoint, including Houston and Gonzaga to the Large 12-SEC recruiting dynamic in North Texas that already options Kansas, Baylor, Texas, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky makes Razorback coach Eric Musselman’s job touchdown huge fish considerably harder.
Whereas the extra pure match is the Pac-12, which reportedly additionally courted Gonzaga at one level, Bulldogs’ coach Mark Few is a nationwide recruiter. Solely half of the Gonzaga roster is from the west and that is not going to go down as a result of the Bulldogs moved from the West Coast Convention to the rather more distinguished Large 12.
Whereas buying and selling St. Mary’s for Kansas is not going to trigger Gonzaga to lose a California child, it very properly may trigger Arkansas to lose a Texas child.
The Hogs simply grew to become a sizzling mattress for 5-star basketball gamers. Nonetheless, if Few begins knocking on extra Texas highschool doorways with the promise of enjoying for a extremely revered nationwide program with quite a few video games inside simple driving distance, it stands to cause that Arkansas may lose elite expertise it would not if Gonzaga weren’t hanging round.
Gonzaga to the Large 12 may be the very best information school basketball has acquired in a very long time.
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It simply may not be excellent news for Arkansas.
HOGS FEED:
WHAT MIKE NEIGHBORS, PLAYERS THOUGHT AFTER AN EXHBITION WIN LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR SOME
WHAT LIBERTY BRINGS TO FAYETTEVILLE FOR SATURDAY’S GAME AGAINST THE RAZORBACKS
SEC ROUNDUP: AUBURN DEFENSIVE PLAYERS CLEAR ON WHO THEY WANT TO REPLACE BRYAN HARSIN
RAZORBACKS’ NICK SMITH LANDS ON SEC COACHES’ FIRST TEAM
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WATCH: HOGS’ DREW SANDERS, KETRON JACKSON ON FACING LIBERTY ON SATURDAY
WATCH: RAZORBACKS’ LUKE JONES, HUDSON CLARK AFTER PRACTICE TUESDAY
LIBERTY’S HUGH FREEZE AFRAID OF COLD, DOESN’T LIKE FAYETTEVILLE GAMES
ANTHONY BLACK’S DUNCANVILLE TEAM STRIPPED OF STATE TITLE, COACH SUSPENDED
NOW THAT ARKANSAS RAN OFF HARSIN, AUBURN NEEDS LIST OF QUALITIES TO SEEK OUT IN NEW SHINING ‘KNIGHT’
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AUBURN WANTED TO CAP WEEKEND BY FIRING HARSIN & HIRING HOGS’ AD
LATEST SEC SHORTS: ARE TENNESSEE FANS AFRAID OF ANYTHING THESE DAYS?
MIKE NEIGHBORS PREVIEWS WEDNESDAY NIGHT EXHIBITION GAME
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Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee
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0 Starts for Texas Tech QB Will Hammond, who will open under center for the Red Raiders against Arkansas after No. 1 QB Behren Morton had shoulder surgery. Morton threw for 3,335 yards and 27 TDs in 2024. Hammond has completed 15-of-23 passes for 191 yards with one TD and no interceptions this season. Hammond won’t have 1,000-yard receiver Josh Kelly to throw to on Friday. The wide receiver has opted out of the game.
1 Previous appearance in the Liberty Bowl for Texas Tech, which defeated Mississippi State 34-7 on Dec. 28, 2021. That kicked off the Red Raiders’ current three-game bowl winning streak that has boosted Texas Tech’s bowl record for 17-23-1.
2 Players in the nation had at least 2,800 passing yards and 500 rushing yards entering the bowl season – Arkansas QB Taylen Green and Washington State QB John Mateer. Green has completed 219-of-360 passes for 2,813 yards with 13 TDs and nine interceptions and run 141 times for 521 yards and seven TDs.
5 2-point conversions have been given up by Arkansas in 2024, tied for the most in the nation entering the bowl season. Texas Tech has scored four 2-point conversions this season.
7 Appearances in the Liberty Bowl for Arkansas when the Razorbacks take the field on Friday, the most in the game’s history (two ahead of Mississippi State). The Razorbacks have a 3-3 record in the Liberty Bowl after winning their past three appearances. Arkansas defeated East Carolina 20-17 in overtime on Jan. 2, 2010, Kansas State 45-23 on Jan. 2, 2016, and Kansas 55-53 in three overtimes on Dec. 28, 2022, and lost to Tennessee 14-13 on Dec. 20, 1971, Auburn 21-15 on Dec. 27, 1984, and Georgia 20-17 on Dec. 29, 1987. Overall, Arkansas has a 17-24-3 bowl record.
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8 Victories and three losses for Arkansas against opponents from the Big 12 and its predecessor conferences in bowls. In bowls against other conferences, the Razorbacks have a 9-21-3 record. Overall, Arkansas has a 34-14 record against Big 12 opponents since 1928, when the Big Six formed, including a 39-31 loss in two overtimes to Oklahoma State on Sept. 7.
10 Victories, 19 losses and two ties for Texas Tech against SEC opponents. The Red Raiders played their first game against an SEC opponent on Jan. 1, 1954, when Texas Tech scored a 35-13 victory over Auburn in the Gator Bowl. The Red Raiders have a 4-6-1 record in bowl against SEC opponents.
21 Victories and 11 losses for SEC teams in the Liberty Bowl. The 1965 Liberty Bowl was all-SEC, with Ole Miss beating Auburn 13-7. Big 12 teams have a 4-7 record in the Liberty Bowl. The SEC has a 4-4 record against the Big 12 and its predecessor conferences in the Liberty Bowl.
29 Victories for Arkansas and eight victories for Texas Tech in the Razorbacks-Red Raiders series, although Texas Tech won the most recent meeting 35-29 on Sept. 19, 2015, and has victories in three of the past four meetings. Thirty-two of the 37 meetings came when the teams were members of the Southwest Conference together from 1960 through 1991.
34.5 Points per game have been scored against the Texas Tech this season, the highest average yielded by any bowl participant this season. The Red Raiders led the Big 12 in scoring during the regular season with an average of 38.6 points per game.
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97 Third-down snaps were converted into first downs by Texas Texas in 2024, the most in the nation entering the bowl season. The Red Raiders have had 196 third-down snaps, tied for the second-most in the nation and have converted 49.5 percent into first downs, the sixth-best rate in the nation.
103 Yards and two TDs on 20 rushing attempts in 2024 for Rodney Hill, who is listed as the No. 1 running back on Arkansas’ depth chart for Friday’s game. Ja’Quinden Jackson led the Razorbacks with 790 yards and 15 TDs on 149 rushing attempts this season, but he has opted out of the game.
231 Plays from scrimmage gained at least 10 yards for Arkansas in 2024, the second-most in the nation entering the bowl season.
1,140 Receiving yards for Arkansas WR Andrew Armstrong, the most in the SEC this season. But Armstrong has opted out of the bowl, as has No. 2 receiver Isaiah Sategna, leaving WR Isaac TeSlaa as the Razorbacks’ leading receiver entering Friday’s game. TeSlaa has 438 yards and three TDs on 25 receptions in 2024.
1,505 Rushing yards for Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks this season as he replaced Byron Hanspard as the Red Raiders’ career rushing leader in 2024. By running for at least 109 yards in each of his 11 games this season, Brooks lifted his career total to 4,557 rushing yards, the fourth-most in Big 12 history. Brooks is in Memphis with Texas Tech, but his participation in Friday’s game has not been confirmed by the team.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
A pair of 7-5 teams from the Sun Belt and MAC are set to square off at South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, on Dec. 26 as Arkansas State meets Bowling Green in the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl.
The game has existed since 1999 and gone by quite a few names, most recently the LendingTree Bowl, and this year’s iteration pits two teams that finished with winning records in conference play against each other.
Former Tennessee coach Butch Jones leads the Red Wolves in his fourth season, and they finished third in the Sun Belt West but suffered blowout losses to Louisiana and Texas State, which finished ahead of them.
The Falcons, led by sixth-year coach Scot Loeffler, finished tied for third in the MAC as they were predicted before the season. After a 2-4 start, Bowling Green strung five wins together in a row, a streak that ended in the final week of the regular season against Miami (Ohio).
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A victory in the 68 Ventures Bowl would give Bowling Green its first bowl win since 2014 and the first under Loeffler. It would also mark his first eight-win season and the Falcons’ first since 2015. Jones is also looking for his first eight-win season at Arkansas State, a program that boasts four bowl wins since moving up to FBS in 1992 but none since 2019, before Jones took over.
We’ll see which coach can reach eight wins for the first time at their respective programs when Arkansas State and Bowling Green head to Mobile on Boxing Day.
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Harold Fannin and the Bowling Green Falcons and the Arkansas State Red Wolves play in the 68 Ventures Bowl. The bowl matchup is December 26, 2024, starting at 9 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN.
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Interested in watching the matchup featuring the Falcons and Red Wolves? You can find it on ESPN.
Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.
USMNT goal filled weekend: Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Johnny Cardoso & more! | SOTU
Alexi Lalas and David Mosse broke down the United States Men’s National Team’s goal-filled weekend, where Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Johnny Cardoso, and Brenden Aaronson scored for their respective clubs. The guys are excited, as the USMNT players continue to stack strong performances one after another in Europe.
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Learn more about the Bowling Green Falcons and the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
How to Watch Bowling Green vs. Arkansas State
When: Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET
Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama
Live Box Score: FOX Sports
Read More About This Game
Bowling Green vs. Arkansas State Predictions
Bowling Green’s 2024 Schedule
Date
Opponent
Score
8/29/2024
vs. Fordham
W 41-17
9/7/2024
at Penn State
L 34-27
9/21/2024
at Texas A&M
L 26-20
9/28/2024
vs. Old Dominion
L 30-27
10/5/2024
at Akron
W 27-20
10/12/2024
vs. Northern Illinois
L 17-7
10/19/2024
vs. Kent State
W 27-6
10/26/2024
at Toledo
W 41-26
11/5/2024
at Central Michigan
W 23-13
11/12/2024
vs. Western Michigan
W 31-13
11/23/2024
at Ball State
W 38-13
11/29/2024
vs. Miami (OH)
L 28-12
12/26/2024
vs. Arkansas State
–
Bowling Green 2024 Stats & Insights
Bowling Green ranks 87th in total offense (369.4 yards per game) and 32nd in total defense (331.1 yards allowed per game) this season.
Bowling Green ranks 70th in passing yards this year (224.6 per game), but has been thriving on the other side of the ball, ranking 20th-best in the FBS with 181.3 passing yards allowed per game.
The Falcons rank 73rd in points scored this season (26.8 points per game), but they’ve been shining on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 20th-best in the FBS with 20.3 points allowed per game.
The Falcons are totaling 144.8 rushing yards per game on offense this season (83rd in the FBS), and they are surrendering 149.8 rushing yards per game (73rd) on the other side of the ball.
Bowling Green ranks 91st in third-down conversion rate this season (37.5%), but has been playing really well on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 16th-best in the FBS with a 32.3% third-down conversion rate allowed.
The Falcons rank 47th in college football with a +3 turnover margin after forcing 13 turnovers (99th in the FBS) and committing 10 (15th in the FBS).
Arkansas State’s defense has been bottom-25 in total defense this season, allowing 460.7 total yards per game, which ranks sixth-worst. On the offensive side of the ball, it ranks 66th with 386.4 total yards per contest.
Arkansas State is putting up 227.1 passing yards per game on offense this season (67th-ranked). Meanwhile, it is allowing 234.4 passing yards per contest (96th-ranked) on defense.
The Red Wolves rank 93rd in points per game (24.8), but they’ve been less productive on the other side of the ball, ranking 23rd-worst in the FBS with 32.3 points allowed per contest.
The Red Wolves rank 73rd in rushing yards per game (159.3), but they’ve been less productive defensively, ranking fourth-worst in the FBS with 226.3 rushing yards surrendered per contest.
Arkansas State’s defense has been bottom-25 on third down this season, surrendering a 46.9% third-down conversion percentage, which ranks 12th-worst in the FBS. On offense, it ranks 71st with a 46.9% third-down rate.
The Red Wolves have recorded 19 forced turnovers (43rd in the FBS) and committed 17 turnovers (60th in the FBS) this season for a +2 turnover margin that ranks 54th in the FBS.
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