College Football

Top Plays: Purdue, Michigan State win in thrilling fashion

Updated Dec. 31, 2021 2:30 a.m. ET

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As Bowl season continues, the matchups just keep getting better. Thursday was a perfect example.

Kicking things off was a battle between North Carolina and South Carolina in the Mayo Bowl. The Gamecocks came away with a 38-21 victory, but you have to wonder if coach Shane Beamer enjoyed his reward — a 4.5-gallon dousing of mayonnaise.

Following that, Purdue capped off a memorable 2021 campaign with a thrilling 48-45 win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. 

The marquee matchup of the day featured No. 12 Pittsburgh taking on No. 10 Michigan State in the Peach Bowl. The much-anticipated clash lived up to the hype as the Spartans scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter en route to an impressive 31-21 victory.

The final game of the night saw Wisconsin defeat Arizona State 20-13 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Here are the top plays from Bowl Thursday:

Las Vegas Bowl — Wisconsin 20, Arizona State 13

Fullbacks need love too

Wisconsin got on the board first as fullback John Chenal punched it in from eight yards out.

Air it out

With just under two minutes remaining in the opening quarter, Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz connected with Jake Ferguson in the back of the end zone, giving the Badgers a 14-3 lead.

Sun Devils with the answer

Arizona State started the second half with a bang as RB Daniyel Ngata capped off a five-play, 64-yard drive with a rushing score, making it 20-13.

The Sun Devils' comeback attempt fell short as the Badgers ran out the clock in the end, earning a 20-13 victory.

Peach Bowl — No. 10 Michigan State 31, No. 12 Pittsburgh 21

Quick start

Michigan State QB Payton Thorne hooked up with his former high school teammate Jayden Reed for a 28-yard score, giving the Spartans an early 7-0 advantage.

Patti to the Pylon

Pitt answered right back as QB Nick Patti scrambled 16 yards for the score, tying the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter.

Third-string QB, no problem

Third-string QB Davis Beville entered the game for Pitt and delivered a four-yard TD strike to Jared Wayne, giving the Panthers a 14-10 lead.

Scoop-and-score

Pitt's D made another big statement, forcing a fumble and then taking it 26 yards to the house. The touchdown tied a program record for defensive scores in a season.

Get up!

Michigan State TE Connor Heyward leaped up and came down with a clutch TD catch, making it 21-16.

Rock the baby

Reed climbed the ladder and hauled in a 22-yard touchdown catch, putting the Spartans on top. He followed it up with a must-see "rock the baby" celebration.

Reservations for six!

With Pitt driving and looking to tie the game or take the lead, Michigan State LB Cal Haladay picked off the pass and returned it 78 yards for the game-sealing TD.

Music City Bowl — Purdue 45, Tennessee 42

Off the hook

Hendon Hooker's 41-yard dime to Cedric Tillman put the Volunteers up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

On the board

Purdue answered right back as QB Aidan O'Connell hooked up with Broc Thompson for a 75-yard touchdown. And yes … the ref almost tackled Thompson.

Make it two

The Vols wasted little time as Hooker unleashed another deep ball to Tillman for a touchdown.

Back on top 

After the Boilermakers took a 23-21 lead into the half, Tennessee came out firing as Velus Jones Jr. took a screen pass to the house!

We've got a game

Back-and-forth we go as O'Connell dropped a perfect dime to TJ Sheffield for the score, giving the Boilermakers a 30-28 lead.

Refusing to go down

Purdue TE Payne Durham caught a pass up the middle and then refused to go down, breaking multiple tackles and rumbling 62 yards to the end zone.

Fourth down, no problem

The Vols went right back at it as Hooker found Tillman for their third TD of the game, this one a 13-yard strike to tie it up at 38-38.

Career Day

The Boilermakers struck right back with a 70-yard pass-and-catch from O'Connell to Thompson. With that pass, O'Connell set a Purdue bowl game record!

Walk-Off!

After getting a huge stop on fourth down, Purdue got the ball back and Mitchell Fineran kicked a game-winning 39-yard field goal in overtime.

Duke's Mayo Bowl — South Carolina 38, North Carolina 21

To the victor goes the spoils

The winning coach of the Mayo Bowl was set to — you guessed it — be bathed in mayonnaise. Is this an incentive?

Going deep!

The Gamecocks struck first with a stunning bit of deception. Receiver Dakereon Joyner lined up at quarterback, avoided the rush and launched a 69-yard TD pass to Jaheim Bell.

Ringing the Bell

It wasn't long before Bell struck again, this time from QB Zeb Noland for 66 yards. The ensuing two-point conversion made it 15-0.

Feeling the moves

The Gamecocks built an 18-0 lead in the first quarter. Then, after the Heels battled back within 18-10 early in the second, South Carolina struck again with another big play. By halftime, South Carolina led 25-13.

Yum?

Meanwhile …

Sam the Man

Tar Heels star Sam Howell kept the Tar Heels in the game, throwing a TD pass in the third quarter as UNC stayed within 11 points.

South Carolina rules the day

But in the end, for good or bad, it was all Gamecocks.

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College Football

North Carolina Tar Heels

South Carolina Gamecocks

CFB - Duke's Mayo Bowl - 12/30/2021

CFB - Music City Bowl - 12/30/2021

Tennessee Volunteers

Purdue Boilermakers

CFB - Peach Bowl - 12/31/2021

Michigan State Spartans

Pittsburgh Panthers

CFB - Las Vegas Bowl - 12/31/2021

Wisconsin Badgers

Arizona State Sun Devils