Over the last few days, college football has seen a number of great contests. From the Sun Bowl on Friday to Saturday when TCU<\/a> and Georgia\u00a0both won<\/a> epic semi-finals setting up an unlikely championship. On paper, the Cotton Bowl match-up between Tulane and USC looked like one of the best of the season. A lot of points were expected and the two teams certainly didn’t disappoint. In fact, it was one to remember. Let’s review all the action as Tulane wins the Cotton Bowl 46-45.<\/p>\n If you\u00a0read our game preview,<\/a> the biggest question heading into Monday’s game at “Jerry World” was the health of Heisman winner Caleb Williams<\/a>. He suffered a hamstring injury in the Pac-12 loss to Utah and his status was somewhat up in the air. However, he said he’d be good to go and certainly proved it. Taking the opening kickoff the Trojans went 75 yards in 17 plays taking nine minutes off the clock. The final nine came on a pass from Williams to Michael Jackson III<\/a> and it was 7-0. After a Tulane punt pinned them back at their five-yard line Williams led USC 95 yards in 12 plays. This time a three-yard pass to Terrell Bynum <\/a>put them up 14-0.<\/p>\n Of course, the Green Wave was the AAC Champions for a reason and they quickly battled back. A three-yard run by Tyjae Spears<\/a> cut the lead in half. Willie Fritz’s club got the break they needed when\u00a0Jarius Monroe<\/a> intercepted a Williams pass at the Tulane eight. It took them all of 50 seconds to score as Michael Pratt<\/a> hit\u00a0Jha’Quon Jackson<\/a> on an 87-yard strike and we were tied.<\/p>\n The Trojans retook the lead on a 37-yard run by Raleek Brown<\/a> then scored again right before the half on Williams’ third touchdown pass, this one to Brenden Rice<\/a>. At the intermission, USC had doubled up the Green Wave 28-14.<\/p>\n In the second half Spears, the reigning AAC player of the year put Tulane on his back. Racking up 60 of the 76 yards on the drive he took it the last seven cutting the deficit in half. With all the tackling problems USC had in the Pac-12 title game Spears was chomping at the bit to get at that defense.\u00a0 Following a Tulane field goal, the Heisman winner went back to work. Going 97 yards in five plays the second TD of the day to Rice put USC up 11. Spears ran wild again picking up all 65 yards on their next scoring drive. The two-point conversion was no good and the lead was 35-30.<\/p>\n Williams’ fifth touchdown pass, this one to\u00a0Mario Williams<\/a> put the Trojans up 12. On Tulane’s next possession Spears fumbled which led to a field goal and were up 15 with 4:30 to go. Things were looking good for USC, or so everyone thought.<\/p>\n Tulane needed only 23 seconds to get back into it. Pratt hit\u00a0Deuce Watts<\/a> for 59 yards and Spears took it the final four. On the ensuing kick-off, Williams fumbled it out of bounds at their own one-yard line. Two plays later Austin Jones<\/a> was tackled in the end zone for a safety. The Green Wave got the ball back and drove 64 yards for the game winner. Converting twice on fourth down they got down to the USC six-yard line. Pratt hit Alex Bauman<\/a> in the end zone but the play was ruled incomplete. However, it was overturned on replay and when Valentino Ambrosio<\/a> hit the extra point Tulane capped off an improbable comeback. If you are scoring at home that’s 16 points in the last 4:30 for the Green Wave. USC had one more chance but couldn’t get anything going as Tulane wins the Cotton Bowl 46-45.<\/p>\n Unreal!!!!<\/p>\n That is the final!!! <\/p>\n Tulane wins the @CottonBowlGame<\/a> and wraps up the season 12-2!!!!#RollWave<\/a> | #LikeNoOther<\/a> | #GoodyearCottonBowl<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ddyQBhQS6w<\/a><\/p>\n — Tulane Football (@GreenWaveFB) January 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNo Ill Effects<\/h3>\n
Leading The Comeback<\/h3>\n
Momentum Changer<\/h3>\n
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