MARK DIDTLER
Mississippi State running back Jo'quavious Marks and the rest of the team wear stickers on their helmets in honor of former coach Mike Leach during the first half of the ReliaQuest Bowl NCAA college football game against Illinois Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Leach passed away Dec. 13, 2022, from a heart condition. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Mississippi St rallies to win ReliaQuest Bowl, honors Leach

By Mark Didtler Jan. 02, 2023 04:14 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Massimo Biscardi made a 27-yard tiebreaking field goal with four

Current football players enter the memorial service for their late Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach, at Humphrey Coliseum on the university's campus in Starkville, Miss., Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Leach died, Dec. 12, 2022, from complications related to a heart condition at 61. He was in his third year as head coach. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
No. 24 Mississippi State faces Illinois with heavy hearts

By Mark Didtler Jan. 01, 2023 10:53 AM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Mississippi State players and staff felt they knew what Mike Leach

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook throws a pass against Wake Forest during the first half of the Gasparilla Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Hartman throws 3 TD passes, Wake Forest beats Missouri 27-17

By Mark Didtler Dec. 23, 2022 10:31 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sam Hartman completed 23 of 36 passes for 280 yards and three

Wake Forest's Sam Hartman throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Wake Forest, Missouri eye opportunity in Gasparilla Bowl

By Mark Didtler Dec. 22, 2022 12:12 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Wake Forest and Missouri, coming off regular seasons full of close

Navy wide receiver Vincent Terrell Jr. dives over Notre Dame safety DJ Brown for a two point conversion during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
No. 17 UCF hosts AAC rival Navy, aiming for 4th straight win

By Mark Didtler Nov. 17, 2022 11:52 AM EST
ORLANDO. Fla. (AP) — The No. 17 Central Florida Knights have recovered from last

Penn State wide receiver Parker Washington (3) eludes Arkansas defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. after a catch during the first half of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Jefferson leads No. 22 Arkansas over Penn State 24-10

By Mark Didtler Jan. 01, 2022 03:45 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Arkansas football is on the rise. KJ Jefferson

Florida head coach interim Greg Knox watch play against Central Florida during the first half of the Gasparilla Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Bowser boosts UCF to 29-17 Gasparilla Bowl win over Florida

By Mark Didtler Dec. 23, 2021 11:17 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Isaiah Bowser ran for 155 yards and two touchdowns, Ryan O’Keefe

Coastal Carolina running back Braydon Bennett (1) runs the ball against Northern Illinois during the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP)
McCall, Coastal Carolina beat N. Illinois 47-41 in Cure Bowl

By Mark Didtler Dec. 17, 2021 10:21 PM EST
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Grayson McCall threw four touchdown passes and Coastal Carolina

South Florida quarterback Timmy McClain, left, gets sacked by Cincinnati linebacker Wilson Huber during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Ridder breaks Cincinnati TD record, No. 2 Bearcats beat USF

By Mark Didtler Nov. 12, 2021 09:44 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes to break the

Houston's quarterback Clayton Tune throws a pass against South Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)
Tune passes for 385 yards, No. 20 Houston tops USF 54-42

By Mark Didtler Nov. 06, 2021 11:36 PM EDT
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Clayton Tune was 21 of 26 for 385 yards and three touchdowns

Central Florida's Jake Brown, left, and Nate Evans hoist the trophy after the team's win over Marshall during the Gasparilla Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
UCF gets 10th win, beating Marshall 48-25 in Gasparilla Bowl

By Mark Didtler Dec. 23, 2019 07:01 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Central Florida is best known for a high-powered offense,

Hickson, Calvert lead Liberty past Ga Southern in Cure Bowl

By Mark Didtler Dec. 21, 2019 06:50 PM EST
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Liberty coach Hugh Freeze went from coaching from a

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2019 file photo South Florida head coach Charlie Strong looks onto the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Temple in Tampa, Fla. South Florida has fired Strong as coach after three seasons. Athletic director Michael Kelly announced the move Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019 two days after the Bulls concluded a 4-8 season with a 34-7 loss at UCF. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, file)
USF hopes to have new coach before early signing day

By Mark Didtler Dec. 02, 2019 04:11 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — South Florida athletic director Michael Kelly hopes to have

East Wide receiver Terry Godwin II (4), of Georgia, and West linebacker Justin Hollins (48), of Oregon, pose with their trophies after being named MVP's of the East-West Shrine football game Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Rypien, Stick help West beat East 21-17 in Shrine Game

By Mark Didtler Jan. 19, 2019 06:32 PM EST
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brett Rypien displayed some of his pedigree in the East

Marshall running back Anthony Anderson (21) celebrates with quarterback Isaiah Green (17) after Anderson scored a 1-yard touchdown against South Florida during the first half of the Gasparilla Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Green, Davis helps Marshall beat South Florida 38-20

By Mark Didtler Dec. 20, 2018 11:32 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — It was a family affair as Marshall ended the season with another