UConn can't keep up with Sooners

The Big East champion Connecticut Huskies spent most of last night's Fiesta Bowl just trying not to get blown out. In the end, the Huskies just couldn't keep up with No. 7 Oklahoma.

Landry Jones threw for a school bowl-record 429 yards and three touchdowns as the Sooners ended a five-game BCS bowl losing streak with a 48-20 victory in Glendale, Ariz.

Oklahoma (12-2) carried plenty of BCS baggage after losing three straight title games and two Fiesta Bowls. The Sooners avoided another loss behind Jones and Ryan Broyles, who had team records of 13 catches and 170 yards to go with the sealing touchdown.

Connecticut (8-5) at least stayed close for a while in its first BCS bowl. The hopeful Huskies steadied themselves after an initial barrage from Oklahoma and avoided a complete New Year's Day desert disaster with hard-nosed running by Jordan Todman (128 yards) and a handful of big plays.

Mississippi State 52, Michigan 14:Chris Relf threw three touchdown passes and Vick Ballard ran for three scores as the Bulldogs overwhelmed the Wolverines at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

The 38-point drubbing was the worst bowl loss in Michigan history and may have sealed the fate of coach Rich Rodriguez. His three-year tenure has been tainted by consecutive losing seasons, NCAA sanctions and late-season slides.

Michigan (7-6) was out of this game early, done in again by a defense that made a middle-of-the-pack SEC offense look like a juggernaut. Relf completed 18 of 23 passes for 281 yards and added 49 yards on the ground. Ballard ran for 77 yards. The Bulldogs (9-4) finished with 485 yards and punted twice.

Texas Tech 45, Northwestern 38:Taylor Potts threw four touchdown passes and scored another on a trick play, and Eric Stephens ran 86 yards for a score to carry Tech at the TicketCity Bowl in Dallas.

The Red Raiders (8-5) led by 22 points early in the second half, then had to sweat it out.

The Wildcats (7-6) got within a touchdown twice in the fourth quarter, with freshmen quarterbacks Evan Watkins and Kain Colter combining to lead three straight touchdown drives and Jordan Maybin returning an interception 39 yards for a score with 5:37 left.

- AP