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College Football: Top 5 Bowl Games of the 2016 Season

By Eric Robinson

Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett (80) catches a pass for a touchdown against Penn State Nittany Lions safety Marcus Allen (2) during the fourth quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett (80) catches a pass for a touchdown against Penn State Nittany Lions safety Marcus Allen (2) during the fourth quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 29, 2016; Birmingham, AL, USA; South Florida Bulls tight end Elkanah Dillon (85) celebrates with wide receiver Chris Barr (1) after scoring the game-winning touchdown during overtime against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2016 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2016; Birmingham, AL, USA; South Florida Bulls tight end Elkanah Dillon (85) celebrates with wide receiver Chris Barr (1) after scoring the game-winning touchdown during overtime against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2016 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Birmingham Bowl – South Florida 46, South Carolina 39 (OT)

The total stat-line for this contest was mind-boggling: 950 total yards, 51 combined first downs, and an ugly seven turnovers.

South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers was a force in the contest. Flowers scored the first two touchdowns for #25 USF which gave them a 15-0 lead in the first quarter.

The teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter. Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley tossed two of his three passing touchdowns that quarter. However, South Florida took a 29-14 halftime lead.

Dec 29, 2016; Birmingham, AL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley (19) looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the South Florida Bulls in the 2016 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2016; Birmingham, AL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley (19) looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the South Florida Bulls in the 2016 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /

Free safety Tajee Fullwood returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown for a USF 39-21 lead. From that point on, South Carolina refused to go away.

A 39-yard punt return by South Carolina corner Chris Lammons came at the right time. It helped set up a game-tying touchdown run by running back A.J. Turner with 1:11 left in the game.

It only took one play in overtime for South Florida to get a 46-39 lead in overtime. On the ensuing drive for South Carolina, Bentley was sacked on fourth down by defensive end Mike Love. The win gave the Bulls their first 11-win season in school history.

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