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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 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; Stanford head coach David Shaw (L) shakes hands with North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora (R) after their game in the Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. The Tar Heels won 25-23 Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; Stanford head coach David Shaw (L) shakes hands with North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora (R) after their game in the Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. The Tar Heels won 25-23 Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Sun Bowl – Stanford 25, North Carolina 23

The contest between the two teams made headlines before kickoff. Stanford star running back Christian McCaffrey decided to not partake in the festivities due to pre-draft prep.

So taking the grand stage was UNC QB Mitch Trubisky. The tall, strong-armed QB may possibly see himself drafted 1st overall in the upcoming draft. So this presented a chance for Trubisky to put on a show. Possibly.

Things go off to a great start for Trubisky and the Tar Heels. A 19-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky to receiver Ryan Switzer gave UNC a 7-0 in the opening quarter. Stanford followed that up with a touchdown from quarterback Keller Chryst to running back Bryce Love to tie the game.

An interception returned for a TD by safety Dallas Lloyd gave Stanford a 22-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. Stanford extended the lead to 25-17 later in the quarter.

Trubisky then guided his team from their own 16-yard line with 1:30 left in the game. He connected with receiver Bug Howard for 44 yards a few plays into the drive. He also connected with Switzer for 27 yards to get down to the 1-yard line. The Tar Heels scored with a touchdown catch from Howard and proceeded to go for a two-point conversion. The attempt failed as Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas knifed through the offensive line and sacked Trubisky to end the game.

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