Read option: Michigan State stops Stanford for Rose Bowl win

About that Michigan State defense... they're pretty good. Perhaps the Spartans will get the respect they deserve following its 24-20 win over Stanford in the Rose Bowl. 

Michigan State held on for the win as LB Kyler Elsworth leapt over the pile to stop Stanford FB Ryan Hewitt on fourth-and-1 with under two minutes to play. Elsworth was filling in for suspended LB Max Bullough, and now he finds himself nestled in among Spartans history. 

The Spartans gave up ten points and 141 yards in the first quarter, but the best defense in the nation returned to form for the remainder of the game. Stanford finished with 305 total yards. Michigan State QB Connor Cook completed 61 percent of his passes for a career-best 332 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. 

After recovering from a shaky first quarter, the biggest gaffe the rest of the way for the Spartans was this pathetic Gatorade bath attempt on head coach Mark Dantonio. 

UCF finishes surprise 2013 season with upset of Baylor

A high scoring game was all but guaranteed for Sunday's Fiesta Bowl. Baylor entered the game as a 17 point favorite, and the threat of the Bears putting up 50+ on a surprise UCF team was real. In the end, it was the Knights who put up more points, upending a Baylor team that challenged for a spot in the national title game all season. UCF has arrived, as evidenced by its 52-42 win over Baylor.

Blake Bortles accounted for four TDs in the win. The junior QB finished 20-of-31 for 301 yards, three scores, and two INTs. He also added a career best 93 yards on the ground to go along with a rushing TD. RB Storm Johnson rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. 

For the Knights, its transition from C-USA to the new American Athletic Conference could not have gone better. An upset of a favored Louisville team in October, a conference title, and now a win over a Baylor team with the most explosive offense in the country adds up a debut that no one saw coming. 

Baylor's 2013 season ends in disappointment. The Bears looked like the best offensive team in the FBS at times in the Fiesta Bowl loss, but they were uncharacteristically undisciplined, coughing up more than 130 yards on 17 penalties. 

Bortles, perhaps the biggest reason for UCF's great run this year, will now have to make a decision on his future. He could return to school next year and attempt to guide the Knights to an appearance in the first ever BCS Playoff, or he could declare himself ready for the NFL Draft. His stock may never be higher than it is right now.

Bill O'Brien cares not for 'Paterno people'

Bill O'Brien helped Penn State navigate its way through two seasons in the post-Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal era. O'Brien finished 15-9 before taking an NFL job with the Houston Texans. O'Brien was instrumental in giving some life to a program that appeared to be in serious trouble due to sanctions. As he departs for the NFL, one Penn State reporter unleashed some nearly month-old quotes in which O'Brien unloads on the expectations of 'Paterno people' in the Nittany Lions family. 

O'Brien, of course, took over the Penn State head coaching job from Joe Paterno, who was relieved of his duties amid revelations that he failed to report information on the activity of Sandusky within the confines of the program. 

David Jones shared some comments O'Brien made on December 4th when he was pressed about whether he expected any heat from "Joe Paterno-era loyalists" over the dismissal of Paterno holdover Ron Vanderlinden earlier this season.

“You can print this: You can print that I don’t really give a ---- what the ‘Paterno people’ think about what I do with this program. I’ve done everything I can to show respect to Coach Paterno. Everything in my power. So I could really care less about what the Paterno faction of people, or whatever you call them, think about what I do with the program. I’m tired of it.

“For any ‘Paterno person’ to have any objection to what I’m doing, it makes me wanna put my fist through this windshield right now.”

He was just getting started:

“I’m trying to field the most competitive football team I can with near-death penalty ----ing sanctions. Every time I say something like that and somebody prints it, it’s skewed as an excuse. And I’m not an excuse-maker. I’m trying to do the best I can for the kids in that program. That’s all I care about is the kids in that program. As long as I’m the head football coach here.”

Now imagine the firestorm O'Brien would have invited upon himself had Jones ran these comments a month ago. I have to respect O'Brien here. He made a point from the beginning of his tenure to be a players first guy. He moved to have names on the back of jerseys as a show of respect to the players who elected to stay with the program, and helped keep the program competitive in light of the scandal and beating its image took in the aftermath. Best of luck in the NFL, Bill O'Brien. 

Bridgewater declares for NFL Draft

Louisville's 36-9 win over Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl stands as Teddy Bridgewater's last game in college. The Cardinals QB will forgo his senior season in favor of the NFL Draft. 

Bridgewater released a statement on the Cardinals official website:

"After discussing all the options with my family and the coaching staff, I have decided to forgo my senior season and declare for the NFL Draft," Bridgewater said. "This was an extremely difficult decision for me. I can't express how much my time at Louisville has meant to me. These past three years have allowed me to mature as a person and leave the university as better person and with my degree in hand, which was one of my goals. I will cherish every moment on the field and off the field, and every bond that I built. I will forever represent the university with the utmost pride and respect. I want to extend a special thank you to my teammates, Tom Jurich, all the academic staff and professors, the coaching staff, support staff, students and the Cardinals' fan base.

I didn't know much about Louisville when I made the decision to attend, but in the end, it was one of the best decisions I could have ever made."

Bridgewater is currently the top ranked QB and third ranked prospect overall according to NFLDraftScout.com.

No surprise as Clowney prepares for NFL Draft

Jadeveon Clowney has played his final game in college. To the surprise of no one, the South Carolina DE will enter May's NFL Draft. 

Clowney is a potential first overall pick, although the Houston Texas could opt for Bridgewater as QB is an area of weakness for the NFL worst team. 

Odell Beckham Jr. catch highlights Outback Bowl

LSU's 21-14 win over Iowa in the Outback Bowl certainly wasn't the most exciting game, but this one-handed catch by Odell Beckham Jr. may have been the best offensive highlight any of the day's games had to offer. 

Spartans post-game dance party

Soundtrack provide by Montell Jordan's "This is How We Do It."