Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO ó Chase Daniel threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin in overtime and Missouri rallied to beat Northwestern 30-23 in the Alamo Bowl on Monday night.
After the 25th-ranked Tigers scored on the opening possession of overtime, their defense delivered, too. Missouri sacked a backpedaling C.J. Bacher, forcing a fumble that left Northwestern with fourth-and-goal from the 32-yard line.
Bacher’s desperation heave into the end zone was knocked down, and Daniel rushed off the sideline with his teammates to celebrate.
The win gave Missouri (10-4) double-digit victories in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. The No. 22 Wildcats (9-4) fell to 1-6 in bowl games, with their only win coming in their first bowl appearance in 1949.
Playing his final college game, Daniel overcame three interceptions to lead the Tigers back from a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Jeff Wolfert made a 37-yard field goal with 2:49 remaining to tie it 23-all, but he missed a 44-yard attempt that could have won it for Missouri as time expired.
Daniel, who finished fourth in 2007 Heisman Trophy voting, matched a season high with three interceptions. He was 26-of-44 for 197 yards and two touchdown passes.
The speedy Maclin, a first-team All-America as an all-purpose player, also returned a punt 75 yards for a score that tied it at 10 in the second quarter.
Bacher threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns, going 27-of-43 passing. His 23-yard scoring toss to Ross Lane gave Northwestern a 23-20 lead in the third.
WEIS SURGERY
SOUTH BEND, Ind. ó Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis underwent knee replacement surgery Monday.
Weis’ right knee was replaced and he is expected to have surgery at some point on his left knee, which was severely injured in a sideline collision with a player in September.
Dr. Willard G. Yergler said the replacement surgery was a success. Weis was expected to start walking on the knee later in the day and remain at Memorial Hospital for a day or two before several months of rehabilitation.
The 52-year-old Weis injured his left knee on Sept. 13 when defensive end John Ryan, who is 6-foot-5 and 264 pounds, was blocked into Weis during the Michigan game.
NIX FIRED
CORAL GABLES, Fla. ó Patrick Nix was fired Monday after two seasons as Miami’s offensive coordinator, the first significant shakeup to the Hurricanes this offseason.
Miami was 7-6 this season and sputtered at times offensively, yet showed improvement in some areas during the second half of the year. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to keep Nix in place.
UTAH
NEW ORLEANS ó Utah coach Kyle Whittingham signed a five-year contract extension worth $6 million on Monday, a reward for leading the Utes to a perfect regular season and BCS bid.
ALABAMA
NEW ORLEANS ó Alabama All-America left tackle Andre Smith has been suspended from the Sugar Bowl for violating team rules, possibly signaling an end to the Outland Trophy winner’s college career.