Ben Gulbranson threw for one touchdown and rushed for another as No. 14 Oregon State defeated Florida 30-3 Saturday in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The Beavers (10-3) reached double-digits in victories for just the third time in school history.
Florida (6-7) avoided being shut out for the first time since 1988 as Adam Mihalek kicked a 40-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining. That extended the Gators’ Football Bowl Subdivision record of scoring in 436 consecutive games.
Florida quarterback Jack Miller III, a transfer from Ohio State who was making his first collegiate start after Anthony Richardson opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft, completed 13 of 22 passes for 180 yards.
However, Florida’s rushing attack was limited to 39 yards on 33 attempts.
Gulbranson was 12-of-19 passing for 165 yards. Deshaun Fenwick rushed for 107 yards on 21 carries.
After leading 10-0 at the half, the Beavers pulled away with two touchdowns in a span of 1:36 early in the third quarter.
Oregon State took the second-half kickoff and went 64 yards on 10 plays, with Gulbranson throwing a 15-yard scoring strike to Silas Bolden on a slant pattern into the end zone. The drive was kept alive by Jack Colletto’s 11-yard run on a fake punt on fourth-and-2 from OSU’s own 44-yard line.
The Gators went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and Jeremy Crawshaw’s punt was blocked by Colletto, the Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation’s most versatile player.
Skyler Thomas picked up the ball and returned it seven yards to Florida’s 7-yard line.
On third-and-goal from the 7, Gulbranson scored on a quarterback draw to make it 23-0.
Oregon State’s Jam Griffin added a 2-yard TD run early in the fourth.
The Beavers put together an eight-play, 65-yard touchdown drive on their second possession of the game. Wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey scored on an 8-yard run on an end around with 2:10 left in the first quarter.
OSU’s Everett Hayes kicked a 27-yard field goal with 4:32 remaining in the second quarter to extend the lead to 10-0.
–Field Level Media