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Top 5 Passing Performances of the 2016-2017 Bowl Season

By Zach Bigalke

Dec 27, 2016; Annapolis, MD, USA; Temple Owls quarterback Phillip Walker (8) rolls out to pass during the third quarter of the Military Bowl against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. Wake Forest Demon Deacons defeated Temple Owls 34-26. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2016; Annapolis, MD, USA; Temple Owls quarterback Phillip Walker (8) rolls out to pass during the third quarter of the Military Bowl against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. Wake Forest Demon Deacons defeated Temple Owls 34-26. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 22, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) looks for a receiver down field during second half action against the Colorado State Rams at the Idaho Potato Bowl held at Albersons Stadium. Idaho defeats Colorado State 61-50. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Colorado State Rams quarterback Nick Stevens (7) looks for a receiver down field during second half action against the Colorado State Rams at the Idaho Potato Bowl held at Albersons Stadium. Idaho defeats Colorado State 61-50. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /

The highest-scoring bowl game of the 2016-2017 postseason took place on the Smurf Turf in Boise, Idaho. The winning quarterback, Idaho’s Matt Linehan, threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns… and he was still less productive than his losing counterpart. Nick Stevens couldn’t complete the comeback against the Vandals, but he had the second-best passing day in terms of yards gained of any quarterback over the past three weeks.

Stevens threw two interceptions, the first when the game was still scoreless and the latter after Idaho had built a 26-point lead with less than three minutes remaining. But he also threw for 445 yards and five touchdowns. Three of those scoring plays went for over 50 yards, including his first of two touchdown passes to top receiver Olabisi Johnson:

While Johnson finished the game with more yards than any other player, it was actually Michael Gallup who caught more touchdown passes. He hauled in scoring catches of 12, 60, and three yards respectively. In the end, Stevens failed to engineer a comeback, but the redshirt junior showcased why he was one of the top quarterbacks in the country all season long with his passing exploits in Boise.

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