Young Throws for 5 TDs, Alabama Tops K-State in Sugar Bowl

Head coach Nick Saban celebrates with Will Anderson Jr. (31), Jordan Battle (9), and Bryce Young (9) of the Alabama Crimson Tide after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats 45–20 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Dec. 31, 2022. Sean Gardner/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS—Bryce Young passed for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a game that other top NFL prospects might have skipped, and No. 5 Alabama responded to an early two-score deficit with 35 straight points to defeat 11th-ranked Kansas State 45–20 in the Sugar Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31.

While a number of pro-bound college stars sat out bowl games that were not part of the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide and Wildcats had their best prospects on the field and making a number of memorable plays—from Young’s pivotal passes, to Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn’s 88-yard touchdown run to interceptions by Alabama’s Jordan Battle and Brian Branch.

Bryce Young (9) of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Dec. 31, 2022. Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Young, was substituted out during a series in the fourth quarter, raising his right hand to Alabama fans who loudly rose to their feet as the former Heisman Trophy winner trotted to the sideline.

Young led Alabama to the CFP Championship in 2020; he was California’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year and the USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year at Mater Dei High School in Santa, Ana, Calif.

Jermaine Burton caught three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown for Alabama (11–2). Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 142 yards from scrimmage—76 rushing and 66 receiving. Young’s other touchdowns went to Isaiah Bond (6 yards), Cameron Latu (1 yard), Ja'Corey Brooks (32 yards) and Kobe Prentice (47 yards). Jase McClelland added a 17-yard scoring run.

Jermaine Burton (3) of the Alabama Crimson Tide catches a touchdown pass over Julius Brents (23) of the Kansas State Wildcats during the third quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Dec. 31, 2022. Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Kansas State (10–4) entered its first Sugar Bowl on a four-game winning streak and was riding high after knocking off No. 3 TCU—a CFP team—in the Big 12 title game.

While Battle’s leaping interception of Will Howard ended K-State’s opening drive on the Alabama 21, the Wildcats scored the Sugar Bowl’s first 10 points, surging in front on Ty Zentner’s 41-yard field goal and Vaughn’s long run.

Alabama was on the brink of punting a third time when Young, on third and 10, stepped up in a collapsing pocket and flicked a short pass to Gibbs, who was cutting across the middle and turned up field for a 60-yard gain. Young stepped up similarly to avoid pressure on his touchdown pass to Bond shortly after.

Young threw over the top to Burton for 47 yards to setup his 1-yard scoring pass Latu that put Alabama in front for good.

Late in the first half, Kansas State drove to the Alabama 2—converting two fourth-downs along the way—only to fail on fourth-and-goal when Howard threw out of the reach of tight end Ben Sinnott, who was breaking open after Will Anderson fell while trying to cover him.

That missed chance proved costly.

Young needed just 51 seconds to produce another touchdown, completing passes of 12, 28 and 22 yards before hitting Burton from 12 yards out to make it 21–10 at halftime.

Kansas State paid for taking another risk when its onside kick to open the second half was recovered by Alabama, which scored shortly after on Young’s 32-yard strike to Ja'Corey Brooks in the corner of the end zone.

The Takeaway

Kansas State: The missed chance from the Alabama 2, the failed onside kick and a minus-2 turnover differential would have been tough to overcome in any game, never mind against the first team left out of the CFP. Howard finished 18–of–35 passing for 210 yards. Vaughn rushed for 133 yards on 22 carries. Jordan Schippers had a late 1-yard TD run.

Will Howard (18) of the Kansas State Wildcats throws a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Dec. 31, 2022. Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Alabama: After saying all week that they were treating the Sugar Bowl like a championship game, the Crimson Tide backed it up. The narrative coming in was that Alabama doesn’t get up for low-stakes bowl games, having lost by two touchdowns each in its previous two Sugar Bowl appearances that were not part of the BCS or CFP. Alabama has now won 10 Sugar Bowls in 17 appearances.

Up Next

Kansas State: Opens its 2023 campaign at home against Southeast Missouri on Sept. 2.

Alabama: Hosts Middle Tennessee on Sept. 2 to begin its 2023 season.

By Brett Martel