2015 Music City Bowl: Louisville holds on to beat Texas A&M

Louisville learned the hard way that 2015 was going to be a rebuilding season, starting three different quarterbacks to start the season — a start that included three straight losses to Auburn, Houston and Clemson. But a 27-21 Music City Bowl win over Texas A&M showed that the Cardinals should be ready to compete sooner rather than later.

That was thanks in large part to true freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson, who eventually won the starting job and ran with it. And in this game, he literally ran with it, breaking the Music City Bowl record for rushing yards by gashing Texas A&M for 226 yards, including this touchdown run, where he blew by every defender in sight:

Louisville linebacker James Burgess was ejected from the first play of the Music City Bowl after this hit on Texas A&M receiver Damion Ratley that was ruled targeting.

The replay review booth ruled that the call on the field would stand. It was not confirmed, because there was not a good camera angle, but there was also not enough to overturn the call.

When you sign two five-star quarterbacks in two recruiting classes, you expect that the guy who doesn’t end up starting might leave. Losing both guys within a week is unique.

Kyler Murray is off to Oklahoma. Kyle Allen is off to somewhere. And the new starter is a guy named Jake Hubenak.

Texas A&M starting quarterback Kyler Murray has been granted his release to transfer. The Aggies issued a very brief statement Thursday.

Murray, a former five-star recruit, was a true freshman this season and started for a portion of the year, along with former-five star sophomore Kyle Allen, who announced less than a week ago that he would be transferring from the program.

When he came to Texas A&M from Houston, air raid disciple Kevin Sumlin promised a high-flying offense that would help the Aggies buck trends as they moved to the SEC. Sumlin delivered on that promise in his first season, thanks to Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, but this year’s Texas A&M offense was nearly unrecognizable.

Despite having an offensive-minded coach with blue-chip players all over the roster, the Aggies went just 8-4, 4-4 in the SEC, and were a non-factor on the national radar. That was due in large part to the offense, still filled with talented players, now ranking 63rd in yards per play, 58th in S&P+, 59th in Success Rate (efficiency) and 60th in IsoPPP (explosiveness).