SAN ANTONIO — The focus never completely returned to football even with Saturday night's entertaining Valero Alamo Bowl after a brutally long week in Red Raider nation.

Texas Tech fans made known their displeasure about coach Mike Leach's firing vocally and with T-shirts and signs. And the back-and-forth between Leach and Tech continued through game day and was reflected in ESPN's telecast.

But all that ugliness contributed to making Tech's rather dramatic 41-31 victory over Michigan State a cathartic experience worthy of crazy celebration. Despite the drama, the Red Raiders outlasted the Spartans in front of a crowd of 64,757 after coming from behind twice in the second half.

They took the lead on backup quarterback Steven Sheffield's 11-yard TD pass to Detron Lewis with 5:03 to play. Sheffield was inserted to lead the go-ahead drive after starter Taylor Potts apparently suffered an injury after throwing for 384 yards and two TDs.

Sheffield led the eight-play, 77-yard drive that included a 43-yard pass to Lyle Leong on third-and-12.

Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill — who has openly campaigned for the Tech job — got a win in his first try as a head coach. Though McNeill's defense allowed MSU big plays all night, safety Franklin Mitchem intercepted MSU late.

Then Tech helped run out the clock by going for it on fourth down — a trademark of Leach's — and converting. Running back Baron Batch added a 13-yard TD with 2:08 left to leave no doubt.

Leach was fired after 10 seasons on Wednesday, for alleged mistreatment of receiver Adam James and for insubordination.

James, who did not play in the game due to injury, was mildly booed leaving and returning to the field before and after the half.

In the crowd: A sign with Tech chancellor Kent Hance's last name with a slash through it. One man wore a hat decorated with pacifiers, labeled "Adam James Commemorative Pacifiers." Several "Team Leach" shirts were also spotted — as were fans wearing pirate hats, a tribute to their former coach.

Cotton Bowl

MISSISSIPPI 21, No. 21 OKLAHOMA STATE 7: At Arlington, Texas, Dexter McCluster gave Mississippi fans a finale to remember, rushing for 182 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 2-yard run on a direct snap with 4:03 left.

McCluster also had an 86-yard TD run in the second quarter after the senior had already become the first Southeastern Conference player with 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in the same season.

Ole Miss (9-4) had five turnovers in the game, but Oklahoma State had six in the fourth quarter, and seven overall.

Liberty Bowl

ARKANSAS 20, EAST CAROLINA 17 (OT): At Memphis, Tenn., Alex Tejada kicked a 37-yard field goal in overtime after East Carolina's Ben Hartman missed two field goal attempts late in regulation and another in the extra session. Hartman missed from 39 yards with 1:03 remaining and from the same distance on the final play, then missed from 35 in overtime.

Papajohns.com Bowl

CONNECTICUT 20, SOUTH CAROLINA 7: At Birmingham, Ala., Andre Dixon rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown and resilient Connecticut ended a trying season with a victory. The Huskies (8-5) are 3-1 in bowl games since moving up to Division I-A (now FBS) in 2002.

They won their final three regular-season games and overcame the October stabbing death of cornerback Jasper Howard to reach a bowl.

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Upon made the most of the trip. The nation's 95th-rated pass defense throttled South Carolina (7-6) and quarterback Stephen Garcia while relying on Dixon's 33 carries to control the ball.

International Bowl

SOUTH FLORIDA 27, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3: At Toronto, Mike Ford ran for a career-high 207 yards and scored one touchdown, and B.J. Daniels threw two scoring passes to A.J. Love.

Carlton Mitchell caught six passes for 94 yards for the Bulls, who won back-to-back bowls for the first time.

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