While it is rare, it has happened, and two examples are Baylor and Nebraska. Baylor, which was without its top two quarterbacks, its star wide receiver and an All-Big 12 running back, set an FBS bowl record with 645 rushing yards in a victory over North Carolina in the Russell Athletic Bowl. The simplicity in what the Bears did — snap the ball, tun the ball, gain big yardage — had to be maddening to North Carolina, but give Baylor coach Art Briles credit for crafting a way to win without a passing quarterback.
Nebraska, meanwhile, ran the ball 62 times — its season-high in rushing attempts by 23 — in upsetting UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl.