White leads West Virginia by N. Carolina

Pat White had one more dazzling comeback in him before finishing his record-breaking college career.

White threw for 332 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Alric Arnett midway through the fourth quarter that sent West Virginia to a 31-30 win over North Carolina yesterday in the Meineke Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.

The senior quarterback was voted MVP of a bowl for the third straight year and finished 4-0 in postseason games, helping West Virginia (9-4) overcome Hakeem Nicks' big day for North Carolina to end a disappointing season on a positive note.

Nicks caught eight passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns for the Tar Heels (8-5), but T.J. Yates was intercepted by Pat Lazear with under 2 minutes left to end Butch Davis' hopes of a bowl win in his second year at North Carolina.

Instead, it was a sweet ending to a tumultuous season for first-year West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.

Entering the season as prohibitive favorite to win the Big East, the Mountaineers started 1-2. They recovered to win five straight, only to go 2-2 over their final four games to end their BCS bowl hopes.

Nicks set three school receiving records and shattered his career high in yards receiving.

Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13 -

Derek Nicholson and Dekoda Watson returned fumbles for touchdowns, Christian Ponder threw two TD passes and the Seminoles (9-4) routed the Badgers (7-6) in Orlando, Fla.

Florida State finished with more than eight wins for the first time since 2004.

Nicholson had two fumble recoveries, including one he returned 75 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. Punter Graham Gano averaged 48.2 yards on five and had three downed inside the Badgers 5 to earn game MVP.

P.J. Hill ran for 140 yards on 15 carries for the Badgers (7-6), but quarterback Dustin Sherer completed only four of nine for 55 yards through the first three quarters. His fumble early in the fourth quarter was returned 51 yards for a score by Watson to put FSU up, 35-6.

California 24, Miami (Fla.) 17 -

Zack Follett forced a fumble by Jacory Harris deep in Miami territory with 3:28 left, and Anthony Miller scored the go-ahead touchdown on his first career catch moments later as the Golden Bears (9-4) defeated the Hurricanes (7-6) in San Francisco.

Jahvid Best rushed for a bowl-record 186 yards and two touchdowns for California, which still needed a big defensive play and an unlikely hero to hold off Miami in front of a Bay Area crowd teeming with screaming Cal fans.

Harris played well in the freshman's second career start, subbing for the suspended Robert Marve.

Harris had won 31 straight starts dating back to his high school career in South Florida, but his fumble cost the Hurricanes in their first bowl game under coach Randy Shannon.