MOBILE, Ala.— LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier may have taken home MVP, but the running back group held the spotlight in the American team’s 17-9 victory over the National team in the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl.
The defensive matchup saw just 466 yards of total offense across both teams, with 263 coming through the air and 203 more on the ground. Nussmeier took home MVP for his early efforts, capping off the game’s opening drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown and leading another scoring drive shortly after following a fumble recovery by Zion Young (Missouri).
After a 2024 campaign that saw him throw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns, Nussmeier was a name to watch for the 2025 season. But the Tigers struggled and fired head coach Brian Kelly mid-season, and Nussmeier’s production regressed to just 1,927 yards and 12 touchdowns. The MVP nod will certainly aid his stock, especially following lackluster performances across the board from the quarterback group.
The American team’s Kaelon Black (Indiana), Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma) and J’Mari Taylor (Virginia) led the push on the ground, all averaging over five yards per carry. Taylor produced 41 yards on just three carries and showed impressive elusiveness and acceleration. Black’s acceleration also impressed, showing an ability to hit the gas that was doubted by some analysts entering Senior Bowl week.
Ott made the most of gameday to rebuild the hype he had garnered before a disappointing 2025 campaign at Oklahoma. The Cal product was the talk of college football after a 2023 campaign with 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, and transferred to Oklahoma after a disappointing injury-marred 2024 season. But new injuries during fall camp limited Ott at Oklahoma as well, where he had just 21 carries for 68 yards in 2025. Ott looked like a new man in Mobile, taking his eight carries for 42 yards, a score, and flashing the patience and elusiveness Golden Bear fans remember so well.
A number of defensive performances stood out on both sides of the ball. For the American team, defensive lineman Quintayvious Hutchins (Boston College) was the main disruptor, tallying three tackles for loss and a sack. Michigan defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny had a lackluster day on the stat sheet, but was certainly a key contributor to an American front that generated consistent pressure on all three National team passers.
On the National side, linebacker Bryce Boettcher (Oregon) led the game in tackles with 10 and broke up a pass as well. Defensive lineman Nadame Tucker (Western Michigan) tallied five tackles (three for loss), two sacks, and a forced fumble.