2025 Senior Bowl: A Detailed Post-Game Analysis
Held annually, the Senior Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game that allows American football fans to see the top senior college players against each other in an exciting, competitive setting. This year’s game was a particularly engrossing contest, characterized by strategic plays, high stakes, and hard-won victories, followed by an extensive recap of the key events and players.
The dramatic climax of the 2025 Senior Bowl saw Memphis quarterback Seth Hanigan and TCU wide receiver Jack Bech take center stage. As the last minute of the game approached, the National Team – who had maintained the lead for the majority of the afternoon at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama – found themselves on the back foot, defending their endzone from an American Team. With the momentum from a series of defensive stops in the fourth quarter, the American Team took the victory in a nail-biting 22-19 walk-off, courtesy of Hanigan and Bech.
Despite their loss, the National Team displayed notable performances. Among them were Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon and Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins, who executed a halfback toss pass play for a touchdown. Gabriel, the Miami [FL] tight end, then completed the out route, putting the score at 8-0.
Despite a slow start, the American Team finally found their stride, securing a redzone rushing touchdown from Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart. This, along with Dart’s conversion pass to Arkansas receiver Issac TeSlaa, leveled the scores late in the second quarter.
Holding onto the 8-8 score into the third quarter, the game saw Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald convert from 39 yards to give the National Team an 11-8 lead. This reinvigoration of the competition set the stage for a frenzied final quarter.
The final quarter was a flurry of strategic plays and unexpected twists, starting with Utah linebacker Junior Tafuna forcing a fumble from Hanigan. This gave the National Team the opportunity to score, with Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough making up for an earlier interception by tossing a touchdown to Virginia wide receiver Da’Quan Felton, pushing their lead to 19-8.
The American team took over from there, managing to score 14 points in the final 10 minutes of the game, securing their victory. The turnaround was largely due to a double pass from UCF running back RJ Harvey to Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton and a conversion pass from Hanigan to TeSlaa.
The game’s MVP honor was awarded to Bech, who made six receptions for 68 yards, including the all-important walk-off game-winning touchdown. From the Mid-American Conference, Toledo defensive lineman Darius Alexander and Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. were the participating players. Both players made significant contributions to the game, proving their worth on the field.
Fannin’s game was particularly noteworthy. He was the National Team’s leading receiver, with four catches and 25 receiving yards on the day. He was instrumental in the offensive attack, showing his versatility by playing at in-line tight end, move/slot tight end, and on special teams as a protector. He was also successful in several seal blocks in-game from both tight end positions.
Alexander also had a commendable game. He played both the defensive tackle and edge spots, showing excellent instincts in the run game early on. He made a tackle-for-loss on Kansas running back Devin Neal and a no-gain stop on Georgia running back Trevor Etienne.
The 2025 Senior Bowl was an eventful contest, highlighting the skills and potential of many players. With the NFL Scouting Combine set to start at the end of February, many will take what they’ve learned and demonstrated on the field in Mobile to Indianapolis. Among the MAC players, Fannin Jr. has already confirmed his invitation to the combine, with Alexander, Hook, and Kone expected to compete at their respective Pro Days.