Difference makers: Seniors Gardner Minshew, Peyton Pelluer lead Washington State in 28-26 Alamo Bowl win

Gardner Minshew

In his last rodeo with Washington State, the fifth-year graduate transfer quarterback completed 35-of-49 passes for the Cougars, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns in the Alamo Bowl. Minshew accounted for three TDs in the game, scrambling into the end zone from 7 yards out in the second quarter. The senior set the Pac-12’s single-season record for passing yards and completions, tied Luke Falk’s school record for touchdown passes (38) and set an Alamo Bowl record with his 35 completions.

Hakeem Butler

The Iowa State wide receiver was as much of a matchup problem for the Cougars as his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame would suggest. Butler, who piled up more than 1,000 receiving yards this season, added to his total with 192 yards on nine catches Friday night. The junior’s highlight came in the third quarter when he pulled down a one-handed catch from Brock Purdy for 28 yards in the third quarter.

Peyton Pelluer

It was a picture-perfect ending for the sixth-year senior who’s played in more games than anybody else in school history. The WSU linebacker was the game’s leading tackler with 11 takedowns and added one sack and 1 1/2 tackles-for-loss. Pelluer made one of the game’s pivotal plays, causing ISU runnning back David Montgomery to fumble early in the fourth quarter. The Cougars went up 28-20 four plays later.