SAN DIEGO -- The Kansas State Wildcats were saved by the Ell.

On the verge of what would have been a shocking loss, quarterback Ell Roberson rallied the sixth-ranked Wildcats with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a 10-yard pass to Derrick Evans with 1:15 to play for a 34-27 Holiday Bowl win over Arizona State on Friday night.

Kansas State (11-2), the highest-ranked team not in the Bowl Championship Series, was favored by 18 points.

Roberson also scored on sneaks of 2 and 1 yards in the fourth quarter to add to the Holiday Bowl's history of wild finishes. He also scored on a 32-yard run just before halftime.

Arizona State had one last shot at the upset, but Andrew Walter's desperation pass on fourth-and-15 from his 49 was knocked down inside the 5-yard line.

Kansas State trailed 20-14 entering the fourth quarter. By then, Roberson was well on his way to leading a 16-play, 65-yard drive that took 7 minutes, 13 seconds.

Mississippi 27

Nebraska 23

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) -- Eli Manning threw for 313 yards and a touchdown as Mississippi ended Nebraska's 40-year streak of winning seasons with a 27-23 victory Friday in the Independence Bowl.

Nebraska managed just one offensive touchdown on Jammal Lord's pass to Matt Herian in the second quarter. Josh Brown kicked three field goals and DeJuan Groce had a punt return for a score.

The Cornhuskers (7-7) had finished above .500 every year since 1961, when they went 3-6-1.

Manning was 25-for-44 for Ole Miss (7-6) and became the school's career passing leader.

Nebraska had its option working in the first half with 262 total yards, 207 on the ground.

Ole Miss adjusted in the second half and held Nebraska to 97 yards and no touchdowns. Dahrann Diedrick had 92 yards rushing and Lord had 176 total yards.

Oklahoma St. 33

Southern Miss. 23

HOUSTON (AP) -- Rashaun Woods caught nine passes for 164 yards and a touchdown, and Tatum Bell's 22-yard score with 8:07 to play gave Oklahoma State the lead for good in a 33-23 Houston Bowl victory over Southern Mississippi on Friday.

Bell had 160 yards on 13 carries, and Luke Phillips kicked two of his four field goals in the decisive fourth quarter for the Cowboys (8-5).

Trailing 20-13 at the half, Southern Miss (7-6) took its only lead of the game on a 2-yard touchdown run by James Walley and a 30-yard field goal by Curt Jones, his third of the game, in the third quarter.

The Cowboys pulled even on the first play of the four quarter on Phillips' 28-yard field goal. Josh Fields threw for 310 yards, and his 33-yard pass to Billy Bajema set up Bell's go-ahead touchdown, which put Oklahoma State back in front 30-23.