McGahee Tore Knee Ligaments

Miami running back Willis McGahee tore three ligaments in his left knee in the Hurricanes’ 31-24 loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Friday night and will have reconstructive surgery, assistant coach Don Soldinger said Saturday.

The injury means McGahee, a sophomore who was expected to turn pro and was projected to be the first running back taken in April’s NFL draft, will return to Miami and try to recover in time for next season. It won’t be easy.

He tore the anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his knee early in the fourth quarter Friday night, Soldinger said. McGahee will have surgery today, but rehabilitation could sideline him for all or part of next season.

McGahee ran for a school-record 1,686 yards and 27 touchdowns and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

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Quarterback Rex Grossman decided to leave Florida for the NFL, a year to the day after his old coach, Steve Spurrier, made the same move.

Associated Press

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Ohio State’s thrilling double-overtime victory over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl drew an 18.6 overnight Nielsen rating with a 29% share of the audience.

The 18.6 is the highest rating since the bowl championship series began pairing the top two teams after the 1998 season.

It is also 30.7% higher than the 14.3/21 for last year’s Rose Bowl, in which Miami took a 34-point first-half lead on its way to a 37-14 win over Nebraska for the national title.