Team American prevails 17-9 in Wind-Slammed Panini Senior Bowl

Team American survived a harsh, windswept Hancock Whitney Stadium to post a 17-9 victory over Team National in the Panini Senior Bowl, a defensive showcase that underlined how cold-weather conditions and turnover margin still shape draft narratives.

Garrett Nussmeier of LSU set the tone, leading a 12-play, 68-yard opening drive that he finished himself with a 3-yard read-option touchdown. Nussmeier added a two-point conversion passing strike to Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields with 4:03 left in the first quarter and finished as the game Most Valuable Player, completing 5 of 8 passes for 57 yards, rushing for a touchdown and throwing an interception while playing only the first three series. BYU kicker Will Ferrin pushed the lead to 17-0 with a 40-yard field goal just before halftime.

The middle quarters were a grind. There was no scoring in the third quarter and both teams battled the elements and a string of drops and turnovers. Northwestern’s Fred Davis II intercepted Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson and returned it 14 yards late in the second quarter; Western Michigan’s Nadame Tucker forced a strip that was recovered by Duke’s Anthony Vincent on a separate turnover sequence. Turnover fatigue defined the first half, with multiple outlets noting four first-half turnovers and a recurring theme of dropped passes.

Team National mounted its comeback in the fourth quarter. Iowa kicker Drew Stevens connected on a 52-yard field goal at the 9:11 mark, and North Dakota State’s Cole Payton engineered a nine-play, 67-yard drive in the final four minutes. FIU’s Kejon Owens powered in from one yard with 1:30 remaining. Payton completed several chunk plays on that drive, including throws of 24, 22 and 14 yards and a 19-yard scramble, but his two-point conversion attempt was stopped and the rally fell short. Because Senior Bowl rules prevent onside kicks, American was able to run out the clock after the touchdown.

Beyond boxscore moments, the week of practices and the game reinforced positional stories for the 2026 NFL Draft. Payton’s late work confirmed why some draft analysts pegged him as one of the highest-graded FCS prospects. Offensive line prospects such as Florida center Jake Slaughter and Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor drew praise for anchoring the American front, while Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge stood out for the National side. Kentucky back Seth McGowan flashed explosiveness with a 29-yard run but also lost a fumble, encapsulating the mixed tape evaluators will parse.

The weather factored as much as any scout: local observers called this the coldest Senior Bowl in at least 40 years, and gusts repeatedly altered the passing game and special teams calculus. For FCS players and small-school prospects, the game again provided a national stage to validate pro traits under pressure. The immediate impact is clear: Nussmeier walks away with an MVP tag and tape that highlights a dual-threat ceiling, Payton strengthened his late-game resume, and several linemen and specialists bolstered their draft profiles ahead of Combine and pro day season. Teams now turn to film study and official box scores to reconcile stat discrepancies and finalize draft boards.